Having definitively left behind the incredibly challenging 20th century, which saw it at the centre of wars, dictatorships and catastrophic natural disasters, Bucharest is trying with all its might to rise again and show the world its best side. Romania’s entry into the European Union in 2007 certainly helped, bringing with it investments that improved the city’s infrastructure and overall appearance, which today is a unique mix of early 20th-century palaces, expansive parks and gardens, and plenty of post-Soviet atmosphere.
Bucharest is usually the gateway to the country, and is often overlooked by those planning a trip to Romania, in favour of the more renowned cities of Sighișoara and Brașov, the Carpathian Mountains and the monasteries of Bucovina. But skipping it would be a mistake: the capital deserves a visit, if only to see the immense Palace of Parliament, commissioned by Ceaușescu to highlight his delusions of grandeur: it is the heaviest building in the world, the second largest in the world by area and the third in volume.
A wander through the Old Town is also worthwhile, which today is the city’s tourist centre, as is a visit to the numerous Orthodox churches, imposing from the outside, beautiful from within. But there are numerous things to do and see in Bucharest, which make the city decidedly worthy of a two-day stop.
Bucharest is a city that can be visited year-round. The seasons follow the rhythm of continental Europe, with winters colder than those in southern Europe, and summers cooler, though hot days are not uncommon. Autumn and spring are excellent, but watch out for rainfall.
It becomes a matter of preference: Bucharest in December comes alive with Christmas lights and festive markets, with the classic (and wonderful) atmosphere of a European capital at Christmas, but on the downside the days are short and temperatures are low. In summer you can take advantage of long and sunny days, but the city, especially during the central weeks of August, tends to empty out as locals go on holiday. The advice, then, is not to be influenced by the season, but to travel as soon as you have the opportunity.
Contrary to what people think, there is plenty to see in Bucharest. Some attractions are in the centre or on its fringes, and are easily accessible on foot. Others are a bit further afield, so it’s worth using the local public transport, which is fast and economical.
There are also plenty of opportunities for shopping: from typical Eastern European markets to modern shopping centres, you’ll surely find something for you. But to make the most of your time, here are the 5 most interesting attractions in Bucharest.
Bucharest’s Old Town, or Centru Vechi in Romanian, coincides with the city’s tourist area. Contrary to what you might think, there are no medieval walls or imposing gates that define it: only the Dambovita river to the south, and Calea Victoriei to the west, Bulevardul Brătianu to the east and Regina Elisabeta to the north.
This part of the city is all that remained standing from the devastation of World War II – especially during the Allied bombing raids of 1944 – and from the communist dictatorship, whose misguided urban plan involved the complete destruction of a fifth of the city to make way for enormous avenues and imposing government buildings. Therefore, everything still standing in Bucharest’s historic centre is something of a miracle.
Walking through the streets of Bucharest’s Old Town, you can admire historic palaces alongside nightclubs, restaurants, bars and clubs, some of which unfortunately were forced to close at the end of 2015 due to high seismic risk. The main street of the Old Town is Lipscani, now pedestrianised, where you can find numerous craft shops, clothing and souvenir stores. Some buildings in the area are occupied by Roma families, who add a touch of colour and folk character to the area.
The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, or Palatul Parlamentului in Romanian, is undoubtedly the city’s symbol. Now home to Romania’s parliament, it is an immense building standing 84 metres high and covering an area of 365,000 square metres. Its incredible weight of over 4 billion kilograms makes it the heaviest building in the world, so much so that it sinks 6 millimetres into the ground every year.
Built between 1984 and 1997 by a team of architects led by Anca Petrescu, it was commissioned by communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to glorify his personality cult. The building’s reign was short-lived, as in December 1989 the Romanian Revolution overthrew the regime. Today it houses the Chamber and Senate of Romania’s parliament, although only 30% of its enormous space is occupied: of the 1,100 rooms present, around 700 are empty.
The renowned Bucharest Thermal Baths are an unparalleled wellness experience, where luxuriant tranquillity and mineral thermal waters offer a refuge from urban hustle and bustle. Here, among the thermal pools, aromatic saunas and treatment rooms, visitors can rejuvenate and completely relax.
The relaxation areas offer an oasis of peace, whilst the wellness centres offer a wide range of therapeutic treatments for body and mind. With fine dining restaurants and recreational spaces, the Bucharest Thermal Baths represent not only a place of relaxation, but also a social and cultural meeting point, where visitors can share moments of joy and wellbeing.
Discover Bucarest through the eyes of expert guides who will take you on a tour of the city's hidden treasures. Participating in a free tour will allow you to capture the true essence of Bucarest.
The free tours are a viable alternative to traditional guided tours. They work like this: participation is free and at the end of the visit you can leave a tip at your discretion. Below you will find our favourite free tour, otherwise you can see the full list by visiting this page.
Bucharest is served by the Henri Coandă International Airport, also known as Bucharest Otopeni Airport from the neighbourhood where it is located. It is the country’s largest airport, with over 13 million passengers in transit every year, and guarantees connections to many cities across Europe. Getting to Bucharest is therefore very easy, but it is also economical: budget airlines flock to the capital’s airport, and by booking well in advance you can get genuinely competitive fares.
For those already in Romania, Bucharest is located in the south of the country. Those arriving from the Black Sea coast can reach it via the A2 motorway, those arriving from the west via the A1 motorway, whilst from the north you reach it by taking the A3 motorway at Pitești.
Finally, Bucharest is also reachable from most of Europe by land, although the journey is not the shortest. From central Europe it takes almost 24 hours, crossing various borders and then proceeding via cities such as Maribor, Budapest, Arad, Timișoara and Pitești. You can travel without problems with your own vehicle, or rely on the numerous coach companies that connect Europe and Romania.
Given the very affordable average hotel prices, it is advisable to stay right in the city centre, or in its immediate surroundings, so you can move around on foot to visit most of the city’s attractions. There are small family-run guesthouses and plenty of apartments, but also 3 or 4-star hotels that offer high-quality services and standards worthy of a European capital. Just outside the centre there are numerous larger hotels, often belonging to major international chains.
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, and at the same time want to stay in a strategic location, choose a hotel in the airport area. You’ll find all the comforts dedicated to business travellers, and at the same time you can reach the city very easily and economically, thanks to the Express 783 bus which goes directly to the centre.
There are plenty of options for getting around Bucharest, all very economical. First of all, the city has 4 metro lines, called M1 (yellow), M2 (blue), M3 (red) and M4 (green). Except for the M4, which connects Gara de Nord railway station to the western neighbourhoods of the city, the other three lines all pass through Piata Unirii, the enormous square located south of the Old Town. The metro is run by Metrorex, and trains run from 5am to 11pm.
Alternatively, you can get around Bucharest using buses and trams, which run from 5am to midnight. This part of the city’s public transport is managed by RATB, and tickets can be purchased at any shop displaying their sticker. You can buy a single journey ticket, or daily and weekly passes. It is not possible to buy a ticket on board, and once on the vehicle it must be validated, otherwise you face a fine of 50 lei.
Finally, you can get around Bucharest using Maxi-Taxis, essentially 8-10 seater minivans that connect the city centre with the main tourist attractions. In this case, the ticket is purchased directly on board.
What's the weather at Bucharest? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Bucharest for the next few days.
Bucharest is located in southern Romania, approximately 200 kilometres from the Black Sea coast and around 100 kilometres from Ruse, Bulgaria's nearest major city. It sits in a strategically important part of the country, in the centre of the Wallachian Plain, south of the Carpathian Mountains, which can be reached in just over 2 hours by car, covering about 150 kilometres.
Bucharest is Romania's only metropolis, with nearly 2 million inhabitants. The country's second-largest city is Cluj-Napoca, home to just over 300,000 residents, situated 450 km away and more than 6 hours' drive to the north. Romania's third city, Timișoara, is also quite remote from Bucharest: over 500 kilometres to the north-west, representing a journey of almost 7 hours.
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