Outdoors · Bucharest · Romania
6 best outdoor things to do in Bucharest
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, King Michael I Park (Herăstrău) and Cișmigiu Gardens. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 10–12 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–12 hours
- Areas
- King Michael I Park, Dorobanți and Floreasca and Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Outdoors in Bucharest
_Biserica_de_lemn_din_Dragomire%C8%99ti,_Maramure%C8%99,_1722_-_img_18.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · King Michael I Park
1.Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
Allow at least two hours and combine it with a walk or boat ride in King Michael I Park next door.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Park · Dorobanți and Floreasca
2.King Michael I Park (Herăstrău)
Rent a pedal boat or take the small passenger boat across the lake, then eat at a lakeside terrace.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
.jpg){kind=link}
Garden · Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
3.Cișmigiu Gardens
Rent a rowing boat on a summer afternoon; it is a classic Bucharest pastime.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Museum · Piața Romană and Amzei
4.Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum
Pair it with the Peasant Museum and the Arcul de Triumf on the same walk along Kiseleff Road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Palace · Mogoșoaia
5.Mogoșoaia Palace
Go on a weekday morning; the grounds fill with families and wedding photographers at weekends.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Couples
- Outdoors
- History
Nature · Văcărești
6.Văcărești Nature Park
Bring binoculars and visit early in the morning, when birds are most active.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Free
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| King Michael I Park | Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Dorobanți and Floreasca | King Michael I Park (Herăstrău) | 2 hours |
| Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square | Cișmigiu Gardens | 1 hour |
| Piața Romană and Amzei | Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Mogoșoaia | Mogoșoaia Palace | 2 hours |
| Văcărești | Văcărești Nature Park | 1.5–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (King Michael I Park and Dorobanți and Floreasca): Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum → King Michael I Park (Herăstrău), at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square, Piața Romană and Amzei and Mogoșoaia): Cișmigiu Gardens → Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum → Mogoșoaia Palace, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Văcărești): Văcărești Nature Park, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and settled, one of the best months to visit, with the classical music season starting.
- May: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and green, ideal for walking, with occasional thunderstorms.
- August: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and dry, with many locals at the Black Sea or in the mountains.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square — Grand avenue of palaces, museums and the Romanian Athenaeum
- Piața Romană and Amzei — Central squares with cafés, a covered market and student bars
- Dorobanți and Floreasca — Leafy upmarket north with restaurants and lakeside parks
- Gara de Nord — Practical area around the main railway station
More of Bucharest
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Bucharest?
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. An open-air museum founded in 1936 on the shore of Herăstrău Lake, with farmhouses, wooden churches, windmills and workshops moved from villages all over Romania.
+Which of these are free in Bucharest?
King Michael I Park (Herăstrău), Cișmigiu Gardens and Văcărești Nature Park.