The Best Short Trips Around Bucharest

If you made the good choice to travel to Romania and Bucharest I am going to congratulate you, wishing also to help you to discover them under the best conditions. Thus we are both sure to give your time the best value possible.

The peaceful amazing church from Cernica, only 12 km away from a busy city like Bucharest

Bucharest itself is an amazing city with more than 2 000 000 inhabitants with a secret charm, which may seem sometimes busy, unfriendly, too hot in summer or too cold in winter. It worth anyway a longer or shorter stay, and enjoys fantastic prophecies about its brilliant future made by the renowned Indian Sundar Singh early by the beginning of the XXth century.

After discovering the big city, if you still have a few days to your disposal I am going to propose you to discover some of its surroundings too, as it has plenty of amazing places around. All these fabulous places around are easy reachable by public transportation, taxi or even by train.

The wonderful Palace of Mogosoaia is a sort of local Versailles, and hosted some prominents, e.g. Nikita Hroutschev

You can start with Buftea, a small peaceful village hosting a TV and cinema studios and two picturesque lakes. But the most important thing to see in Buftea is the huge Stirbey park stretching on over 30 hectars/60 accres. The Stirbey family is an old aristocratic Romanian family and Barbu Stirbey, the last owner has been for decades much more than the counselor of the last Romanian queen, as the rumors say. Fact is that the impressive palace from the center of the park has an undoubtful aristocratic good taste. You can visit it, and can even stay there if you wanna discover Bucharest in style. The hotel is excellent, and also the restaurant. Very important for the history, as we commemorate 100 years from the beginning of WWI: here Romanian and German authorities signed in 1918 an important peace treaty. Besides, the palace has other many tighten relations with the Romanian history.

In the opposite direction discover only 12 km away from Bucharest the suburb of Cernica with its two peaceful churches looking back to a long tradition. Namely the oldest church here was build in 1608 and meanwhile turned to ruins, but other two churches has been build and they are really an oasis of silence which many Romanian prominents has used to escape the big city. Important Romania painters (namely Tuculescu), writers (Voiculescu, Voiculescu, Arghezi), or priests (Staniloaie) found here the final rest. An other sort of monument from Cernica is no less amazing: a huge oak tree old of 500 years at least, a living eyewitness of the former huge forest covering once the Romanian plain, nowadays the country's most fertile region.

Very impressive and amazing too is the Palace of Mogosoaia, a sort of Romanian Versailles, if you allow me. Its builder and first owner was the legendary Romanian ruling prince Constantin Brancoveanu. he was very rich, one of the wealthiest personalities of the XVIIIth century in Europe. He owned 1500 gipsy slaves and many properties. As a ruler has kept everything in balance for 25 years, while Wallachia met a wonderful development of culture. Very romantic and heroic is also his death, through decapitation in Istanbul together with his four sons. Amazing, nobody managed to find the huge treasure left behind by Constantin Brancoveanu. Some people are still looking for it, Nicolae Ceausescu tried also! The Mogosoaia Palace is an extraordinary evidence of a golden Middle Age in Wallachia, with a particular  Architecture style.

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Most exquisite destinations in Romania

Romania is rather a cheap travel destination. You can travel a lot in Romania on a budget, it is a big rewarding provocation, as the country is wonderful and the people friendly and genuine.

But beyond this label attributed to Romania, you can also discover Romania in the luxury exquisite way. Supposing you are in the honeymoon, or you have just inherited a fortune, or you can simply afford it, try to discover Romania on this pathway. As a general warning, keep in mind and remember that the luxury hotels with four and five stars are not very often in Romania, and can occur problems while booking in your targeted period, maybe is good to use the professionals from travel agencies like Karpaten.

Hotel Intercontinental Bucharest is turning to become a legend, a myth and a landmark of the city

The hotels I am going to review I met personally and checked more times. In my opinions and according to my knowledge they are totally recommended as luxury destinations in Romania. They are really exquisite and will meet your wishes I hope.

First of all, the legendary Hotel Intercontinental Bucharest is much more than a simple luxury hotels. Rather this hotel is turning to myth and a landmark of the Romanian capital. Hard to believe, it has been build in the center of Bucharest in the 70's as a symbol of the liberal policy of the Ceausescu regime at its peak. During those difficult years was maybe the only possibility to visit Bucharest decently. It has been for more decades the tallest building from Bucharest (nowadays not anymore due to the controversial office buildings ). From the upper terrace you can enjoy the unique spectacular view of the city. Meanwhile the hotel raised again the quality of the services, being a trendsetter in the Romanian hospitality industry.

Hotel Hilton Sibiu happily combines excellent service, friendly staff and fantastic silent position

Hotel Hilton Sibiu might be another adress for a luxury vacation in Romania. Totally different from the usually philosophy of Hilton, it doesn't lie in the very center of Sibiu. On the contrary, and really indicated for the precious customer because of it, Hotel Hilton Sibiu lies outside the city, in the wonderful park of Dumbrava. Thus you can enjoy the most exquisite services in a silent fascinating neighborhood.

The architecture of the Hotel Gerald's of Radauti  is maybe not the happiest choice, but the quality and the friendhttp://romania-tours.blogspot.ro/2014/01/children-friendliest-places-in-romania.htmlliness of the service compensate everything

In a totally other region of Romania, namely Bucovina, the most Nortern region of Romania, I would recommend the Hotel Gerald's from Radauti. This region of Romania is really special, with its sweet hills and mountains and the villages where everything seems to be still in order, the same order of a few centuries ago. Bucovina is also interesting, spectacular and unique because the painted monasteries. You can discover most of these painted monasteries, staying under the roof of the above mentioned Hotel Gerald's from Radauti. Only a few meters from a spectacular orthodox church, the pride of the city, Hotel Gerald's has good service (four stars only! but really enough) and a friendly team, as everywhere in Romania.

I still have some suggestions, but that will be all by now, as I don't want to become boring. Engrave these hotels for now, and follow me further to the next posts.

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Best hotels in Bucharest

I must confess, I love Bucharest. I go very often in this nice charming city, the Romanian capital actually. I must confess again, I am even born in Bucharest, but my family always lived in another place,Focsani, 200 km away from Bucharest ( so, my birth in Bucharest was only an accident!)

There are many reasons to fall with this city: its churches, its fountains, its parks and gardens, its overwhelming downtown with lots of pubs ( 100 years ago all these pubs were crafts workshops or shops). Every of these mentioned attractions is a special chapter worth, and I am going to do it for sure.

Hotel Intercontinental from Bucharest is really spectacular

But at this moment I must tell you first of all a few words about some decisive reasons for taking Bucharest as your future holiday destination: connections and hotels. Bucharest has a big international airport, with regular flights to other world's main cities. It is thus easy reachable, wherever you live on this shrinking planet. It is also easy reachable by train or by car, and even by water: the Danube ports of Giurgiu, Calarasi or Oltenita are only 60 km away!

About the Bucharest hotels, there are many, there are a lot. A wide choice stays to your disposal, according your budget and interest. Two stars **, three star ***, four stars ****, even five stars ***** hotels of Bucharest wait for you, and I am going to make a selection, because I know personally a lot of them, being a travel guide since decades.

Athenee Palace Hilton Hotel enjoys a long history

In the very center of Bucharest, very closed to the KM 0 of Romania, Hotel Intercontinental is one of the landmarks of the Romanian capital. It has a very special and amazing history: build in the 70' years of the XXth century by an American consortium in a communist Romania ruled by Nicolae Ceausescu, became shortly a favorite meeting point of the local jet set. In those times had no competition for a foreign businessman wishing to do some business in Romania. On the contrary, for the normal Romanian it was almost prohibited going there, because of the high class and high prices, but also because of the people of Securitate (the local Secret service). Nowadays Hotel Intercontinental is keeping the flag up through its exquisite atmosphere, trained staff and excellent service.

Hotel Ramada Parc Bucharest offers the best report between  money and quality; besides the staff is very friendly.

Not very far from Intercontinental, next to the Romanian Athenaeum, lies the well known Hotel Athenee Palace with its own history and legends. Between the two world wars was the most impressive meeting point of the Romanian aristocrats. During World War II it has been for more years the residence of the German headquarter and also the place where Romanian generals regularly met the German ones during their briefings. A little neglected during the communist times, it was took over after the Romanian revolution from 1989 by the Hilton concern, which improved the service and the look, but not the name. Athenee Palace by Hilton remains an important name for the Romanian hospitality industry.

Last, but not least hotel to recommend with all my heart is Ramada Parc Hotel. It offers the best price/quality report and lies 15 minutes away from downtown, thus much more peaceful during the rush hours. It also lies close to the Bucharest International airport, and has been totally refurbished and renovated by the company RAMADA only a few years ago. It has a very friendly staff and good service. Really exquisite indeed!

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Best destinations in Romania for Christmas and New Year

Best destinations in Romania for Christmas and New Year

The winter is coming for sure. We are not even on the 1st of December, and outside is falling a cold rain, very close to snow. And it will turn into snow for sure, we are going to have heavy snow falls this winter in Romania, as in the all Northern Hemisphere.

In winter, Bucharest is picturesque and provocative

Very good news for the winter lovers, the other ones shall go South! Thinking on Romania, I can only hope you are going to reach your booked destinations for Christmas and New Year. Under reserve of extraordinary snow falls, I can say that the Romanian road workers are very applicate and do a good job during the winter.

The first option, and of course the easiest one, is Bucharest, as the biggest airport of Romania. You can spend a wonderful vacation in Bucharest, showing a special charm in winter. Take a little walk in the Bucharest snowy parks, visit the Bucharest museums, have a well deserved rest in the many hotels and restaurants of Bucharest. With its more than 2 millions inhabitants, Bucharest is one of the most important and biggest cities of the European Union.

If everything is under control, from Bucharest or other major Romanian city with airport you can try exploring further Romania. Don't climb the Romanian mountains in winter, unless you are a very skilled survivor under extreme conditions. Stay to ski in Poiana Brasov, Borsa, Predeal, Sinaia etc and you will be very happy. It is really an experience you are going to enjoy, but the ski slopes might be full with crowds of other enthusiasthic fans! Avoid, if possible the local feasts, as in these mentioned areas the Romanians are also very fond of ski.

You won't have that problem in Poiana Brasov. It is usually booked by foreign tourists, as being very expensive and exclusive. The Romanians use to say, that only the very rich Romanians can afford to stay in the land and going to Poiana Brasov, other normal people go to ski in Austria or Bulgaria.

Poiana brasov, also known as Schulerau, is the most renowned resort in Romania for ski

If the snow is not very fresh and the wind not too strong, go to a small pension from Bucovina, Maramures, Vrancea and don't miss to ride a horse driven sleigh. It is really fantastic, and you can pretend to live in the past, 200 years ago, visiting your lover from the next village, lieing away at 20 kilometers.

Be sure to receive the locals singing Christmas carols or New year wishes. Everything is like a fairy tale and looks so genuine and original. You know, the half of the Romanian population still lives to the countryside and that is why these traditions are so unbelievable well kept! Very similar, the Hungarians from Hungary  come to the Hungarians from Romania or to the Szekler to rediscover forgotten traditions!

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Best Hotels in Bucharest downtown

The big city with its eclectic architecture is charming and welcomes you from the heart. It is a good start for your Romanian adventure, and you are going to need a few days for visiting and understanding Bucharest, Romania and their wines.

In Cismigiu Hotel is possible to avoid the noisy rooms opening to the main street!

Staying in downtown would be the first choice. Here are some good restaurants, museums, shopping possibilities, everything what you expect to find in an European Capital. Thus you are going to discover and create your Bucharest, and don't forget socializing with the locals at a glass of wine or beer.

You must make from the start a good choice, which is really decisive for your stay in Bucharest. Select your hotel according your budget (no chance under 60 Euros, breakfast included, the upscale goes up to 300 Euros), rooms availability (this is a job for me, believe me).

Near the Cismigiu Park you can easily find Hotel Cismigiu. 25 years ago when me and my wife were students in Bucharest she lived it, I can recommend something based on personal experience. First, if possible, avoid the noisy rooms from the front, opening to the main street. Also noisy and to avoid is the elevator, stay better to the first floors and use the stair. To be honest, I never got stucked in that lift, but I never liked it, is personal opinion. But other wise, the hotel is good, and a room only costs 60 Euros.

Vila Helga is the typical hostel in Bucharest

If you are really on a tight budget, there is no problem, you can still find your hotel in the downtown, which is actually a hostel! At Vila Helga you can stay for 12-22 Euros in separate rooms or shared dormitories, no breakfast included, but a cosy, young, friendly atmosphere.

Casa Capsa is a symbol of  the cultural bohemians and a landmark of Bucharest

Casa Capsa  is a symbol of Bucharest since 100 years. In the upscale restaurant here used to come, and still do artists, writer, prominent businessmen, I mean spirit people. The hotel has been just rebuild and enjoys the wooden works, lamps, carpets and deserves 200 Euros for a night. Unfortunately, the concierge is sometimes not very well mannered.

Hotel Radisson is very modern and comfy and will definitively spoil you.

If you are used living like a king, and money doesn't matters for you, at 300 Euros for night I could recommend you the prestige Radisson SAS hotel, with charming modern rooms, excellent service, swimming pool and restaurant with Romanian specialities and wines.

Well, something for every pocket, I think and hope. Still know other names, but that will do for the moment, I expect your requests.

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