Bucharest Travel Guide

Airlines -- The headquarters of the national carrier, Tarom (Spl. Independentei 17; tel. 021/337-0400; www.tarom.ro; Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-1pm), are at the airport (tel. 021/204-1355 or 021/201-4979). British Airways: Calea Victoriei 15; tel. 021/303-2222; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Air France: Str. General Proporgescu 1-5; tel. 021/312-0085.

American Express -- Represented by Marshal Turism (www.marshal.ro), at B-dul Unirii 20 (tel. 021/335-1224), and B-dul Magheru 43 (tel. 021/223-1204). Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Area Codes -- For Bucharest dial tel. 021.

Ambulance -- In emergencies, dial tel. 973 or 021/243-1333, to summon Puls, a private ambulance service; otherwise, dial tel. 021/224-0187 (Mon-Sat 7:30am-7:30pm; Sun 7:30am-1:30pm).

Banks & Currency Exchange -- Banks are the best place to exchange foreign currency. ATMs are everywhere and are the best way to obtain local currency, assuming that your credit card has a PIN, or that your cash card has been enabled for international use. Open round-the-clock is Alliance Exchange (B-dul Balcescu 30).

Car Rentals -- Avis (various branches; tel. 021/210-4344; www.avis.ro), Hertz (tel. 021/222-1256; www.hertz.com.ro), and Europcar (B-dul General Magheru; tel. 021/313-1540). Standard car rental is now as low as €29 ($36) per day for a cheap model with unlimited mileage. If you prefer something classier, try Bavaria Rent a Car (www.bavariarent.ro; tel. 021/201-4534), specializing in BMWs, with tough models that will better handle some of Romania's more treacherous roads.

Drugstores -- Open round-the-clock, Help Net has branches at B-dul Unirii 24 (tel. 021/335-7425), Calea 13 Septembrie 126 (tel. 021/411-9574), Sos. Mihai Bravu 128, bl. D24 (tel. 021/252-7266), and Str. Av. Radu Beller 8 (tel. 021/233-8984).

Embassies -- The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm) is at Str. N. Filipescu 26; tel. 021/200-3300; www.usembassy.ro. The Canadian Embassy (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri (8.30am-2pm) is at Str. Nicolae Iorga 36; tel. 021/307-5000; www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca. The U.K. Embassy (Mon-Thurs 8:30am-1pm and 2-5pm; Fri 8:30am-2:30pm) is at Str. Jules Michelet 24; tel. 021/210-7300; www.britishembassy.gov.uk/romania. Contact the Australian Embassy (B-dul Unirii 74; www.romaniaaustralia.ro) at tel. 021/320-9802. There is no New Zealand Embassy in Bucharest; your best contact is in Vienna (tel. 0043/1/318-8505).

Emergencies -- Dial tel. 961 in case of emergencies; for an ambulance, dial tel. 961 or 973; and contact tel. 981 in case of fire. See "Police," below.

Hospital -- Romania's best state-run facility is Emergency Clinic Hospital (Spitalul de Urgenta Floreasca; Calea Floreasca 8; tel. 021/317-0121). A good private service is Victor Babes (Str. Mihai Bravu 281; tel. 021/317-9503), which is also open 24 hours a day, and has a price list for all services on its website, www.cdt-babes.ro. A good chain of clinics is Medicover (emergency number tel. 021/310-4040), with three branches, at Calea Plevnei 96 (tel. 021/310-4410), Str. Dr. Grozovici 6 (tel. 021/310-1599), and Str. Grigore Alexandrescu 16-20 (tel. 021/310-1688); they're open 8am to 8pm weekdays and also Saturday morning.

Internet Access -- Most hotels now have Internet, and many have Wi-Fi.

Police -- Dial tel. 955. The most central police station is at Calea Victoriei 17; tel. 021/311-2021.

Post Office -- Bucharest's main post office is located at Str. Matei Millo 10, and is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.