Things to do in Romania
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A
City Café
A distinctly more adult crowd frequents this high-tech, blue-lit, ultracool bar to imbibe its many cocktails.
reviewed
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B
Club Domino
They cover all the bases at Domino; a ground floor café, a first floor restaurant and, most importantly, one of only two nightclubs in Constanţa proper in the basement. The bright café is a trendy hangout for drinks and snacks. Theme parties are frequent in the club, with drink specials and guest DJs.
reviewed
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C
History & Art Museum
Housed in a neo-Gothic palace built in the 1830s to host fancy balls, the History & Art Museum, facing Piaţa Universităţii, is a lovely spot with an interesting collection of old artefacts, photos and costumes. A few pieces pre-date the Bronze Era, and some documents hail from the days when Romanians wrote in Cyrillic. Designed by two Austrian architects, the neo-Gothic palace was built in 1832-34 for the Şuţu family, notorious for their high-society parties.
One document upstairs is the first known chronicle of the city (1459), and was issued by the moustached Vlad Ţepeş. A giant Venetian mirror on the stairway reflects a mirrored clock (eternally reading 2.15 these…
reviewed
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Humanitas
Sells some English-language books about Romania.
reviewed
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No Limits
This slightly upmarket disco is to the right of the arched entry to the citadel, just below the Clock Tower. It borders on tackiness but gets steamy on weekends.
reviewed
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D
Planetarium & Dolphinarium
Heading north toward Mamaia, you pass Constanţa’s Planetarium & Dolphin Aquarium, situated on the southeastern shores of Lake Tăbăcăriei.
reviewed
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E
Black Tower
On the hillside above the wall surrounding Old Braşov are two towers - the Black Tower and White Tower (Turnul Alba); both are rather white actually - offering nice views, particularly when the setting sun casts a golden hue on Braşov.
reviewed
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Central Committee of the Communist Party
The scene of Ceauşescu's infamous last speech was on the balcony of the former Central Committee of the Communist Party building on 21 December 1989. Amid cries of 'Down with Ceauşescu!' he escaped (briefly) by helicopter from the roof. Meanwhile, the crowds were riddled with bullets, and many died.
On the front façade next to the entrance is a plaque dedicated to the 'young and courageous people' who 'drove out the dictator', thus 'giving the Romanian people back their freedom and dignity'. A statue of a man, broken but put back together again, dominates the small green area in front. The building now houses the Senate.
reviewed
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F
Fire Club
This is a big red-brick room with student groups crouched on stools around small tables, bottles of Tuborg in hand. Rock and punk shows are staged in the basement.
reviewed
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G
Advertisement
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H
Sora Supermarket & Shopping Mall
The Sora supermarket & shopping mall has cafés, a basement restaurant.
reviewed
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First Romanian School Museum
Beside St Nicholas’ Cathedral is the two-room 1495 First Romanian School Museum, which packs a staggering far-reaching selection of old books and pieces, including the first Russian Bible (1581), King Ferdinand’s coronation flag from 1922 (found in 2006), and 15th-century schoolbooks that warn ‘he who will steal this book will be CURSED…his blood shall melt on his body…his left eye shall dry out!’ Resist the temptation then. No English signage, but guides are available.
reviewed
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Galeria Helios
Hermestim and Galeria Helios are adjacent shops, selling artwork (from around €15), jewellery (from around €30), handcrafts and ceramics (from €12).
reviewed
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Danube Delta By Bike & Boat
8 days (Bucharest)
Explore the best preserved delta in Europe by bike and boat.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,590 -
I
Caru cu Bere
Despite a decidedly tourist-leaning atmosphere, with servers in peasant costumes and sporadic Roma song-and-dance numbers, Bucharest's oldest beer house continues to draw in a strong local crowd. The colourful belleépoque interior and stained-glass windows dazzle. Try the mixed sausage platter (for two!), which, while delicious, has enough grease for a month. Dinner reservations recommended.
reviewed
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J
Doua Roti
A bike shop selling used bikes from 200 lei.
reviewed
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Memorial to Victims of 1989 Revolution
At the Str Republicii's northern end is the wooden-cross Memorial to Victims of 1989 Revolution .
reviewed
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K
Art Café
Saxon intellects and goofing teens discuss the world at side-by-side tables in this small café (coffee, beer, mixed drinks), which sometimes stages jazz and dance events. It has a very open vibe.
reviewed
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G City Grill
Outside tables at this appealing villa, just east of Piaţa Charles de Gaulle, draw a stylin' biz crowd seeking typical Romanian fare in a modern setting.
reviewed
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M
Market
reviewed
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Mayfest
Sibiu's remaining 5500 German-speaking Saxons flock to Dumbrava forest for pagan frolicking and beer bingeing.
reviewed
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N
Star
Four-floor department store.
reviewed
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O
Lussam
An infamous after-bar pizzeria.
reviewed
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Alliance Française
Hosts French classes and events.
reviewed
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P
Access
Offers Romanian-language courses.
reviewed