About Bucharest (București)

Bucharest (București, pronunciation [buku’reʃti]) is the largest city in Romania and, along with being its capital city, it is also the counrty’s main cultural, industrial and university center, built along Dâmbovița river, about 60km north of the Danube river. First mentioned historically in 1459, Bucharest became the capital of the Kingdom of Romania in 1862. One may experience a mix of historical eras, from neoclassical and Art Nouveau, to the socialist and modern style. Bucharest benefits from a large cultural and architectural development which took place between the two World Wars, when it is earned the nickname “Little Paris”.  Buildings such as the Atheneum, the Royal Palace (now hosting the National Art Museum), The (old) National Library,  the Athene Palace Hotel,  Telephones Company Building (Palatul Telefoanelor – the first Romanian “skyscraper”),  the National Bank, etc. , stand out. During the 50 years of oppressive socialist rule, buildings such as the House of the People (nowadays knwon as the Palace of Parliament),  the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, were built, becoming one of the city’s main tourist attractions. The construction of such a monumental building brought about the enforced demolition or displacement of old buildings and cultural monuments, e.g., the church of Monastery Mihai Vodă, which was notably moved on rails 285 metres east and hidden in its present location, behind residential buildings.  Other sightseeing attractions include the National Museum of the Village “Dimitrie Gusti” (Muzeul Național al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti”), an open-air ethnographic museum located in the King Michael I Park, showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum contains the most impressive collection of traditional houses collected from all historical regions of Romania. Additioanlly, the Cotroceni National Museum Complex – the Presidential Residence, is a 300 years old collection of buildings and monastic sites, endowed with a vibrant history. Last but not least, visitors can always relax in one of the many beautiful parks of Bucharest, away from the bustling life of the city, such as: Cișmigiu Gardens (Gradinile Cișmigiu), King Carol I Park (Parcul Carol), Young People’s Park (Parcul Tineretului), King Michael I (Herăstrău) Park (Parcul Herăstrău).

A visiting stay in Bucharest is an invigorating experience. In a city that never sleeps, the bustling city life is famous for the affordable eating, drinking and partying.

Tourist Information

The official Tourist information website is available here.

Language

Romanian is the official language. English is widely spoken. French, Italian, Spanish and German are also spoken.

Climate

Typical Romanian summers are dry and hot. However, the beginning of June is sunny, with temperatures rising up to 27- 28 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The nights are cool and breezy, with temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius. Rain showers are known to occur infrequently.

Currency, Banking Hours, Credit Cards

The Romanian currency is the RON (Romanian New Leu  or simply LEU [leu:], plural LEI [lei]). The National Bank exchange rates can be seen here.

Typical banking hours for the public: Monday-Friday 09:00-16:30.

Two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)  are within the university’s campus in Rectorate, AN and BN buildings.

Hotels, large shops, restaurants and public transportation normally accept credit cards.

Public Transportations

Commuting between Conference Venue and Palace of Parliament

Bus

Underground Metro

On foot

Details:

• Please be aware that you need to reach at the Palace of Parliament by 18:30 (at least 30 min before 19:00) for the security check to be able to participate in the guided tour.
• Due to strict security measures, you MUST carry with you an identification document (passport or ID card) to enable the access in the Palace of Parliament.
• The trip from the conference venue to the Palace of Parliament takes around 35-45 min, so please do plan accordingly.

Taxi

Information on authorized taxis is available at this link. Although traveling by taxi in Bucharest is cheap, we advise hiring only authorized cabs with logo, fares and contact numbers displayed on the vehicle. Hiring independent taxis should be avoided.

General Shopping Hours

Shop opening times vary depending on their type and location, though shops normally open at 9 AM and close at 6 PM. There are, however, many supermarkets open 24 hours.

Pharmacies/Drugstores

Pharmacies and drugstores stay open during shopping hours. Late night pharmacies can be found online, e.g., here.

Tipping

Because of the 10% service charge levied in hotels and restaurants, a tip is not mandatory, but it is always welcome.

Insurance

It is recommended that participants arrange insurance for medical expenses, loss and accidents occurring during the conference. The European Health Insurance card can be used in the public hospitals in Romania.

Electric Current/Voltage

Electricity in Romania conforms to the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. Wall outlets typically accommodate plugs with two round pins. Many hotels in Bucharest have adapter plugs that can be loaned to guests; you  could also purchase adapters in the supermarkets and shopping centers.

Romania Country Code

The telephone country code of Romania is +40.

Emergency Numbers

In case of any emergency call the emergency number 112, available on any mobile device or by installing the official app Apel 112 by the Romanian Special Telecommunications Service (STS).

COVID-19 Information

Please note that currently Romania has no restrictions due to COVID-19. Masks are not compulsory anywhere and testing is no longer advised.

COVID-19 self-tests are available in pharmacies. There are two pharmacies close to campus of the University Politehnica of Bucharest, located within  Orhideea Shopping Centre, Splaiul Independenţei 210-210B, 060025 Bucharest.

For personalized domestic travel guidelines contact Tudor C. Ionescu