Cheap Flights to Bucharest

Discover Bucharest

‘Deliciously strange’ or ‘strangely delicious’ might be apt ways to describe Bucharest, whichever way you see it. For most people, Romania’s capital city is not love at first sight, but remains refreshingly unspoiled by globalization that has crept across Europe. Still on the road to recovery from the heavy-handed reign of Ceaușescu, Romania’s last communist politician, Bucharest today is a charming mix of old and new, and a people who know the intrinsic worth of their own city.

Bucharest’s landscape is a mix of neo-classical, interbellum, Communist-era and modern day structures. Get immediately acquainted with its recent history at the infamous Palace of Parliament, right in the middle of the city. It was from here that Ceaușescu executed his brutal rule, putting tight controls on speech and media and operating one of the most brutal secret police in the world.

The building itself was constructed by Ceaușescu in 1984 in place of the many churches and synagogues he destroyed, and stands as one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. Around Revolution Square, admire the neo-classical grandeur of the Royal Palace. Nearby is the stunning Romanian Athenaeum, a concert hall designed by French architect Albert Galleron, and financed by one of the early public fundraising campaigns in Romania. Don’t bypass the Kretzulescu Church, a red-brick orthodox church with beautiful frescoes painted in the 1860s.

From here, trickle into the Lipscani, the old city which survived Ceauşescu’s reign. Its cobblestone streets were once home to old craft communities and guilds, and streets are still named after furriers, blacksmiths, shoe-makers and the like. Today it is transforming into an upscale area with many art galleries and coffee-houses, and is generally delightful to stroll along.

Of the many quality museums in Bucharest, the open-air Village Museum stands out. Walk through farm houses and windmills that offer a glimpse into the rural life of Romania, where majority of the population still live in the countryside. It is situated in Herăstrău Park, where one can visit the amusement park within, dine out with the family and take a boat trip out in the summer.

Getting around

Bucharest is linked extensively by metro and bus. The metro, build originally to transport workers from outlying neighbourhoods to peripheral industrial areas, has few stops in the city center, which is served by buses, trams and trolleybuses. Purchase an Activ cards and tap your way onto all forms of public transport. Stations for public transport have a small white plate, on which the names of buses and trolleys passing through are written in red.

Getting to Bucharest

International flights land in Henri Coandă International Airport, which is connected with most European capitals via many low-cost flights. Avoid changing your money at the airport, which is substantially more expensive than the city. From here, you can take a daily express bus into downtown Bucharest. A combined service of minibus and then a train into Bucuresti Nord station is also available via the Henri Coanda Express.