City map

Quick view

Top 10 sights

Romania
General Information

Getting around Bucharest

Nightlife

Restaurants

Calendar of events

Hotels
We recommend, you book at

Weather & best time to visit

00:00 UTC

Phone calls & Internet

Shopping in Bucharest

Travel etiquette
How to fit in

Health

Visa & Immigration

Share city guide with friends

Brief overview Bucharest
Once feted as the Paris of the East, Bucharest saw some tough times during WWII and the Communist years that followed, but the revolution of 1989 opened up the city to the outside world, and EU investment projects are restoring parts of this historic city to their original splendour. Bucharest architecture can span centuries in a single block, with 18th-century churches and palaces pressed up against
Communist-era towers and modern shopping centres. Although many give the city just a few days en route to Transylvania, Bucharest is dotted with gorgeous parks, cool cafés and fascinating museums charting every aspect of Romania’s sometimes troubled path through history. Visit in spring to see the city parks at their finest and escape the heat and humidity of high summer.
Flight and accommodation
Best price search


Top 10 sights in Bucharest

Palace of Parliament
050563 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 316 0300
Show on map
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1600
You can’t miss the vast Palace of Parliament, said to be the world’s second largest building. A lavish pet project of Nicolae Ceaușescu, this vast state edifice began life in 1984, but it was never finished, despite the construction of 3,100 rooms. Tours offer fascinating insights into the mindset of the times.
Museum of the History of Bucharest
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 315 6858
Show on map
Opening times:
Wed-Sun 1000-1800
The gorgeous setting for this intriguing municipal museum – in a lavish palace from the 1830s – would justify the entry fee all by itself. Inside, you can view old photos, costumes and belongings that offer a glimpse of the lifestyles of both the nobility and the poor in the city in its historic heyday.
Romanian Athenaeum
010287 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 315 2567
Show on map
Opening times:
Tours by arrangement
The best way to see inside Bucharest’s grand neoclassical concert hall is to attend a performance by the resident Filarmonica George Enescu. The acoustics are stunning, and the opulent interior, with its vast gilded ceiling, will whisk you away to Romania’s belle époque.
Cișmigiu Gardens
Bucharest
Romania
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0900-1700
Sun 1000-1600
Bucharest’s favourite green space sprawls around the shores of an artificial lake to the west of the centre. The park is dotted with sculptures, national monuments and elegant formal gardens, providing plenty of peaceful places to picnic.
National Museum of Art of Romania
70101 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 313 3030
Show on map
Opening times:
Wed-Sun 1100-1900 (May-Sep)
Wed-Sun 1000-1800 (Oct-Apr)
Romania’s greatest artists are honoured in this stately museum set in the former Royal Palace. The grand building is almost as impressive as the extensive collection of artworks inside, which includes the art collection amassed by the Romanian royal family.
Village Museum
011347 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 317 9103
Show on map
Opening times:
Daily 0900-1700
Set in peaceful surroundings on the shore of Lake Herăstrău, this open-air museum pulls together rescued village buildings from across Romania. Covering everything from churches and peasant houses to windmills, it’s probably the most family-friendly attraction in the city.
Jewish History Museum
30771 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 21 311 0870
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Thurs 0900-1400
Fri and Sun 0900-1300
This though-provoking museum, housed in the graceful Tailor’s Synagogue, tells the story of Romania’s Jewish population and the devastating events of WWII. Moving displays recall great Jewish achievements as well as the horrors of the Holocaust.
Museum of the Romanian Peasant
011341 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: 021 317 9661
Show on map
Opening times:
Tues-Sun 1000-1800
See how the other half lived in this fascinating museum documenting the customs, costumes and lifestyles of the peasants of Romania in the days before Communism. Dotted around the compound are restored churches and houses and a fading collection of Communist artworks.
Stavropoleos Monastery
A tiny piece of Romanian history, tucked away on a busy city street, this handsome Orthodox monastery was constructed in 1724. The interior is a treasure house of murals, icons and wood carvings, and the courtyard is stacked with ancient tombs.
Piața Revoluției
Bucharest
Romania
Show on map
Ringed by extravagant architecture, Bucharest’s Revolution Square is dotted with monuments recalling Romania’s painful escape from Soviet rule. The former Central Committee of the Communist Party building was where Nicolae Ceaușescu gave his final speech before the Iron Curtain came crashing down.
Flight and accommodation
Country information
Country overview
There aren’t many countries in Europe where farmers still drive horse-drawn wagons and covered markets dominate over shopping malls, but then Romania isn’t quite like other places. While other Eastern Bloc members have seen their cities spruced up and populated with boutique hotels, international restaurants and
quaint attractions, this traditional country still clings to its dog-eared charm. Yes, you’ll find the usual smattering of resort towns clustered around the Black Sea Coast, but outside the tourism hotspots Romania dances to the same rhythm it’s tapped out for a hundred years.
Geography
Romania is bordered to the north and east by Moldova and Ukraine, the southeast by the Black Sea, the south by Bulgaria, the southwest by Serbia and in the west by Hungary. The country is divided into four geographical areas. Transylvania (a belt of Alpine massifs and forests) and Moldavia compose the northern half of the country, which is divided down the middle by the north-south strip of the Carpathian Mountains. These comprise of 14 mountain ranges above 2,000m (6,560ft) with Moldoveanu Peak at 2,544m (8,300ft) the highest point. The terrain around here is a mix of extinct volcanic cones, lunar plains, thick forests and glacial lakes – perfect for hiking, cycling and adrenaline sports.
South of the east-west line of the Carpathians lies the flat Danube plain of Wallachia with the capital Bucharest, its border with Bulgaria being defined by the course of the Danube. The Danube Delta, the best-preserved of its kind in Europe and a haven for wildlife, is a biosphere reserve and a biodiversity World Heritage Site. Romania’s other major rivers include the Olt, the Siret and the Mures.
Romania’s coastline runs for nearly 200 km (120 miles) along the Black Sea, incorporating the port of Constanta and the Danube Delta.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 21790479
Population Density (per sq km): 91
Capital: Bucharest.
Language
Romanian is the official language. Some Hungarian and German are spoken in border areas, while French and English are spoken by those connected with the tourist industry.
Currency
New Leu (RON; symbol (plural) Lei) = 100 bani. Notes are in denominations of Lei500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Bani50, 10, 5 and 1. (Old notes were in denominations of Lei1,000,000, 500,000, 100,000, 50,000 and 10,000 and coins in denominations of Lei5,000, 1,000, 500 and 100.)
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type.
General business opening hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Public holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2019 – December 2020 period.
2019
Anul nou (New Year’s Day): 1 and 2 January 2019
Paştele (Orthodox Easter): 28 and 29 April 2019
Ziua muncii (Labour Day): 1 May 2019
Ziua Copilului (Children’s Day): 1 June 2019
Doua Zi de Rusalii (Orthodox Whitsun): 16 and 17 June 2019
Adormirea Maicii Domnului (Assumption Day): 15 August 2019
Ziua Sfantul Andrei (St. Andrew’s Day): 30 November 2019
Ziua Naţională (Republic Day): 1 December 2019
Crăciunul (Christmas): 25 and 26 December 2019
2020
Anul nou (New Year’s Day): 1 and 2 January 2020
Paştele (Orthodox Easter): 19 and 20 April 2020
Ziua muncii (Labour Day): 1 May 2020
Ziua Copilului (Children’s Day): 1 June 2020
Doua Zi de Rusalii (Orthodox Whitsun): 7 and 8 June 2020
Adormirea Maicii Domnului (Assumption Day): 15 August 2020
Ziua Sfantul Andrei (St. Andrew’s Day): 30 November 2020
Ziua Naţională (Republic Day): 1 December 2020
Crăciunul (Christmas): 25 and 26 December 2020
All information subject to change.
Flight and accommodation
Getting around
Public Transport
Bucharest has an efficient integrated mass transit system, operated by Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (RATB; tel: 021 9391; www.ratb.ro). Between 5am and midnight, you can access every quarter of the city via metro trains, buses, trolleybuses and trams. Buy tickets from RATB street kiosks and metro stations, and remember to punch the ticket when you board buses and trolleybuses.
Taxis
Unofficial cabs in Bucharest have a poor reputation for overcharging, including those waiting outside the arrivals hall at the airport. Be wary of taxis hanging around outside big hotels and tourist sights; it’s better to call ahead for a cab from a reliable radio-taxi firm. Reputable cab companies include Cobalsescu (tel: 021 9451; www.autocobalcescu.ro) and Meridien (tel: 021 9888; www.meridiantaxi.ro). A tip of up to 10% is customary.
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Bucharest
Nightlife in Bucharest is concentrated in the Old Town, where every second building seems to be a bar, café or club. Drinking options range from nostalgic beer halls to
edgy cocktail bars and razzle-dazzle nightclubs with in-house cigar rooms. For a more sophisticated night out, head to the Opera or take in a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum.
The Vintage Pub
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 743 797 173
Show on map
There’s always a lively crowd in this downtown watering hole, close to the thick of things in the Old City.
Bamboo
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 723 226 266
Show on map
Chinese lions, mirrors and purple neon set the scene in this ritzy nightclub, where the glam set gather after hours.
Fratelli
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 722 115 115
Show on map
There’s a definite luxe feel at this dance bar in north Bucharest; attention is focused on the central bar and the bottle-flipping antics of the bar staff.
Fire Club
Bucharest
Romania
Tel. +40 732 166 604
Show on map
No-nonsense rock and roll is the mainstay at this popular rock club, where drinkers care more about the music than the dress code.
Bucharest National Opera House
050104 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 21 314 6980
Show on map
The city’s most prestigious cultural institution, with an impressive programme of classical ballet and opera.
Flight and accommodation
Restaurants in Bucharest
Hearty Romanian stews and Ottoman-inspired kebabs dominate menus in the Romanian capital. There’s an old-fashioned feel to many of the city’s restaurants,
but a new wave of restaurants are breaking the mould and offering innovative modern Romanian cooking in stylish modern surroundings.
Casa Vernescu
010094 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 733 242 067
Show on map
Price: Expensive
Achingly glamorous, Casa Vernescu serves up three restaurants, a club, a lounge bar and a cigar room, all tucked inside a grand baroque mansion.
Casa Doina
11344 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 21 222 6718
Show on map
Price: Expensive
Set in an atmospheric 18th-century villa, this traditional Romanian restaurant is a prime spot for a romantic candlelit dinner, particularly if you manage to secure a table on the terrace.
Caru' Cu Bere
030081 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 726 282 373
Show on map
Price: Moderate
With a wood-panelled dining room that wouldn’t look out of place at Hogwarts, this atmospheric beer hall offers superior Romanian cooking and tasty home-brewed ales.
St. George
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 723 537 114
Show on map
Price: Moderate
The menu at this wholesome Hungarian restaurant is dominated by hearty stews and casseroles, served in a nostalgic wood-panelled dining room or out on the terrace.
La Mama
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 721 104 451
Show on map
Price: Cheap
True to its name, this pocket-friendly eatery serves home-style Romanian cooking, just like mama used to make, with branches dotted around the city.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival - BIFF
March – April 2019
Website
Venue: Various venues
Established in 2005 to celebrate art house cinema, this fesitval uncovers new talents and promotes young filmmakers already known both domestically and internationally.
Rokolectiv
19 – 21 April 2019
Website
Venue: Various venues
Three-day celebration of electronic music.
EUROPAfest
May 2019
Website
Venue: Major concert halls, cafes
Since 1993, EUROPAfest has been organized every year in Bucharest and is the only European festival to combine four different genres of music in one event. The week-long international music festival includes the Bucharest International Jazz Competition as well as an enticing cocktail of blues and pop concerts, jazz competitions, workshops, master-classes, café festivals and jam sessions.
Three hundred musicians are brought together from over 40 countries representing a wide range of music styles. The aim of the festival is to create a unique event in Europe and an enriching experience for the audience. With 90% of the performers being non-national, the festival is not only an opportunity to indulge in musical excellence but also a way to meet new cultures.
Georges Enescu International Festival
31 August – 22 September 2019
Website
Venue: Various venues
Classical music concert.
National Theatre Festival
October 2019
Website
Venue: Various venues
An event celebrating the best of theatre.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Bucharest
Big international chains have come to Bucharest, raising the bar for the city’s hotel scene.
Service standards can still be variable, but new boutique hotels are blossoming across the city, providing a welcome alternative to the generic business-class places.
Athenee Palace Hilton
010292 Bucharest
Romania
Tel. +40 21 303 3777
Show on map
Category: Expensive
A city landmark since 1914, the Athenee scores top marks for location, décor, service and style.
Rembrandt Hotel
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 727 35 33 93
Show on map
Category: Moderate
Boutique touches and a prime location opposite the National Bank lure legions of travellers to this stylish small hotel in the historic centre; book well ahead.
Casa Capsa Hotel
Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 21 313 4038
Show on map
Category: Moderate
Spacious, wood-panelled rooms conjure up a hint of the 1930s at this inviting small hotel, set behind a grand facade near Bucharest University.
Hotel Tempo
021011 Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 758 808 059
Show on map
Category: Cheap
A top choice for comfortable rooms and above-average service in a handy location just north of the centre.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Friday, 13.12.2019 00:00 UTC

overcast
temperature
3°C
wind direction
northwind speed
6.875 mphhumidity
98%7 days forecast
Saturday
14.12.2019
12°C / 5°C
Sunday
15.12.2019
11°C / 5°C
Monday
16.12.2019
11°C / 3°C
Tuesday
17.12.2019
12°C / 2°C
Wednesday
18.12.2019
13°C / 4°C
Thursday
19.12.2019
12°C / 4°C
Friday
20.12.2019
9°C / 4°C
Climate and best time to visit Bucharest
The peak season for tourism in Bucharest is April to June, when the weather is warm and the city’s parks and gardens are in bloom. This is also a busy period in the cultural calendar, with live music across the city for Europafest in May and a week of street performances for the Bucharest Street Music Festival in June. With the lack of air-conditioning in many hotels, it pays to avoid the height of summer in July and August, when high humidity and soaring temperatures make days sticky and uncomfortable. Autumn brings cooler weather and the rainbow colours of autumn leaves, but temperatures dip from December, deterring winter visitors.
Climate & best time to visit Romania
Romania is a great year-round tourist destination. The best times to visit in terms of climate are the end of April to the beginning of July and from end of August to the end of October as temperatures are mild and pleasant. Summers can be hot especially in Southern Romania, including Bucharest, but along the Black Sea Coast, sea breezes offer moderate temperatures. Winters are coldest in the Carpathian Mountains where there is snow from December through to April. Snow also falls throughout most of the country.
The ski season in Romania runs from December to March, although high resorts such as Stana de Vale often remain open until late April. Prices are cheaper at the beginning and the end of the season, with Christmas often the busiest time.
On the Black Sea Coast, tourism reaches its height between June and August and temperatures during the summer months can reach a sizzling 40°C. Look for deals in May and September, when the weather is still balmy but the season isn’t yet in full swing.
Other seasonal activities include bird-watching (from mid-April to mid-May in the Danube Delta) and wine-tasting, which focuses around a series of festivals in September and October.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute max | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 16 °C | -30 °C | 0 °C | -5 °C | 87 % | 42 mm | 7 | 2.1 h |
Feb | 22 °C | -24 °C | 3 °C | -4 °C | 84 % | 41 mm | 7 | 3.1 h |
Mar | 28 °C | -13 °C | 9 °C | 0 °C | 73 % | 35 mm | 6 | 4.8 h |
Apr | 34 °C | -5 °C | 17 °C | 6 °C | 63 % | 45 mm | 8 | 6.5 h |
May | 36 °C | 0 °C | 23 °C | 11 °C | 63 % | 71 mm | 9 | 8.0 h |
Jun | 40 °C | 4 °C | 27 °C | 14 °C | 62 % | 81 mm | 10 | 9.2 h |
Jul | 40 °C | 7 °C | 30 °C | 17 °C | 58 % | 56 mm | 8 | 10.4 h |
Aug | 41 °C | 6 °C | 29 °C | 16 °C | 59 % | 62 mm | 7 | 9.7 h |
Sep | 39 °C | -1 °C | 25 °C | 12 °C | 63 % | 45 mm | 6 | 7.9 h |
Oct | 35 °C | -10 °C | 18 °C | 7 °C | 73 % | 34 mm | 6 | 5.5 h |
Nov | 29 °C | -17 °C | 9 °C | 2 °C | 85 % | 53 mm | 7 | 2.6 h |
Dec | 20 °C | -26 °C | 3 °C | -2 °C | 89 % | 44 mm | 6 | 1.9 h |
year | 41 °C | -30 °C | 16 °C | 6 °C | 72 % | 608 mm | 88 | 6.0 h |
Flight and accommodation
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +40
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Bucharest
Key Areas
Bucharest isn’t quite up there with Paris or Milan, but there are still plenty of glitzy fashion stores and boutiques along Bulevardul Magheru and Calea Victoriei that recall the city’s heyday as the Paris of the East.
Markets
Bucharest used to depend on its city markets in Communist times, but shopping malls and supermarkets are increasingly
stealing the limelight. Good produce markets live on though, including the modernised Piata Obor market on Strada Câmpul Moşilor. The city’s favourite flea market sprawls along Strada Mihai Bravu every weekend.
Shopping Centres
Shopping centres are springing up across Bucharest, bringing the usual mix of local franchises and international brands. Popular options for downtown shoppers include Unirea (Piaţa Unirii), Banaesa Shopping City (Şoseaua Bucharest-Ploieşti) and the Bucharest Mall (Calea Vitan).
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Social Conventions
A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but Romanian men may kiss a woman’s hand when being introduced. Mr or Mrs should be used when greeting someone for the first time. Visitors should follow normal European courtesies on social occasions. Dress tends to be rather conservative but casual wear is suitable. Beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. If visiting a home, a small wrapped gift should be given to the host, such as flowers or chocolates (to women only), wine or liquor. Flowers should be given as a gift in odd numbers only. Many Romanians are smokers and gifts of Western cigarettes are greatly appreciated.
Other well-appreciated gifts include toiletries.
Photography
Military installations should not be photographed. Some tourist attractions require visitors to pay a fee (sometimes hefty) for taking photographs.
Smoking
The Romanian government bans smoking in every public place, but, as in many countries in Eastern Europe, smokers have little respect for non-smokers and for smoking laws. Smoking is forbidden on planes, on buses and on some trains. Luxury hotels have designated no-smoking floors but very few restaurants have no-smoking sections.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Main emergency number: 112
Food & Drink
Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause abdominal upsets; bottled water is available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other Risks
Hepatitis C and tuberculosis occur and hepatitis B is endemic. Stray dogs may carry the tick-borne African typhus disease and rabies is also present. If bitten, seek medical advice without delay. There have been confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in the Danube Delta, Transylvania and Bucharest. The Romanian authorities have taken measures to contain the outbreaks and no human infections or deaths have been reported. In 2012, several cases of the West Nile Virus were reported by the Romanian National Institute of Health, and travellers to the Danube Delta are recommended to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers and to apply insect repellent.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Enayati, WarghaCentrul Medical Unirea
Str. Ion Ionescu de la Brad 5b
Bukarest
sect 1
Romania
Tel. +40-7222-86770
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.