Find your perfect car hire at Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport
The bustling Romanian capital, once dubbed ‘Little Paris’, is a cosmopolitan city with an eclectic past evident in the city’s striking architecture.A gateway to the rest of Romania, Bucharest is the perfect place to begin your road trip. With a car hired from Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport, you’re free to start exploring at your leisure.
Plan your journey from Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport
The city centre is just a 30-minute drive on the DN1 from Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport. Once there, wander the old town, called Lipscani, which escaped destruction under communism and boasts a mix of architecture from the 19th century and communist-era buildings.The Palace of the Parliament is also open to visitors for guided tours, recalling the final days of communism in Romania. Other notable structures include the Arcul de Triumf, built as a monument to WWI soldiers, which shares a similarity to the original in Paris.
Culture seekers will find many museums throughout Bucharest dedicated to art, history and culture. One of the most celebrated is the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, which looks into the country’s traditional heritage. The Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, aimed at children, is a great place to explore as a family. The city is also full of churches (like the Patriarchal Cathedral), public gardens, such as Carol Park, plus shopping centres.
Dining in Bucharest provides a delicious mix of international and local fare, with doner kebabs one of the most popular dishes. Food is generally inexpensive and local dishes are often simple, with stuffed peppers, sausages and potato featuring in much of the cuisine.
From Bucharest, Romania is yours to explore.
Beyond Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport
While many tourists use Bucharest as a base to explore Transylvania, the regions surrounding the capital are laden with history and folklore and offer top day trip destinations. Drive just two hours from Bucharest and you’ll reach a wealth of fascinating attractions and scenic villages.Poenari
Take the E81 west for 40 minutes and you’ll arrive at Poenari Castle – a fortress built by Dracula himself. While many travel over three times as far to visit Bran Castle in Transylvania, Poenari is a much closer alternative. Climb the 1,480 steps to the top of the ruined castle for stunning views of the Carpathian mountains.
Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle
Just under two hours north on the DN1, the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery is a quaint stop to visit as you make your way to Peles Castle, just 2km further. This beautiful Renaissance castle houses a museum, while guided visits reveal its unique architectural details.
Ruse
Take the DN5 south for 90 minutes and cross the Romanian border into Ruse, Bulgaria’s most important city on the Danube river. A rich cultural selection, including many museums and monuments, will soon fill your itinerary. Be sure to visit the Pantheon of the National Revival, which commemorates local lives lost in the Russo-Turkish War, and the Museum of the Urban Lifestyle in Ruse, featuring recreated period rooms that provide a fascinating insight into ancient local life.
With your Avis rental from Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport, access to this eastern European hotspot is easy. All you have to do is drive.