Bucharest

Romania's largest city and capital is well-known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and glorious Belle Epoque buildings. With its reputation for the high life, Bucharest was known as "Little Paris" in the 1930s.

Remodelled in the late 19th century by French architects, Bucharest even features an "Arc de Triomphe" on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer than the famed Champs-Elysees.

The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society.

Languages: Romanian (official)

Currency: Romanian Leu

Climate: A temperate climate, with four distinct seasons: mild temperatures during Spring and Autumn, hot Summer and cold Winter.

Culture: Bucharest is experiencing renewed vigour: 37 museums, 22 theatres, opera houses and concert halls and 18 art galleries offer visitors a vast array of local culture.

Places to visit: National Art Museum, Village Museum of Folk Art, Romanian Peasant Museum, Dracula's Castle, Palace of Parliament, Stavropoleos Church.