The Old Town

Vlad the Impaler's former court at Curtea Veche, now an open-air museum of excavated medieval ruins, and the National Museum of Romanian History, housed in a former palace, are both located in Bucharest's grand Old Town. Local wines and beaded jewelry are sold in shops, and traditional dishes are served in elegant restaurants housed in 19th-century buildings. After dark, crowds flock to buzzing pubs and discos.

The Old Town of Bucharest is one of the city's oldest settlements, with structures dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Over the centuries, it has served as the seat of Romanian princes, a trade center, a place of worship, and a crossroads for travelers. It also survived Ceausescu's razing of one-fifth of the city in the 1980s to build his vision of a new socialist capital. After decades as a slum, much of the Old Town has been gentrified and renovated since communism's demise.

While many historic buildings have been admirably restored, others are still in need of a facelift. This contrast adds to the Old Town's pedestrian lanes and cobblestone streets lined with bookstores, theaters, restaurants, and cafés. Visit Curtea Veche, an open-air museum built on the site of the Old Princely Court, which was once home to Vlad the Impaler, and the National Museum of Romanian History, which houses fine collections of religious and royal treasures.

Google rating: 4.2/5

Location: the center of Bucharest, Romania

Open: 24 hours