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Capital and largest city of Romania
Photo: Mihai Petre, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro via Wikimedia Commons
Bucharest (Romanian: București) is Romania's capital and largest city. Bucharest has a very interesting mix of old and new: finding a 300-year-old church near a steel-and-glass tower that sits next to a communist-style building is commonplace in Bucharest. Bucharest offers some excellent attractions, and has cultivated a sophisticated, trendy, and modern sensibility that many have come to expect from a European capital.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Palatul Parliamentului
The world's second largest building (after the US Pentagon), formerly named "Casa Poporului" (People's House). Building started in 1983 by Nicolae Ceaușescu and is still not completely finished (2019). It spans 12 stories, around 1,000 rooms and covers over 330,000 m². 1/9 of Bucharest was reconstructed to accommodate this magnificent massive building and its surroundings. There are 1hr 20min tours frequently which lead through the building's vast collection of marble rooms and culminate in an impressive view from Nicolae Ceaușescu's balcony. All the building materials were sourced from various parts of Romania, though mainly from Transylvania. Tours can be booked online at least a day in advance or just turn up and take the next tour. The first English language tour of the day starts at 09:15. You must have your passport with you to go on a tour.
A part of the city's historical heart was not demolished by Nicolae Ceaușescu. The area (stretching approximately between the Dâmbovița river to the south, Calea Victoriei to the west, Calea Moșilor to the east and the Regina Elisabeta boulevard to the north) contains an assortment of middle 19th-century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. Narrow cobblestoned streets retain the names of the ancient guilds that resided on them. The area was mostly renovated and is now a place of gathering for the young generation of the city.
Piața Revoluției
Site of part of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. There is a tall monument in the center of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution.
Arcul de Triumf
The current arch was inaugurated in 1936, however previous arches had been here since 1878.
Ateneul Roman
A beautiful building is home of the George Enescu Philarmonic. If you have the time, visit the interior of the building as well, as it holds a fresco that depicts scenes of the Romanian history. The building was inaugurated in 1888.
Piața Victoriei
Big public square in the heart of Bucharest with cultural sites and an intersection of boulevards.
Muzeul Național de Artă al României
In the building of the former Royal Palace, this museum has collections of ancient, modern and contemporary Romanian art as well as exhibitions of rare European art dating as early as the 14th century
Muzeul Aviației
Open-air display of various types of aircraft. The museum is closed for renovation from 1 September 2023 and is expected to be closed for 30 months (until 2026).
Muzeul Național de Artă Contemporana
Inside a converted wing of the Palace of the Parliament, in what had been the private apartments of Ceaușescu, the museum features fresh exhibitions from Romania's burgeoning art scene.
Old Princely Court Museum
The ruins of the crown palace of the Wallachian princes, some parts dating as early as the 16th century. It’s around an earlier fortification in this place that Bucharest began to develop.
Muzeul Național Cotroceni, Palatul Cotroceni
Has collections of objects that belonged to the former Romanian royal family. Today it is also the residence of the Romanian president.
Muzeul National al Pompierilor
A 42-metre high building between Obor, Calea Moșilor and Nerva-Traian. It was used in the past as an observation tower by the firemen.
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
An open air museum created in 1934, it now has around 300 traditional buildings (including churches, workshops, mills) and furniture, pottery, clothing gathered from villages in every region of the country in an effort to showcase the traditional way of life of the Romanians. Occasionally hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals.
Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Also dedicated to the traditional way of life, it focuses mainly on traditional interior decoration, tools, clothing and artifacts. Again, it sometimes hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. ; Small public museum area, with all information solely in Romanian.
Muzeul Național de Geologie
Has a large collection of minerals, rocks and fossils.
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
It's in a neoclassical late 19th-century building, and has exhibits documenting the evolution of society on Romania’s territory from the Paleolithic until today, a replica of Trajan’s Column in Rome and a very interesting collection of jewellery and bronze articles from Roman times up to the Kingdom of Romania.
Muzeul de Artă Populară Prof. Dr. Nicolae Minovici
Also here is Museum of Old Western Art the (Muzeul de Artă Veche Apuseană Minovici). There are collections of the various works of art, such as stained glass from the 16th-17th centuries, engravings, paintings, rare books, tapestries, carpets, furniture.
Muzeul Militar Național
Has collections of weapons dating since the prehistoric times and permanent exhibitions dedicated to important military events, including the Romanian revolution of 1989, and an outdoor exhibit of relatively modern weaponry, including cannons, tanks, helicopters. Outdoor area with vehicles closed for rebuilding as of Apr 2025.
Muzeul Național al Literaturii Române, Casa Krețulescu
Located in a beautiful eclectic villa
Muzeul de Artă Frederic Storck și Cecilia Cuțescu-Storck
This museum presents works of artists of the Storck family.
Muzeul Căilor Ferate Române
Shows all sorts of different exhibits from different ages of the railway network. Also has a model railway.
Muzeul Național „George Enescu”
Music, memorial museum.
Muzeul Național Filatelic
Come here for stamps, stamp collections, postal items: boxes of values, old paintings, seals, horns, prints, old letters, maps postal coachmen costumes, furniture used in post offices, etc.
Muzeul Maria și dr. George Severeanu
The exhibition includes a variety of objects: pieces of archeology - ancient Greek vases, statuettes of Tanagra, bronze and marble, glass Roman items, ancient Greek, Dacian Roman, Byzantine and medieval coins. Romanian and foreign orders and decorations.
Muzeul Municipiului București, Palatul Sutu
Housed in a palace built in 1834, has collections related to the development of Bucharest from a small 14th-century fortress into Romania’s capital.
Muzeul Național de Antichități
Muzeul Național al Hărților și Cărții Vechi
Small, but amazing museum with maps on 3 floors. Don’t forget to borrow one of the green magnifying glasses to discover the fine print. Historical maps from 15th-20th century from the whole world with an emphasis on Romania and the Balkan Peninsula. Note that while the name mentions books too, it's almost exclusively maps on display.
Housed in a beautiful mid 19th century synagogue. Documents the life of this community in the region since ancient times and through the Holocaust. Passport required to enter.
This has over 300,000 exhibits illustrating the transformations of Earth and the evolution of species.
Casa Ceaușescu
The former residence of Ceaușescu, incredibly opulent, one of the most fascinating places to visit in Bucharest. Book online at least a day in advance. Tours last 45 minutes and cover all the main living areas, including the mosaic surrounded swimming pool and indoor garden
Muzeul de Artă Recentă
Modern art gallery. Only holds one exhibition at a time, and closes for a few weeks between each.
Old Court Church, Biserica Curtea Veche
The Church of the Old Princely Court, built around 1559, used to be the coronation church of the Wallachian princes.
Catedrala Patriarhală din București
Built in 1658. Next to it is the Mitropoliei Palace (1708) – the residence of the Orthodox Patriarch, a sort of small 'Romanian Vatican'. It’s the only church in Bucharest in which photography is prohibited
Biserica Stavropoleos
Built in the early 18th century, has some stunning decorative sculpture and amazing frescoes. A little jewel.
Biserica Colțea, Biserica "Trei Ierarhi"
The first church in Bucharest built in the Brancovenesc style (1702).
Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou din București
Dating from the 18th century, houses the tombs of princes Constantin Brâncoveanu and Ion Mavrocordat.
Biserica Crețulescu
An interesting example of the Brancovenesc style (1722).
Manastirea Plumbuita
Built in the last half of the 16th century, it once housed the first printing house in the region (1582), today it has a religious objects museum and a large park.
Biserica Oțetari
The Oțetari Church is a very discreet, spiritual place, giving some religious comfort in the centre of the city. Its name means "cruet", because of the street it is on. It was built in the 18th century and it features a number of interesting paintings and stained glass.
Sinagoga Mare din București, בית הכנסת הגדול של בוקרשט
This decorative temple was raised in 1845 by the Polish-Jewish community. It was repaired in 1865, baroque style, redesigned in 1903 and 1909, repainted in Rococo style in 1936. It hosts an exhibition on the Holocaust in Romanian. Entry by donation. Security checks require your passport
Mănăstirea Antim
An Orthodox monastery in Brâncovenesc style from 1715 with a church, a museum and a shop. The church, museum and shop are open to the public. The church is in the center of a courtyard with the museum and shop in buildings around the sides. The church is richly decorated with distinctive carved wooden doors. The shop sells mainly religious texts and iconography but also has a leaflet in English and other languages for 2 lei so go there before the main church. There is a toilet that visitors can use next to the shop.
Huge thermal water park.
This a lovely small park; it's the oldest in the city (designed 1845-1860). Has boat rental in summer, ice skating in winter time, reasonable restaurants and more specially a French restaurant in Trianon Hotel and several bars.
The largest of several parks around man-made lakes on the Colentina River running through the city’s north and east side) houses the Village Museum, an open-air theater, various sports grounds, an amusement park and numerous restaurants and clubs. Has boat rental and boat-trips in summer.
Established in 1860, displays a variety of plants from all over the world. The greenhouses are wonderful but have limited opening hours, and are closed Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Designed in 1906, Carol Park has an open-air theater replicating a Roman arena and another construction replicating a medieval fortress. It houses the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as an infamous mausoleum built for the Communist nomenclature.
It has a large multipurpose building (Sala Polivalenta) used for concerts, sporting events, exhibitions, etc., an amusement park for children, boat-rental, several restaurants and bars.
I.O.R. Park
A green oasis among Communist-era high-rise apartment buildings in the eastern part of the city (Titan metro station), has a charming wooden church as well as several lakeside clubs.
National Opera
George Enescu Philharmonic
Housed in the Romanian Atheneum, a city landmark.
Ion Dacian National Operetta Theater
The Radio Orchestra
A concert hall that plays an important role in the country's classical music life. Built in 1959 and opened in 1961, it is the country's largest symphonic concert hall.
A branch of the National Film Archives, screens mostly classic movies.
Romanian director's new cinema
Art films and documentaries selected by major Romanian directors.
Plays mainly independent European movies.
Plays relatively recent European movies.
Mostly French movies.
Largest multiplex in the city (21 screens, including one IMAX).
This was the first multiplex to open in Bucharest and has 10 screens.
Located in the western part of Bucharest, has 11 screens.
A large (over 1,000 seats) 1930s cinema located along the city's main avenue.
Another large older cinema in the downtown.
Very good food, consistent menus, impeccable service and kind staff. Best place to find the traditional taste of organic food.
Cheap Romanian traditional pastry chain with locations all over the city (and much of Romania, and even Poland). There are both sweet and savory products. Good for vegetarians. Huge selection of pastries for all tastes. Most popular are the covrigi: tradițional, vișine, and nutella. Coffee is very cheap too. No tables.
Very good Romanian meals, a treat for the senses. Nice quiet outdoor area.
A secluded and quiet place hidden a bit among the noisy and losing western-style pubs of the Old Town. It has an intimate and a bit old-fashioned Romanian look which gives it the feeling of the 90s with some more modern elements. The decor is nice and the food equally good. Cats are present.
A nice pizza place with a nice outdoor summer garden and a relaxed atmosphere (the restaurant also houses a caricature club). Tends to be very crowded during weekends.
Beautiful historically themed restaurant, live traditional music, old Romanian specialties; but always check the bill thoroughly. Reservations are compulsory.
Classic style restaurant with prices a bit higher than average, but with a very neat and cultivated atmosphere, outstandingly friendly English-speaking personnel, high food quality.
One of the best pizza places in the old town.
Great location in Bucharest city centre and wonderful traditional food.
One of the most famous restaurants in Bucharest, in a historic building.
Trattoria Buongiorno is bringing a little piece of Italy to the middle of Bucharest.
Calea 13 Septembrie, 127-131,
Good Indian restaurant near Marriott hotel, especially for vegetarians.
Italian restaurant.
Japanese pub/bistro.
Opened in 2005, it is a hangout of the city's nouveau riche. It comes complete with German car ads at the entrance and an extensive wine list. Food (Italian inspired) and ambience are OK, but portions are small and prices are far above average for Bucharest. A 3-course meal for two with local wine will set you back over 400 lei.
In the Old Center, across the street from the Old Court. The restaurant serves high quality USDA Choice beef and offers an excellent, diverse menu, for all tastes. Also at 56 Franceza St.
Sixtine Absintheria
Classic style bar with reasonable prices. The absinthe is served with a slow drip fountain.
Bar with several types of Belgian, Czech and Slovak beer.
Cafe/tea house
The Brewers Court
Pub in old center having mostly Timișoreana beer.
A quiet club which often hosts jazz concerts.
Cocktail bar; fine spirits, great nights.
Nice cosy bar near Unirii/old town.
Favorite of both locals and tourists, the Hard Rock Cafe makes its home on the shores of the lake, just a few short steps from the landmark Triumph Arch.
Gaming venue that also has boardgames, specialty coffee and drinks.
It's the largest club in Bucharest. Upmarket and expensive.
A rock bar, with a great atmosphere, open thinking, great beer and people.
The oldest club in Bucharest, with nearly 40 years tradition (this means amazingly much for a city where most clubs are less than 5 years old). Since the beginning, it was and remains a student pub and club, with an unpretentious but welcoming atmosphere, good music and low prices. Like many clubs in Bucharest, the bouncers can be overly aggressive to patrons at times.
Best alternative/indie club with a lot of live shows and good music.
Very lively and popular club, divided in two sections - Expirat, the old club with rock/dance/hiphop music, and its newer offspring, the OtherSide, where DJs spin electronica. Themed nights, very expat-friendly, great cocktails and very reasonable prices.
The most well-known rock and metal club in Bucharest. By day a pub and outdoor cafe.
A club with a German concept – ”the culture house” – a place where all sort of cultural events (such as live music concerts, art exhibitions, film projections) take place. Kulturhaus is very cheap – no entry fee (except for music concerts) and low prices – it is the cheapest club in town – maybe this is why the place is crowded every Friday and Saturday night until 05:00.
Like gay clubs the world over, this place has become tremendously popular with a hetero set fed up with the meat market atmosphere at so many of the city’s other locations. That, together with superb music, makes this an essential stop for hedonists of all persuasions. Shake it. It can become quite crowded so watch yourself.
The only punk-rock oriented pub in Bucharest. It also has a small concert hall, a fusball table, board games, dedicated evenings, etc.
Apartamente Termen Scurt Bucuresti
Short term apartments in the city center.
STAR
Professionally managed serviced apartments located in the center of the city, by the Old Town.
Camping White House
Space for up to 80 caravans or 120 tents, running water, showers, toilets, kitchen. Next to Casa Alba restaurant.
Clean hostel 1 km from train station in the centre of sector 1. Bed-sheets, breakfast and internet is included the price. Airport pick-up, excursions and laundry-service.
Central, breakfast included, free internet.
Big house managed by a friendly couple, Carmina and Vlad. Carmina can speak English, French and Italian. The rooms are clean and welcoming.
Clean and spacious hostel. Relaxed atmosphere, very friendly owner and guests with social common spaces. Comfortable beds, great showers and good location. No laundry service.
One-star. Small, affordable rooms in a clean and welcoming atmosphere.
3 star, small rooms, some street noise, couldn't be closer to Gara de Nord Station.
2-star, gets very mixed reviews.
Good location for those on a budget.
Very convenient for station, guests have found it grubby and smelly.
Good stay & fly option, hotel offers shuttle bus to terminal, you hardly need it.
Probably even more walkable than Vienna House.
3-star in Art Deco slab, with restaurant.
Serviced apartments in the city center at the University Square. Metro and buses just outside the building.
Comfortable, 100-year-old three-star hotel with big rooms and enormous bathrooms.
3-star hotel with restaurant, pool & spa.
On Baneasa lakeside, 4-star hotel with restaurant, pool, spa & gym.
Business hotel close to Romexpo grounds.
3-star place with bar & restaurant.
Reliable budget chain 100 m from railway station.
Central, close to University, business quarter, city centre & Cismigiu Gardens.
Four-star hotel, centrally located.
Modern 4-star hotel in the business district. Bedrooms are cosy and comfortable with a modern twist.
Reliable 4-star choice. The facade is what's left of the former National Theatre.
Handy for University.
Provides spacious rooms with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and free access to its spa area.
4* hotel near city centre.
With Italian restaurant, conference facilities.
Clean, handy for motorists.
Boutique hotel looking onto Carol Park.
5-star all-suites hotel in a quiet location just west of Cișmigiu Gardens.
A four-star hotel in the Old Town.
formerly Hilton Athénée Palace
5-star hotel near Atheneum. Nice coffee shop, pretty garden terrace in summer.
Upscale hotel near Plata Romana, with casino & restaurants including Benihana Japanese Steakhouse.
formerly Intercontinenal
Central 5-star high-rise block built in 1971, with restaurant and swimming pool.
Large hotel behind the Parliament building. 4 restaurants, bar, spa & sauna.
3-star near University
Upmarket place with 4 restaurants, bar, night-club, spa and gym. Very close to Baneasa Airport at north edge of Bucharest, with main airport Otopeni another 15 km north.
Designer hotel, looking onto Parliament building
Upmarket place with indoor & outdoor pools, 5 restaurants and 4 bars.
Stylish place edge of town with restaurant and piano bar. 24-hour fitness centre with indoor pool, a whirlpool and saunas. Also with beauty salon, conference and banquet facilities, and free parking.
The first one to be completed, in 1999.
Mega Image hypermarket, services: Florists, pharmacies, cleaners.
Opened in April 2008.
Opened in 2014, it is one of the biggest shopping malls in Bucharest.
Opened in 2015, this is the newest and one of the biggest shopping malls Bucharest has to offer.
Breathtaking bookstore in a restored 19th-century building.
A few blocks south of Piața Romană on the east side of Bd. Magheru. The store is set back the street and has a small park in front of it. +phone=+40 21 72 1518351, 788758408
An English-language bookstore near the Kiseleff Park, mostly with fantasy and science fiction books.
An English-language bookstore. Lots of reasonably-priced books and a comics (mostly manga) section.
Near Piața Universității (University square).
By bus
Buses are a good option to get to Bucharest if coming from Moldova, Turkey, Greece and to some extent Bulgaria, given the low frequency and speeds of trains between these countries and Romania.
By train
All mainline train services from Bucharest use Gara de Nord station.
By car
The city’s entrances from the north (the E60 road coming from Brașov and the A3 highway from Ploiești), west (the A1 highway from Pitești), east (the A2 highway from Constanța), south (the E20 road…
By car
Car rental is available in the city and at the airport. The average starting price for a day's rental (small car) is about €10.
By taxi
There are plenty of taxis in Bucharest and fares are low by Western standards.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bucharest · International · BBU
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