Bucharest never sleeps and it’s an ideal destination for a city break.
Here you’ll find the best 10 things to do in Bucharest, including recommendations and discounts to enjoy the city to the fullest.
10 Best Things to do in Bucharest
Places to visit in Bucharest
Bucharest Old Town
Bucharest Old Town is actually, very young.
The real old town was destroyed to build the huge Parliament building and the Civic Center. Only after the year 2000 the city stared a project of modernization and restoration to recover this side of the city.
Today, in the cobblestone streets of Bucharest you’ll find a lively atmosphere with terraces, clubs, hotels and street musicians, that offer the travelers all they need during their perfect city break.
Carturesti Carousel Bookshop
Carturesti Carousel is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, not only for its white columns and spiral staircases, but also for its collection of more than 10,000 books.
Plus, there’s a lovely café on the top floor.
Pasajul Victoriei
The most instagrammable street in Bucharest is this small alley with colorful umbrellas: an obliged stop for every instagrammer! All the colorful umbrellas are waiting for you there.
Herastrau Park
Herastrau Park is the largest green area in the city. Located north of Bucharest, is perfect for bikers – there’s a bike lane that goes around the entire park!
It’s a must-visit at all year round: if you go in summer you can rent a boat, and if you go in winter the lake is freeze and you can even skate on it.
Cismigiu Gardens
In Bucharest I found wonderland: no kidding! It’s located in these gardens.
Although I like cities, I always need a small dose of nature to feel 100% happy. A few steps from the heart of the city this beautiful park became my best ally. I loved to get lost among its flowers and watches, and I love to come back every time I visit Bucharest!
Bellu Cemetery
Bellu Cemetery is the most famous and monumental cemetery in Bucharest. As Cismigiu Gardens this place is very green.
The best thing about this visit was the amount of stuff we learnt about the Orthodox culture: they have so many peculiar traditions and stories that I loved to hear.
The heaviest, most expensive and second largest building ever
The Parliament Palace of Ceausescu is the second largest, the heaviest and the most expensive administrative building in the world. The historical center of the city was devastated so they could build it.
Truth Palace
Abandoned places have something mysterious that grabs my attention. I had the chance to visit Palatul Aderavul, and I was amazed by the building and the ruins of the offices from the first newspaper of the city: The Truth.
Get the best views from Arc de Triomphe
Bucharest is known as “Little Paris” for a reason. I’m sure their version of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe – named Arcul de Triunf – has something to do with it!
You will pass around it on your way from/to the airport, so if you want to take photos there just tell your driver to stop for a minute. It’s quite far from the city center.
The top floor from where you can get the views is open to the public just a few days a year.
Romanian Atenaenum
One of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest is the Romanian Atenaenum, an unique concert hall.
Tips on visiting Bucharest
Getting around
The biggest problem in Bucharest is without any doubts, parking. Because of that, I don’t recommend you renting your own car – unless you want to get out of the city!
Lucky enough, Uber and Taxify are super cheap. You can expect to pay around 3-5€ for a 40 minutes ride.
However, please note that not all drivers speak a good English and it can be problematic, especially at the airport. To avoid this you can just book your transfer with your hotel.
Where to stay in Bucharest
You will find accommodation options for every type of travelers in Bucharest, from world known luxury hotels to boutique properties and cute apartments.
My recommended hotel in Bucharest is Radisson Blue Bucharest, the best hotel in town and one of the best hotels in Romania. Very centrally located, with an awesome design, a delightful pool and spa and a gorgeous breakfast. I’ve stayed here twice and I love to come back every time!
You can check availability and rates here.
Where to find the best food in Bucharest
These are my top picks for restaurants in Bucharest:
- Cara cu Bere
- Dianei 4
- NOMAD Skybar
- Fratellini Bistro
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