Week-end suggestion in Bucharest

A Weekend in “Little Paris”: Suggestions for the Bored

If you’re new in town, or just bored because you don’t really know what to do with yourself and your family, check out a couple of our suggestions!

So it’s Saturday morning, and you realize that it will be a hot and dry day. Have breakfast before it gets too hot at home. Then pack your swim suits and head off to the Diplomatic Club (see Sports Section). The RON 60 entrance-fees are worth it to spend a whole day underneath old trees and next to a big, beautiful swimming pool (Western European standard) on this blisteringly hot Bucharest summer day.

And since it is Saturday, you can treat yourself to an hour-long massage with their weekend physiotherapist. (Swimming alternative: a big family water park in Otopeni, close to the airport; you can also stay here the whole day: www.waterpark.ro)

In the evening, it is still hot and the city is glimmering. You can chose: either a Saturday night live music concert at Hard Rock Café in Herastrau Park and a relaxed evening on the terrace there with their typical music, or going into the city center.

On the top of the National Theater, there is the famous student terrace “La Motoare”. Take the lift up to the top and enjoy a summer night there (address in the Cafés section). Take a reliable taxi home if you’ve had a drink (see Taxi section).

Sleep in on Sunday morning. At around 11, take your kids and go with friends to have brunch in one of the hotels. Yes it is expensive, yes it is luxury…but if you can afford it, do it, because once in a while it is worth it to start a Sunday with luxury. A very good brunch place close to the old town is offered by the big hotels like Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, Howard Johnson, Novotel, Intercontinental and Crown Plaza with separate kids’ entertainment, prices at RON 170-230/person).

Or just go to Lipscani quarter (see map on back cover), in 2010 dozens of nice places have opened their doors and the trend seems to continue! There are always new places, pubs, bars, boutiques.

Or, head out to one of the traditional markets (see Shopping section). Then, enjoy the evening at home with some fresh pasta and sauce (at the traditional markets you can find quality seasonal vegetables). Alternatively, you could take your kids to Titan Park in the eastern part of the city, or to Herastrau or Floreasca Park, which has new playgrounds that were installed in 2010 – great fun.

Some of them seem to be outdoor gyms, not only made for kids. For more info on what to do with kids, check out our new kids entertainment section! If you don’t have kids, have a walk around the lake. The earlier the better; in the morning in summer the lake is breathtaking! And if you don’t feel like going out at all, you should at least have some good meals at home. Saturday morning, quickly go to one of the butchers the authors recommend (see Butcher section) for fresh quality meat, buy a bunch of vegetables at the market, get some good bottles of wine (see Wine Dealers section) and enjoy your week-end at home!

If you are looking for a weekend getaway out of the city, City Compass is offering a new Discover Hidden Romania week end trip since May 2010- and if you would like to discover this beautiful country on your own, maybe some hints from our new “Beyond Bucharest” section will be inspire you. Enjoy your week-ends!