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Listings
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Airlines
Bookings for TAROM internal flights from Baneasa airport are handled at Str. Buzesti 61, just off Piata Victoriei (Mon-Fri 7am-7.30pm, Sat 7.30am-1.30pm; tel 01/659 4185); for international flights from Otopeni go to Str. Brezoianu 10 (Mon-Fri 8am-7.30pm, Sat 8am-noon; information 01/315 0499, reservations 01/315 2747). Carpatair is at Str. Vasile Conta 3 (tel 01/314 7975, fax 313 4174). Most foreign airlines have their offices on B-dul Magheru, B-dul Balcescu or Str. Batistiei: Air France, Str. B-dul N. Balcescu 35 (tel 01/312 0085); Air Moldova, Str. Batistiei 5 (tel 01/312 1258); Air Ukraine, Str. A. Simu 6 (tel 01/311 1408); Austrian Airlines, B-dul N. Balcescu 7 (tel 01/311 1266); British Airways, B-dul Regina Elisabeta 3 (tel 01/303 2222, fax 303 2211,
www.britishairways.com/romania
); KLM, B-dul Magheru 41 (tel 01/231 5619); LOT, B-dul Magheru 41 (tel 01/210 8740); Lufthansa, B-dul Magheru 18 (tel 01/312 9559); Malev, Str. G. Enescu 3 (tel 01/312 0427); Swissair, B-dul Magheru 18 (tel 01/312 0238).
Airport information Otopeni tel 01/230 0022; Baneasa tel 01/232 0020. American Express At Marshall Turism, B-dul Magheru 43 (tel 01/659 6812, fax 223 1203). Banks and exchange There are many exchange counters along B-dul Magheru. Bancomats (ATM) are now increasingly widespread and can be found at most banks, as well as at Otopeni airport and the Gara de Nord. Changing travellers cheques is a relatively painless process; by far the quickest and most efficient place is the Bank Austria Creditanstalt on Piata Revolutiei. Also try the BCR at B-dul Regina Elisabeta 5. The National Bank of Romania is at Str. Doamnei 8. Bicycle repair Str. General Berthelot 10. Books and newspapers Libraria Noi, at B-dul Balcescu 18, is easily the best bookshop in the city. It stocks a good range of English language books, translated Romanian literature, CDs and an increasing number of Romanian city maps. Sala Dalles, next door, sells a rather more limited stock. Libraria Humanitas, Calea Victoriei 45, is worth a look as it has a varied selection of books on Romania and an interesting gallery. There are second-hand bookshops at B-dul Carol I no. 62 and at B-dul Iuliu Maniu 54, and lots of stalls on Piata Romana and in the Piata Universitatii underpass which occasionally have foreign books. The main English-language paper, Nine O'Clock , lists weekend events, theatre and opera on Fridays and is available free from major hotels and airline offices. Foreign newspapers and magazines are available from the more upmarket hotels, but the kiosk in the Intercontinental is the best. Car rental Avis, Str. Sanzao 1 (tel 01/210 4344/45, fax 210 6912); Budget, Str. Eminescu 50-54 ap.2 (tel 01/210 2867, fax 210 2995); Euro Service Amerom, Str. Brezoianu 23-25 (tel 01/204 1567); Europcar, B-dul Magherin 7 (tel 01/224 3230); and Hertz, B-dul Regina Maria 1 (tel 01/337 2910, fax 337 2920). All these companies have outlets at Otopeni airport. Sky Services (tel 01/204 1002), located in the arrivals hall at Otopeni, also rents cars. Car repairs ACR has its head office at Str. Tache Ionescu 27 (tel 01/315 5510, acr@acr.ro ) and technical assistance centres at Calea Dorobantilor 85 (tel 01/211 3455) and Spl. Independentiei 204 (tel 01/638 7250). These should be open 24hr. Automecanica, Calea Floreasca 43 (tel 01/230 0196; Mon-Thurs 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-2pm), is a private company that may be able to help with foreign cars. Courier services DHL are located at Str. Emanoil Porumbaru 85-87 (tel 01/222 1771); TNT are at B-dul Magheru 16, block A, floor 4, apt 35 (tel 01/210 5050, fax 210 5900); and UPS are at Calea Septembrie 81-83 (tel 01/410 0604, fax 410 9910). Embassies and consulates Australia, B-dul Unirii 74 (tel 01/320 9826, fax 320 9823); Britain, Str. J. Michelet 24 (tel 01/312 0303 or 615 3571, fax 312 0229, courier@bucharest-mail.fco.gov.uk ); Bulgaria, Str. Rabat 5 (tel 01/230 2150, fax 230 7654); Canada, Str. N. Iorga 36 (tel 01/222 9845, fax 312 0366); Moldova, Aleea Alexandru 40 (tel 01/230 0474, fax 230 7790); Ukraine, Calea Dorobantilor 16 (tel 01/211 6986, fax 211 6949); USA, Str. T. Arghezi 7-9 (tel 01/312 4040 or 210 4042, fax 210 0395). Emergencies Ambulance tel 961; police tel 955; fire service tel 981. Football The most popular teams are the army team Steaua Bucuresti (B-dul Ghencea 35; tram #8 or #47, trolley bus #69), and the rail-workers' team Locomotiv-Rapid (Sos. Giulesti 18; Metro Cringasi). Less popular is Dinamo, once the Securitate team; the Dinamo stadium is at Sos. Stefan cel Mare 9 (Metro Stefan cel Mare). Fuel Central filling stations (all 24hr) are at Splaiul Independentiei (near the Palace of Parliament), Calea Dorobantilor and B-dul Mihalache. Both Petrom and Shell have several stations around town including: Petrom at Str. T. Arghezi (by the Intercontinental Hotel), Str. Vasile Parvan and Str. M. Rosetti; Shell at Calea Plevnei and Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti. There are others stations on all main routes out of the city, notably at Baneasa and at Militari (the start of the Bucuresti-Pitesti motorway). Lead-free fuel is available at Str. Arghezi, Calea Dorobantilor and Baneasa and at the km36 services on the Pitesti motorway. Hospitals The Clinica Batistei, opposite the US embassy at Str. T. Arghezi 28 (tel 01/315 1643), and the Spital Municipal, Spl. Independentiei 169, are both used to dealing with foreigners, but for emergency treatment you should go to the Spital Clinic de Urgenta, Calea Floreasca 8 (Metro Stefan cel Mare; tel 01/230 0106), or to the private Biomedica International Medical Centre, Str. M. Eminescu 42 (tel 01/211 7136). Your embassy can recommend doctors speaking your language. Internet access Cyber Club, B-dul Carol I 25 (daily 10am-10pm; tel 01/310 3452, metrop@rdsnet.ro ); Flamingo, in the Bucharest Mall, Calea Vitan 55-59 (daily 10am-10pm; tel 01/327 5623, mall@flamingo.ro ); Internet Cafe, Calea Victoriei 136 (daily 24hr; tel 01/650 4214); PC Net, Calea Victoriei 25 (Mon-Sat 9am-10pm; tel 01/310 1635, floria@pcnet.ro ) and Calea Victoriei 136 (daily 9am-5pm; tel 01/315 5186); Sweet Internet Cafe, Str. Maria Rosetti 7-9 (daily 24hr; tel 01/212 4111, patty@kappa.ro ). In addition to these the British Council, Calea Dorobantilor 14, and French Institute, B-dul Dacia 77, have Internet access. Laundry Immaculate Cleaners, Str. Polona 113 (tel 01/211 4413); Nufarul, Calea Mosilor 274 (tel 01/221 1070); Nuf Nuf, Calea Serban Voda 76-78 (tel 092/271 717; 24hr). Libraries The recently refurbished British Council Library, Calea Dorobantilor 14 (tel 01/210 0314, www.britishcouncil.ro ; Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-1pm, closed Aug), has Internet access and week-old British newspapers. The US Cultural Centre (tel 01/210 6102), at the south end of Str. Calderon (closed July & Aug), has similar facilities. Markets Fresh produce is sold in the Unirii, Amzei, Obor, Cringasi, Traian and Matache (Ilie Pintilie) markets, as well as the Aviatiei market just east of Baneasa airport; the Piata Amzei also has a colourful flower market. There is a huge Sunday morning flea market ( Tirgul Vitan ) on Calea Vitan, fifteen minutes' walk south of the Dristor I metro station, alongside the Dambovita embankment. Motoring information From Touring ACR, Sos. Colentina 1 (tel 01/635 0215; Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat & Sun 8am-2.30pm), and its parent organization, the Auto Clubul Roman (ACR), Str. Tache Ionescu 27 (tel 01/315 5510), both near the Piata Romana. They both provide an insurance and breakdown service for members of foreign affiliates. Pharmacies There is at least one 24-hr pharmacy in each sector of the city. Sensiblu have a number of pharmacies throughout the city including central outlets at Calea Dorobantilor 65, B-dul Titulescu 39-49 and Calea Victoriei 12A. In addition Farmadex have a 24hr pharmacy at Calea Mosilor. Photography Film can be bought in most hotels. Kodak (at B-dul Magheru 8-10, and on the ground floor of the Unirea department store on Piata Unirii) and Fuji (at Piata Romana 9 and outside ONT on B-dul Magheru) can develop and print your snaps in an hour. If you need passport photos go to the photomat in the Piata Universitatii metro station. Police For most routine matters go to the most central police station, at B-dul Lascar Catargiu 20 (entrance on Str. Daniel; tel 01/659 2046). Traffic accidents (with damage) should be dealt with at Str. Logofat Udriste (tel 01/323 3030). Post office The main post office is at Calea Victoriei 37 with poste restante hidden behind at Str. Matei Millo 10 (Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat 7.30am-2pm). To receive mail here, make sure it is addressed c/o Officiul PTTR no. 1, Bucuresti. Shopping Department stores: Unirea, Piata Unirii 1 (Mon 11am-8pm, Tues-Fri 7.30am-8.30pm, Sat 8am-2pm); Bucuresti Mall, Calea Vitan 55-59 (daily 10am-10pm); World Trade Plaza, B-dul Expozitiei 2 (daily 10am-7pm). For antiques, visit Craii de Curtea Veche, Str. Covaci 14 (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-3pm); for craftwork head out to the Village Museum; for Romanian music, try Muzica, Calea Victoriei 43 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-7.30pm, Sat 9.30am-2.30pm). Sports facilities The Stadion National, entrances at B-dul Muncii 43 and Str. Major Coravu (hosting many different sporting events); Progresul, Str. Dr. Staicovici 42, just west of the Palace of Parliament (tennis); and Sala Floreasca/Pit Gym Club, Str. Aviator Popa Marin 2 (tennis, basketball, gym, ice skating). In the summer Strandul Tineretului, Aleea Strandului 1 (water sports, tennis). Swimming pools Lucian Grigorescu Hall, Str. Aviator Popa Marin 2; also in the National and Dinamo stadia, as well as in hotels such as the Bucuresti, Hilton and Parc . You can also swim in lakes - Floreasca (Metro Aurel Vlaicu), Straulesti (western terminus of trolley bus #97) and Baneasa (bus #131 or #205). The students' swimming pool is at Strandul Tei, off B-dul Lacul Tei. Train tickets Agentie CFR, Str. Domnita Anastasia 10 (Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat 8am-noon; tel 01/313 2642) or Calea Grivitei 139 (Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat 8am-noon; tel 01/650 7247); to be sure of a seat in summer, you should book at least one and preferably two days in advance. International tickets must be bought at Str. Domnita Anastasia 10 (tel 01/614 5528 or 311 0857), or two hours before departure at the Gara de Nord. You can also buy international tickets from Wasteels in the Gara de Nord (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-4pm; tel 01/222 7844, www.wasteelstravel.ro ); foreign currencies are accepted here.
Travel agents
Atlantic Tours, Calea Victoriei 202 (tel 01/312 7757,
www.atlantic.kappa.ro
); European Travel Services, Str. Orzari 5, bl. 46bis, fl.1 apt. 1 (tel 01/323 6187,
www.europeantravelservices.com
); SimpaTurism, Str. Putu cu Plopi 18 (tel 01/311 3474,
www.simpaturism.ro
) and at Str. Calderon 1 (tel 01/314 0324); and, for ski and spa bookings, Paralela 45, B-dul Regina Elisabeta 27-29 (tel 01/311 1960,
www.paralela45.ro
). For bus tickets to Istanbul try Oz Murat, B-dul D. Golescu 31 (tel 01/638 3992) or Toros, Str. Garii de Nord (tel 01/223 1898). For tickets to Greece try Anesis, Str. Poterasi 22 (tel 01/330 9176). Eurolines are at Str. Ankara 6 (tel 01/230 0370). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Romania,
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