Top places to visit in Bucharest

• Palace of the Parliament

  landmark · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Colossal 1980s Ceaușescu-era palace, one of the world's largest and heaviest buildings, offering guided interior tours.

• Arcul de Triumf

  monument · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Granite triumphal arch (1936) modelled on Paris's Arc de Triomphe, on Kiseleff Boulevard.

• National Museum of Art of Romania

  art · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Housed in the former Royal Palace on Revolution Square, displaying European old masters and Romanian art.

• Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral

  orthodox · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  17th-century Orthodox cathedral on Metropolitan Hill, seat of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

• Cișmigiu Gardens

  park · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The oldest (1847) public garden in the city, a romantic central park with a lake and shaded alleys.

• Cărturești Carusel

  bookstore · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A spectacular white six-level bookstore in a restored 19th-century building in Lipscani.

• Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum

  natural-history · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Landmark natural-history museum with dioramas and a giant Deinotherium skeleton, popular with families.

• National Museum of Romanian History

  history · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Major museum on Calea Victoriei holding the Romanian treasury, a Trajan's Column cast and national artifacts.

• King Michael I Park (Herăstrău)

  park · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bucharest's largest park, ringing Herăstrău Lake, with boating, promenades and the Village Museum.

• Romanian Athenaeum

  concert-hall · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Ornate 1888 domed concert hall, home of the George Enescu Philharmonic and a symbol of Bucharest.

• Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum

  open-air · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Open-air museum of around 300 relocated traditional Romanian houses, churches and windmills on Herăstrău lake.

• Stavropoleos Monastery

  orthodox · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Exquisite 1724 Brâncovenesc-style Orthodox church and cloistered courtyard in the heart of the Old Town.

Things to do

• Bucharest Old Town Free Walking Tour Walking · 2.5 h
• Palace of the Parliament Guided Tour Tour · 1.3 h · from RON 60 per person
• Communism & Ceaușescu Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from RON 200 per person
• Romanian Food & Wine Tasting Tour Food · 3 h · from RON 250 per person
• Peleș & Bran Castle Day Trip Tour · 10 h · from RON 350 per person
• Therme București Thermal Spa Activity · 5 h · from RON 120 per person

Day trips and tours

• Peleș & Bran Castle Full-Day Tour 10 h · from RON 350

Where to stay in Bucharest

• Old Town / Lipscani about RON 400 per night

  The pedestrianized historic core, packed with bars, restaurants and boutique hotels — best for first-time visitors.

• Calea Victoriei / Revolution Square about RON 700 per night

  A grand boulevard lined with museums, the Athenaeum and luxury hotels.

• Universitate (City Centre) about RON 450 per night

  A central transport hub around University Square, well connected and mid-priced.

Hotels

• Rembrandt Hotel 3-star · RON 350 to RON 550 per night
• Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel RON 60 to RON 180 per night
• InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest 5-star · RON 700 to RON 1,400 per night
• Grand Hotel Bucharest 5-star · RON 500 to RON 900 per night
• Hotel Cișmigiu 4-star · RON 350 to RON 600 per night
• Umbrella Hostel RON 50 to RON 160 per night

Where to eat

• Caru' cu Bere Romanian · about RON 100 per person
• Hanu' lui Manuc Romanian · about RON 90 per person
• Lacrimi și Sfinți Romanian, Modern · about RON 110 per person
• Zexe Zahana Romanian, Grill · about RON 120 per person
• The Artist Contemporary, European · about RON 320 per person
• Kaiamo Modern Romanian · about RON 300 per person
• La Mama Romanian · about RON 65 per person
• Divan Turkish, Middle Eastern · about RON 85 per person

Getting to Bucharest

Airport: Bucharest, Baneasa (BBU), Bucharest (BUH)

How visitors arrive in Bucharest

• Fly into Henri Coanda Airport By air from International · common

  Henri Coanda is the main international airport; Baneasa serves some low-cost carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• International and domestic trains to Gara de Nord By train from Budapest / Vienna / Istanbul · common

  All mainline trains use Gara de Nord, including direct services from Budapest, Vienna and Istanbul. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus By road from Moldova / Turkey / Greece / Bulgaria · possible

  Buses are a good option from Moldova, Turkey and Greece, where trains are slow or infrequent. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Express bus 100 from Henri Coanda Airport

  Express bus 100 runs from Otopeni airport to Piata Unirii. Tap your card on boarding and validate for every traveller; ticket inspectors check these buses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Henri Coanda Airport

  Since 2021, trains connect the airport with Gara de Nord, with express and local services. Tickets are sold at the airport, onboard or online. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Official airport taxi kiosks

  Order a taxi at the official kiosks, or use Uber or Bolt, which also serve the airport. Do not accept rides offered inside the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Skip the airport exchange office and shops; withdraw cash with a card at an ATM instead. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Metro from Gara de Nord

  All mainline trains use Gara de Nord, which is on metro lines M1 and M4 and has many bus, tram and trolleybus links. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Be wary of independent taxis outside Gara de Nord; order through an app, hotel or phone. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus useful for some trips

  Buses, trams and trolleybuses make up an extensive surface network in Bucharest, with a stop almost everywhere, and night buses also run.

  STB Bucharest transit

• Metro

  The Bucharest metro runs on lines M1 to M5 and is a practical way to cross the city under the traffic.

• Ride Hail

  Bolt and Uber both operate in Bucharest and can be booked from your phone as an alternative to hailing a taxi.

  Bolt in Bucharest

• Tram useful for some trips

  Trams are part of Bucharest's extensive surface network alongside buses and trolleybuses, with a stop almost everywhere.

  STB Bucharest transit

• Walking

Paying

• Taxi meters should always run; if a driver refuses, take another car. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Metro-only paper tickets are not valid on buses, trams or trolleybuses; use a rechargeable card. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Taxi meter and "no change" overcharge

  Otopeni airport & Gara de Nord

  Fake or fast-running meters and a "no change for your 100-lei note" trick turn a 20-RON ride into 300+ RON.

  How to avoid it: Use Bolt or Uber, or an airport taxi kiosk; check the per-km rate on the door and avoid touts shouting "Taxi?".

• Fake plainclothes "police" cash check

  Central tourist areas

  Men claiming to be police ask to inspect your wallet for "counterfeit currency", then palm notes.

  How to avoid it: Real police do not check tourists' cash on the street — refuse and ask for a uniformed officer or to go to a station.

• Street money-changers and bad-rate booths

  Old Town & near stations

  Being approached to change money on the street (illegal in Romania) or "0% commission" booths with hidden fees.

  How to avoid it: Use bank ATMs or reputable exchange offices and count the money before leaving.

Best time to visit Bucharest

• Jan 3°C
• Feb 6°C
• Mar 12°C
• Apr 19°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 25°C
• Oct 18°C
• Nov 11°C
• Dec 4°C

More in Romania

• Brașov
• Cluj-Napoca
• Sibiu
• Constanța
• Timișoara
• Sighișoara

Frequently asked questions about Bucharest

What are the top-rated places to visit in Bucharest?

The highest-rated places in our Bucharest guide are Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral, Cărturești Carusel, Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum, Romanian Athenaeum, Stavropoleos Monastery.

Where should I stay in Bucharest?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Bucharest: Old Town / Lipscani, Calea Victoriei / Revolution Square, Universitate (City Centre).

How do I get around Bucharest?

Ways to get around Bucharest covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Tram.

What scams should I watch out for in Bucharest?

Scams reported to us for Bucharest include Taxi meter and "no change" overcharge; Fake plainclothes "police" cash check; Street money-changers and bad-rate booths. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Bucharest?

Average daytime highs in Bucharest run from 3°C in Jan to 31°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Bucharest?

The nearest airport to Bucharest has the code OTP.