Nightlife · Bucharest · Romania
Bucharest nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Bucharest, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bucharest has a big, late nightlife scene, from the packed bars and clubs of the Old Town to cocktail bars, live-music venues and summer terraces by the lakes. The main areas are Old Town, Piața Romană and Amzei and Herăstrău and Floreasca.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Old Town
- Local drink
- Țuică and pălincă
Where to go out
Old Town
Dozens of bars, pubs and clubs in a few lanes around Lipscani and Strada Smârdan, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
Piața Romană and Amzei
Cocktail bars and student pubs in the side streets.
Herăstrău and Floreasca
Summer lakeside terraces and upmarket clubs in the north.
Nightlife tips
- Clubs get going after midnight and stay open until dawn at weekends.
- Check the menu prices before ordering at Old Town bars with touts outside.
- Use ride-hailing apps to get home; the metro stops running around 11pm.
Evening sights
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Neighbourhood · Old Town
Old Town and Lipscani
Explore in the morning when the lanes are quiet, then return at night for the very different atmosphere.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Food
Architecture · Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Romanian Athenaeum
The best way inside is to attend a concert; tickets are often inexpensive compared with Western Europe.
- Time needed
- 1 hour, or an evening concert
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Couples
- After dark
- Art
What to drink
- Țuică and pălincă — Plum brandy, served as an aperitif; țuică is single-distilled and lighter, pălincă double-distilled and stronger.
- Romanian wine — Romania is one of Europe's larger wine producers; look for the native red Fetească Neagră and whites Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală and the aromatic Tămâioasă Românească.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 17°C (63°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:01 | -5°C (23°F) | 6 |
| April | About 20:00 | 6°C (43°F) | 7 |
| July | About 20:58 | 17°C (63°F) | 7 |
| October | About 18:32 | 6°C (43°F) | 6 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Tap a contactless bank card at the gates instead of buying a card at the ticket office.
- Bus — STB buses, trams and trolleybuses cover the whole city; contactless bank cards can be tapped on board to pay.
- Ride-hailing — Ride-hailing apps are widely used and usually cheaper and more transparent than hailing a taxi in the street.
- Taxi — Ignore drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall or at Gara de Nord.
- Walking — From the Old Town to the Athenaeum along Calea Victoriei takes about 20 minutes; the Palace of the Parliament is about 15 minutes from Piața Unirii.
Late-night bites
- Mici — Beer gardens, grill terraces and markets; a summer and May Day favourite.
- Plăcintă — Bakeries and patisseries across the city.
- Aubergine salad — Restaurant starters menus and deli counters.
- Zacuscă — Restaurant starters and jars in markets and shops.
Staying safe at night
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.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Old Town
Centrul Vechi is the compact historic quarter between Piața Unirii and Universitate, with the ruins of the Old Princely Court, Manuc's Inn, Stavropoleos Monastery and the Cărturești Carusel bookshop. Its lanes are packed with restaurants, bars and clubs, so it is the most central and the loudest place to stay.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights; Dense choice of restaurants and bars; Metro at Universitate and Piața Unirii
- Watch out
- Very noisy on weekend nights; Restaurants on the main lanes target tourists
- Nearby
- Stavropoleos Monastery, Manuc's Inn, Cărturești Carusel, Old Princely Court
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Bucharest?
Old Town, Piața Romană and Amzei and Herăstrău and Floreasca. Dozens of bars, pubs and clubs in a few lanes around Lipscani and Strada Smârdan, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
+Which area of Bucharest is best for nightlife?
Old Town: Cobbled lanes around Lipscani with bars, restaurants and Stavropoleos.