Fly from Nice to Bucharest

Bucharest may not be paved in gold like Berlin or Copenhagen, but Romania is lovely and just as vibrant! It has a rich culture all its own which you’ll see in museums, centuries-old palaces, and in its avant-garde galleries full of ambition and creativity.
That’s what’s likely to surprise you most if you come, whether as a couple or with friends: the intensity of this city. Are you imagining it modest, resigned, chasing after lost time? It’s completely the opposite! It’s racing towards the future in leaps and bounds, plus it’s imaginative and knows how to party. Designers, creators, and artists are everywhere in Lipscani, the heart of local bohemian life, original bars and trendy night clubs abound and you’ll see that a weekend isn’t enough to get your fill of the intense energy here.
But there’s another Bucharest vying for your attention: that of charming, picturesque streets, relaxing terraces, and games of chess under shady trees, or else meeting the elderly farmers at the markets and getting a taste of recipes that have survived the ages. An art of living that reminds us that Bucharest is Latin at heart.

• Go check out the Palace of the Parliament, a giant that reigns over Bucharest. Symbol of the megalomania of Ceauşescu, the tyrant who reigned over the country in the 70s and 80s, this 1100-room building is literally an act of folly!
• Move from the ostentatiousness of Parliament to the simplicity and authenticity of the National Village Museum, an open-air museum which has kept the countryside in the heart of the city since 1936 with its farms, cottages, and windmills.
• Treat yourself to the exceptional in one of the world’s best concert halls: The Athenaeum. Designed more than a century ago by Albert Galleron, a French architect, this neo-classical temple enthrals music lovers with its perfect acoustics.
• Walk up Calea Victoriei, “Victory Avenue”, the most beautiful in Bucharest, built during the early 20th century and the country's independence. You’ll find age-old palaces, museums, tiny churches, and Casa Capșa, one of the oldest and best restaurants in the city.
• Linger in the Cișmigiu Gardens, near Calea Victoriei. With 200 acres and a lake you can see by boat, it’s one of the best outings in Bucharest, for lovers and chess players alike.
• Wander the streets of the Lipscani district. It holds the history of the city with its 18th century buildings, ancient cobblestone streets, and antique shops. But it also holds the city's future, with art galleries, excellent restaurants, and trendy bars.
• Say hi to one of Romania’s most (unfortunately) famous celebrities: Vlad III, the Impaler. It was he who inspired the legendary tale of Dracula, and his statue is in Curtea Veche, Old Princely Court, in the old town, not far from the magnificent and tiny Stavropoleos Monastery.
• Pick your poison: Piata Universitatii, University Square, is the domain of students of the Arts. Piata Revoluției, Revolution Square, is full of history, and here you’ll find the Memorial of Rebirth.
• Get a taste of Romanian cuisine and its specialities, such as ciorba de burta (tripe soup) or papanaşi, pastries with soft cheese and cherry preserves. A great place to try them: Caru’ cu bere, the oldest restaurant in the city. Kitsch and indulgent!
• Stay up past your bedtime and see Bucharest by night. Off-the-map bars and electrifying clubs (like Control Club, an institution!) make Bucharest a true night owl.