Travel guide · Romania
Bucharest travel guide
Belle Époque avenues, Ceaușescu's colossal palace and a late-night old town
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Madalin Pentelie, CC0
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Quick answer
Romania's capital mixes Belle Époque mansions and the Romanian Athenaeum along Calea Victoriei with the enormous Palace of the Parliament and the socialist boulevards built around it. In between, the Old Town's lanes around Lipscani hold the 18th-century Stavropoleos Monastery, Manuc's Inn and dense bars, while lakeside parks and the open-air Village Museum fill the north. Bucharest is good value, with a metro and express bus from the airport, and it is the gateway to Peleș Castle, Brașov and Transylvania. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Romania
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- OTP
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$180 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Old Town nightlife and Calea Victoriei
Why visit Bucharest
- The Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, can be toured with a guide, and nothing explains the Ceaușescu era better.
- Calea Victoriei links the Romanian Athenaeum, the former Royal Palace, the CEC Palace and Revolution Square on one walkable avenue.
- The Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum gathers wooden farmhouses, churches and windmills from all over Romania beside Herăstrău Lake.
- Food is hearty and inexpensive: sarmale with polenta, grilled mici with mustard and papanași doughnuts with sour cream and jam.
- Peleș Castle in Sinaia and the Transylvanian city of Brașov are reachable by train for day trips into the Carpathians.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Architecture · Unirii and the Parliament
Palace of the Parliament
Begun under Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 1980s after a large area of the old city was demolished, this marble colossus is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Architecture · Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Romanian Athenaeum
Opened in 1888, the domed concert hall with its Ionic portico is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic.
- Time needed
- 1 hour, or an evening concert
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Couples
- After dark
- Art
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Neighbourhood · Old Town
Old Town and Lipscani
Bucharest's historic merchant quarter is named after Lipscani street, where traders once sold goods from Leipzig.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Food
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Religious site · Old Town
Stavropoleos Monastery
A tiny 1720s church in the Brâncovenesc style, with a carved stone portico, painted facade and a courtyard lined with old gravestones.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Old Town
Cărturești Carusel
A restored 19th-century building on Lipscani street converted into a bookshop with white spiralling balconies under a glass roof.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Street · Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Calea Victoriei
The city's oldest grand avenue runs about 2.7 km from the Dâmbovița river to Piața Victoriei, past the domed CEC Palace, the Military Circle, the glass-roofed Macca-Villacrosse Passage, the former Royal Palace and the Athenaeum.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Shopping
Where to stay
Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Old Town
Cobbled lanes around Lipscani with bars, restaurants and Stavropoleos
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, luxury and couples
Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Grand avenue of palaces, museums and the Romanian Athenaeum
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Piața Romană and Amzei
Central squares with cafés, a covered market and student bars
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, food lovers and quiet stays
Dorobanți and Floreasca
Leafy upmarket north with restaurants and lakeside parks
What to eat
- Sarmale — Sour cabbage or vine leaves rolled around minced pork and rice, slowly cooked with smoked meat and served with polenta and a spoonful of sour cream.
- Mămăligă — Cornmeal polenta served soft or firm alongside stews, or as a dish in its own right topped with salty sheep's cheese, sour cream and sometimes a fried egg.
- Mici — Small skinless grilled rolls of minced beef, lamb and pork with garlic and spices, served with mustard, bread and a cold beer.
- Tripe soup — A sour, creamy soup of beef tripe thickened with egg yolk and sour cream and served with garlic sauce, vinegar and hot peppers; locals swear by it after a night out.
- Papanași — Fried doughnuts made with fresh cheese, topped with a smaller doughnut 'hat', sour cream and sour-cherry or blueberry jam.
- Covrigi — Pretzel-like bread rings sprinkled with salt, sesame or poppy seeds, sold warm from street bakeries as the city's quickest snack.
When to go
The best times to visit Bucharest are May–June and September–October, when it is warm but not as hot as midsummer and the parks and terraces are at their best. July and August are hot but lively. December brings Christmas markets, and winter in general is cold but inexpensive.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | A short, fast spring of blossom, Easter celebrations and terrace openings, with some storms in May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, sunny and lively on lake terraces and in the Old Town; plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September, golden October and cool, grey November; the cultural season starts again. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with snow and icy winds, festive December markets and the lowest prices of the year. |
Getting there and around
Henri Coandă International Airport at Otopeni is about 17 km north of the centre. The 24-hour express bus 783 runs to Piața Romană and Piața Unirii in about 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, and trains run to Gara de Nord in about 20–25 minutes. Order taxis from the kiosks in arrivals, or use a ride-hailing app.
Bucharest is large, but the Old Town, Calea Victoriei and the Parliament are walkable. The five-line metro run by Metrorex is the quickest way across the city, with buses, trams and trolleybuses from STB and inexpensive ride-hailing filling the gaps.
Plan your days
Two days cover the Palace of the Parliament, the Old Town, Calea Victoriei and the Village Museum. A third day adds Primăverii Palace, Mogoșoaia or a day trip to Peleș Castle, and four or more suit a loop into Transylvania via Brașov.
Practical information
- Currency
- RON
- Language
- Romanian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and considered safe to drink, though many residents prefer bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Leaving about 10% in restaurants is customary for good service.
Bucharest is generally relaxed for visitors, but watch for pickpockets on crowded buses and in the Old Town, and use ride-hailing apps or the airport taxi kiosks to avoid overcharging. Traffic is fast, so cross at lights.
Flights to Bucharest
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Bucharest?
Two days cover the Palace of the Parliament, the Old Town, Calea Victoriei and the Village Museum. A third day adds Primăverii Palace, Mogoșoaia or a day trip to Peleș Castle, and four or more suit a loop into Transylvania via Brașov. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Bucharest?
The best times to visit Bucharest are May–June and September–October, when it is warm but not as hot as midsummer and the parks and terraces are at their best. July and August are hot but lively. December brings Christmas markets, and winter in general is cold but inexpensive.
+What is Bucharest known for?
Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Old Town nightlife, Calea Victoriei, Village Museum, Sarmale and mici and Gateway to Transylvania. The Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, can be toured with a guide, and nothing explains the Ceaușescu era better.
+Is Bucharest expensive?
Bucharest is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$180 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Bucharest?
No for the city, where traffic and parking are difficult. A car is useful for touring Transylvania beyond Brașov; Sinaia and Brașov themselves are reachable by train.