Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities. The capital is not only the economic center of the country, but it is also a great place to learn about the city’s history, and the communist regime’s impact and explore different art galleries, and museums, and enjoy great live music. Bucharest turned out to be one of my favorite capitals that I have ever visited and frankly, I fell in love with the city and the atmosphere almost immediately.
So let’s dive into the 8 places that are worth visiting in Bucharest!
Old town
Bucharest’s historical center is such a beautiful way to start exploring the city. The old town is filled with charming neo-baroque and neoclassical buildings, amazing cafes and restaurants, and a great place to enjoy a fantastic time out at night. I highly recommend spending some time wandering through the streets, enjoying the architecture, tasting delicious food at a fancy restaurant or fast food kiosk, and soaking in the beauty of it all. The old town is also a perfect place to buy souvenirs and gifts relating to Romania and Bucharest.
To get around the city, you can use the metro which is a very convenient way of getting to the desired places quite fast, or use buses, trolleybuses, or trams that cost about 3 Lei for 90 minutes and can be purchased directly at the chosen transportation by the ticket machine.
Stavropoleos Monastery
Stavropoleos Monastery, located in the heart of the old town, is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, built in 1724. The monastery has a library of over 8000 books on theology, byzantine art, and music, has a choir that practices neo-Byzantine music as well as there are actively renovating works on books and icons.
The monastery is accessible to visitors where you can enter the church and walk in the monastery’s garden. No fee at the entrance but donations are welcome. The Stavropoleos Monastery is an unmissable spot while exploring the city’s old town and is definitely one of the most beautiful churches in Bucharest that is worth the visit.
Carturesti Carusel Bookstore
Carturesti Carusel Bookstore is the dream place for people who love books and everything around them. The bookstore is located in the city’s old town, not far from Stavropoleos Monastery, and is considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. The building was built in 1903 but the look that it has now earned only recently. The store has three floors that are filled with books, stationery, and board games, and on the upper floor, there is also a small cafe where you can enjoy drinks in the beautiful atmosphere. If you are looking forward to purchasing some books, there are quite a lot of them that are translated into English. Carturesti Carusel was certainly my favorite spot in Bucharest and I would definitely visit again.
Palace of Parliament
The Palace of Parliament is a magnificent building to pay a visit to – it is where the Parliament of Romania is located as well as the building itself is considered one of the heaviest buildings in the world and the second largest and the most expensive administrative building in the world. The building truly is impressive and looking at it in real life feels so surreal. The Palace of Parliament building was constructed between the years 1984 and 1997 under the communist regime when constructions that were addressed to the regiment were impressive and more demonstrative. Nowadays most of the building is left empty except for the Parliament of Romania, the international conference center, and three museums – the Museum of the Palace, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Communism.
The Palace of Parliament is open to visitors every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you are planning on visiting, you will need to book a tour either by phone if the tour is for 1 up to 9 people or by email if more. The standard ticket for adults is 60 Lei and there are also discounted tickets for students and children and the payment of tickets is done only on the day of visit at the ticket office, as well as the access is available only with valid ID or passport.
Cismigiu Gardens
Cismigiu Gardens, the oldest and largest public park in Bucharest’s center, is a marvelous escape from the vibrant city life. The park holds monuments and statues, flower gardens, an artificial lake, beautiful bridges, cafes, and a place for children to play at. When we visited Bucharest, it was the beginning of March with rather chilly temperatures therefore we didn’t experience the park green and blooming but even in early spring it was a wonderful place to take a stroll and enjoy the calmness of the park. Located in the center of Bucharest, the park is not far from the old town.
Revolution Square
Revolution Square, a short walk from Cismigiu Gardens, is considered the most important historical point in Bucharest and the whole country – it is where in 1989 the former president of Romania Nicolae Ceausescu was forced to leave with his wife and later executed which resulted in the communist regime to come to an end in Romania. In the square, there is also the National Museum of Art which used to be the Royal Palace. The Revolution Square is located in the heart of Bucharest and is a perfect place for visiting other spots in the city.
Romanian Athenaeum
Romanian Athenaeum, opened in 1888, is a prestigious neoclassical-style concert hall where “George Enescu” Philharmonic is based. The concert hall has been widely recognized as of cultural and historical importance and is part of the European Heritage since 2007. Nowadays the concert hall holds different cultural events, the most popular one being the George Enescu Classical Music Festival and international competition, in honor of the Romanian composer George Enescu. The concert hall is open for visitors for 10 Lei and many classical concerts are being organized that cost from 21 Lei to 124 Lei.
Arcul de Triumf
Arcul de Triumf or Triumphal Arch is a monument that has a long history of multiple attempts to construct it but the one that currently stands on the Kiseleff Road was built after the First World War to remember those who were lost in the battle. Each year on December 1st, a military parade is held to celebrate independence and Romania’s National Day.
The Arcul de Triumf is located in the northern part of Bucharest and is easily accessible by metro or bus. By the monument, the beautiful King Mihai I Park is a wonderful place to stop on your way to the monument or from where to enjoy nature, different cafes, and Lake Herastrau.
Bucharest proved to be a very vibrant, diverse, and unique city that didn’t disappoint in providing a great travel and exploring experience. The capital is developing as we speak and I’m so excited to see in the future what it will look like. I highly recommend to everyone to visit Bucharest at least once in their lives, and if you are up to even larger adventures, check out my blog post about the 9 places to visit in Romania and enjoy your time there to the fullest!
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