Hotels in Bucharest

Bucharest: Belle Époque Boulevards and Post-Communist Contrasts

Bucharest, Romania's capital of 1.8 million, sits on the Dâmbovița River in the Wallachian Plain, roughly 60 km north of the Danube. The city earned the nickname "Little Paris" in the early 20th century, when Calea Victoriei was lined with French-style mansions and grand cafés. That era survives in the Old Town (Centrul Istoric), where 18th-century churches stand beside restored merchant houses now filled with restaurants and bars. A few blocks south, Palace of the Parliament — completed in 1997 and the world's heaviest building at 4 billion kg — anchors the socialist-realist district Nicolae Ceaușescu built by demolishing a third of historic Bucharest.

Where to Stay in Bucharest

Most hotels cluster in three zones. Piața Unirii puts guests within walking distance of the Old Town and metro Line M1/M3. Floreasca, 5 km north, is a quieter residential neighborhood favored by long-stay business travelers. Herăstrău (now Regele Mihai I Park area) borders a 74-hectare lake and suits visitors prioritizing greenspace over nightlife.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Henri Coandă International Airport lies 16.5 km north; the 783 express bus reaches Piața Unirii in about 40 minutes.
• Getting around: Bucharest Metro runs four lines; a 10-trip card costs roughly 10 RON.
• Weather: July averages 28 °C; January dips to −2 °C with occasional snow.
• Currency: Romanian Leu (RON); euro widely accepted in hotels but change is given in RON.