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The best of Bucharest
Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: Tomáš Kubeš
Located between the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea in southeastern
Romania, Bucharest has earned the nickname "Paris of the Balkans".
An astonishing range of architecture belies the varieties of vision
and epic upheavals that this city has seen over the centuries.
Robert Neale
Director and co-owner, Portland Trust
Favorite hotel: Marriott Grand Hotel, Calea 13 Septembrie
No. 90, Sector 5 tel.: +40 21 403 0000
Favorite restaurant: Byblos, 14-16, Nicolae Golescu St.tel.:
+40 1 313 2091
Favorite night club: The Office, 2, Tache Ionescu St., Sector
1 tel.: +40 1 659 4518
Best-kept secret: Romanian cuisine
Advice: Don't go to Bucharest for shopping. Great city, typical
issues with taxis, but most of the myths about beggars and
dogs are not true. It is not as bad as its reputation - there
are no dogs roaming the streets. |
Andelina
Negoita
PR coordinator, Romanian Embassy in Prague
Favorite restaurant: Casa Vernescu, Calea Victorie 133,
tel.: +40 21 231 0220
An excellent restaurant located in a historic building
with a luxurious interior.
Bistro Ateneu, Str. Episcopiei 3, tel.: +40 21 313 4900
A venue recalling the "little Paris" of the
inter-war era.
Favorite night club: Club Contele Dracula, Splaiul Independentei
8A, tel.: +40 1 312 1353
Favorite attraction: The Cotroceni Palace - official
residence of the President of Romania, includes a museum
and a fortified monastery from the 17th century. Near
Bucharest Mogosoaia Castle, Cernica Monastery and Snagov
Monastery.
Favorite shop: Unirea Shopping Center, Piata Unirii No.
1, tel.: +40 303 0208
Best-kept secret: traditional Romanian cuisine and hard
drinks (palinca and tuica). You can get to know them
if you spend some time in the countryside. Rural tourism
is widespread and especially appreciated by foreigners
eager to spend some relaxing time in the heart of nature.
Advice: Be patient if you drive! There's heavy traffic
at peak hours.
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Olga Tůmová
Director, CK LUM-ORIS
Favorite hotel: Ambassador, Blvd Magheru nr. 8-10, tel.:
+40 1 312 3595
Favorite restaurant: Caru'cu Bere, str. Stavropoleus 3-5,
tel.: + 40 21 313 6896
Favorite shop: Unirea Shopping Center, Piata Unirii tel.:
+40 30 30 208
Best-kept secret: Newly opened galleries hidden in the streets
of Bucharest.
Advice: Bucharest is really a "little Paris" -
hotels and restaurants in the center are very expensive. |
Irina
Sarcane
Manager, Business Recovery Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers Favorite
hotel: Marriott Grand Hotel, Calea 13 Septembrie No. 90, Sector 5 tel.:
+40 21 403 0000
although it opened only a few years ago, it already has a classic appeal
and impeccable service.
Favorite restaurant: La Villa, Str Alexandru Constantinescu No. 65, Sector
1 tel.: +40 21 224 1505
French restaurant with superb food (try the fruit minestrone), service,
and decorative taste.
Favorite attractions: The old town (Lipscani area), which is slowly regenerating
itself with lots of antique shops, restaurants and nightclubs in an eclectic
fashion. For now, it doesn't have "tourist attraction" stamped
all over it.
Best-kept secret: Romanian wines - unbeatable quality/price ratio.
Advice: Mind your pockets and bags in crowded areas, and keep track of
your credit card payments.
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Basic facts
Location: Wallachia, southeast Romania
Country dialing code: 40
Population: 2,354,510 (metro area)
Ethnic mix: 97.5% Romanian, 1.4% Gypsy, 0.19% German,
0.16% Jewish, 0.09% Serbian, 0.05% Russian, 0.04%
Greek, 0.3% Hungarian, 0.27% other minorities
Religion: 96.5% Greek Orthodox, 1.4% Roman Catholic,
0.4% Greek Catholic, 0.1% Protestant, 1.6% other
Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March
to last Sun. in October)
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz
Average January temp: - 2.4° C (28° F).
Average July temp: 22.8° C (73° F).
Annual rainfall: 530 mm
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated
to Bucharest:
http://www.hotelstravel.com/romania.html - a good site to jump
off from before you make your trip, for finding tickets, hotels,
etc.
http://bucharest.cybercityguides.com/mainindex.html - not much
to look at, but this online travel guide can help with accommodation,
package tours and sight-seeing.
http://www.inyourpocket.com/bucharest-city-guide.html - in its
own words, this site offers clear, concise and pertinent information
on Bucharest.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/ - on Fodor's portal page, you
can find useful travel guide links to many cities, including
Romania's capital. Maps and info from other travelers are unique
features.
http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/romania.htm - historical and
geographical information alongside travel tips and tourist hotspots.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/romania/attractions.htm - come here for a less conservative overview of the city and
what is has to offer.
Business profile
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Prices
· 1.5-liter bottle of mineral water: ROL 14,000
· 33-cl bottle of beer: ROL 21,000
· Financial Times newspaper: ROL 95,500
· 36-exposure color film: ROL 14,500
· city-center bus ticket: ROL 6,000
· adult football ticket: ROL 173,500
· three-course meal with wine/beer: from ROL 83,000
1,000 Romanian Lei (ROL 1,000) = CZK 0.9; GBP 0.02;
USD 0.03; EUR 0.03
(currency conversion rates as of press time)
Source:
http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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· Market reforms and the encouragement of foreign investment are
showing a significant effect. Inflation figures slowed from 44.9%
to 34.5% between 2000 and 2001, and are expected to be 25% in 2002.
The average income, less than USD 100 per month in 2000, is now
USD 148, with unemployment at 9% (6.5% in Bucharest itself). Many
people have returned to now privatized agriculture, which accounts
for 20% of the GDP, while industry, still struggling with structural
reforms in energy, accounts for 36%, and services 48.3%. The IMF
estimates an overall growth rate for Romania of 4.5%, the highest
among EU candidate countries.
· Bucharest is Romania's main communications and industrial center.
Some of the largest multinationals in the city are in oil (Shell,
Texaco and Agip), automobiles (Renault/Dacia and Nissan) and IT
(IBM and Microsoft). Other key industries are agricultural machinery,
transport equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products,
construction materials, furniture, footwear and wine. The tourist
industry is strongest on the Black Sea coast and the ski resorts,
but is very much on the back burner in Bucharest.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
Business etiquette
· Romanians are sociable and love to talk, and a surprising number
speak excellent English, although the older generation may prefer
French or German. Bucharest natives are also extremely formal,
and visitors should respect this tradition, making appointments
for meetings well in advance. Punctuality is important and suits
are expected. Business lunches may take two hours, with wine or
beer the most popular tipple.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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