Bucharest Travelers Recommend

Two days in Bucharest gives you plenty of time to tick off the main sights, and explore the city’s parks, museums, and neighborhoods. Here’s how to spend two days in Bucharest.

Day 1: Landmarks & Lakes

Morning: A guided walking tour is the perfect way to take in the many sights of the Old Town. Admire the magnificent Palace of Parliament; see landmarks such as Stavropoleos Monastery, the National Bank of Romania, and Romanian Athenaeum; and stroll beneath the colorful umbrellas of Pasajul Victoria.

Afternoon: Enjoy lunch by the lake in Herăstrău Park, then stroll around the scenic Japanese garden or enjoy a boat cruise on the lake. The park is also home to the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului), an open-air museum that offers a glimpse into life in rural Romania, while the dramatic Arch de Triumph (Arcul de Triumf) stands proudly at the southern entrance.

Night: Continue sightseeing into the evening on a night tour of Bucharest, which reveals the city at its most atmospheric. Learn more about Romania’s Communist history as you pass through Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei), and admire the illuminated monuments of University Square and Charles de Gaulle Square.

Day 2: Markets and Museums

Morning : Immerse yourself in local life on a visit to the Piaţa Obor market or opt for a food tour of Bucharest to learn more about Romanian cuisine. Be sure to sample local specialties such as chiftele (meatballs) or sarmale (stuffed cabbage), accompanied by a slice of sweet baklava and a shot of traditional Romanian palinca (brandy).

Afternoon: Explore the Cotroceni neighbourhood, where highlights include the Cotroceni Palace, the official residence of the Romanian President; the Botanical Gardens of Bucharest; and Bucharest Opera House. After admiring the sights, pay a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Cotroceni National Museum.

Night: Spend your final night in Bucharest bar-hopping in the Old Town. A drink at the Art Nouveau-style Caru' cu Bere, Bucharest’s oldest beer house, is the norm among first-time visitors but there are plenty of other bars, pubs, and nightclubs to tempt you; join a guided pub crawl for the lowdown on where to drink, dance, and party in the capital.

Three days allows plenty of time to discover Bucharest’s beautiful architecture, renowned museums, and elegant neighborhoods, and gives you chance to explore further afield. Here’s how to spend three days in Bucharest.

Day 1: Sightseeing in the City

Bucharest’s large size makes it worth booking a half- or full-day sightseeing tour; exploring with a guide ensures you learn more about the city’s communist history and allows you to cover more sights in less time. Most tours cover the Palace of Parliament, a 20th-century, structure built by Communist ruler Nicolae Ceaușescu, and the Old Town, which is home to Stavropoleos Monastery, the National Bank of Romania, and the Romanian Athenaeum. After your tour, stroll beneath the colorful umbrellas of Pasajul Victoria and snap a photo beneath the Arch de Triumph (Arcul de Triumf).

Devote the afternoon to Herăstrău Park, where you can visit the Japanese garden, take a cruise on the lake, and enjoy a glimpse into rural Romanian life at the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului).

Continue sightseeing in the evening on a night tour of Bucharest, during which you’ll admire the illuminations of Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei), University Square, and Charles de Gaulle Square.

Day 2: Travel to Transylvania

The mist-shrouded mountains, fairy-tale castles, and medieval villages of Transylvania lie around three hours north of Romania’s capital, making it possible to take in the highlights on a long day trip. The star attraction is Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), famed for its links to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Organized tours eliminate the stress of car hire and navigation, and typically cover the historic town of Brasov, known for its Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture, and the 19th-century Peles Castle, which boasts a backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains.

Other popular day trips from Bucharest include a wildlife-watching cruise around the Danube Delta or a trip across the border to the Bulgarian town of Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 3: Culture and Cuisine

Spend your final day in Bucharest immersing yourself in local life and culture. Kick off the day with a visit to the Piaţa Obor market, the largest fresh food market in the country, or take a culinary tour for a greater insight into Romania’s cuisine. Be sure to sample favorites such as chiftele (meatballs), sarmale (stuffed cabbage), and baklava pastries, and don’t forget to taste the local beers, wines, and palinca (Romanian brandy).

In the afternoon, visit the Cotroceni neighbourhood, where you can get your cultural fix at the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Cotroceni National Museum; stop by the Bucharest Opera House; and take a stroll around the Botanical Gardens of Bucharest. Don’t miss a photo stop at Cotroceni Palace, the official residence of the Romanian President.

Toast your last night in Bucharest like a local, with a visit to the famous Caru' cu Bere beer house, followed by bar-hopping in the Old Town—join a guided pub crawl for the inside scoop on where to drink, dance, and party in the city.

Romania’s capital city is renowned for its grand architecture, Communist history, and buzzing nightlife, and with some forward planning, it’s possible squeeze all off its highlights into 24 hours. Here’s how to spend one day in Bucharest.

Morning: Explore the Old Town

A walking or bike tour of the Old Town is the perfect introduction to the city, as exploring with a guide provides historical context that brings city landmarks to life. Start with a visit to the 20th-century Palace of Parliament, built by Communist ruler Nicolae Ceaușescu, then stop to admire Bucharest symbols that include the Stavropoleos Monastery, the Old Courthouse, and the National Bank of Romania.

Pass through the grand University Square and stroll down Pasajul Victoria, a popular photo spot due to its canopy of colorful umbrellas, and then arrive at Revolution Square, an important site in Romania’s Communist history.

Afternoon: Lunch by the Lake

Head north to the vast Herăstrău Park and take a moment to marvel at the Arch de Triumph (Arcul de Triumf), which heralds the southern entrance to the park. Bucharest’s green lung is filled with scenic walkways, all of which wind their way to the lakeside—settle into one of the waterfront restaurants for lunch and sample Romanian specialties such as chiftele (meatballs) or sarmale (stuffed cabbage) as you enjoy views of Herăstrău Lake.

After lunch, choose between taking a stroll along the lakefront promenade, setting sail on a romantic cruise around the lake, or visiting the Japanese-style gardens. Also worth a visit is the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului), an open-air museum that offers a glimpse into life in the Romanian countryside.

Night: Bar-hopping in Bucharest

Bucharest knows how to party and the Old Town is the place to head after dark. Kick off the evening at Caru' cu Bere, Bucharest’s oldest beer house, which is famed for its Art Nouveau interiors, Romanian cuisine, and beer that’s brewed on-site.

For those who want to drink and dance into the early hours, a guided pub crawl—which takes you to some of the coolest bars, pubs, and nightclubs in Bucharest, and ensures you make it safely back to your hotel—is the best way to discover the city’s nightlife.