Bucharest Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Top things to do in Bucharest

Bucharest's main sights are spread along a few grand boulevards and around the historic centre, easy to explore on foot and by metro.

• Palace of the Parliament — One of the largest administrative buildings in the world, with lavish marble halls that can be seen on guided tours.
• The Old Town — A maze of cobbled streets around Lipscani, filled with cafés, restaurants, historic inns and the small, beautifully decorated Stavropoleos Monastery.
• Calea Victoriei — The city's most elegant avenue, lined with palaces, theatres and museums, including the National Museum of Art in the former royal palace.
• Romanian Athenaeum — A domed nineteenth-century concert hall and one of the city's best-loved landmarks, home to the national philharmonic orchestra.
• Village Museum — An open-air museum of traditional houses, churches and windmills brought from across Romania, set in a large lakeside park.
• Revolution Square — A place of major historical significance, linked to the events of 1989, surrounded by notable buildings.
• Parks and lakes — Relax in Cișmigiu Gardens in the centre or in King Michael I Park in the north, with its lake, boating and the Arch of Triumph nearby.

Best time to visit Bucharest

The best times to visit Bucharest are late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October). Temperatures are pleasant for walking, the parks are green or golden, and café terraces fill the Old Town and the boulevards.

Summer (July and August) is hot, often very hot, and many residents leave the city for the mountains or the Black Sea coast, so the city can feel quieter. Open-air concerts, outdoor cinemas and garden bars make the most of the long evenings. The celebrated George Enescu classical music festival is held every two years in late summer and early autumn and draws performers from around the world.

Winter (December to February) is cold and can be snowy, but the city is festive, with a large Christmas market, lights along the main avenues and seasonal traditions. It is a good time for museums and concerts, with fewer visitors and more hotel availability.

Getting from the airport

Henri Coandă International Airport is in the town of Otopeni, about 17 km north of central Bucharest, and is Romania's main international airport.

• Train — A rail link runs from the airport station to Bucharest North railway station (Gara de Nord) in around 20 to 25 minutes, with connections to the metro.
• Express bus — Public express buses run from the arrivals area to the city centre, taking around 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.
• Taxis — Use the official touch-screen taxi booking kiosks in the arrivals hall or a reputable app; the journey to the centre usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
• App-based rides — App-based ride services operate from designated pick-up points and are widely used by visitors.

Traffic on the main road into the city can be heavy at rush hour, so allow extra time when heading to the airport for a departure.

Where to stay

Most visitors stay in the historic centre or along the main boulevards, close to the sights and metro lines.

• Old Town — Right in the heart of the action, with restaurants and bars on every corner, ideal for first-time visitors and night owls; it can be noisy at weekends.
• University Square and Calea Victoriei — A central area with good metro links and easy walks to museums and theatres, suiting sightseers.
• Piața Romană and Dorobanți — Leafy, upmarket streets with cafés and embassies, good for couples and business travellers.
• Floreasca and the north — A modern area near lakes and parks, with shopping centres and business districts, suiting longer stays.
• Cotroceni — A quiet residential neighbourhood of elegant villas near the botanical garden, suiting travellers who want a calmer base.

Travel tips

• Getting around — The metro is the quickest way to cross the city, complemented by buses, trams and trolleybuses; many lines accept contactless bank cards, and app-based rides are widely available.
• Taxis — Use licensed taxis booked through an app or official kiosk, and avoid unofficial drivers who approach you at stations and the airport.
• Palace of the Parliament visits — Tours are by guided group and identification is required, so bring your passport or ID card and consider booking ahead.
• Tipping and payment — A tip of around 10 percent is customary in restaurants. Cards are widely accepted, but keep some lei in cash for small purchases and markets.
• Safety — Bucharest is generally safe, but watch for pickpockets in busy areas and on crowded public transport, and keep valuables out of sight.
• Entry requirements — Requirements depend on your nationality; check official government sources and the IATA Travel Centre before you travel.