The Best Places To See In Bucharest

Here are the best places to see in Bucharest if you are planning a trip to Romania, as most probably this will be your starting point, the capital and the largest city in Romania.

Even if your main destination is Transylvania or other regions, make sure you spend at least a day or two in Bucharest, as it has so much to offer.

Best places to visit in Bucharest

Old Town 

If you find yourself in Bucharest, the Old Town is a must-visit. Filled with history and charming narrow cobblestone streets, this is the place to mingle with the locals. 

Home to hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutique shops, the Old Town is the perfect place to get accustomed to the city. 

One of the most notable sights here is the Stavropoleos Monastery, designed in the typical Brancovenesc style, a Romanian architectural style, and which is almost 300 years old. 

Suppose you are looking to indulge in Romanian cuisine. In that case, we recommend trying Caru’ cu Bere, a traditional Romanian restaurant, set in an 1879 historic building, beautifully restored, and where you will find most of the Romanian dishes and a large selection of beer and tuica or palinca, which is the traditional Romanian brandy.

For those passionate about reading, Carturesti Carusel bookstore will definitely impress you. Set on 3 floors, with a large selection of books in many languages, it will mesmerize you through its beautiful architecture and decor. 

It has been featured several times as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and, in our opinion, is every bookworm’s dream.

You should definitely pay it a visit as it is one of the best places to see in Bucharest.

Palace of Parliament

The Palace of Parliament or The People’s House is the seat of the parliament in Romania and one of the most impressive buildings in the world due to its size.

The heaviest and second-largest administrative building globally, The Palace of Parliament was ordered by Nicolae Ceausescu and is a testimony to the communist era that ended in the late 80s.

Cismigiu Park

If you enjoy spending time in nature, you will fall in love with Cismigiu Park.

One of the many parks in Bucharest, Cismigiu Park has a certain romanticism, being the oldest park in the city.

The park was officially opened in 1854 and is home to a lake, monuments, a fountain, and beautiful alleys surrounded by a variety of protected trees.

Being part of the historic heritage of Bucharest, it is located in the center of the city, making it easily accessible either by foot or public transportation.

The fountains in Unirii Square

Unirii Square or Union Square is one of the most sought-after places in the city, both by locals and tourists.

Located Downtown, the main attraction is the fountains. Built during the communist era and rehabilitated a few years back, while not as impressive, they resemble the fountains in Las Vegas or Dubai, due to the colorful lights, music, and water jets dancing.

National Village Museum

National Village Museum in Bucharest sits on the banks of Lake Herastrau and is an open-air museum worth visiting if you’d like to know more about the history and culture of rural settlements of Romania.

Hosting monuments and artifacts dating back to the 17th century, the museum is a window into the typical Romanian architecture and handcrafts that were at the center of the lifestyle back then.

Victoria Boulevard

Named after the victory of gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, Victoria Boulevard or Calea Victoriei is one of the most important boulevards in Bucharest.

2.7 kilometers long, Calea Victoriei is like a walk back in time. Filled with historic buildings, monuments, palaces, theaters, churches, and museums, it is considered the most beautiful boulevard in Romania and that is why it is on our list of the best places to see in Bucharest.

The Triumph Arch

The Triumph Arch in Bucharest is a monument built between 1921-1922 to commemorate the victory of Romania during the First World War when Romania fought alongside the Allies and after the war, almost all territories inhabited by Romanians were united. 

Thanks to the resemblance to the Triumph Arch in Paris, Bucharest was known in the first half of the 20th century as the Little Paris. 

Aside from the beautiful architectural elements of the monument, probably the most notable and the one with the most historic importance to Romanians is the inscription on the Northern facade that writes “Liberator of people, uniting lands through the virtue of his worthy soldiers, descendants of Christianity heroes, Ferdinand I, Ruler, and King of Romanians, has made his entrance on the 16th of October 1922, in his seat city of Bucharest after having been crowned in Alba-Iulia”.

Romanian Atheneum

Romanian Atheneum is one of the most iconic buildings in Bucharest and Romania, due to its architecture and importance. 

Blending neoclassical and eclectic styles, the Romanian Atheneum was built between 1886-1888 following the plans of French architect Albert Galleron, with the recommendation of Charles Garnier, the mastermind behind Garnier Opera in Paris, regarding its location.

The building serves as a concert hall since the 14th of February 1888 and some of the most important names in the music industry have held concerts here.

Are you planning to visit Bucharest? 

Tell us in the comments below which place would you like to visit the most and why?