București

București (Bucharest) is Romania's capital and largest city, once nicknamed "Little Paris of the East" for its early-20th-century Belle Époque architecture. Its Old Town, centred near the Dâmbovița River, fell into disrepair under communism and after 1989 but has since been restored into a pedestrianised district of restaurants and nightlife around Lipscani. The city's best-known landmark is the Palace of Parliament, commissioned by Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 1980s — the world's second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon, built from Romanian marble, cement, and steel after the demolition of the historic Uranus–Izvor district.

May through October offers the mildest weather for exploring the city on foot.

Bucharest has a metro system, along with local buses, trams, and taxis.

• Bucharest

Bucharest's restaurant scene spans the full range of Romanian cuisine — sarmale (cabbage rolls), mămăligă (polenta), grilled meats, and țuică (plum brandy) — alongside a large international dining scene as the capital.

1. Take a guided tour of the Palace of Parliament, the world's second-largest administrative building.
2. Wander the restored Old Town (Lipscani) with its Belle Époque architecture, restaurants, and nightlife.
3. Visit Bucharest's museums and historic churches in the city centre.