How do I spend a day in Bucharest?
You’ve just arrived in Bucharest.
You want to make sure that you check out the best that the city has to offer.
But where do you start?
Which are the must see places in Bucharest?
We’ve compiled a list with the Top places to see in Bucharest that make the city so special.
Old Town
This should be your first stop upon arrival.
Located in the center of the city, easy to reach by public transport, this small quarter is the oldest in Bucharest.
Its quaint narrow streets are covered with cobblestones and flanked by 19th century French style houses.
In most of the houses you will find lovely restaurants, cool pubs or hip clubs.
Their number is high, so to help you choose, read our suggestions for best restaurants – and clubs .
After all, the Old Town is famous for hospitality and entertainment.
But there is plenty of culture to discover here too.
Visit the 300 year old Stavropoleos Monastery, the unique Manuc’s Inn and enjoy the intimate atmosphere in the Villacrosse Passage.
At the end, stroll down the influential Lipscani Street and stop by at Carturesti, the largest bookshop in Romania.
Palace of the Parliament
Not only is this one of the most recognizable landmarks in Bucharest, but also one of the largest buildings in the world.
The Palace has a height of 84 metres (276 ft), a floor area of 365,000 square metres (3,930,000 sq ft) and a volume of 2,550,000 cubic metres (90,000,000 cu ft)
As the heaviest building worldwide and with a volume surpassing the Keops Pyramid, the Palace is a record-breaking construction.
Built under the dictatorship of communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, it is now mainly used by the Romanian authorities.
The entire construction is the result of over 100,000 workers’ effort, more than 20,000 persons working 24 hour three shifts per day, during the peak periods.
Moreover, between years 1984 and 1990, 12,000 soldiers took part in the construction works.
However, visitors can join guided tours in English every day to discover a few of its over 1,000 rooms.
Village Museum
If you don’t have time to discover the picturesque and traditional Romanian countryside, you can experience it in Bucharest.
“Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum, Bucharest, Romania is the “museum from the heart of the capital” who opened his gates for the public in 1936
The open-air Village Museum located in the green northern part of the city will introduce you to the relaxed atmosphere of a Romanian village
The museum features a collection of over 300 houses, 60.000 objects and over 250.000 documents regarding the village and its traditional life in the Archive. Churches, windmills and other household constructions used in the past by Romanian peasants.
Indoor and outdoor exhibitions attract more than 500.000 visitors annually.
If the weather is nice, you can even enjoy a picnic here and pet the museum’s many adorable rescued cats.
Triumphal Arch and Herastrau Park
Once you reach the North of Bucharest, you should allocate a couple of extra hours for the Herastrau Park
The largest park in the city, here you will find many interesting statues, a Japanese garden, a lake for boat rides and plenty of restaurants.
It is the place where the locals love to go to relax on weekends or in the evenings.
If you also want to take in the beauty of the area in a shorter time, you can rent a bike from the main entrance.
Don’t forget to also stop by for a photo at the Romanian Triumphal Arch.
This monument will remind you why Bucharest is deemed the Paris of the East.
Romanian Athenaeum
Considered by locals as the most beautiful building in Bucharest, the Romanian Athenaeum is the concert hall of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra.
Built at the end of the 19th century in a style that makes it resemble a Greek temple, this concert hall has perfect acoustics.
That is why tickets for the weekly symphonic concerts frequently sell out.
The hall also has spectacular decorations and an epic fresco that depicts the history of Romania.
You can also visit the building outside concert hours every day.
Otherwise, from here you can also go on a free walking tour
Communism vs Monarchy free tour – and discover the fascinating story of the Athenaeum and that of Bucharest.
Calea Victoriei
Bucharest started developing as a major city starting from the 18th century.
One of the main roads left from these early times is Calea Victoriei, in translation Victory Avenue.
This narrow street crosses the center of the city, featuring many palaces and houses in the enchanting French style.
Known for its intense cultural and commercial activity, in the last century it has been the most popular street for strolls.
While here, you can either admire the surprising architecture, or learn more at one of the museums or do some shopping.
The buildings you should not miss are: the former Royal Palace, Cantacuzino Palace, CEC Bank Palace and the History Museum.
