Highlights from Bucharest

In July I shared details on where I grew up. The post was popular with my readers and it was lovely to make. So, today I’m sharing Highlights from Bucharest, a city I lived in for years, before moving to UK. I shared previously two posts from Bucharest, from the park Herastrau and Comana Monastery.

Now called the Palace of the Parliament, this building is the old People’s House, construction started in the 1980s, by Ceausescu. It can be visited and it is worth a visit.

This is the view from the Palace of the Parliament.

The old town is a vibrant place with lots of restaurants and bars. In the summer it’s usually incredibly busy.

Cotroceni Palace is the residence of the Romanian President. It dates back to 1888 and it was a Royal residence. It is open to the public. Just off the road from Cotroceni is the botanical garden, beautiful to see on a sunny day.

This is Bucharest University. The graffiti on the walls are not exactly great, but this is a very important place in Bucharest. Here many students protested during the 1989 revolution. It’s also one of the oldest universities in Romania.

This is one of the most popular parks in Bucharest, close to the centre. I’ve had plenty of walks here.

Palatul Sutu [Sutu Palace] houses Bucharest Municipality Museum. Built in the 1830s it was an aristocratic residence. There are a few google views from inside too. On a Sunday it used to have an antique/craft market near the entrance.

“Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum is one of the best museums in Romania, without a doubt. It’s an ethnographic museum devoted to Romanian village life, which showcases hundreds of peasant farms & homes. I visited it a few times and enjoyed it very much. You can check other google views from the museum to get a feel for it.
This museum opened in 1936 and it has 380 buildings, including houses with their annexes and a church.

The Village museum is in a park, Herastrau, the one I mentioned at the beginning of this post. It’s perfect for a day out, as in the park there are a few things to do as well, and, also, some restaurants and cafes too.

Antipa Museum, a Natural History Museum, and the nearby National Geology Museum are also worth a visit. The buildings are stunning and the displays were also lovely.

Antipa opened its doors on 3 November 1834, built by the ruler’s brother [before the first union of the 2 of 3 Principalities that constitute modern-day Romania]. He has donated artefacts including Roman coins, fossils, and works of art. Entry fee for the museum is 20 lei, this is under £4.
National Geology Museum is lovely too, from 1906. It’s not big, but it has some rather interesting exhibits too. With an entry fee of 15 lei, it’s a shame not to visit it.