Weather
The average daily temperature in May is ranges from the 53°F to 75°F (approximately 12-24°C). Check the current local forecast here.
Currency
The official currency in Romania is the Romanian Leu. Click here for currency conversion.
Credit cards are widely accepted, however, they are not accepted everywhere. Carrying some cash is recommended, especially in restaurants and smaller stores. ATMs are the easiest way to withdraw cash from your home account. Be sure to inform your bank before traveling abroad and be aware that you may be charged for cash withdrawals. It is advisable to exchange some cash before traveling to Denmark.
Electricity
The power supply in Bucharest is 230 volts at 50 Hertz. Sockets accept two-round-pin style plugs. If you travel with a device that does not accept 230 volts at 50 Hertz, you will need to bring a voltage converter with you. You may also need a 2-prong (Type C) plug adapter if your appliance's plug has a different shape.
Attractions
Palace of the Parliament
Visit one of the world's largest and heaviest buildings, which houses the Romanian Parliament. Built at the special request of Nicolae Ceausescu, leader of Romania's Communist Party, the colossal Parliament Palace - formerly known as "People's House" ( Casa Poporului ) - is the world's third-largest administrative building, after Surat Diamond Bourse (India) and U. S. Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build this masive structure that boasts 12 stories above ground, 1,100 rooms, a 350-ft.-long lobby and eight underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker.
Old Town (Lipscani)
At the beginning of 1400s, most merchants and craftsmen - Romanian, Austrian, Greek, Armenian and Jewish - established their stores and shops in this section of the city; a jumble of streets between Calea Victoriei, Blvd. Bratianu, Blvd. Regina Elisabeta and the Dambovita River.Soon, the area became known as Lipscani, named for the many German traders from Lipsca or Leiptzig.
Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church was built in 1724 by the Greek monk Ioanikie Stratonikeas. Featuring a combination of Romanian and Byzantine architecture, it has a beautiful façade and a delicately carved columned entrance. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is an architectural jewel, with beautiful frescoes and wood-painted icons. The mass (in Romanian) is worth viewing if you can find room in this small and cozy church.
Arch of Triumph
See a monument similar to its Parisian namesake, built to commemorate Romanian soldiers' bravery in World War I. Built in 1922 to honor the Romanian soldiers who fought WWI, Bucharest's Arch of Triumph also symbolizes Romania's latin heritage and its strong ties with France. The monument was redecorated in 1936 with base-reliefs carved in marble brought from Rușchița - Transylvania. The sculptures were created by leading Romanian artists - including Ion Jalea, Constantin Medrea and Constantin Baraschi - and ten Italian sculptors. Every weekend, June through October, visitors can climb to the top of the 90 feet-high structure, via an interior staircase, for a panoramic view of the city.
Revolution Square
One of Bucharest's ares most often associated with the 1989 unrest that lead to the demise of Romania's Communist Regime is Piata Revolutiei. Revolution Square gained international notoriety when TV stations around the globe broadcasted Romania's Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu's final moments in power, on December 21, 1989. From the balcony of the former Communist Party Headquarters, Nicolae Ceausescu stared in disbelief as the people gathered in the square, as his request, turned on him. He fled the angry crowd in his helicopter and his 34-years in power ended. Revolution square's importance stretches back long before the dramatic events of the 1989 Revolution. On the west side of the square stands the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum and the small, but beautiful, Kretzulescu Church. On the opposite side of the Royal Palace stands the stunning Romanian Athenaeum, an 1,000-seat music venue known for its excellent acoustics and huge frescoes that depict important moments in Romania's history.
Village Museum (Dimitrie Gusti)
Step back in time at this open-air museum, showcasing over 270 authentic traditional Romanian houses from all over the country. Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herestrau Park. It features a collection of original 50 buildings representing the history and character of Romania's rural architecture. Steep-roofed peasant homes, thatched barns, log cabins, churches and watermills from all regions of the country were carefully taken apart, shipped to the museum and rebuilt in order to recreate the village setting. Throughout the year, the Village Museum hosts special events where you will have a chance to witness folk artisans demonstrating traditional skills in weaving, pottery and other crafts. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.
Bucharest History & Art Museum
Housed in the neoclassical Sutu Palace (1834), the museum features some 300,000 artifacts, from coins, books, maps, engravings, paintings, arms and furniture to old traditional costumes. Among the most valuable exhibits are the document attesting for the first time the name of the city of Bucharest, issued by Vlad Tepes in 1459, and a sword set in precious stones that belonged to Prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714).
Royal Palace Great Concert Hall
Located next to the Royal Palace, the concave-roof structure was built in 1960 to accommodate the 3,000 Communist party members who every five years attended the communist party congress. It was on this stage that Nicolae Ceausescu would deliver his vision of a multilaterally developed socialist society. Today, the massive auditorium plays host to various conferences and events, including some of the George Enescu International Festival concerts.
Visit the Tourism Bureau website for more information on traveling to Bucharest.