Villacrosse passage

Right in the heart of the Capital, you can be outdoor and feel indoor… or else, whatever you prefer. This is a small passage full of bars with a beautiful roof that allows natural light to enter. A lot of chi-cha (that smoking arab thingy) places and a refuge on the hot summer days.
How to get there: get to the National Bank headquarters, and on the right side of the building you will see the entrance to this passage.

Currency exchange

At every corner in Bucharest you will find a pharmacy or a bank. That’s a fact. So no problem if you are in a deep need of condoms or cash. If you want to exchange some Euros or Dollars into local Lei, use the safety of a bank service. Why this advice? Because you can get easily mugged by one of the central Exchange offices near Universitate or Piata Romana. Their currency rate is not so easily printed, so you should pay very good attention to their rates or commissions.

Cheap entrance to big music events

Recently Bucharest has been put on the map by big names for their world tours. Depeche Mode, Madonna, Santana, The Killers, Seal… and here to name only a few. You will find that afterall, among the european capitals, Bucharest has probably the cheapest entrance price for the big concerts. You may schedule a trip to Romania in the beginning of July for the grand B’estFest music event – big big names of international electro, pop and rock music. 70 euros for 3 days. And that to name only the biggest. Concerts in clubs take place all the time. Just take a look on the two city guides. We don’t actually sleep at night!

Nice wood stove pizza place

In Romanian called Cuptorul cu lemne, a favorite among the locals, this place is a great choice for a good pizza and a cold lemonade/beer in the summer. Here you can enjoy a pizza in a relaxed atmosfere at reasonable prices. It tends to be very crowded in the evenings and weekends, a downpart which also recommends it.
Location: Pache Protopopescu Street (Metro Piata Iancului, then walking distance to it)

Cool Cat

Still in the center and in the mood to chill out on loud but hey good music?
Definetly go to Cool Cat, on Gabroveni Street. The place is simple yet unique in Bucharest.
Location: Gabroveni Street

Fire Club

One of the best rock and metal club in Bucharest, it is also a student club with cheap beer and good music for a crowd that knows how to party. Conveniantly located in the old center, make it a one night stop.
Location: Gabroveni St.

Parliament Palace

Also called People’s House (Casa Poporului in Romanian), this big building is really … big.
Built 25 years ago by the former dictator, the building still is the second largest building after the Pentagon. If this still doesn’t squeeze a picture out of your digital camera, try to make a tour inside (guided tours every hour). What’s nice to know: all inner decorations and marble are originated in Romania.
Location: Metro Izvor

Getting around in Bucharest

WALKING
In the Capital, there are no Sightseeing buses probably because they would be stuck in traffic. And because there are no big touristic points. So stick to this plan and do like Johnny Walker does, if you can.

THE METRO
Bucharest has a pretty wide subway network. Depending on where you want to go, if it’s not within a waking distance from where you are, you should try taking the metro. It’s fast, reliable and cheap (2€ for 10 trips). Avoid the morning and evening peaks or you’ll have plenty of fun, trying to get in or get out. In Bucharest, we don’t actually stand in line or wait for the next one to arrive. We’re ALL IN.

THE BUSES
A pretty good option if you’re not in the 8 – 11 or 17 – 19 rush hours.
One trip is 0,3€.

THE TAXIS
Might be a good option but there may also be sharks. Never take a cab from in front of the North Train Station. Or better, always look carefully for the fare : usually around 1,5 – 2 RON . (updated March 2009)

TO THE MAIN TRAIN STATION
Plenty of buses, but also a metro stop which is called like the station : GARA DE NORD

TO THE AIRPORTS
Baneasa Airport “Aurel Vlaicu” – the small airport that hosts the low-cost flights is considered to be in the city and it’s accessible by
Bus: 131, 335, 148, 112, 301
Tram: 5
Taxi (will probably be around 6-7€ for the trip, from the center of Bucharest)
Otopeni Airport “Henry Coanda” – the main airport, at 20 km from the city it is soon to be accessible by train (in tests right now) but other options would be:
Friends that can give you a ride
Express bus : line 783 that you can take from many points in the city (Piata Victoriei for example)
TAXI : not very cheap so keep it as a last option

TIPS:
Never take a taxi FROM the airports… unless you have no other option. And if so, ask before they start the engine how much will it cost. A good price to the center is:
30 lei from Baneasa
60 lei from Otopeni
You’ll probably won’t get it if they see you’re a tourist so if you care about your holiday budget, try to take the bus to the city.

Greentea

Or black tea, or white tea, or oolong tea, or some aromatic tea, or some of the other over 100 kinds of tea along with a piece of cake.
This the usual treat you will get at one of the best tea places in Bucharest.
Called intuitively greentea, it is placed in a house built in the interbellic period, when Bucharest was called the Little Paris for its good taste, chic and beauty. In the house you can find books you can read while waiting for the tea, or play some blackgammon, cards or chess with your friends.

Part of its charm is also that it is placed pretty far away from the noise of the big boulevards, making it a perfect refuge during the busy, hot, summer days. Getting there is somehow tricky and the best way is to have a friend that was there before. However, if you do not know any locals, use as a starting point Foişorul de Foc (Fire prevention Tower – now a museum of the firefighter force), walk on the Traian street twoards the south, as you intersect the Pache Protopopescu Boulevard, make right walking on the small street that appears very shy between the two big boulevards. Walking along this small street you will arrive at the Polish embassy, where you should ask the jandarms guarding the place for directions for Dr. Burghelea street.
On arriving on the street look on the left side for a green sign outside the door saying greentea.

It is a good idea to make a reservation in time (a few days before), as it is usually full and you will not find a place.

Drink with the fishes

In the center of the student-ville Regie, this bar has tradition among students. Piranha Bar. Cheap drinks in a good atmosphere, I think all students have memories about this place. Inside they have the piranhas, but they are isolated probably because drunk customers would stick their fingers in the water, getting it all dirty… Nice place in the summer, for a good cold beer with national fried meatballs called mici. (Pronounciation: like the name Mitch).
Location: Regie Campus, equal distance between Metro Stations Grozavesti and Semanatoarea