So nine years on, having wanted to return for so long, I set off to see how much it had changed. New coffee shops, bars and restaurants have sprung up in the Old Town, sitting comfortably alongside swish boutique hotels and familiar chains. Nothing can prepare you for the grandeur of the Parliamentary Palace (Picture: Caroline Westbrook)Familiar sights and new onesAmong the newness, the city’s grand and familiar sights remain. And no visit to Bucharest is complete without a visit to Therme – the largest indoor wellness centre in the region. Bob George, in the heart of the Old Town, is one of the best — an award-winning roastery that’s definitely worth a visit.