Things to do in Bucharest: the Palace, the Old Town and the cafes
Bucharest is a big, uneven capital where grand boulevards, Orthodox churches, communist blocks and a lively Old Town sit side by side. Two to three days cover the Palace of the Parliament, the Athenaeum, a park and a long dinner. The one thing to know is that the center is spread out and pavements are rough, so plan to use the metro.
The short answer
- First trip
- Tour the Palace of the Parliament, walk Calea Victoriei to the Athenaeum, and spend an evening in the Old Town.
- Where to stay
- Near Piața Universității or Calea Victoriei for sights, the Old Town for nightlife, Cotroceni for quiet.
- How many days
- Two to three days for the center. Add a day for Peleș Castle or Brașov.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October. December for the Christmas markets.
- Book ahead
- Palace of the Parliament tours, and dinner at popular restaurants on Friday and Saturday.
- From the airport
- Otopeni (Henri Coandă) airport is about 17 km north. The 783 bus runs to Piața Unirii by way of Universitate, and a train runs to Gara de Nord in about 20 to 25 minutes.
Where to stay in Bucharest, in brief
Piața Universității and Calea Victoriei
sights and first-timers
The central spine of the city, with museums, the Athenaeum and metro lines M1 and M2 close. Convenient and well connected. Traffic on the main roads is loud.
Centrul Vechi (Old Town)
restaurants and nightlife
A grid of pedestrian lanes with old inns, bars and restaurants. Everything is on foot. It is noisy on weekend nights, so ask for a room away from the street.
Cișmigiu and Piața Romană
parks and a calmer base
Green and central, around Cișmigiu Gardens and the university. Good value and a short walk to the Old Town. Fewer late bars.
Cotroceni
quiet streets
A leafy residential district west of the center with villas and cafes. Peaceful, but you ride the metro or a tram to reach the sights.
Things to do in Bucharest
Palace of the Parliament
One of the largest administrative buildings in the world, built under Ceaușescu. You see it on a guided tour, with a passport or ID, so book in advance.
several days ahead, longer in summer
Romanian Athenaeum
A domed concert hall on Calea Victoriei, with a painted frieze of Romanian history inside. Visit by day or go to a concert.
a few days ahead for a concert
Centrul Vechi (Old Town)
The lanes around Strada Lipscani, with Stavropoleos Monastery, Hanu' lui Manuc and the ruins of the old princely court. Go by day for the sights and at night for the bars.
Calea Victoriei
The old main street, lined with palaces, the National Art Museum and the CEC building. Walk it north from the river to Piața Victoriei.
Cișmigiu Gardens
The city's oldest park, with a lake, shaded paths and chess players. A good place to rest in the afternoon.
Village Museum
An open-air museum in Herăstrău Park with farmhouses, churches and windmills moved here from across Romania.
Stavropoleos Monastery
A tiny early 18th century church with a carved courtyard, hidden among the Old Town's bars. Quiet in the morning.
National Museum of Art of Romania
The former royal palace on Calea Victoriei, with Romanian medieval art and a European collection.
Cărturești Carusel
A restored 19th century building in the Old Town turned into a bookshop over six floors, with a cafe on top.
Herăstrău Park and the lakes
A large lakeside park in the north of the city, good for a walk, a bike ride or a boat in summer.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Bucharest can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Bucharest, and which to pick- Palace of the Parliament tourseveral days ahead
Visits are guided and timed, and you need photo ID. Slots fill in peak season.
- Concert at the Athenaeuma few days to a week ahead
The hall is small enough that good seats go quickly for popular programs.
- Dinner at a popular Old Town restauranta day or two ahead, longer at weekends
The best-known rooms fill up on Friday and Saturday nights.
What to skip in Bucharest
- Taxis hailed on the street or at the airport kiosks
Some cabs overcharge visitors. Use a ride app, or book a licensed taxi from the touch screens in the arrivals hall.
- Eating on the busiest Old Town terraces without checking the menu
Menus and prices vary a lot between neighboring terraces. Check prices before you sit, and look at the side lanes.
- Trying to walk everywhere
The center is bigger than the map suggests and the pavements are uneven. Take the metro between the Old Town, the Palace and the north.
Best time to visit Bucharest
April to June and September to October are the best months, with mild days and open terraces. December has Christmas markets, cold weather and lower prices on rooms.
July and August are hot, often above 30 degrees, and parts of the city empty in the evenings. January and February are cold and gray, with snow possible.
- From Otopeni (Henri Coandă) airportBus 783 runs to Piața Unirii by way of Piața Victoriei, Piața Romană and Universitate, and takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. A train goes to Gara de Nord in about 20 to 25 minutes, roughly every 40 minutes. Taxis from the official touch screens are the quick option.
- MetroFour lines cover the center quickly. M1 and M2 cross at Piața Victoriei and Piața Unirii, and M2 goes to Universitate and Piața Romană.
- Trams and busesFrequent but crowded at rush hour. Check a map app for the right line, and watch for pickpockets on packed vehicles.
- On footThe Old Town and Calea Victoriei are walkable. Distances between the Old Town and the Palace or the north are best covered by metro.
Bucharest in three days
- Day 1
The Palace of the Parliament in the morning, then Piața Unirii and a walk through the Old Town, ending with dinner in Lipscani.
- Day 2
Calea Victoriei: the Athenaeum, the National Museum of Art and Revolution Square, then Cișmigiu Gardens and an evening in a cafe.
- Day 3
The Village Museum and Herăstrău Park, then a late lunch of sarmale and an afternoon in the Old Town.
Day trips from Bucharest
- Sinaia and Peleș CastleA mountain town with a royal castle, about two hours by train from Gara de Nord. Peleș is closed one day a week, so check before you go.
- BrașovA medieval Transylvanian town with a large square and Black Church, about two and a half to three hours by train.
- Mogoșoaia PalaceA Brâncoveanu-style palace on a lake just outside the city, reached in about 30 to 40 minutes by bus or ride app.
Bucharest: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Bucharest?
Two to three days cover the Palace, the Old Town and Calea Victoriei. Add a day for Peleș Castle or Brașov.
Is Bucharest worth visiting?
Yes, for a mix of grand architecture, communist-era sights, good food and cheap evenings. It is less polished than other capitals, which is part of the appeal.
Is Bucharest expensive?
It is cheaper than most Western European capitals. Meals, transport and museums cost modestly.
What is the best time to visit Bucharest?
April to June and September to October. December for the Christmas markets.
Is Bucharest easy to get around?
The metro is fast and covers the main areas. Trams and buses are cheap but crowded, and pavements are uneven.
Can you use euros in Bucharest?
Romania uses the leu (lei). Pay by card where you can, and avoid street exchange booths.
Is there a tourist tax in Bucharest?
Yes. A flat tax of 10 lei per person per night has applied to stays in 2026, collected by your accommodation.