The Old Town changed a great deal in the past years and all for the better. It's so much history here that you shouldn't miss on your first visit to Bucharest. You can visit the Old Court Museum, the History Museum and if you pay attention, you'll see that most buildings here are historical monuments. Plus, there are hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs. My suggestion would be to visit it in the first part of the day when there are less people and stay for a beer in the afternoon or evening.
This is one of the best "Old Towns" in Europe. The irony is the Old Town was a boarded up Slum until 5 years ago when one by one bars started opening up and the restaurants - basically everything "old" is actually brand new. Now there are dozens of bars and outdoor patios. The Bars at night go to 6 AM and are packed and there are so many good one to enjoy. In the Summer they set up a stage near the courthouse and have free concerts where 10's of thousands attend. This is the area every visitor to Bucharest remembers and wants to come back again to have fun!
This is an attraction that you don't want to miss in Bucharest. The area had been developed a lot recently, you will find many restaurants and attractions around. Night life is very active also.
We went in February and were very disappointed with the old town which seemed to have no redeeming features. If you have visited the old town in (eg) in Tallinn, Gdansk, Prague or Brasov, do not expect comparable architecture, cafes, shops etc. Maybe it would be better in spring/summer....but I doubt it.
We spent a day in Bucharest while waiting for flights. We walked Old Town toward the evening right as the sun was setting. This is a really neat experience. Lots of restaurants and activities going on. Of everything we saw in Bucharest, this was my favorite part. I highly recommend anyone staying in Bucharest to check it out.
In Bucharest one night for business (spent 2 weeks out in the country). We walked around with a local, but we really did not need a translator. Almost everyone there speaks a second language (English, French, Spanish, Italian etc) very well. Old buildings are being refurbished but that does take time. Found a great beer pub - Beer O' Clock. No food though, but also no problem. Hit any Shaorma place for some late night noshin'.
Area with small streets and no traffic. At day, plenty of shops with good prices. At night, the place turns to naugthy zone with all the bars, clubs and message places. Go in and have a good cheap drink with good music. During weekends it's a party!!Be aware of romanian women int he bars with the only job to make you buy more and more drinks. They will make you feel good but spend your money...
Yes, just stroll along from one little street to another, when you find an inspiring bar or restaurant just drop in..you will not be disappointed.
You must visit the old town, great bars and restaurants open almost 24/7 a few souvenir shops to buy tat. Spend the day here and keep coming back!
This is presumably the oldest part of Bucharest. It used to be 100 yrs. ago the central point for all the Bucharest business and social life of the high and mighty.These days few attempts have been made to restore its original glory and some, but very few, managed though. There are few streets crisscrossing each other and surrounded by main roads jam packed with traffic.The area is mostly populated after sunset, when all the pubs and bars come alive with clients and especially during the warm season when all the establishments are setting up their own outside terraces, which are full with customers until very late at night.The current main attractions are the National Bank of Romania, the Stavropoleos church, the Manuc Inn and the newly opened Carturesti "Carusel" library in a superbly refurbished old building that used to host the Chrissoveloni bank.The old city is filled with foreign tourists and members of the local expat community as it provides a wide assortment of bars, beer pubs, Irish pubs, pizzerias, steak houses, restaurants, lounge bars, clubs, etc.Beware though that most building are very old unconsolidated brick constructions that are quite unsafe in case of a high magnitude tremor. So if it strikes do not attempt to take shelter inside but try to safely get out at once covering your head with your arms in order to protect your head from the falling bricks or façade mortar or plaster.Some buildings are very old and abandoned and in an advanced state of decay and they also represent a collapse danger, so if walking those streets try to keep it on the middle of the road and stay away from the dangers of falling damaged facades or bricks.