Home › Bucharest

Things to do in Bucharest

12 places · 12 h 10 min of sightseeing · 3 days

How many days do you need in Bucharest?

12 places add up to 12 h 10 min of pure sightseeing. At 6 hours a day, not counting walking and meals, that's 3 days.

The best-known places in order, as long as they fit into 6 hours of sightseeing a day. Sightseeing only, without walking and meals — build the day-by-day plan with opening hours and the route in a RouteMarket notebook.

1 day — 5 h 20 min

• Palace of the Parliament (1 h 45 min)
• National Cathedral (40 min)
• Aero L-29 Delfin (20 min)
• Romanian Athenaeum (50 min)
• Arcul de Triumf (20 min)
• IAK-52 (20 min)
• Jak-23 (20 min)
• Patriarchal Cathedral (45 min)

2 days — 11 h 20 min

• Palace of the Parliament (1 h 45 min)
• National Cathedral (40 min)
• Aero L-29 Delfin (20 min)
• Romanian Athenaeum (50 min)
• Arcul de Triumf (20 min)
• IAK-52 (20 min)
• Jak-23 (20 min)
• National Museum of Art of Romania (2 h 30 min)
• Herăstrău Park (2 h)
• Patriarchal Cathedral (45 min)
• National Museum of the Romanian Peasant (1 h 30 min)

3 days — 12 h 10 min

• Palace of the Parliament (1 h 45 min)
• National Cathedral (40 min)
• Aero L-29 Delfin (20 min)
• Romanian Athenaeum (50 min)
• Arcul de Triumf (20 min)
• IAK-52 (20 min)
• Jak-23 (20 min)
• National Museum of Art of Romania (2 h 30 min)
• Herăstrău Park (2 h)
• Patriarchal Cathedral (45 min)
• National Museum of the Romanian Peasant (1 h 30 min)
• Old Princely Court (50 min)

Top sights

Ordered by how well known each place is. Data: OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia.

1. Palace of the Parliament — 1 h 45 min visit. It is the second largest administrative building in the world by volume, completed after the 1989 Revolution. Hours: Mar–Oct 09:00–17:00 · Nov–Feb 10:00–16:00.
2. National Cathedral — 40 min visit. As a contemporary, monumental Orthodox temple, it symbolizes the city, differing in scale from smaller, historic churches like Mănăstirea Stavropoleos.
3. Aero L-29 Delfin — 20 min visit. As a Czechoslovak jet trainer aircraft, it represents a different example of aviation technology than Soviet acrobatic machines.
4. Romanian Athenaeum — 50 min visit. Its circular hall with a large fresco depicting the history of Romania stands out for its excellent acoustics.
5. Arcul de Triumf — 20 min visit. A monumental arch commemorating victory in World War I, it serves as a landmark, unlike museum buildings or palaces. Hours: Apr–Oct: Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00 · Apr–Oct: Sat–Sun 11:00–19:00 · Nov–Mar: Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00.
6. IAK-52 — 20 min visit. This Soviet aircraft was used for training and aerobatics, which distinguishes it from other displayed fighter or jet aircraft.
7. Jak-23 — 20 min visit. This Cold War jet aircraft is displayed outdoors, unlike more modern machines such as the MiG-29 SNIPER.
8. National Museum of Art of Romania — 2 h 30 min visit. The most important artistic institution, located in the former Royal Palace, presents Romanian and European art. Hours: Apr–Sep 11:00–19:00 · Oct–Mar 10:00–18:00 · Mon,Tue closed.
9. Herăstrău Park — 2 h visit. This large city park, unlike Cișmigiu Gardens, offers a lake with boat rentals, ideal for active recreation.
10. Patriarchal Cathedral — 45 min visit. On the hill stands the most important Orthodox temple in Romania, the seat of the Patriarch, also offering a view of the city.
11. National Museum of the Romanian Peasant — 1 h 30 min visit. It focuses on the life and culture of the Romanian countryside, presenting authentic costumes and tools, unlike general history museums. Hours: 10:00–18:00 · Mon closed.
12. Old Princely Court — 50 min visit. They consist of the ruins of the oldest princely residence from the 15th century, which served as the court of Vlad the Impaler. Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–22:00.
13. Cotroceni Palace — 1 h 30 min visit. As the only palace in Bucharest, it simultaneously serves as the official residence of the President of Romania and a museum.
14. National Museum of Romanian History — 2 h 30 min visit. It presents the entire history of Romania, from prehistory to the present day, including the treasures of Thracian kings, unlike thematic museums. Hours: Apr–Sep 10:00–18:00 · Oct–Mar 09:00–17:00 · Mon,Tue closed.
15. Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum — 2 h visit. Unlike traditional museums, this is an open-air museum where you can stroll among original relocated houses, churches, and windmills.
16. Romanian National Opera — 25 min visit. Inaugurated in 1953, it is Bucharest's main lyrical theater, notable for its post-war socialist classicism.
17. University Square — 45 min visit. It is surrounded by important buildings, including the University of Bucharest, and was a key site for protests during the Romanian Revolution in 1989.
18. Stavropoleos Monastery — 50 min visit. Built in 1724, it is an Orthodox monastery for nuns in the Brâncoveanu style, possessing a unique collection of old books.
19. Piața Revoluției — 45 min visit. It commemorates key events in Romanian history, featuring the Rebirth Memorial and the Romanian Athenaeum.
20. Teatrul Național — 15 min visit. A leading theatrical institution in Romania, opened in 1852, with its modernist building completed in 1973.
21. Cișmigiu Gardens — 2 h visit. The oldest and most central public park in Bucharest, opened in 1847 with a lake for boating. Hours: open 24/7.
22. Biblioteca Centrală Universitară Carol I — 35 min visit. Its building was severely damaged during the 1989 Revolution and subsequently thoroughly restored. Hours: Mon–Fri 08:30–20:00 · Sat 08:30–16:00.
23. Grădina Botanică — 2 h visit. Unlike Cișmigiu Gardens, this extensive green area gathers thousands of plant species in greenhouses and outdoors. Hours: Apr–Sep 08:00–19:00 · Oct–Mar 09:00–17:00 · Mon closed.
24. Biserica Ortodoxă "Crețulescu" — 30 min visit. This small, historic church in the very center of the city is a unique example of Brâncovenesc architecture, differing from monumental cathedrals.

Where to eat

• Hanu' lui Manuc — As one of the oldest historical inns in Bucharest, it serves traditional dishes in an authentic, atmospheric setting, unlike modern restaurants.
• Caru' cu Bere — Unlike simpler pubs, its interior is an impressive display of Gothic architecture and Victorian decor.
• Burger si Scoici — Specializes in a combination of burgers and seafood, a rare pairing compared to typical patisseries or cafes.
• District 42 — It combines Escape Room entertainment with the option of dining, which distinguishes it from ordinary restaurants like Taverna Covaci.
• Artichoke Social House — A trendy cafe offering healthy breakfasts and light meals in an artistic setting, which distinguishes it from establishments with traditional offerings.
• Patiseria Fadel — It offers unique sweets inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine, distinguishing itself from typical European waffles and desserts.
• Taverna Covaci — It offers authentic Romanian dishes with often live music, distinguishing itself from modern cafes and dessert places.
• T-zero — The cafe is famous for its high-quality coffee and relaxing atmosphere, offering a peaceful break instead of specialized desserts.

What to see in Bucharest in one day?

Palace of the Parliament, National Cathedral, Aero L-29 Delfin, Romanian Athenaeum, Arcul de Triumf, IAK-52, Jak-23, Patriarchal Cathedral.

Ready-made notebooks for this city

• Bucharest in two days — first visit

Other cities

• Amsterdam
• Barcelona
• Berat
• Berlin
• Bilbao
• Brussels
• Budapest
• Durrës
• Florence
• Gdańsk
• Gdynia
• Genoa
• Granada
• The Hague
• Katowice
• Kołobrzeg
• Copenhagen
• Kraków
• Leipzig
• Lisbon
• London
• Lublin
• Lyon
• Madrid
• Málaga
• New York
• Palermo
• Paris
• Porto
• Poznań
• Prague
• Riga
• Rome
• Seville
• Istanbul
• Tallinn
• Toruń
• Valencia
• Warsaw
• Vienna
• Wrocław
• Zamość

Other languages: Polski · Deutsch · Français · Español · Italiano