10 Best Things to do While in Bucharest

Romania is a great destination for culture lovers on a budget! Bucharest in particular is rich in history, outstanding architecture, deliciously cheap eats, and fabulous green spaces. Below is my personal list of my top highlights from my time spent there – hopefully you can find some inspiration should you find yourself ever traveling there!

1. Botanical Gardens

I love green spaces in general. There’s a word in Japanese (that doesn’t exist in English) that captures this feeling perfectly; 森林浴 – literally forest bathing, probably more accurate in English as ‘forest therapy’. Sometimes just being in nature or constructed green spaces such as these can really help clear the mind. So, whether you need such a place for some self-reflection, or just want to see some amazing plants and flowers – then Bucharest’s Botanical Gardens is the place for you. Originally part of the Royal grounds, the gardens are now open to the public and separated from the rest of Cotroceni palace by a main road which has since been constructed. The gardens offer a wide range of plants, trees, and flowers (over 3000 in total) from across the world,  some of which are now over 100 years old! You can easily spend a few hours here if you want to explore every area in full. Entrance is ticketed at 5 lei ($1.16/£0.85) for general admissions, and 2 lei ($0.46/£0.34) for students and children.

2. Explore Old Town

No trip to Bucharest is complete without a visit to the city’s old town. The historic heart of this city has a diverse offering of attractions and sightseeing to engage in. If you want a more in-depth background about the streets and buildings that you will discover then I highly recommend booking a walking tour. There are many operators to choose from, and the majority are free to join – only operating on tips/good-will gestures. The origins of this part of the city date back to 1459 and was a major trading route for the Ottoman Empire. Nowadays you can find a tonne of bars, cafes, restaurants, museums, churches and other curiosities that you can immerse yourself in.

I personally recommend a visit to the Macca-Villacrosse Passage. This old arcade looks like it’s been plucked from somewhere in Paris. Fork-shaped with a yellow glass roof, it offers a unique ambience and has many cafes and shisha bars inside.

If you are a bookworm like me, then Cărturești Carusel is a must. This beautifully designed bookstore has every book you can imagine over its 5 floors – with most books being offered in either Romanian or English.

History buffs will also be able to have a field day at the National History Museum too. Loaded with artifacts from across the centuries, you can certainly spend a whole afternoon here. It even contains a complete replica of Rome’s Trajan Tower.

Foodies should check out Restaurant Hanu’ lui Manuc. They offer fantastic breakfast and lunch menus at very reasonable prices. If you want a fine-dining setting for a fraction of the cost, then this is the place for you!

3. Caru’ cu bere

I was told this was the best restaurant for an authentic Romanian experience. It didn’t disappoint. The food was delicious as expected, but the architecture/decor and the overall atmosphere are the two main attractions for visitors here. Glorious wood panelling, stained-glass windows and walls painted meticulously in traditional motifs, this restaurant is moody yet inviting – it almost feels like you’re stepping into a saloon from the 40’s (in my mind at least). There’s a good reason for this. The restaurant first opened its doors way back in 1879!

Despite being something of a ‘tourist trap’, I found the prices to be very reasonable – and there were a wide range of options available, including vegetarian. Falling within the parameters of what several guides online list as ‘typical prices’ for a restaurant. The restaurant also has a range of live musicians and traditional dancers every night for the entertainment of diners.

I went here with a couple of friends, and I personally think that this might be somewhere that someone on their own might find a little intimidating – especially if busy places/loud noises (from the music and chatter) are things that might lead to sensory overload.

4. Muzeul Naţional al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” (National Village Museum)

I decided to go here after being recommended to do so by some locals, one of which informed me it was Bucharest’s best museum. Strong words, but I ultimately took their advice and was not disappointed!

This open-air ethnographic museum, which is located in the King Michael I Park, showcases traditional Romanian village life from across the country. The museum extends over an impressive area and contains a total of 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from every region in Romania over the past several hundred years. Being such a large site, it’s easy to spend several hours here – but is also perfect if you just want to have a leisurely meander around and admire the scenery.

If architecture and/or history is up your street, then make sure to give this place a visit. There are numerous friendly museum personnel located in various buildings across the park that will be willing and eager to share their knowledge about each building with you.

5. Stavropoleos Monastery

I could have included this one in my section about the Old Town above, but I personally think it deserves its own spot on this list.

Located right in the heart of Old Town, the monastery seems almost out of place tucked away between taller structures of a noticeably different style. While this tiny Eastern Orthodox monastery might look like it was built with Greece in mind, it is actually in the Brâncovenesc style; an amalgamation of Byzantine, Ottoman and late Renaissance styles. However, It does in fact get its name from its founder, a Greek monk named Ioanichie, who would later go on to become a Metropolitan of Stavropolie.

Originally completed in 1724, the church is extremely well preserved and maintained. The grounds, however small, are open to the public. It is still actively used, so you should remain respectful during your visit. That said, you don’t have to be religious to appreciate the beauty of the craftsmanship that went into constructing this building. The small courtyard within the grounds offers visitors a look into some of the site’s own heirlooms.

If taking part in a walking tour in the Old Town of Bucharest, then chances are a stop here will also be included.

6. Romanian Athenaeum

One of Bucharest’s landmarks, this majestic concert hall is open to the public to visits during the days when there are no shows being held. There are only certain areas you will be able to enter, but it’s an impressive building to behold in my opinion. First opened in 1888, this domed neoclassical building is widely known as the city’s most prestigious concert hall. The ground floor boasts an incredible ornate conference hall as large as the auditorium above, which can be reached by any of the 4 spiral staircases positioned at each corner of the ground floor.

The building can also be admired from the outside, and features a lovely little flower garden out in front of the entrance, complete with several benches that can be used to recuperate your energy for some more exploring of this beautiful city!

Due to the overall small size of visitable areas, I think 15-20 minutes is more than enough time to see everything on offer here. Which I think is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the time or energy to go to some of the city’s larger attractions.

7. Cotroceni Palace (Palatul Cotroceni)

Once the royal residence, this palace is now partly a museum, partly the residence of the Romanian President (the tour won’t cover this area of the palace). This was the last experience place I visited before I left Romania, and it was by far one of the most memorable. I showed up to find out that I was actually the only one on the tour at that time, so I ended up getting a private tour. My guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, plus she studied for several years in Glasgow so we had a lot to talk about (I am half Scottish) outside of information regarding the palace.

What you will see will depend on the tour package you purchase. I went for the basic package, however as I was on my own and we had so much in common, my guide took me on a more premium tour at no extra cost (nearly double the time allocated for basic tours too).

Extravagance appears to be a common feature in Romanian Royal architectural design, and this place is no different. The elegance is extraordinary, and my guide was very knowledgeable in almost every aspect of this place, which really helped me immerse myself in the experience.

It’s also worth noting that you can’t just show up here. You will be required to book in advance either online or by telephone (naturally I went for the former. As being autistic, telephone calls can be extremely intimidating for me.)

8. Tineretului Park

Bucharest has an abundance of parks. Tineretului Park was a personal highlight for me, though.  It’s huge, you can easily spend an entire day here if you want. There are so many sub-areas within the park it’s very easy to immerse yourself in this place. Due to its size too, it never feels crowded so if you need some space to be with your own thoughts then this is a great place to come to.

Aside from its greenery, there are lakes you can take a leisurely boat trip on during the summer months, as well as various playgrounds for kids. Numerous bars, cafes, restaurants, and stalls can also be found scattered throughout the park.

Interesting enough, Parcul Tineretului was only completed as a public park in the 1970s. It was a Communist project, with the intentions of becoming a place where working class could easily rest and relax.  However, an older project for the plans this park were found to date back to the 1930s, before the Communist era.

Two other great parks in Bucharest worth exploring are Cișmigiu Park and Herăstrău Park.

9. Museum of Art Collections

If a full day exploring a museum is your thing then this is the place for you. Originally a portion of the larger Romanit Palace which was constructed in the early 1800s, the building went through several extensions and partitions to become the museum we can see today.

The museum itself is divided into 3 full sections: Romanian modern art, Romanian medieval art, and European art. The ticket you buy will depend entirely on which of these permanent exhibitions you would like to visit. Being a major history-buff, the Romanian medieval art section was by far my favorite – especially since it incorporated several relics and fancies from the museum’s former days as a palace.

I personally went all out and got a pass for the whole museum, as I wanted to spend a full day exploring. Admittedly, it is a bit much – so make sure you bring water and a snack for you to recharge when you need to. Apart from the artwork, the museum offers some incredible architecture and furnishings, which will captivate you too. Afterwards I learned that the museum was part of the Royal Palace, which accounts for its incredible luxury.

10. Arcul de Triumf

When one hears ‘Arch of Triumph’, I’m sure most minds will automatically jump to the world famous one found in Paris. But there are dozens to be found across Europe – this being just one example! Equally as impressive as the one found in Paris; this arch was built in commemoration of Romania gaining its independence in 1878 – though its current facade is dated 1936. This is a very popular photo spot, and with wide pedestrianized zones located in front of the arch, you will be able to snap some great pictures from a clear angle.

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