Late Communust leader Nicolae Ceausescu left his mark on the Romanian capital– and often not in a good way.
Dictator
But more than 30 years after his death, tourists are still fascinated by landmarks associated with the former dictator’s reign who was executed during the 1989 revolution.
The villa where he used to live and the giant palace he built, razing thousands of homes in the process, are top attractions in the eclectic city of two million, a tourist platform says.
Another famous Romanian, Vlad the Impaler, also figures on the to-visit list of foreign tourists.
The Visit Bucharest Today platform says Bran Castle, associated with the cruel prince who inspired the Dracula blood-sucking vampire legend, is the favorite option for a day trip.
Bucharest
Tourists who come to Bucharest are likely to visit Herastrau Park and the Caru’ cu Bere restaurant, the site says.
The most frequently asked questions they ask are: „What events are there in Bucharest?”, followed by „Is Bucharest a safe city?” (It is).
The platform said it analyzed 52,000 searches on its web platform and its application between May and July to get a picture,
It said about 60% of the platform’s users are English speakers, followed by German (2.62%), Hebrew (1.90%), French (1.70%), Dutch (1.70%), Russian (1.46%), Italian (1.47%) and Greek (1.42%).
Old Town
The top tourist attractions for foreign tourists are: the Old Town, the Fountains next to Ceausescu’s palace, the huge House of the Parliament he built, the Athenaeum, and the Salvation of the Nation Cathedral behind the palace which is also known as Palace of the People.
“Bucharest is, without a doubt, an unforgettable experience…. (it is) eclectic (something which) arouses the fascination for those who discover the most important attractions to visit in Bucharest,” the site said.
Most-visited museums are Ceausescu’s Villa, the Spring Palace, the Grigore Antipa Museum, National Art Museum, the Village Museum and the Romanian Peasant Museum.
Parks
Favorite parks are Herastrau, the Botanical Gardens and Cismigiu Garden.
Caru cu Bere, Hanul lui Manuc, Brewery H and Hard Rock Café are the most popular restaurants.
When they leave Bucharest, foreign tourists opt for Bran Castle, the Black Sea town of Constanta, the Transylvanian town of Brasov and the old royal castle, Peles.
Visit Bucharest Today is the most visited online guide by English speakers in living in Bucharest and foreign tourists.
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