Top places to visit in Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

The second largest administrative building in the world is a must see for anyone visiting Bucharest. Find your way to Strada Izvor (also the name of the metro stop) to experience this amazing 300,000+ sq2 and 3,000+ room landmark. Visits are by guided tours so make sure to book early. Most tours take between 45 minutes to 1 hour. You may be asked to pay an additional fee for using your camera.

National Museum of Contemporary Art

Conveniently located inside the Palace of Parliament, this museum houses an impressive art gallery collection. There’s also a continuous stream of temporary exhibits which cover a huge spectrum of arts trends, surely to capture the attention of even the most discerning art critics.

Old Town

You can find the Historic Center, also known as “Old Town”, and to locals as “Lipscani” to the south of Piata Universitatii. This gorgeously picturesque area of Bucharest will immerse you into its rich roots, which date all the way back to the 15th century. Take your time to walk down these beautiful streets and enjoy the remarkably well preserved architecture it has to offer…and make sure not to miss the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage!

Primaverii Palace / “Spring” Palace

This was the former residence of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife. For those interested in the history of the previous regime, this presents a very intimate view on how they lived. The house has been completely restored to its former glory where visitors can get a glimpse of how the whole family lived in their opulent rooms, chambers, garden, and swimming pool.

Romanian Athenaeum

This is the heart and soul of Romania’s classical music tradition. The great George Enescu made his debut at the Romanian Athenaeum, which was also where he played the world famous Romanian Rhapsody for the first time! This unique palace of music is beautiful both on the outside with its exquisite architecture, and inside with its delightful frescoes.

Herastrau Park

One of the many wonderful green areas Bucharest has to offer will be found at the Aviatorilor metro station. Conveniently located, you can stroll into one of its many cafes, or go for a quiet boat ride on its placid lake. During the summer nights though, this park has been known to be taken over by huge clubs and DJs who transform it into a massive party park!

Victoriei Street

Arguably one of the most vibrant streets in Bucharest, Victoriei Street boasts some of the best city attractions. Next to its many bars and cafes, you can also easily access the Odeon Theater, Revolution Square, George Enescu Museum, the National Museum of Art of Romania, and the Kretzulescu Church. This is certainly the place to be in Bucharest, both during the day and at night!

Cismigiu Garden

The most beloved park in the city is a must for any Bucharest visitor. After having walked around the city center, reward yourself with a few hours in this beautiful city park. You can walk along its many tree covered paths, around its huge lake, or you can sit in one of the many many many (they really put in a lot of them) benches around the park. Perfect spot for a late afternoon picnic!

Mihai Voda Monastery

One of Bucharest most important monasteries, the Prince Mihai monastery has its origins dating all the way back to the 1500s. Perhaps an interesting point to note as you admire this very finely preserved historical structure, is that this monastery was moved ~ 285 away from the Parliament upon the request of the Ceausescu administration.