Things to Do in Bucharest (2026): Top Sights, Booking Rules, Itineraries and Getting Around
In short: the best things to do in Bucharest are a guided tour of the Palace of the Parliament, an evening in the Old Town (Lipscani, Stavropoleos Monastery, Caru' cu Bere), a walk down Calea Victoriei past Revolution Square and the Romanian Athenaeum, the Ceaușescus' former home at Primăverii Palace, and the open-air Village Museum in King Michael I Park. The one rule to know: the Parliament tour must be booked by phone at least 24 hours ahead, and you need an original passport or ID card. Two days cover the highlights; three let you add Cotroceni Palace, Mogoșoaia or a spa afternoon at Therme.
This guide covers what to do in Bucharest, Romania, over one to three days, with booking rules, hours and prices checked on 4 November 2026. Where a detail is marked "at the time of writing", confirm it on the official site.
Top things to do in Bucharest
1. Tour the Palace of the Parliament
Built from 1984 to 1997 under Nicolae Ceaușescu (chief architect Anca Petrescu), the Palace of the Parliament is the largest civilian administrative building in the world and the heaviest building in the world, with about 365,000 m² of floor space and about 1,100 rooms. As it is a working parliament, the number of halls you see depends on events that day.
- Booking is required. Groups of 1–9 people book by phone at least 24 hours ahead on +40 733 558 102 or +40 733 558 103 (Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00). For a Monday visit, book by the Friday before. Groups of 10 or more book by email at least 3 days ahead.
- Bring an original ID card or passport. Driving licences are not accepted. Arrive 15 minutes early at the visitor entrance, Strada Izvor 2–4.
- Tickets are not sold online. You pay on the day at the info desk, by cash or card. The Palace says it is not responsible for tickets bought from third parties.
- Hours and prices: guided tours daily 09:00–17:00. Adults 85 lei (about €16), students aged 19–26 with student ID 55 lei, children 7–18 40 lei, children under 7 free; a private tour costs 3,000 lei per group.
2. Explore Bucharest Old Town
The best things to do in Bucharest Old Town (Centrul Vechi):
- Lipscani street: named after Leipzig (Lipsca), the city many of its goods came from. It was the main trading area of Bucharest and Wallachia from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century; today it is largely pedestrian, with restaurants and nightlife.
- Stavropoleos Monastery (Str. Stavropoleos 4): a church completed in 1724 in the Brâncovenesc style. Open daily 08:00–19:00, respecting services. It is an active monastery, so keep your voice down and dress respectfully.
- Caru' cu Bere (Str. Stavropoleos 5): a beer hall founded in 1879, in a Gothic Revival building with an ornate Art Nouveau interior. Open daily 10:00–24:00; reservations are recommended at least 24 hours ahead (carucubere.ro).
- Manuc's Inn (Hanul lui Manuc): built in 1808 by the Armenian merchant Manuc Bei, it hosted preliminary talks for the 1812 Treaty of Bucharest; its restaurant is open.
- Cărturești Carusel (Str. Lipscani 55): a bookshop in the early-20th-century Chrissoveloni bank building, restored in 2015. At the time of writing it is open daily 10:00–24:00.
- The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche): the residence documented in 1459 under Vlad the Impaler. The museum is currently closed for maintenance, with no reopening date announced; the Old Court Church (1559) is considered the oldest church in Bucharest preserved in its original form.
3. Walk Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square
Calea Victoriei is Bucharest's grand historic avenue, about 2.7 km long. It was paved with wood in 1692 under Constantin Brâncoveanu, when it was called Podul Mogoșoaiei, and renamed in 1878 after the War of Independence. Along it:
- Revolution Square (Piața Revoluției), called Palace Square until 1989. Around it stand the former Royal Palace, the Athenaeum, the Central University Library, the Memorial of Rebirth and the former Communist Party Central Committee building, from whose roof Ceaușescu fled by helicopter on 22 December 1989.
- The National Museum of Art of Romania, in the former Royal Palace: Wednesday–Friday 10:00–18:00, Saturday–Sunday 11:00–19:00, closed Monday and Tuesday. At the time of writing an adult ticket costs about 24 lei (roughly €5).
- Kretzulescu Church, the National History Museum and the Athénée Palace hotel building.
- CEC Palace (1897–1900, architect Paul Gottereau): not regularly open to visitors, so admire it from outside.
4. Hear a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum
Opened in 1888 to designs by Albert Galleron, the Athenaeum (Str. Benjamin Franklin 1–3) is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic and the George Enescu Festival. The hall seats 794, and a 75 m fresco of Romanian history by Costin Petrescu circles it. The best way to see the interior is to attend a concert; guided visits without a concert are by appointment only, through the Philharmonic.
5. Visit Primăverii Palace (Casa Ceaușescu)
The Ceaușescus' former residence is one of the most unusual things to do in Bucharest.
- Guided tours only, in Romanian or English, about 45 minutes, with an optional 25-minute documentary. Book a date and time slot online in advance on casaceausescu.ro.
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays and Romanian public holidays.
- Prices: guided tour 85 lei (about €16); with documentary 115 lei (about €22); students and pensioners 70 lei; children under 7 free.
- Photos and videos are strictly forbidden inside.
6. Explore the Village Museum and King Michael I Park
The National Village Museum "Dimitrie Gusti" opened in 1936, 90 years ago. Its 10 hectares hold 363 monuments: traditional houses, churches and farm buildings brought from across Romania. Winter hours are shorter, at the time of writing about 09:00–17:00; check prices on the museum's site.
The museum sits inside King Michael I Park, formerly Herăstrău, renamed in 2017. It covers about 187 hectares, including a 74-hectare lake, with a Japanese Garden and boats on the lake in season.
7. Climb the Arcul de Triumf
Open all year since March 2025, the arch can be climbed. From November to March it opens Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); April–October hours differ. Closed Mondays. Adults 15 lei (about €3).
8. Visit Cotroceni Palace
The National Cotroceni Museum is part of the Romanian Presidency complex, so bring an original ID card or passport. On weekdays (Tuesday–Friday) visits are guided tours only and must be booked in advance with the museum. At weekends no booking is needed and the route includes the museum and the presidential salons; adults 70 lei (about €13) at the time of writing. Closed on Mondays.
9. See the Peasant Museum and the Antipa Museum
- The Romanian Peasant Museum fully reopened on 28 June 2026 after about a decade of restoration. Adults 22 lei (about €4); at the time of writing open Wednesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.
- The Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum (Șos. Kiseleff 1) is Bucharest's most visited museum, with over 500,000 visitors in 2025, and a great choice with children. Adults 20 lei (about €4); at the time of writing open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.
Both are good things to do in Bucharest when it rains.
10. Spend an afternoon at Therme București
One of Europe's largest wellness centres, Therme is in Balotești on the DN1, about 20 km north of Bucharest, just past Otopeni airport. It opens daily (Monday–Thursday 10:00–23:00, Friday–Saturday 09:00–24:00, Sunday 09:00–23:00); prices are on therme.ro. Bus 442 links it with the airport and Piața Presei. Our Therme Bucharest winter spa guide has the details.
Bucharest sights at a glance
| Place | What it is | Booking needed? | Adult ticket | Open |
|---|
| Palace of the Parliament | Guided tour of a working parliament | Yes, by phone at least 24 h ahead; original ID | 85 lei | Daily 09:00–17:00 |
| Primăverii Palace | Ceaușescu residence, guided tour | Yes, online time slot | 85 lei (115 lei with film) | Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00 |
| Cotroceni Palace | Museum and presidential salons | Tue–Fri yes; weekends no; original ID | 70 lei (check) | Closed Mondays |
| National Museum of Art | Art in the former Royal Palace | – | About 24 lei (check) | Wed–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–19:00 |
| Arcul de Triumf | Triumphal arch you can climb | – | 15 lei | Nov–Mar Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00 |
| Peasant Museum | Romanian folk culture | – | 22 lei | Wed–Sun 10:00–18:00 (check) |
| Antipa Museum | Natural history | – | 20 lei | Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (check) |
| Stavropoleos Monastery | 1724 Brâncovenesc church | – | – | Daily 08:00–19:00 |
| Village Museum | Open-air museum of rural houses | – | See museum site | Winter about 09:00–17:00 (check) |
A dash means no booking rule or price is published. Euro amounts are approximate, at about 5.3 lei to the euro.
Bucharest itineraries: 1, 2 or 3 days
Bucharest in 1 day
- Morning: Palace of the Parliament tour, booked by phone at least 24 hours ahead; bring your passport.
- Afternoon: Stavropoleos, CEC Palace, then Calea Victoriei to Revolution Square, the Athenaeum and the National Museum of Art (Wednesday to Sunday).
- Evening: dinner at Caru' cu Bere (book at least 24 hours ahead) and a stroll along Lipscani, or a concert at the Athenaeum.
Bucharest in 2 days
- Day 1: as above.
- Day 2: Primăverii Palace in the morning (book your slot; Tuesday to Sunday), then the Village Museum and King Michael I Park, and the Arcul de Triumf. In winter the Village Museum and the arch close at about 17:00. Evening: Cărturești Carusel.
Bucharest in 3 days
- Day 3, option A: Cotroceni Palace (no booking at weekends), then the Peasant Museum or the Antipa Museum.
- Day 3, option B: Mogoșoaia Palace in the morning and Therme in the afternoon, both just outside the city.
- Day 3, option C: a day trip to Peleș or Bran (see below).
Just outside Bucharest
- Mogoșoaia Palace: built 1698–1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in the Brâncovenesc style, about 10 km from Bucharest. From October to April it opens Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Mondays. Adults 15 lei.
- Snagov Monastery: on an island in Lake Snagov, north of Bucharest, reached by a footbridge. Legend says Vlad the Impaler was buried here, but the presumed tomb was found empty when it was opened in 1933–34.
- Peleș Castle in Sinaia, about 2 hours away, is closed from 2 November to 1 December 2026. See our Peleș Castle guide.
- Bran Castle is about 3–3.5 hours away. See our Bran Castle guide.
Bucharest in winter: November and December
- Public holidays: 30 November (St Andrew), 1 December (National Day) and 25–26 December (Christmas). Primăverii Palace and the Cotroceni Museum are closed on these days; other museums may change their hours, so check.
- Winter hours apply from November at the Arcul de Triumf, Mogoșoaia and the Village Museum.
Getting around Bucharest
From Otopeni airport to the city
- 100 Express bus: runs 24/7 to the centre, stopping at Arrivals and Departures; the fare is 3 lei, paid by contactless card.
- Train: from the airport station to Gara de Nord in about 20–25 minutes.
- Uber and Bolt: use the app's airport pickup option and avoid touts.
- There is no metro to the airport yet; the M6 line is expected around 2028–2029.
In the city
The Old Town, Revolution Square and Calea Victoriei are walkable; for longer hops, use the metro or Uber and Bolt. If you drive, note that since February 2026 the blue parking zones no longer take cash (card, app or SMS only); in the centre a hotel or private car park is easier, and traffic is heavy at rush hour.
With a chauffeur or a car delivered to your hotel
The Palace of the Parliament, Primăverii, Cotroceni, the Village Museum, Mogoșoaia and Therme are spread across the city and beyond, which is where a driver genuinely helps. ELEI's chauffeur service in Bucharest provides an English-speaking driver in a Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series, for VIP airport transfers, meetings and city days, or a Mercedes V-Class for groups and delegations. It also means an evening at the Athenaeum or in the Old Town without driving or parking.
Prefer to drive? ELEI delivers a car to Otopeni Airport, your hotel or any address in Bucharest–Ilfov for €50 each way (€90 for delivery and collection). Delayed flights are tracked, the paperwork takes 20 minutes, the rovinieta (road toll) is included, and the contract and support are in English. See our car rental guide for Romania.
Planning a day in the city? Send us your date on WhatsApp and we'll suggest an option and confirm the price.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Bucharest?
Two days cover the main sights; a third adds Cotroceni, Mogoșoaia, Therme or a day trip.
Is Bucharest worth visiting?
Yes. In two days you can see the world's heaviest building, an 18th-century monastery, an 1888 concert hall and a dictator's private home.
Do I need to book the Palace of the Parliament in advance?
Yes. Groups of 1–9 book by phone at least 24 hours ahead (Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00); Monday visits must be booked by the Friday before. Bring an original passport or ID card, as driving licences are not accepted.
What are the best free things to do in Bucharest?
Walking the Old Town and Lipscani, Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square, seeing CEC Palace from outside and spending time in King Michael I Park cost nothing.
What is there to do in Bucharest on a Monday?
Many sights close on Mondays, including Primăverii, Cotroceni, the National Museum of Art, the Arcul de Triumf and the Peasant and Antipa museums. The Palace of the Parliament is open daily (book by the Friday before), and you can always walk the Old Town.
Is there a Dracula connection in Bucharest?
Yes: the Old Princely Court, documented in 1459 under Vlad the Impaler (its museum is currently closed), and Snagov Monastery, his legendary burial place.
Sources: cic.cdep.ro (Palace of the Parliament), casaceausescu.ro (Primăverii Palace), palatebrancovenesti.ro (Mogoșoaia Palace), bucharestairports.ro (Otopeni airport), therme.ro (Therme București), Wikipedia (Bucharest).
Last updated: November 2026. Questions about getting around Bucharest? Call us on +40 750 481 850; we answer in English.
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