Villas in Bucharest

Between grand boulevards nicknamed 'Little Paris' and concrete blocks from the communist era, Bucharest offers fascinating contrasts. The Palace of Parliament looms impossibly large - tour it to understand the megalomania that built the world's heaviest building. Wander the cobbled lanes of Lipscani district, where hip cafes occupy centuries-old merchant houses. The Village Museum displays traditional Romanian homes transported whole from the countryside. Terra Park provides family fun while the National History Museum houses a replica of Trajan's Column. For evening entertainment, catch a performance at the elegant National Theater or Odeon Theatre, then join locals at an outdoor garden in Herastrau Park.