Old Town (Centrul Vechi) and Strada Lipscani

The Old Town (Centrul Vechi) of Bucharest, centred on Strada Lipscani in Sector 3, is the oldest surviving commercial quarter of the Romanian capital and its most concentrated area of cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The street takes its name from merchants who traded goods from Leipzig, and in the 19th century it was lined with workshops and banks. Today the pedestrianised lanes combine restored neoclassical and eclectic facades with buildings still awaiting repair, which gives the district a layered, slightly rough character. Visitors typically walk Lipscani from Calea Victoriei towards Piata Unirii, turning into side passages such as Hanul cu Tei, a covered courtyard of craft shops, and visiting nearby landmarks including Stavropoleos Monastery, Curtea Veche and Manuc's Inn. By day the area suits browsing for books, antiques, souvenirs and coffee, and a typical stroll takes 2 to 3 hours with stops. Late afternoon brings the best light on the facades, while from about 8:00PM the streets fill with terraces and music venues. On Friday and Saturday nights the zone becomes loud and crowded with both locals and tourists, so travellers wanting a quiet look at the architecture should visit in the morning or on weekdays. Pavements are uneven in places and cobbles can be slippery after rain. Pickpocketing is occasionally reported at crowded terraces and bars, so valuables should be kept secure. Street menu boards can be pricey; checking prices before sitting down helps avoid surprises. The Old Town is within a short walk of the metro and is the easiest base for combining several central sights on one walking route. Several museums and historic inns sit within a few hundred metres, which makes the area a convenient first stop for first-time visitors to Bucharest, Romania.