Once feted as the Paris of the East, Bucharest saw some tough times during WWII and the Communist years that followed, but the revolution of 1989 opened up the city to the outside world, and EU investment projects are restoring parts of this historic city to their original splendour. Bucharest architecture can span centuries in a single block, with 18th-century churches and palaces pressed up against

Public Transport

Bucharest has an efficient integrated mass transit system, operated by Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (RATB; tel: 021 9391; www.ratb.ro). Between 5am and midnight, you can access every quarter of the city via metro trains, buses, trolleybuses and trams. Buy tickets from RATB street kiosks and metro stations, and remember to punch the ticket when you board buses and trolleybuses.

Climate and best time to visit Bucharest

The peak season for tourism in Bucharest is April to June, when the weather is warm and the city’s parks and gardens are in bloom. This is also a busy period in the cultural calendar, with live music across the city for Europafest in May and a week of street performances for the Bucharest Street Music Festival in June. With the lack of air-conditioning in many hotels, it pays to avoid the height of summer in July and August, when high humidity and soaring temperatures make days sticky and uncomfortable. Autumn brings cooler weather and the rainbow colours of autumn leaves, but temperatures dip from December, deterring winter visitors.

Telephone
Country code: +40

Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Key Areas

Bucharest isn’t quite up there with Paris or Milan, but there are still plenty of glitzy fashion stores and boutiques along Bulevardul Magheru and Calea Victoriei that recall the city’s heyday as the Paris of the East.

Markets

Bucharest used to depend on its city markets in Communist times, but shopping malls and supermarkets are increasingly

Social Conventions

A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but Romanian men may kiss a woman’s hand when being introduced. Mr or Mrs should be used when greeting someone for the first time. Visitors should follow normal European courtesies on social occasions. Dress tends to be rather conservative but casual wear is suitable. Beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. If visiting a home, a small wrapped gift should be given to the host, such as flowers or chocolates (to women only), wine or liquor. Flowers should be given as a gift in odd numbers only. Many Romanians are smokers and gifts of Western cigarettes are greatly appreciated.

Other well-appreciated gifts include toiletries.

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause abdominal upsets; bottled water is available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.

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