Herastrau Park
In the early 19th century, the high society of Bucharest made their promenades along the willowed embankments of Herestrau Lake. A few decades later, the entire surrounds were designated a city park. Pink, yellow and red roses greet visitors to this park and, in a small conservatory, freshly picked flowers are arranged daily in the Romanian style. Arched bridges lead to an island and the other side of the park, where there is a bar, restaurant, sports complex and rowing boats for hire. There is also a ferry across the lake and, next to the Village Museum (see Key Attractions), a fun-park with rollercoasters and carousels. However, the area surrounding the park holds even greater treasures. The streets between Bulevardul Mircea Eliade and Soseaua Kisileff contain extraordinarily beautiful houses (from 19th-century neoclassical to 20th-century art nouveau) and modern luxury villas with ivy-covered balconies and exquisite stone carving. This is where Bucharest's elite once lived - and still do today.
Piata Charles de Gaulle Metro Station
Free admission.
Ghencea Civil Cemetery
Reached by bus 384 from Piata Unirii, about 3km (1.8 miles) west of the Palace of Parliament, this spread-out, rather unimpressive cemetery is worth a look to see its two most famous residents: Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, who were executed by firing squad on Christmas Day 1989 after the communist government was toppled. The pair don't lie next to each other (Nicolae is at row I-35 to the left, Elena at H-25 to the right).
Calea 13 Septembrie
Free admission.
Jewish Bucharest
Romania's once-thriving Jewish community (numbering over 750,000 at the outset of WWII) has dwindled to about 10,000. There are a few interesting sites to see in the old Jewish quarter Vacaresti, just east of the historic centre and northeast of Piata Unirii. The most interesting is the Jewish History Museum, housed in a mid 19th-century synagogue. Here exhibits cover Jewish contributions to Romanian history and the 350,000 Romanian Jews who died in concentration camps during WWII. The Sephardic Jewish Cemetery is in south Bucharest near the Eroii Revolutieie metro station.
Jewish History Museum
Mamulari 3
Tel: (021) 311 0870.
Admission charge.
In the early 19th century, the high society of Bucharest made their promenades along the willowed embankments of Herestrau Lake. A few decades later, the entire surrounds were designated a city park. Pink, yellow and red roses greet visitors to this park and, in a small conservatory, freshly picked flowers are arranged daily in the Romanian style. Arched bridges lead to an island and the other side of the park, where there is a bar, restaurant, sports complex and rowing boats for hire. There is also a ferry across the lake and, next to the Village Museum (see Key Attractions), a fun-park with rollercoasters and carousels. However, the area surrounding the park holds even greater treasures. The streets between Bulevardul Mircea Eliade and Soseaua Kisileff contain extraordinarily beautiful houses (from 19th-century neoclassical to 20th-century art nouveau) and modern luxury villas with ivy-covered balconies and exquisite stone carving. This is where Bucharest's elite once lived - and still do today.
Piata Charles de Gaulle Metro Station
Free admission.
Ghencea Civil Cemetery
Reached by bus 384 from Piata Unirii, about 3km (1.8 miles) west of the Palace of Parliament, this spread-out, rather unimpressive cemetery is worth a look to see its two most famous residents: Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, who were executed by firing squad on Christmas Day 1989 after the communist government was toppled. The pair don't lie next to each other (Nicolae is at row I-35 to the left, Elena at H-25 to the right).
Calea 13 Septembrie
Free admission.
Jewish Bucharest
Romania's once-thriving Jewish community (numbering over 750,000 at the outset of WWII) has dwindled to about 10,000. There are a few interesting sites to see in the old Jewish quarter Vacaresti, just east of the historic centre and northeast of Piata Unirii. The most interesting is the Jewish History Museum, housed in a mid 19th-century synagogue. Here exhibits cover Jewish contributions to Romanian history and the 350,000 Romanian Jews who died in concentration camps during WWII. The Sephardic Jewish Cemetery is in south Bucharest near the Eroii Revolutieie metro station.
Jewish History Museum
Mamulari 3
Tel: (021) 311 0870.
Admission charge.