Attractions in Bucharest

 "Caru cu bere" restaurant

"Grigore Antipa" History Museum

"National Arena" Stadium

Chinese garden in Herastrau Park

"Afi Palace Cotroceni" Mall

Palace of the Parliament or The People's Palace in Bucharest

Palace of the Parliament or The People's Palace

This great structure was built by Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 1980's and was intended to house the Parliament and to be his residence.

            It is the world's largest and most expensive non-military building, and also the heaviest building in the world.

The tour only covers a few rooms. The twin marble staircases (rebuilt 3 times until the steps were exactly the height where Ceaușescu could descend the stairs without turning his head down), the room with traditional Romanian costumes, and the balcony with view to the avenue (where Michael Jackson greeted the public with "Hello Budapest!") are very interesting.

The Palace measures 270 m by 240 m, 86 m high, and 92 m underground. It has 1100 rooms, from which 440 offices, 30 halls, 4 restaurants, 3 libraries and a concert hall.

Estimated cost of building (until 2006): 3 billion EUR.