We already know that Bucharest boasts the second largest building in the world in terms of surface area, and that it is often associated with the gorgeous capital of France, but what makes it even more special? Why is Romania's capital charming and why does it deserve a top place on the list of cities to visit?

The contrast between old and new - Bucharest is a city that can uniquely blend old and new, with buildings in the same courtyard or very close to each other. On the one hand, the city can take you back a few centuries, among historic buildings with impressive architecture, narrow streets and traditional squares, while on the other hand, a few seconds later, it can take you to the skyscraper future. The Manuc's Inn, built more than 200 years ago, fits perfectly into the Bucharest landscape, but also find their place in the millennium buildings built in the 3rd millennium, more than 120 meters high, where high-speed elevators - like Sky Tower or Globalworth Tower - rotate dozens of times a day - buildings in the north of the capital that make business move the country. 

What's more, if you wander the capital's backstreets, you won't find it extraordinary to see dilapidated cottages in the courtyards where flower-dressed housewives hang their essentials on the clothesline, just a stone's throw from all-glass-fronted mansions with huge backyards and swimming pools three times the width of the neighbors' houses. 

Multiculturalism unheard of in Romanian cities - Romanians are not often the most open-minded people when it comes to strangers from other corners of the world - or at least they weren't until a few years ago. People in the provinces may still be reticent about people of other nationalities, but not Bucharest residents. Here, you often see Romanians laughing with Dutch and even Africans at the same table, or couples in love communicating in English, without English being the mother tongue for either of them. What's more, if you walk among the people of Bucharest, you won't feel looked down on or judged if you choose to wear one color of shoe and another color of shoe, as you might in any other Romanian city. People of Bucharest mind their own business, usually!

Organized chaos: the kind that gets under your skin  - Bucharest can be loved or hated - there is no in between! And that's because it's not a city like any other, it's not quiet or chaotic, it's a mix that either conquers you or leaves you with disappointment in your heart. Go clubbing at night or just be present in traffic at rush hour, and then remember how you felt in the park in the north of the capital 2 hours earlier. All part of the same city? Yes, they are! Part of your heart? Anything is possible!  

Nightlife, not expensive at all and with an appealing vibe - Bucharest is famous for its dinamic nightlife. The clubs, bars, pubs and terraces are packed with tourists and locals eager to party. And if you compare it to nightlife in other European cities, in Bucharest the payoff is twofold: lower prices and a more appealing vibe. If you're looking for live music, theater or other cultural events, Romania's capital will not disappoint.

Mixed gastronomy at reasonable prices - Want to eat traditional Romanian food? You can find delicious dishes in restaurants in Bucharest. Greek? Italian? Turkish? Lebanese? Asian? Fast-food? All of Bucharest is the answer, and the prices are much more reasonable compared to other restaurants in European capitals.