Best things to do in Bucharest

Ironically named the "People's Palace" by the country's most notable dictator, Palace of Parliament was built for Nicolae Ceauşescu, who was killed in the revolution before the building was finished. Among marble-plated halls and conference rooms, notice the twin marble stairways, which were rebuilt three times before Ceauşescu was satisfied with their height. The highlights of the guided tour include the ethnographic display of traditional Romanian costumes, and the balcony from which Michael Jackson greeted the public. For an extra fee, you can take a tour of the basement, or climb to the roof terrace, which offers one of the best views of the city. The building also houses a museum of contemporary art.

See what peasant life was like hundreds of years ago at Muzeul National al Satului "Dimitrie Gusti". The open-air site, founded on the shores of a lake in 1936, exhibits nearly 300 structures of rural architecture brought from Romania's historical regions. Walk among steep-roofed peasant homes, farmsteads, log cabins, thatched barns, windmills, and water mills. Take time to visit the steep belfry of the wooden church, the earth houses, and the carved entrances of the 18th-century houses from Berbeşti. Amenities include a souvenir shop selling folk arts and crafts, a stall with traditional Romanian sweets and cakes, and a restaurant set in an original 19th-century inn. Call in advance for guided tours, which are available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.

Walk, cycle, jog, take a boat ride on the lake, or just sit in one of the quiet, shady corners of Herăstrău Park. The park was laid out in the 1930s on the lakeshore, which had been the favorite promenade for the city's rich since the late 19th century. Today you'll find numerous attractions, including an open-air village museum, a royal palace, an old-fashioned fairground, an aquarium, a summer theater, and many small pavilions hosting art exhibits. Walk its alleyways lined with roses, old trees, water fountains, and benches. As you walk, notice the park's many sculptures representing statesmen, artists, poets, and fictional characters, such as Prince Charming. Explore summer terraces on the lakeshore, visit the tennis courts, rent a bike, or stop for a bite to eat. The park also features a memorial to Michael Jackson.

Stavropoleos Monastery has been compared to a jewelry box because of its small size, rich exterior, and interior choral style decoration. Observe the ornate stone and wood carvings, particularly on the church's main doors, as well as the restored 18th-century ceiling and wall paintings. As one of the city's oldest churches, the house of worship is also known for its collection of Byzantine music books, ancient texts, and sacred objects. It's the only surviving part of the original women's monastery built in 1724. Notice the collection of tombstones scattered around the courtyard surrounded by a richly ornamented colonnade with oriental arches.

Imagine the pre-World War II cityscape at Old Town, with its restored period houses, old churches, outdoor terraces, and cafes. This district, once filled with artisan shops, stores, inns, and Boyar houses developed near the Princely Court in the 16th century. The statue of a she-wolf--a gift from the city of Rome--adorns the small square at the entrance to the Lipscani Lane, paved with wood. Go inside the Linden Inn, one of the rare buildings to survive the great 1847 fire, to feel the atmosphere of the early 19th century. Today this area is the capital's most vibrant entertainment district with plenty of places to eat, drink, and dance.

Follow the meandering alleys of Cismigiu Parc along the shores of an artificial lake adorned with statues, memorials, and the capital's first newspaper stand. Designed in the mid-19th century, the garden showcases trees brought in from the Romanian mountains, as well as exotic plants from the Viennese botanical gardens. The highlights of the gardens include the "Romanian round," featuring busts of important Romanian writers, and two war memorials dedicated to French and American soldiers. The marble monument of French heroes depicts a grieving mother pouring water from a pitcher. The garden is also home to cafes, refreshment kiosks, summer terraces, children's playgrounds, and a restored 1920s restaurant.

Learn what life was like for peasants around the Romanian countryside during the last four centuries at Muzeul Karanului Roman. Housed in a red-brick building, the museum exhibits traditional dress, furniture, hand-painted Easter eggs, icons, terracotta pottery, tools, and other items. If you want to find out more about the artifacts, you can take the information panels available in English and carry them with you. In a farmer's kitchen look for a door in one corner, behind which surprises await. The museum also features complete wooden buildings, a gift shop that sells replicas of some exhibits, and a small room in the basement dedicated to the communist era.