This advertorial is by Manuela Muroni
When people plan trips to Eastern Europe, countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland instantly spring to mind. Those five countries continue to be popular with tourists from across Europe and further afield, but another country has recently gained popularity, Romania and its capital, Bucharest.
Bucharest is twinned with more than a dozen cities worldwide, including Athens, Beijing, Lagos, Pretoria, and Atlanta in the United States, where you can enjoy online sports betting in Georgia, and is rapidly becoming the go-to destination for tourists seeking a city break. Bucharest, Romania’s most populous city, is crammed with activities to do and things to see. Head there, and you can soak up the atmosphere of a live sporting event, wander around breathtaking national parks, tantalize your tastebuds with local Romanian cuisine, and more as you are about to discover.
Five places you must check out:
1. The Arena Nationala for the Eternul Derby
Romanians love most sports, but soccer rules supreme. FCSB, formerly known as FC Steaua Bucuresti, is the most successful soccer team in Romania, having won 26 Liga 1 titles, 24 Cupa Romaniei, six Supercupa Romaniei, and two Cup Ligii; all those victories are Romanian records. As FC Steaua Bucuresti won the UEFA Champions League in the 1985-86 season, the only Romanian side to life the European Cup.
FCSB plays its home games at the 55,634-capacity Arena Nationala. Attendances throughout the season average around 14,000 people, but the Eturnal Derby against local rivals Dinamo Bucuresti sees tickets sell out.
The rivalry between these clubs is fierce, resulting in a raucous atmosphere that has to be seen and heard to be believed. You may struggle to get tickets to the Eturnal Derby, so snap them up if you can.
2. Step Back in Time at the Stavropleos Monastery
History buffs should head to Sector 3 of Bucharest and find the iconic Stavropoleos Monastery, the oldest church in Romania. Are you looking at the church’s name and thinking it doesn’t sound Romanian? That’s because Greek monk Ioannikios Stratonikeas built the monastery, and its name means “The City of the Cross” in Greek.
The monastery was built in 1724, and Stratonikeas died 18 years later; he is buried in his church. The inn economically sustained the church, and the monastery’s annexes were demolished toward the end of the 19th century, while numerous earthquakes caused the dome to fall. However, the dome and its handmade paintings and chandeliers were restored at the beginning of the 20th century.
Over 8,000 books, 80 manuscripts, and 400 printed works are housed in the monastery’s vast library; some are ancient originals.
Byzantine music is sung during the offices, adding to the atmosphere. The music and accompanying songs are based on the works of renowned 19th-century Romanian psalmodists, including Macarie the Hieromonk, Nectarie the Hermit, and Anton Pann.
3. Step Back in Time in Lipscani
Lipscani is one of the most famous streets and districts in Bucharest. Indeed, from the Middle Ages through to the early 19th century, Lipscani was the most important commercial area of the city.
The area takes its name from the German city Leipzig because many of the wares historically sold in Lipscani originated from there. Once bustling with shoemakers, goldsmiths, and every trade you can think of, Lipscani was scheduled for demolition during Romania’s Communist period (1947 to 1989), but those plans thankfully never followed through.
By the early 21st century, most of Lipscani had been restored, and much of the district pedestrianized.
It is in Lipscani where you can find the Caru’ cu Bere, a bar and restaurant steeped in history. Caru’ cu Bere translates as “the beer wagon” and was opened as a brewery in 1879. An extensive renovation in 1999 restored the venue to its former state, with its distinctive art nouveau interior design transforming you back in time.
Try the Rasfat gurmand (Gourmet delights), which is roasted veal knuckle served with mashed potatoes, black truffle oil, beetroot and apple salad, horseradish, red onion jam, and buttered pea. I’m now hungry!
4. Visit the Second Largest Administrative Building in the World
Bucharest has some stunning architecture for you to feast your eyes on. It also has an enormous building that is one of the heaviest on planet Earth: the Palace of the Parliament. Estimates put the building’s weight at almost 4.1 billion kilograms thanks to it standing 84 meters tall in places and having a floor area of 365,000 square meters!
The then-president of Communist Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu, ordered the building of the Palace. Still, he never got to see it in all of its glory because he was found guilty of the illegal gathering of wealth and genocide and sentenced to death in 1989; the Palace opened in 1997.
The Palace of the Parliament has an estimated value of €4 billion, costing $6 million annually in electricity, heating, and lighting!
5. Escape the Hustle and Bustle in King Michael I Park
King Michael I Park, formerly Herastrau Park, is the largest open park in Bucharest. It spreads over 187 hectares and features Lake Herastrau. The park is split into a rustic zone, left undisturbed, where you find the impressive Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, and the public zone, mostly open areas for recreational activities, including boating.
The Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum contains over 120 authentic peasant settlements, over 50,000 Romanian artifacts, and more than 360 monuments from the 17th to the 20th century.
Conclusion
These are only five suggestions for things to see and do if you are ever fortunate enough to visit Bucharest, but there are many more activities to enjoy and sights to see. Depending on where you live, you will likely find Bucharest much cheaper for groceries and dining out; in fact, anything you want to do will be more affordable in Bucharest, making visiting the Romanian capital even more appealing!
Please share your experiences of Bucharest if you fly out there at any point.
