DID YOU KNOW?

Despite the charitable translation of the city's name (see 'Did You Know'), most visitors' first impression of Bucharest is of a rather joylessly overcrowded, dilapidated, sprawling communist failure. And we would aptly counter that were you to sustain numerous Turkish invasions, survive two World Wars, two major earthquakes and the idiot instincts of a fanatical dictator, you'd probably look a bit like a shambling abortion yourself. Yes, Bucharest is still rehabilitating its crumbling facades, learning democracy and teaching its citizens how to smile. But all are part of a process that makes the city increasingly fascinating each year as it painstakingly labours to restore its former glory. As the commercial and governmental centre of Romania, and the site of the country's major airport, chances are if you're coming to Romania, you'll be passing through Bucharest at some point, like it or not. We're here to help you with the former. A dynamic city with a raging pulse and spirited ambition; a captivating city of great architectural, artistic, social and cultural contrasts, Bucharest has much to offer any visitor with the mettle to match its energy with their own. The results can be as rewarding and riveting as they are incomprehensible...

Allow us to introduce you to some fun facts about Bucharest: You've probably heard that Bucharest's Palace of Parliament is the second largest building in the world by surface volume; and that's not including the enormous, empty park beside it which no one uses. What's more amazing is that despite this vast and virtually unpeopled tract of land in the city centre, Bucharest is still the most densely populated city in Europe (love those communist blocks!). Not only that, but it also has more cars (a big status symbol for Romanians) than any other city in Eastern Europe. Lovely, no? Oh, and in Romanian 'Bucharest' translates to 'City of Joy'. Just look at all those smiling faces crammed onto the tram, waiting patiently in the traffic jam...