Bucharest Sightseeing: Attractions & Places to Visit

Bucharest, Romania, is a great city for sightseeing, with grand architecture, Orthodox churches, museums, parks, and historic squares. Many of the main Bucharest attractions are in or near the centre, including the Romanian Athenaeum, Old Town, Palace of Parliament, Stavropoleos Monastery, CEC Palace and Revolution Square.

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For attractions further out, such as King Mihai I Park, the Village Museum and Arcul de Triumf, the city’s cheap public transport makes sightseeing easy. If you are short on time, there are various guided tours to join. You can find these on the Viator website.

Bucharest Sightseeing & Tourist Attractions

The city kept me engaged for days, and there are many options for me to enjoy on my next visit. I have created a Bucharest travel guide with practical information to plan your visit to the city.

Palace of Parliament

No visit to Bucharest is complete without seeing the massive Palace of Parliament. This is the seat of Romania’s parliament and is also a tourist attraction if you fancy a tour inside. Tours of the building let you see the large, ornate rooms inside.

The building is best seen from Piața Constituției or from Bulevardul Unirii, where there are a few bars. Walking the perimeter of the site is also nice, albeit a long walk.

Romanian Athenaeum

One of the top places to visit is the Romanian Athenaeum. The Romanian Athenaeum is a beautiful building in the central area of Bucharest. It also has a lovely garden out front where you can sit and admire the Romanesque facade. The Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall that opened in 1888. The ornate, domed, circular building is the city’s most iconic concert hall and home of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra.

If you love classical concerts or beautiful buildings, this is the place for you. To see inside, there is a door on the right-hand side where you can enter after paying a small fee.

Bucharest Old Town

The Old Town in Bucharest has many buildings in the neoclassical and neo-baroque styles. It is a very photogenic place to visit; it also has some great attractions, including churches to pop into too. The Old Town area has an array of nice cafes, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to visit.

Some of the standout bars for me include Nomad Skybar, a rooftop terrace, and Grand Cafe Van Gogh, which features Van Gogh replicas on the walls.

Stavropoleos Monastery Church

One of the top places of interest in Bucharest’s old town is the Stavropoleos Monastery Church. Entry is free; however, you can donate or buy a candle to light. They built this church in the Brâncovenesc style, and it dates back to 1724.

They have the main church, which is elaborately decorated. The porch on the way in has some fantastic frescoes to see or photograph. They also have a courtyard to sit in or have a look around with many decorative features and artefacts.

“Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum

My favourite tourist attraction in Bucharest was the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. This is a fantastic open-air museum to explore in King Mihai I Park. The museum has many old buildings that were moved from the far-flung corners of Romania.

You can see houses from the many eras and regions of Romania. Some of the older thatched cottages showed how people used to live. They also have a few old wooden churches on the site for visitors to see or enter. The churches, combined with the other buildings, made it feel like you had stepped back in time.

Piața Revoluției

Piața Revoluției got its name after the 1989 revolution; formerly, it was Palace Square. Things to see in the square include the Royal Palace, the stunning Athenaeum, the Athénée Palace Hotel, the University of Bucharest Library and the Memorial of Rebirth. I enjoyed seeing the buildings here and having a sit-down in the square for a break from walking.

Palace of the Deposits and Consignments

The Palace of the Deposits and Consignments is a beautiful building in the centre of Bucharest. They also call this the CEC Palace, and they constructed it between 1897 and 1900. They built the Palace of the Deposits and Consignments in an eclectic architectural style.

Arcul de Triumf

The Arcul de Triumf is one of the iconic landmarks of Bucharest. It’s very much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. They unveiled the Arcul de Triumf in 1936 to commemorate the heroes of the War of Independence and World War I.

The arch is 27 metres high and decorated with many sculptures by Romanian artists. It is near King Mihai I Park; however, it is tricky to get onto the traffic island to see it up close.

Cărturești Carusel Bookshop

The Cărturești Carusel Bookshop is in the old town area, and the inside is a fantastic building to see. The building was originally a bank headquarters they built in the early 20th century. Since then, it has been a general store, and in 2015 they restored it to become this fantastic bookshop.

The interior decoration is well worth popping in to see, especially from the higher balconies. They also have an excellent selection of books in both English and Romanian to peruse while visiting.

Cișmigiu Gardens

One of the more relaxing things to do in the city centre is to visit Cișmigiu Gardens. Cișmigiu Gardens is a top place for a walk or sit-down. The park has a lake and many decorative features, including a bandstand, the Clock of Cișmigiu, and flowerbeds. There are quite a lot of birds in the park, and there are information boards on which species you are likely to spot.

Cișmigiu Gardens is the largest and oldest park in the centre of Bucharest. They established the gardens in 1847. They also have a few bars and restaurants in Cișmigiu Gardens, which are great for watching the world go by.

King Mihai I Park & Japanese Garden

A nice place for a walk in the city is King Mihai I Park, which is near some of the city’s top attractions, the Village Museum and Arcul de Triumf.

The park is massive and also has a lake with boats during the warmer months. One of my favourite sections of the park was the decorative Japanese gardens. Unfortunately, my visit was too early to see all the cherry blossoms; maybe next time.

Caru’ cu Bere

When exploring the city, there are many reasons to visit Caru’ cu Bere. The exterior of the building is impressive, as is the decorative interior. It is also a nice place for a beer or to enjoy a traditional meal out. Caru’ cu Bere has a history dating back to 1879, when it opened as a brewery. It’s a nice setting for enjoying refreshments, and I highly recommend visiting the interior to see the special decor.

Ceaușescu House

Another popular attraction in the capital is the Ceaușescu House, the former home of Romania’s communist dictator. It’s a decorative place inside, built in the 1960s when he was in power. As well as seeing the lavish decor, you learn more about their family and place on the world stage, meeting various famous presidents. To visit the Ceaușescu House, you need tickets, which you can book online for set times.

Macca Vilacrosse Passage

Macca Vilacrosse Passage is a glass-covered, fork-shaped arcade with beautiful decor. Macca Vilacrosse Passage has an interesting history and was once part of a hotel and the site of Bucharest’s first stock exchange.

The decorative details are lovely to have a mooch around, and there are options for food and drink. Macca Vilacrosse Passage has lots of outdoor seating and has a wine bar, blues cafe, Egyptian bar and more. The best time of day to visit is early in the morning, before the cafe-bars open; thus, you have nearly the place to yourself.

Romanian National Museum of Art

The National Museum of Art of Romania is in the former Royal Palace in Bucharest. The venue includes the National Gallery, which hosts exhibitions of Romanian medieval and modern artworks. It also has a European art gallery and many options for temporary exhibitions. You can also go on a guided tour of the once-royal palace.

The Water Symphony in Piata Unirii

A highlight of my visits to the city is the Water Symphony, a light show featuring the fountains at Piata Unirii. The Water Symphony is fantastic to watch and listen to as the fountains dance to the music beamed out across the square. This is a free event that takes place on weekends in the evening. The show lasts for 45 minutes.

More Sights to See in Bucharest

Patriarchal Cathedral & Palace

The Romanian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral has a history dating back to 1655, when construction started under the orders of Prince Constantin Şerban.

The cathedral has some decorative frescoes; sadly, most of the older ones were destroyed and replaced in 1923. Interestingly, in 1862, the Romanian prime minister was assassinated here.

The Patriarchal Cathedral is a short walk from Piata Unirii up a small hill with some pretty cool statues. The Patriarchal Cathedral is on a small hilltop, and at some points, there are good views of Bucharest.

The area is popular with churchgoers, and a service was often underway inside, so I had to bide my time before visiting the inside. The courtyard outside has lots of pretty buildings, including palaces.

Sunrise & Sunset Watching

I found some excellent places in Bucharest to see both sunrise and sunset during my visits. The highlights are being near Constitution Square with views down Boulevard Unirii and towards the imposing Parliament Building. The Patriarchal Cathedral was also pleasant during the early sun and was quiet.

Radu Vodă Monastery

Another site I enjoyed visiting was Radu Vodă Monastery. I visited on a Sunday, and services were going on, so I didn’t enter. However, the gardens and buildings were nice to see from the grounds. You can walk around the site for free, and they have various places to purchase religious icons.

The monastery was started in 1567 and consecrated in 1568 and 1577. Interestingly, in 1595, the great-grandson of Vlad Tepes, Alexandru II Mircea, established the first library in Bucharest.

Umbrellas Street

A popular place in Bucharest is Umbrella Street, which is great for taking photos. It is a street with a few bars and restaurants, and they have covered it with colourful umbrellas. A great place for a photo or refreshments.

National Military Museum

If you are interested in history or military artefacts, the National Military Museum is a fascinating place. King Ferdinand I established the museum in 1923; however, it moved to its current location in 1988. It is near the main train station, easy to find, and quite cheap.

The museum tells the story of Romania’s military, including the Roman Era, the Middle Ages, the world wars, and the communist era. They have lots of exhibits to peruse while walking through the building, along with many artefacts. The museum has both Romanian and English labels on many of the exhibits.

Outside of the museum are lots of pieces of military hardware, including tanks, artillery and helicopters, to see up close.

Romanian Railway Museum

The Romanian Railway Museum is right next to Bucharest North Train Station. The museum is cheap to enter. You can see some steam locomotives up close, which is fascinating. They also have many CFR Calatori artefacts from throughout the railway’s history in the country.

In addition to artefacts, they have a model railway, which is the centrepiece of the museum. This has many trains that run along the train set’s tracks.

Filipescu-Cesianu House

The Filipescu-Cesianu House is a fascinating place to visit, especially if you are interested in art. It is a Belle Époque mansion from the European golden age. The building is beautiful on the outside and has a garden with lots of sculptures and a bandstand.

The ticket office houses a collection of frescoes from churches in Romania. Many of these are originals rescued over time and are rather nice to see. The artefacts are all clearly marked in English and Romanian, with details of their history and which part of the country they are from.

The principal museum has some great exhibits, including furnishings, costumes and ceramics from the 18th to 20th centuries. They had a section on urban anthropology, which tells the story of the people of Bucharest. Finally, on the top floor, there is a modern art exhibition. This had some pieces painted by local artists.

Central University Library Carol I

Another building that caught my eye while exploring the city is the Central University Library Carol I. The building dates from 1895 and was designed by the French architect Paul Gottereau. The library building is pretty, and at the front is an equestrian statue of Carol I. There are many statues of Carol I throughout Romania.

Palace of the National Military Circle

Another stunning building to see is the Palace of the National Military Circle. They built the Palace of the National Military Circle in the French neoclassical style. The Sărindar monastery previously used the site. To mark this, the fountain at the front bears its name. Inside the building are some monumental halls, including the Marble Hall, an impressive room.

National Bank of Romania Museum

In the old town area of Bucharest is the impressive building of the National Bank of Romania. The building is beautiful and has many interesting features to see outside. It is also home to the National Bank of Romania Museum.

They built the building in an eclectic late-19th-century style between 1884 and 1890. You can either admire the building from the outside or visit the museum to see its fascinating collections.

Odeon Theatre

The Odeon Theatre’s entrance is on Piața Odeon, a square which is a great place to hang out. This theatre is one of the best-known performing arts venues in the city. There are many performances to watch here. You can find out what’s on at their ticket office.

National Geology Museum

The National Geology Museum is near Victory Square in Bucharest. It is in a Romanian Revival-style building that dates from 1906. This museum has over 80000 samples of rocks, minerals and fossils to see. The museum also has some dinosaur reconstructions that were found in the country.

Nunțiatura Apostolică din București

Another really pleasant building is Nunțiatura Apostolică din București. They built the Palace of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in 1901. The building is a mishmash of architectural styles; hence, it looks fascinating. This includes monumental, eclectic, neo-romantic, and neo-gothic design elements. It’s now used as a government building; thus, you cannot visit inside.

Colțea Hospital

Another historic landmark to see is the Colțea Hospital. Colțea Hospital is the oldest hospital in the city, founded in the 17th century, and it’s fantastic to see from the outside. They built the current building in the eclectic architectural style and completed it in 1897. Inside is a working hospital; thus, it is not a site you can visit.

Three Hierarchs Church – Colței Church

Next to the stunning Colţei Hospital near University Square is the equally eye-pleasing Three Hierarchs Church. They also call this the Colţi church. The Three Hierarchs Church has an interesting design, especially the porticoes at the entrance. This church dates back to the 17th century; however, it has been renovated since.

St Joseph’s Cathedral

St Joseph’s is a Roman Catholic cathedral with a lovely interior, and its exterior is distinctive for its large rose window.

Construction of St Joseph’s Cathedral started in 1875 and was completed by 1883. The cathedral is Romanesque by design and has many features to see. They created the cathedral’s main altar in Rome from white Carrara marble. Famously, in 1999, Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral and co-celebrated the Eastern Rite Mass.

Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului

Another sight to see near the parliament building is Catedrala Mântuirii Neamului. This is a massive golden-domed Orthodox cathedral and is the tallest Orthodox cathedral in the world. I’ve read there’s some controversy about the building. Anyway, on my visit, it was closed, but it was pleasant to see from afar.

Other Churches

Throughout the city, there are various other small churches and monasteries to see or visit. Some of these are rather old and have an interesting history to learn about when visiting.