Bucharest Herăstrău Park — Attraction in Bucharest

SHORT HISTORY Traditionally, the banks of the Herstru lake, are known to be a favourite place of leisure for the people of Bucharest. By the very beginning of the XVIIn century, the wife of the Ruler Alexandru Ipsilanti, Ecaterina, was enjoying strolling on the lake, accompanied by the ladies of the Court. By the next centuries, the town's common people began taking walks in the Park, enjoying the fresh air, on the Holy days, and having fun in the little pub called later "Bordei" No sooner than 1936, at "Luna Bucurestilor" exhibition, the Herästru Park received the name of King Carol the Il'h , name that would not be kept for a long time. After the communists took power, it was given the name of "V.I. Stalin", who's bronze statue (removed after the dictator's death) was laid in front of the entrance of today's "Charles de Gaulle" plaza. Opened, in its present state, in 1951, the Park is very large (the most important park of Bucharest and the second as surface area - approx: 187 ha) with shadowed alley and rich flora, unfolding itself on both banks of the Herastrau lake, between B-dul Aviatorilor, Sos. Nordului, Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti, B-dul Constantin Prezan. The Herstrau Park has a few sports utilities: basis for different boats (yachting, kayaks, canoes), tennis, volley, basketball fields, bowling alley, skating-alley etc., many playground places and a little entertainment park. The public monuments placed in the park, are true marks of cultural landscape, by the well thought alternation of Romanian and foreign personalities displayed, and also by the transpositions of national legends into stone. By the shore, we can rent boats or we can buy a ticket for a ride with the little ship on the lake. The Village Museum, with its exhibitions, among which "Expoflora", define the image of this loved entertaining place of both romanians and...

Bucharest Herastrau Park is a lovely outdoor space located in the northern part of the city. While it has its charms, I must give it a 3 out of 5-star rating based on my experience.

On the positive side, the park is quite spacious, covering a large area that includes a lake, walking paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, and more. It's an excellent place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic with friends and family. The park's location is also convenient, as it is close to several public transport options, making it easy to reach.

However, there were a few drawbacks to my experience at Herastrau Park. Firstly, the park can get quite crowded, particularly on weekends and holidays, which detracts from its peaceful atmosphere. Secondly, I found the park to be somewhat lacking in terms of maintenance. Some of the paths were in poor condition, and there was litter scattered around in certain areas. Lastly, there weren't many options for food or drink within the park, which was a bit disappointing.

Overall, I would say that Herastrau Park is a decent option for those looking to spend some time outdoors in Bucharest. It has some lovely features, such as the lake and playgrounds, and is easily accessible. However, the crowds and lack of upkeep detract from the overall experience. I would recommend a visit, but with the understanding that it may not be a perfect...

The biggest park in Bucharest! We have enjoyed strolling throughout the park. One may choose to avail the bike rentals but be careful as the bike lanes are allotted in between pedestrian lanes. There are plenty of kiosks to buy local and commercial ice creams, baked goods and drinks. Likewise many restaurants to choose from. Nice view by the lake definitely! It can be crowded in the evening as many families spend time here. Some part of the park requires better maintenance otherwise really beautiful. You can rent a private paddling boat or just buy a ticket for 15 Lei for a 25 minute boat ride like we did because the weather was too hot. You'll better appreciate the place with this short boat tour but no audio guide available. We had late lunch at a big and busy restaurant calles Beraria. There are oftentimes a big event happening here during summer. Though we were surprised how the staffs acted efficiently and they all spoke fluent English as communication for locals was a huge problem in many places. We spend time here pleasurably by visiting at the last moment the the National village museum located also just near the park. An entrance fee of 15 lei for adults. We went there about 1hr before closing time (19:00) which is not enough. Better allot about 2 to 2.5 hours when visiting this museum....