48 hours in Bucharest – here’s what you can do!

Last updated on July 31st, 2026 at 01:46 am

Bucharest may not be as grand as Budapest or Prague, but somehow, if you take your time to wander its streets, it grows on you!

It was once called “Little Paris” and has its own charms and definitely its own harsh recent history from the era of communism and the Ceauşescu reign – which is fascinating at the least! I don’t know why, but one place here actually moved me to literal tears – and that’s not my norm!

So if you’re planning a trip to Bucharest, be prepared to be surprised by this little capital! It has everything from grand architecture and historic landmarks to trendy cafés, parks, and definitely a welcoming and buzzing nightlife – and of course, its communist history. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting for a weekend or adding it to a longer Romania itinerary, this guide covers the best things to do in Bucharest to help you make the most of your time in the city.

Contents

Trip Planning Checklist

The best things to do in Bucharest!

Where to stay in Bucharest

Things to pack for Bucharest

Mini 2-4 day itinerary for Bucharest

Frequently asked questions about Bucharest

Travel Tips for Bucharest

Related Posts

Trip Planning Checklist

These are the booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides – at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for the support! Cheers!

All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. My top picks in Bucharest are:

• Bucharest 3-hours Walking Tour or the City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
• 3-Hour Dark History Tour with a Local – really explains much of the city’s past – I highly recommend along with a communism tour.
• Communism and History Guided City Walking Tour or The Real Tour of Communism – without understanding this era you can’t start to understand the city or Romania!
• The Palace of Parliament ticket and tour

Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars

Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

The Best things to do in Bucharest for 48 hours

I’ll start with the key attractions in the heart of the city. Depending on how long you spend at these places, there are more intriguing spots to see a bit further out of the center (but on the metro), so you can prioritize the must sees then whatever else you want to add on. I easily visited all these places in 48 hours but am no museum buff and so didn’t spend time at any of them other than the Communist Museum (highly recommend) and National Village Museum.

1. Seeing the grandeur of the Palace of Parliament is not only one of the best things to do in Bucharest but its a good place to start!

The second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon! Its very ‘soviet era’ and very impressive! If you have time go for a (skip the line) tour of the building (not on weekends) and be impressed with its grandeur!

2. Check out some local street art and the great mix of architecture as you wander to….

There is quite a bit of street art tucked away here and there in Bucharest. If it is your thing this map might be useful to pinpoint some of it.

As for architecture, there is a real mix including, of course, the soviet inspired brutalism, but also modern buildings mixed with Orthodox churches, Art Nouveau palazzos, Neoclassicism and Neo-Romanian style! They are all intermingled so its interesting just to walk and look.

3…….the Cismigiu Gardens, the Romanian Athenaeum…and Revolution Square

The Romanian Athenaeum opened in 1888. It’s a prestigious concert hall – the home to the “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra.

It looks like many other neoclassical European buildings from the outside but it is pretty cool inside. To see it, without going to a show, go to the right and look for a door. You can go inside – for a small fee. The interior is a bit fabulous – the staircase was my favourite thing. Go and see for yourself.

Very close to the Romanian Athenaeum is Revolution Square. Until 1989 this this was ‘Palace Square’ but after the revolution protests here in December 1989 that were key in leading to the end of communism in Romania – and the end of Nicolae Ceaușescu, it was renamed Revolution Square. (They estimate between 700 and 1300 people died and over 3300 were injured during the revolution.) The sculpture looks like a potato, and locals call it that. There is some controversy over it, but there it sits……

4. Then take your time in the Old Town – there’s a lot to see!

Bucharest Old Town is quite small but it is packed full of goodies and wandering here is definitely one of the best things to do in Bucharest!! That’s because its one of the few areas of the city that didn’t get destroyed during WW2 or the Civic Centre project (when 40,000 people were displaced from their homes with one day’s notice to create a new civic center – cheers Ceauşescu).

It is the oldest area of Bucharest (founded in the 14th century) and was the main merchant area until WW2. Its full of neo-baroque and neo-classical buildings. Its also full of bars and restaurants. But you can ignore those, with a couple of exceptions, and just take in what is around you.

There are some things not to miss though. These are what I think are the best things to see in the Old Town and taking it all in is one of the best things to do in Bucharest. I would say to make it even better, a tour is good to give you context, and, going alone early in the morning is good to avoid the crowds! These are some great tour options and their review ratings:

• City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
• Bucharest Essential Tour: Old Town, Calea Victoriei & Communism
• Bucharest 3-hours Walking Tour (Small Groups)
• Walking Tour- Delightful Bucharest (Highlights, Stories, Sights)
• Tuk Tuk Bucharest Tour – Unique Experience in town!

Visit the church of the Stavropoleos Monastery

The Stavropoleos Monastery was built in 1724 and is one of the most beautiful churches in the city. It has a mix of architectural influence – Romanian, Oriental, Byzantine, and late Italian Renaissance, but the main one is the Brâncovenesc style which is unique to this region. The beautiful frescoes inside are partly from the 1700s.

See some other beautiful old buildings

Look out for these beauties as you wander!

The National Savings Bank, the Central University Library, the National Museum of Romanian History, the Court of Appeals, the National Museum of Art, the National Bank of Romania and the CEC Palace!

Amazingly, all these buildings have survived two big earthquakes (1940 and 1977), the Soviet bombing (1941), and the Anglo-American bombing (1944). 

Visit the Communist Museum

Just like every other European capital, Bucharest has swag of museums (including the National Museum of Art of Romania, Cotroceni Palace, Museum of Art Collections, George Enescu Museum, Bucharest Municipality Museum, and Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History.)

I didn’t visit any of these as its not my thing, BUT I did visit the small Communist Museum in the Old Town and (given it was small and easy to deal with) I really enjoyed it!! I think its worth the time as you wander the Old Town. The other option is to go on one of these very popular tours Communism and History Guided City Walking Tour or The Real Tour of Communism!

Check out the food at the inn – at Caru’ cu Bere and Hanul Lui Manuc

Caru’ cu Bere is absolutely the most beautiful restaurant in Bucharest – especially at Christmas! Try and have a coffee or some local fine cuisine there – but only if you can get a seat inside. Book ahead to be sure and enjoy the gorgeous interior that has housed the restaurant since 1899!

Another place to take a peek at is one of the oldest inns in Bucharest, Hanul Lui Manuc, at 62–64 Strada Franceză – a traditional inn for the last two hundred years.

Visit the Cărturești Carusel (Carousel of Light) bookstore that is rated as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world!

Warning – go early – as soon as it opens to avoid crowds. Its insta-famous but still worth seeing – especially with its backstory!

The Cărturești Carusel building was built in 1903 by a wealthy Greek banking family. Naturally it was confiscated by the Communist regime in the 1950s and turned into a general store. Later it was abandoned and left to decay.

The grandson of the banker fought 24 years of battles in court to become the legal heir to the building and finally took possession in 2007. It was in a state of decay but he has since transformed it into this beautiful and functional masterpiece! What an amazing guy!

PS there are three levels and the top floor has a tea-house. Stop and take it all in! 

Find the beautiful Macca–Vilacrosse Passage and have a coffee to take it all in

And another little gem worth finding is the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage snuck between Calea Victoriei and Strada Eugeniu Carada.

Its a pedestrian passage that was made to be a shortcut between two main streets in the Old Town. The name of the passage, Macca – Vilacrosse, comes from the names of two homeowners who sold their properties so the city could make this shortcut.

Its a great example of the 19th-century beauty of Bucharest, so this time maybe have coffee so you can soak it all in. And don’t forget to look up!

Out of the city center there is more…..

5. See how the Ceaușescu‘s lived in their glory days at the Ceauşescu Mansion

Take the metro to Aviatorilor station, and walk to the mansion – passing some interesting buildings and a nice little cafe on the way! This mansion was build in the 1960s and was the home of Ceaușescu and his wife for 25 years. It is full of grandeur and extravagance with handmade paneling and fabrics, crystal chandeliers, paintings by famous Romanian artists, a stunning / garish mosaic in the pool area, and a very blinging golden bathroom!

(Sadly I could not go inside as I was there over a holiday period! but it was impressive just from the outside so its top of my list if I go back!)

I do recommend a tour so you can learn about the Ceauşescus and about the house – I was told it was well worth it!

• Ceausescu Villa – fast track tickets and guide – no queue and a guided tour and tales of the house and this family!
• Bucharest: Parliament, Ceausescu House & Village Museum Tour – a great option and incredibly cheap (at the time of writing)

6. Close by you can join the locals enjoying Herastrau Park and see a very odd memorial

Herastrau Park is a huge park complete with lake and many many statues. The locals can be seen walking their babies and dogs and getting their exercise in. Its a nice break from the city proper! The most unusual statue / memorial you will see in the park is one to Michael Jackson!

There’s a story to the memorial. After communism fell, Michael Jackson was the first pop star to hold a concert in the country. For that he is loved and a memorial sits in the park dedicated to him! Even if he did start by saying “Good evening Budapest!!” Easy mistake and the locals took it well from all accounts!

7. …and visit the National Village Museum

Possibly the main reason to come to Herastrau Park is to visit the Village Museum which is right in the park. It is an “open-air ethnographic museum” that shows the traditional Romanian village life and it is really quite interesting – even for a heathen like me! I do like architecture though and this shows a real range of the different architectural styles across Romania.

Note: If you want to see the National Village Museum and more, there are some good tour options:

• Traditions in Bucharest: Village Museum and Wine Tasting Tour – learn about the village and ways of life then visit a historic manor and Bucharest’s oldest wine bar for a guided tasting of four Romanian wines served with local sausages and cheese
• Traditions at the Village Museum & North Of The City – see the village and the northern part of the city including the Arc de Triomphe and Calea Victoriei (Victoriei Avenue) with its old french style houses
• National Village Museum and Salt Mine in a Day Tour – the museum and the famous Slănic Salt mine 100km out of the city.

8. …and while you are there, check out the nearby Arc de Triomphe – the Bucharest version!

Yep it looks quite like the Paris one! The first arch in this specific place was a wooden one to celebrate Romania gaining its independence in 1878. This Arc de Triomphe was put in its place in 1936 and commemorates the heroes of the War of Independence and World War I.
Note: I would only recommend seeing this if you are visiting the park and Village Museum as well – its an interesting add-on to the journey.

9. On the other side of town visit the Bellu Cemetery, Martyrs cemetery and Heroes church (a personal top pick for the best things to do in Bucharest)

Even if you don’t like cemeteries this is pretty interesting. For a fascinating who’s who of Romania (the rich and the famous – poets, writers, artists, actors etc), and some incredible tombs, take a bit of time to get to this cemetery! Take the metro to Eroii Revolutiei Station and its just across the road.

The tombs in the cemetery are quite outrageous in some cases – see the pic below! There are also convenient street signs pointing you to all the famous people so it is quite the informative place if you are into the arts at all! Curious cats, like across most of the city, add to the ambience!

On the left of the cemetery, when looking from the metro station, you see the Heroes Church (nice to see inside) which has another adjoining cemetery with the heroes and martyrs of the 1989 Revolution. This moved me to literal tears (which shocked me more than anything). All those people that gave their lives for freedom. I just know I’m not that brave!

This walking tour with a guide will give a lot more insight to the cemetery!
And this 3-Hour Dark History Tour with a Local I went on gives you a great tour and insight to the city’s past which includes the Bellu Cemetery. I recommend this tour and a communism tour to really get your head around the past of the city.

10. Wander away from the old town to find the cool cafes and churches!

Some of my best time spent in Bucharest was wandering around the totally non-touristed area near the Armenian Church and this little gem – the Olari church. I found lots of cool little cafes run by the 20-40 year olds that are popping up all over the place there, and was definitely the only tourist in them. Its perfect to also see some beautiful churches and buildings away from anyone else, and to take a cafe break like a real local! The locals will be very happy to see you and very welcoming.

11. If you have more time – taking a day trip is also one of the best (and easy) things to do in Bucharest

There is so much on offer in Romania, but if you are short on time these are some of the top day trips to take from Bucharest – making it easy to see a lot more than you might expect! The tours are very good value (from about 13 euro) and I recommend taking at least one of them if you have the time. My pick is no 1 on the list!

And of course, number 1 on the list is Dracula’s castle! Did you know that Romanians had no idea about Dracula and his castle until the communist era was over with!!

1. Dracula’s Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov day trip; go to Transylvania with GetYourGuide or Viator to see the famous castle, plus the beautiful town of Brasov and Peles Castle.
2. Slănic Prahova Salt Mine Ticket and Transfer or the Slanic Salt Mine Day Trip. Visit the largest salt mine in Europe and learn about its history. Or take this tour that includes Dracula’s Tomb or this one that includes Dracula’s tomb and lunch at a winery!
3. For the Top Gear enthusiasts! Take this Small group Top Gear Road – Transfăgărăşan Highway or this Day trip to Transfagarasan Highway to visit the Carpathian Mountain area and some of the sights there.

12. …..or spend some time at the Therme Bucharest

Therme Bucharest is “the” thermal pool complex for the city. It can be very chill and relaxing, but I don’t recommend visiting on a public holiday or weekend. During the week, or in the evenings – absolutely go for it. I really enjoyed it. Read Your complete guide to Therme Bucharest – Bucharest’s wonderful thermal baths before you go for all the details!

Tour and ticket options in short :

• Official Entry Ticket to Therme Bucharest
• Therme Bucharest Spa Experience – 4.5-Hour Ticket & Transfer
• Therme Bucharest Evening Entry Ticket & Transfer
• Transfer and Full Access All Day at Therme Spa Bucharest

Where to Stay in Bucharest

Book a hotel with booking.com or a hostel with Hostelworld.
In the city itself, there are many options, but these top picks will get you started – they all have a very high review rating at the time of writing!

High end – Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest or the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest by IHG

Mid Range – Epoque Hotel – Relais & Chateaux or the Rosetti Hotel

Good value – the The Mansion Boutique Hotel or La Boheme Boutique Casa Soare

Budget – try the Tempus, or, the Novos Luxury Suites, or, Host Tina

Backpackers – Bedsy, or, T5 Social, or, Host Tina

There are also plenty of apartments across the city and across all budgets, for example One88 Apartments penthouse!

Note: If you have an early flight out, there are plenty of options near the airport (and Therme Bucharest), also with very high review ratings. These are some of the top choices:

Mid Range – Ramada by Wyndham Bucharest Otopeni Airport or Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Airport

Good value – try the Otopeni Airport Cozy Rooms or Ami Residence Bucharest Airport

Things to pack for your trip to Bucharest

Things that were useful to take to Bucharest and not to forget to pack are:

• Lightweight layers for summer and shoulder season – warmer clothes in winter.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A reusable insulated water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
• A very lightweight day pack for your water bottle, jacket etc – I use this one to be exact!
• High-SPF Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and cap or sunhat in summer
• Your camera/phone and power bank for day trips!
• Secure wallet / travel pouch for money and cards
• Travel plug adapter if you are from outside Europe.

Mini 2-4 day itinerary for Bucharest

Day 1:
Start at the Palace of Parliament – do go inside! Walk to the Cismigiu Gardens, the Romanian Athenaeum and Revolution Square.
Spend the afternoon and evening in the Old Town – do a city highlights or old town tour to get your bearings.

Day 2:
If you are only here two days, spend the morning back in the old Town and visit anything you want to investigate more – e.g. the Communism Museum.

In the afternoon visit the Ceauşescu Mansion and Herastrau Park and its National Village Museum. Spend the evening in the nightlife of the Old Town or at the thermal pools – Therma Bucharest!

Day 3 and 4:
If you have one more day, take a day trip to the Salt Mine and / or Draculas castle.
If you have four days here, explore the city more (cafes, churches and cemeteries noted above) or take a second day trip in the country or to Therme Bucharest!

Frequently asked questions for Bucharest

Q: Is Bucharest safe for tourists?
A: Generally, yes its a safer city. Normal precautions apply. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main issues are petty theft, pickpocketing, and occasional taxi scams (stick to Bolt or Uber).

Q: How expensive is Bucharest?
A: Bucharest is still one of the cheaper European capitals – it is cheaper than Budapest and Prague for example.

Q: How many days do you need in Bucharest?
A: 2-3 days is good for most visitors, but if you only have 1 day, that is enough for highlights only. If you add day trips then 4–5 days is good.

Q: Can you drink tap water in Bucharest?
A: Yes

Q: Can you use credit cards and euros in Bucharest?
A: You can easily use credit cards in Bucharest, but you cannot use euros for daily purchases. The local currency is the Romanian Leu (RON).

Travel Tips for Bucharest

• Download Uber and Bolt for rideshares rather than use random street taxis that often overcharge and don’t have card payment.
• The metro / subway / underground in Bucharest is really easy to use, safe, and probably the best way for you to get around. Just go to any metro station and buy a ticket – or a 10 trip ticket. There are good maps and the stations are shown on google maps.
• Take the train from the airport during the day if the traffic is bad.
• Download an e-sim before you leave. Airalo is popular here, but I used yesim.
• Bucharest grows on you! It really does. Give it a chance. The old town is interesting and the stories and remains of communism are fascinating. The mix of brutalist communist, and old European architecture, along with gorgeous orthodox churches is great.
• Stay near Calea Victoriei or the Old Town if it is your first visit.

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