Open-air events have become more popular (and safer) in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, and the sunny summer days are perfect for outdoor activities. There are many things to do and events to try in Bucharest in August, the last month of summer, and we've listed some options below.

• Take your loved ones to the movie

Going to the movies was impossible for many weeks due to the pandemic, but now this has become an option again, as venues in Bucharest started hosting outdoor movie screenings. In August, you can take your friends and loved ones to the movie at Gradina cu Filme, the Event Park in Snagov (near Bucharest), or Elvire Popesco Cinema.

Gradina cu Filme (The Film Garden), an outdoor movie theater and event venue in Bucharest, reopened about a month ago. Until September 13, from Tuesday to Sunday, the venue hosts a variety of film screenings, concerts, and events. The program for August will be posted here and here.

Cinema Elvire Popesco also reopened for the public in mid-June, hosting open-air screenings for film enthusiasts in Bucharest. The program and tickets are available here.

Outdoor film screenings are also held in the courtyard of Rezidenta BRD Scena9 until September 3, as part of the Cinevara event. Four screenings are scheduled for August. Further details are available here.

Event Park Snagov, near Bucharest, is also hosting outdoor film screenings. In August, the venue's program includes events such as Les Films de Cannes a Snagov and Comedy Movie Fest. Find out more here.

• Watch an outdoor theater performance

Attending a live theater performance is also possible again, and there are a few options to try in Bucharest.

The amphitheater of the Bucharest National Theater (TNB) is now open. The venue is located on the rooftop of the TNB building in downtown Bucharest and has been hosting open-air performances since mid-June. The schedule for August is available here. Similar to other events organized outdoors, those attending events here need to follow the sanitary rules and measures imposed by the authorities to prevent and control the spreading of COVID-19.

This year's edition of Undercloud, the festival dedicated to independent theater productions, is also scheduled for the last month of summer. The event will take place outdoors, at the Romanian Peasant Museum, between August 11 and August 18. The program of the event also includes a series of reading performances, an online section dedicated to productions created by independent artists during the pandemic, and a section for children. More information here.

Bucharest's elegant Cismigiu Park is also hosting the Bucurestii lui Caragiale (The Bucharest of Caragiale) theater festival until September 20. The open-air theater performances are scheduled to run on weekends, and the program includes performances for children, independent productions, musicals, classic and contemporary performances. The program is available here.

• Discover Bucharest's Delta

The Vacaresti Nature Park, which has been dubbed "Bucharest's delta," is one of the capital's perfect green spots for hot summer days. Visitors can escape the big city's noise and heat in this protected urban area and enjoy the fresh air near the park's lakes or the high grass. 

Nature enthusiasts can book a guided tour or discover the park by themselves with the help of the Parcul Natural Vacaresti dedicated app. The place is perfect for picnics and bike rides, or quiet walks with the family and friends. And you can bring the dog too.

The Vacaresti Lake in southeastern Bucharest was declared a nature park with protected area status in May 2016. It covers 184 hectares and is home to a large variety of animals, insects, and plants, attracting many tourists who want to reconnect with nature, but also experts from all over the world. Thus, the lucky ones can also get to spot majestic birds, reptiles, or even a fox or an otter. 

Read more about Vacaresti Nature Park here.

• Spend a day at the Zoo

Located in the capital's northern neighborhood of Baneasa, Zoo Bucharest attracts visitors of all ages but is especially preferred by families with children, as the little ones never get bored of watching the animals. The Zoo houses a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish from around the world. The children's favorites are, of course, the lions, the tigers, the wolves, and the bears, but they're also happy to see the mighty eagles, the zebras, or the llama.

Zoo Bucharest is open Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 17:00. Entry costs RON 13 for adults and RON 6.5 for children, students, and pensioners. Further details are available here. 

Visitors are recommended to wear masks and practice social distancing during their visit to the Zoo. The indoor pavilions and children's playgrounds are currently closed.

• Enjoy summer's top dessert

In hot summer days, there's nothing better than a refreshing ice cream to beat the heatwave. There are plenty of choices, from the classic chocolate and vanilla ice creams to more sophisticated ones with pistachio or salted caramel flavors.

In downtown Bucharest, you can find tasty ice cream or gelato at Sweetology, Delicii Gelato, Delicii Libaneze, Friddi, or La Giuggiola. Their offer is varied and sometimes includes surprising flavors such as lavender or gorgonzola.

The events' schedule or the venues' program could change depending on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic. 

newsroom@romania-insider.com

(Opening photo: Ungureanu Vadim/Dreamstime.com)