Bucharest - a bustling grand capital yet to shed residues from socialist era

May 31, 2026

Visit time: 2026-03-11 to 2026-03-15

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is the most visited city, understandably. The most popular city for recreation tourists is likely Brasov.

Bucharest has a long history. Like other Eastern European cities, many of its historic buildings were ruined by Romania's socialist regime during the Soviet era. Socialist residues, such as brutalist gray apartment complexes, are still everywhere.

Bucharesters are just like Romanians in other cities - friendly, helpful, and engaging.

The traffic jams in Bucharest are as bad as those of any booming city.

If you fly to Bucharest and need to transfer to another city, such as Brasov, get on the Airport Express Train (OTP → Gara de Nord). It takes you from the airport to the main passenger train station in 20 minutes, immune to any traffic jams. You just follow the sign to walk to the end of the airport garage, then take an elevator to the above floor to get on a train.

Both the food and service of Bistro Nord at the north train station (the main passenger train station) are excellent.

Memorial of Rebirth in the Revolution Square, dedicated to the heroes of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. They succeeded in gaining freedom and democracy, while my generation failed in Beijing in the same year and endured a brutal massacre.

The Romanian Athenaeum is a magnificent 19th-century building in the heart of Bucharest. I did not have the chance to attend a concert there, but I had the great joy of touring it. You can buy a ticket to tour it.

You cannot help but stop at this statue of King Carol I, who ruled Romania from 1866 to 1914 and helped it gain independence, if you visit the center of Bucharest.

Monument of Iuliu Maniu, who opposed both fascist and communist dictatorships, and died in a communist prison.

The Palace of the Parliament is the most famous building in Bucharest. It is the second-largest government building in the world after the Pentagon. I took a guided tour. It has over 1,000 rooms and a floor area of about 365,000 square meters.

This is one of the rooms:

National Museum of Romanian Literature:

Lutheran Church:

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral:

White Church Bucharest:

Kretzulescu Church, an 18th-century church, has survived earthquakes and communist ruin.

Dâmbovița River flows through the heart of Bucharest.

"Văcărești" Natural Park is a great place for birding. March is not the best time for birding because migratory birds have not yet arrived, but I still saw thousands of birds.