Visit Bucharest Village Museum (Muzeul Satului) The museum is set up as a traditional Romanian village with 272 houses (the oldest one dates back to the 17th Century), wooden churches, windmills, carts, tools etc. There is also a restaurant serving traditional Romanian food. The Museum’s site also has a virtual tour and additional information: http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/en/

2. Visit the Cotroceni Museum (Palatul Cotorceni) The Romanian equivalent of the White house – built in the 17th century and very well maintained Details and virtual tour here: http://www.muzeulcotroceni.ro/engleza/pe dagogie_eng.html#

3. Have dinner at Caru’ cu Bere Historic setting in Old Bucharest built in 1879. After dinner take a stroll through the streets behind the restaurant. Many buildings in the area are being restored and there’s plenty of places to go out without the kids as well…

3. Have dinner at Caru’ cu Bere Try the following Romanian dishes: 1. Their House beer (recipe dating back to 1879) 2. Skinless Sausages (Mititei or Mici) – usually made of lamb, served with bread and mustard 3. Try Ciolan Afumat cu Varza – Cabbage and smoky beef (on the bone) – photo upper right) 4. Sarmale cu mamaliguta - Stuffed cabbage with polenta (photo lower right) 5. Papanasi for dessert -Cheese stuffed doughnut, covered with sour cream and jam – photo below Details here: https://www.carucubere.ro/en/

4. Walk through Old Bucharest After dinner at Caru cu Bere take a stroll through the streets behind the restaurant. Many buildings in the area are being restored and there’s plenty of places to go out without the kids as well…It might be a good idea to visit the area with the kids during the day and then come back without them at night. The night life here is incredible! The area offers bars, pubs, restaurants, live music and the streets are full of people day and night.

5. Peles Castle (Castelul Peles) Visit this on your way to Bran Castle – the castle dates back to 1883 by King Carol I. The castle is located in the mountains and scenery is beautiful.

6. Visit the Palace of Parliament (outside only) It’s the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon, and the world’s largest civilian administration building. Covered mostly in marble, it’s also the world’s heaviest building and the most expensive administrative building. I toured it 3 years ago and I have to say it’s not too impressive on the inside, because the most interesting rooms are not open to the public. Also, the inside was never fully finished. The outside is well worth it though. The building is HUGE and it’s the perfect reflection of a dictator’s megalomania. The building can bee seen from the Hop-On / Hop –Off Bus tour (Number 7. on the list) and the audio guide on the bus will offer information about the building.

7. Take a bus tour The bus tour will take you through all the major sites. A ticket costs $8.50 and is valid for 24 hours. You can hop on and off the bus any time. The bus takes you to the Village Museum, the House of Parliament, and Caru cu Bere. Here is a map of the bus route: http://romaniatourism.com/romania-maps/bucharest/bucharest-hopon-hopoff-sightseeing-bus-tours.html