Things to see and do Bucharest

Located at the intersection of Iuliu Maniu and Geniului Boulevards, very close to Cotroceni Palace, the Monumentul Eroilor din Arma Geniului (Monument to the Heroes of the Weapon of Genius), nicknamed "the Lion" (Leul), is an imposing bronze statue. Symbolizing resistance and courage, it was erected in 1926 and is dedicated to the soldiers who fought in the First World War. The inscription on the pedestal reads, "Tell future generations that we made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield, for the entire nation. »

At the junction of two boulevards, this church, which looks like an Ionic temple, does not go unnoticed. It's right next to the Greek Embassy. The two buildings were built at the end of the 19th century, as a result of the efforts of the Greek community and its diplomats. The church was recently renovated, hence its very bright façade. In the front garden there is a bust of Rigas Velestinlis, an 18th century Greek writer, who lived in Bucharest for a time. A national hero, he defended the independence of the Balkan peoples under the Ottomans.

It is one of the most distinctive areas of the capital. Around the pretty park and the small church of the same name, this former suburb, mainly residential, has escaped destruction under Ceaușescu. Icoanei, like all the suburbs of old Bucharest, is made up of mahalas, a Turkish word for these eastern-style neighbourhoods, built around a church and which developed without a town plan. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, Icoanei experienced an architectural effervescence: the rich owners competed in inventiveness, mixing styles. Neo-Romanian villas rubbed shoulders with Parisian-style neo-classical residences, decorated with Art Nouveau, Baroque or neo-Gothic elements. Confiscated under communism, many of these mansions fell into disrepair due to legal imbroglios over their restitution. More and more of them are being restored, sometimes in a flashy way, sometimes by cultivating their dilapidated side. The whole has a special, typically Bucharest charm. The Icoanei district is also home to several Art Deco buildings such as the Arcub centre. It is home to a number of trendy bars and tearooms, nestled in beautiful residences. You can extend the stroll to the neighbouring Armenian district, which has similar characteristics. Several agencies offer guided tours of this area, a good way to discover it in depth.

Romexpo was built on the site of the former racecourse in 1964. The complex, which hosts numerous events, is dominated by the central pavilion and its 93-meter-diameter dome. The Sofitel hotel tower dates from 1994, and the adjoining business center(Centru Internaţional de Afaceri - World Trade Center) is in full development: conference rooms, offices, company headquarters. It is also close to the airport.

Set back from the street, this brick neo-Moorish synagogue was built in 1866. Gradually enlarged, organs and superb stained-glass windows were added. A monument to the victims of the Holocaust has stood in the courtyard on the street side since 1992. The synagogue is still in use. Those interested in the history of the city's Jewish community can also visit two large cemeteries: Cimitirul Evreiesc (Sephardic), Şoseaua Giurgiului, and Cimitirul Israelit Filantropia (Ashkenazi), boulevard Mihalache.

Located in the heart of the Jewish quarter, the museum is housed in a former synagogue, built in the ^mid-19th century by the tailors' union. Renovated and sumptuously decorated from 1910 onwards, looted in 1941, it has been used as a museum since 1978. In addition to a rich collection of objects, documents and photos, the centerpiece of the exhibition is a monument to the memory of the 200,000 Transylvanian Jews handed over by Hungary to Germany, and the 150,000 deported to labor camps.

It's a handsome 100-meter-long edifice that stretches along the banks of the Dâmbovița. Designed by Albert Ballu in 1895 in a French neo-Renaissance style, it was built on the orders of King Carol ^I, who wanted to provide the young independent kingdom with judicial institutions worthy of the name. Damaged by the 1977 earthquake, it was condemned to demolition by Ceaușescu. Renovated in the early 2000s, it has regained its lustre and now houses the Bucharest Court of Appeal. Its facade is decorated with six allegorical sculptures, surmounted by two other statues.

It is from this symbolic point, located in front of St. George's Church, that distances between the capital and other Romanian cities are measured. Some of these distances are engraved in stone. Created in 1938 by sculptor Constantin Baraschi, the monument was demolished in 1952 and rebuilt identically in 1998. It depicts a compass rose, divided into eight sections bearing the names of Romania's main historical provinces: Banat, Bessarabia, Bucovina... In the center is a sphere featuring the signs of the zodiac.

Considered one of the finest examples of Orthodox architecture in Bucharest, it was built by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu. Seven years after its inauguration in 1707, the voivode was captured by the Turks, who took him and his sons to Istanbul, where they were all beheaded. His wife brought his remains back to Bucharest and buried them in this church. His tomb can be seen here. Destroyed by fire in 1847, the beautifully frescoed building was rebuilt in 1853.

Located at kilometer zero, this imposing edifice is recent: bombed during the Second World War, the National Theater was rebuilt under the Communist regime. Completed in 1973, it was completely reconfigured and renovated between 2011 and 2015, including its facade. It has no fewer than 6 halls and, in summer, a rooftop amphitheater hosts shows. In front of the building, a beautiful bronze sculpture depicts the best-known characters created by the great Romanian playwright Ion Luca Caragiale, who gave his name to the theater.

The elegant neo-Gothic building that houses it, the Suțu Palace, is the work of two Viennese architects. Built between 1833 and 1835 by the Suțu family, it is one of Bucharest's oldest aristocratic residences. The exhibition traces the city's history from Neolithic times to the present day. But the museum's main interest, apart from the magnificent mansion it occupies, is its collection of photographs and documents relating to life in the capital in the ^19th century.

This imposing edifice, built between 1911 and 1923, boasts a handsome French neoclassical façade. Its reception rooms (Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, Norwegian...) are sumptuous, and you can even dine in them: one of them houses a restaurant, offering a real journey back in time. In summer, it also occupies the large terrace. Every June 26, the building is decked out in the national colors to celebrate Flag Day(Ziua drapelului).

Housed in an elegant corner house, this museum reopened in 2017 after a complete redesign. Very well arranged, it presents manuscripts of great Romanian writers such as Mihai Eminescu, but also of foreign authors such as Marcel Proust. You will also discover old books, furniture and writers' objects... The explanations are only available in Romanian, but the museum's layout and the beautiful pieces on display are worth a look.

This museum tells you all about the life and work of the great musician George Enescu (1881-1955). It is housed in the sumptuous Cantacuzino Palace, one of the capital's most beautiful, built in 1901 to plans by architect Ion Berindei. Blending Baroque, Art Nouveau and classical styles, it was the home of Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, an important politician of the time, nicknamed "the Mogul". Featuring an imposing marquee at the entrance, its interiors are richly decorated. A visit not to be missed, even if you're not interested in Enescu's life.

This elegant brick church was built in 1915, when the capital's Italian community, then numbering some 7,000 people, decided to build their own place of worship. Architects Mario Stoppa and Giuseppe Tiraboschi drew up the plans. Inspired by the Lombard style, the building blends Romanesque, Gothic and Art Deco elements. Outside, on the balcony of the adjoining parish house, you'll notice the beautiful floral frescoes. Today, the church is not really showcased, enclosed between concrete blocks.

It lies at the heart of the quiet and pleasant Amzei district, which links calea Victoriei to boulevard Magheru. Not far away are the French Embassy and one of the city's prettiest markets. The Amzei church dates from 1901 and is characterized by its eclectic style, a blend of French academicism and neo-Byzantine style, with its exterior walls alternating ochre brick and rendered stone. The façade is richly decorated, adorned with beautiful carved stone friezes. Inside, you can admire a beautiful carved oak iconostasis.

The massive neoclassical-style University Palace extends at the entrance to the Boulevard Regina Elisabeta. It was inaugurated in 1869. The four muses adorning the façade were added in 1929, works by the sculptor Emil Wilhelm Becker. Also noteworthy are the statues of teachers and statesmen in the surrounding area. The palace now houses the geography, mathematics, history, literature and other humanities sections, as well as the chemistry section. The University of Law is located at Kogălniceanu and the University of Medicine at Cotroceni.

Built at the very beginning of the 20th century, it dominates the northern tip of the park Cişmigiu. It impresses with its eclectic elegance, blending French Renaissance styles with Baroque influences, with a richly ornamented facade topped by a crenellated roof. The palace, built for Elena Crețulescu (or Kretzulescu), was designed by the architect Petre Antonescu, to whom we also owe the Arc de Triomphe bucarestois. Riddled with debts, the owner sold the building to the town hall in the 1920s. Since 1972, it has housed Unesco services.

Bucharest also has its red bus! The public transport company STB and the municipality have launched a double-decker tourist bus service in the colours of the famous London buses. From piața Presei Libere to the Parliament Palace, the bus travels along the main boulevards and stops in front of some of the city's major attractions: piața Universității, piața Revoluției, Village Museum, CEC Palace... The ticket, valid for 24 hours, allows you to get on and off as many times as you like. An audioguide is available in French.