25+ Best Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania (Hidden Gems, Food & History)
Last Updated on 30th July 2026 by Sophie Nadeau
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As the capital city of Romania, a beautiful country which is to be found in Eastern Europe, Bucharest has no shortage of striking architecture, historical buildings, and a fantastic foodie scene.
Though often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours, Sofia and Budapest, Bucharest is well worth a visit on any European adventure. After all, there are plenty of quirky attractions and hidden places worth a visit when it comes to the Romanian capital.
A vibrant city with a complicated past and a rich history, my first glimpse of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, came in the form of twinkling lights sprawling out into the distance below the plane window. From sampling traditional Romanian cuisine to experiencing some stunning architecture, here’s a guide to the very best things to do in Bucharest…
Introducing Bucharest
The Romanian capital has a population size of around 1.8 million residents, which is a lot more than Sofia (which has around 1.2 million residents) and Prague (which has around 1.3 million residents).
Considering that Romania’s total population is around 19 million inhabitants, a fairly large percentage of the population live in the capital city itself. The first ever mention of Bucharest was on September 20, 1459, and it was actually thanks to Prince Vlad III Dracula (yes, the one and the same as in the Bram Stoker novel).
It was at this time that the location where Bucharest now is was chosen to be the summer residence of the Prince’s court.
Where is Bucharest located?
There are three regions in Romania, Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia. In fact, Romania first came into being with the unification of the two principalities, Wallachia and Moldavia.
Bucharest is to be found in Wallachia, which is to the south of Transylvania. Indeed, Transylvania is where you’ll find Bran Castle, which is often alleged to have served as inspiration for Dracula’s castle in the Bram Stoker novel.
Good to know: Bucharest nicknames
Bucharest is often referred to as ‘Little Paris’ or ‘Paris of the East’ thanks to an abundance of Haussmannian style architecture and Art Nouveau buildings to be found across the city. The name ‘New Berlin’ is as a result of the large amounts of fantastic street art which can be found at various points throughout the Romanian capital.
The nickname ‘New Berlin’ also derives from the fact that the city is home a buzzing ‘Berlinesque nightlife’ scene, particularly in the old town where you can find dozens of night clubs and bars which are open well into the early hours of the AM.
Best things to do in Bucharest
See the Parliament Building (and the second largest building in the world)
It’s impossible to talk about the history of Romania, and indeed Bucharest, without discussing its communist past. The massive parliamentary building that was constructed during the communist era during the rule of Nicolae Ceaușescu is the second largest building in the world (second only to the Pentagon).
It’s constructed from Romanian marble and is the world’s heaviest building (as well as the most expensive). Construction of the building started in 1978, and the structure is so vast that it actually takes a full hour’s walk just to walk around it!
Despite housing administrative offices and government departments such as the competition Council, and the Romanian Senate, seven-tenths of this building actually remains empty.
For a fee, you can go inside the parliament building and experience another side to its imposing architecture. To save your feet from walking the distance around the building, the entrance for tourists is to the right hand side of the building when you’re facing it straight on.
Book now: Bucharest Parliament ticket
Spot the French Influences on Bucharest (Bucharest’s nickname is ‘little Paris’)
Bucharest is often referred to as Little Paris and it’s true that French influence is apparent throughout the city. From the small French-like signs in the parks to the Haussmannian style architecture dotted throughout the city, there are traces of France almost everywhere you look.
Go Searching for Street Art
The other nickname Bucharest has gained in the past decade or so is ‘New Berlin‘, owing to the sheer amount of street art around nearly every corner, as well as a buzzing ‘Berlinesque nightlife’ when the sun sets over the city.
And it’s true that people in Bucharest like to party; throughout the city (particularly in the old town), you can find dozens of clubs that are open well into the early hours of the morning.
Visit the Basilica Saint Anthony
This pretty orthodox church is located on the fringes of the old town, right next to the ruins of one of Vlad the Impaler’s former residences.
Though the church is built on the site of a much older place of worship, the building you can now see here dates back to the early 20th-Century. Inside the church, you’ll find the tomb of Mircea the Shepherd, founder of the original 16th-Century church.
Visit the Umbrella Passage and Pizzeria
If you’ve searched for ‘Bucharest’ on Instagram, no doubt you’ve come across the pretty umbrella street outside a cute little pizzeria.
Named the ‘Pizza Colosseum’, you’ll find its vibrant decor just off the Calea Victoriei and pretty close by to the ‘one day church’ (A pretty orthodox church. Its construction started and ended on the same date of the year, hence why it’s called the ‘one day church’.)
If you want to see even more umbrella passageways in the city of Bucharest, head to the cute café of Acuarela. Elsewhere in the city, there are plenty of hidden gems to discover, if only you know where to look.
Drink (and eat plenty of food) at the 18 Lounge
Towering high above the leafy green city of Bucharest, from here you can even enjoy views onto the great lakes and the Arcul de Triumf.
The food was incredible, the wine was tasty and the views breathtaking. Head here to take in some of the best views of the city, while enjoying a good glass of wine (or a coffee depending on the time of day!)
Learn about Communism
To get a real sense of how much communism shaped Bucharest, and Romania as a whole, I highly recommend going on a free walking tour of the city with a local guide. Walkabout Free Walking Tours operate in a few cities across Romania, including the Transylvanian town of Brasov.
Their ‘The Story of Bucharest’ tour will quite literally walk you through centuries of history, and help you to understand the story of how Bucharest came to be the city you can see, visit and experience today. While tours are free to attend and take place on a daily basis, donations are always appreciated.
Wander around Cismigiu Park
The Cișmigiu Gardens or Cișmigiu Park is a pretty green space is the oldest park in the capital city and centred around a beautiful artificial lake.
Throughout the area, you’ll find little follies, monuments and statues dotted around. During my stay in the city, I stayed in the Hotel Epoque which was close to Cismigiu Park.
Particular points of interest in the 16 hectares park include the Writer’s Rotunda/ Rondul Român (a circular walk lined with busts of famous Romanian authors) and The Monument of French Heroes/ Monumentul Eroilor Francezi which commemorates French soldiers who fought for Romania in WWI.
Visit the Prettiest Bookshop in Romania
If you’re wondering what to do in Bucharest on a rainy day, then you need to look no further. Located in a repurposed 19th-Century building in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town, you’ll find Cărturești Carusel, what may well be the prettiest bookshop in all of Romania.
Head here to find books on a whole variety of subjects, as well as a light-filled café on the mezzanine floor. Although much more popular since the rise of certain social media platforms, the ‘Light Carousel’ Bookshop remains one of the prettiest bookstores in Europe.
Be amazed by the Town Hall
While the interior is often closed to the public (we were incredibly lucky to be granted a sneak peek inside thanks to the City of Bucharest), Bucharest Town Hall is still well worth admiring from the exterior. Located just opposite from the Cismigiu park, a trip here can easily be combined with a trip to the nearby park.
Check out the Arcul de Triumf
Thanks to its abundance of cute cafés and Haussmannian style architecture, Bucharest has been given the nickname of Little Paris. But what you might not know is that yes, Bucharest has an Arc de Triomphe too, and it’s situated along Victoriei Avenue!
The current arch was constructed in 1935 and offers breathtaking views over the city (even when the Triumphal arch is closed to the public, it’s still impressive and can be seen from all over Bucharest).
Relax in Herăstrău Park
Would you believe that Bucharest actually has over 20 square metres of green space per person! The Herăstrău Park is located to the North of the city and offers plenty of green space to stroll around and soak up the sunshine in the summer months.
Here, you’ll also find a Michael Jackson statue, among plenty of other monuments. The iconic singer came to the city as part of his world tour ‘The Dangerous Tour’ in 1992. Just don’t make the same mistake the King of Pop did and call ‘Bucharest’ ‘Budapest’ by accident!
Go Looking for the ‘Churches That Moved’
Bucharest is filled with churches (pretty much one per every five minutes of walking!). This is especially true when you look beyond the communist buildings that line the Grand Promenade leading up to the Palace of Parliament.
If there’s one thing I learned during history lessons at school, it’s that secular communism and religion do not mix well. Nicolae Ceaușescu did not want to see any of the Orthodox churches when it came to his grand vision for Bucharest- they just didn’t fit with Communist architecture or ideals.
However, as so many of the architects did not want to lose the ancient buildings of the churches, they came up with an ingenious plan to move them via rail tracks. Imagine seeing centuries-old buildings rolling by during the 1980s in Communist Romania!
The oldest of all the churches that were moved during this period is that of the Mihai Voda Church, a pretty 16th-Century orthodox church hidden in amongst the high rise communist flats. During the communist era, the religious building was moved from the top of where the palace of Parliament now sits behind a particularly high block of flats.
Admire the Stavropoleos Monastery
Of all the best things to do in Bucharest, searching for many of the pretty churches dotted around the city is high up on the list. And within the limits of the city’s ‘old town,’ you’ll find the beautiful architecture of Stavropoleos monastery.
Inside, the walls are painted ornately, while the garden hiding behind the church house a set of pretty cloisters (perfect for soaking up some history in peace and quiet).
Drink beer at Hanul Lui Manuc (Manuc’s Hotel and Restaurant)
Recently renovated after a period of renovation, the ancient building of Manuc’s Inn is the oldest operating hotel in Bucharest. Located at 62–64 Strada Franceză and just across from the Curtea Veche, the Inn was first built in 1808.
Today, it houses a huge beer garden where you can enjoy Romanian specialities and Romanian beer. Just bear in mind that owing to the special nature of the history of the place, as well as its proximity to many major tourist attractions in Bucharest, the prices here can be a little higher than elsewhere.
See the Remains of Vlad the Impaler’s Palace (Curtea Veche)
Although many people believe that Vlad the Impaler (a ruler who governed with an iron fist and had a particular fondness for impaling enemies and foes) came from Transylvania, where Bran Castle is located, he actually came from Wallachia, where Bucharest if based.
Vlad is so famous because it’s widely believed that he served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. Now, not far from the beer house and next to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, you’ll find the remains of his once great palace, Curtea Veche, as well as a statue dedicated to him.
Enjoy Bucharest’s Vibrant Coffee Culture
It has to be said that one of the most unexpected parts and best things to do in Bucharest was exploring the coffee culture that is alive and well in the Romanian Capital.
Bucharest is a city where you really have to search for the hidden gems, and walking around from coffee shop to coffee shop is easily one of the best ways to get to know the city.
Some of the best cafés in Bucharest include:
French Revolution, Strada Esarcu Constantin Nr. 1, Bucharest 010291, Romania (their eclairs are out of this world!),
The Creamier, Benjamin Franklin, nr. 5010287 Bucharest, Romania (specialists in Freakshakes)
Grand Café Van Gogh, Strada Smârdan 9, București 030167, Romania (great sandwiches at lunchtime- though don’t come here if you’re in a hurry as lunches taken here are long and relaxed).
See a live performance at the National Theatre
The National Theatre of Bucharest is a public cultural institution. Head here for a whole array of cultural activities; interesting things on offer include theatre performances, conferences and talks.
A theatre has stood here for over 150 years, though the original was badly bombed during WWII. Each month, the National Theatre welcomes up to 20,000 guests.
Wander the Old Town /Centru Vechi
Bucharest’s Old Town is actually the ‘newest’ Old Town in the world, coming in at just under a decade old! The Old Town part of the city was actually constructed in the early 2000s in a bid to attract more tourists to the capital.
And it seems to have worked because today, the bright lights of the old town are a draw for international visitors the world over. Head here to find some of the best nightlife and bars in the city.
Sample a covrigi (a Romanian Pretzel)
Of all the food things to do in Bucharest, sampling a covrigi is a must! This pretzel like national delicacy and can be purchased from pastry shops throughout the city. Head into a store to try the giant pastry piping hot!
If you’re a meat eater (and much of Romanian food is based around meat), then you’ll also have the opportunity to puchase a pastry filled with sausage in the pastry stores (my meat eating friends tell me they’re good).
Visit the Bucharest Christmas Markets
Much like many other places across Europe, Bucharest hosts annual Christmas Markets at various locations across the city. One of the more impressive festive markets is held directly in front of the larger than life parliament building itself.
Take a day trip to Bran Castle and Peleș Castle
It must be said that one of the best things to do in Romania is to visit some of the country’s amazing castles. Though I highly recommend booking (at least) a few days to see Transylvania, it’s possible to see Bran Castle (AKA Dracula’s Castle) as a day trip from Bucharest. To get the best possible photos of the castle, head there mid-week, earlier in the day!
Another castle that’s not far from Bran Castle but is so fairytale like that it has been used as the filming location for countless movies (including Netflix’ ‘A Christmas Prince’) is that of Peleș Castle.
If you wish to see the two castles as a day trip from Bucharest, consider booking a guided tour day trip like this one so that all of the transportation details are taken care of for you. Find more details here.
With this being said, if you have a little longer time to explore Transylvania, be sure to base yourself in the ever-so-pretty city of Brasov, which can easily be explored over the course of a day or two, but lends itself to being a great base to exploring the wider Transylvania region.
Bucharest fun facts!
While Bucharest is the capital city of Romania, Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. Since the names sound pretty similar, people often get them mixed up.
Indeed, in 1992, Michael Jackson became even more famous in Romania when he played the first international concert in the country following the fall of communism and unfortunately addressed the crowd as “hello, Budapest” as opposed to “hello, Bucharest”!
With internet speeds to rival those of Japan, Israel, and South Korea, Romanian internet speeds are easily some of the fastest in Europe. In fact, average download speeds are close to double the average download speeds of the US!
When the city was being re-designed during the Communist era, inspiration was taken from the Champs Élysées in Paris. The Bulevardul Unirii is an impressive 3,500 metres in length, which makes it significantly longer than the Champs Élysées, which is 1,900 metres long.
As well as the many top attractions the city has to offer, there are a plethora of hidden gems to discover from ancient moving churches to unique rooftop bars. Here are some of my favourites:
Carturesti Verona
You may not know it, but Bucharest is a must-see for any literary lover and is one of the best places in Europe for bibliophiles. After all, there you’ll find the National Museum of the Romanian Literature, a cultural hub dedicated to all things related to the written word. Elsewhere in the city, several beautiful bookshops are well worth a visit, including that of the Carturesti Verona (Strada Pictor Arthur Verona 13-15).
Discover the oldest road in Bucharest
The first road in Bucharest was Calea Victoriei, a thoroughfare which remains one of the most important street in the city to this day. In 1692, the road would have been paved with wooden planks, which in turn would make travelling through the city easier. Today, the street is paved with the asphalt we are all familiar with!
Bucharest City Hall
Once closed to the public, Bucharest’s town hall is a beautiful example of neo-Romanian architecture and is close to the oldest public green space in the city, Cismigiu park. A trip to the City Hall can easily be combined with a trip to the nearby park and perhaps even a venture to the city’s very own triumphal arch, the Arcul de Triumf of Bucharest.
Mihai Voda Monastery
During the communist era, Nicolae Ceaușescu did not want to see any of the Orthodox churches of the city and the original plan was to demolish the churches. However, there was much protest and so, instead, a grand project was undertaken so as to move the ecclesiastical buildings via rail tracks so that they could be hidden from sight.
Ceaușescu also demolished much of the city to make way for what is now the heaviest building in the world, the Palace of Parliament. Surrounding it, high rise apartment blocks were constructed to house high ranking officials.
And amidst all the destruction of the previous housing, several churches were saved by engineers quite literally rolling them to safety. One such church is the Mihai Voda Monastery (Strada Sapienței 4) and it’s one of the few remaining moving churches of Bucharest which you can visit to this day.
Pasajul Victoria (Umbrella Passage)
If you’ve spent any length of time checking out the best places to Instagram in Bucharest, then no doubt you’ll have come across the umbrella passageway. Located right by a pizzeria, by the name of Pizza Colosseum, just off Calea Victoriei, head here for plenty of colourful umbrella snaps.
Nearby, you’ll find the St. Nicholas-in-One-Day church, a place of worship which was started and completed on the same day (date wise, not year!).
Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse
Thanks to its abundance of French-inspired architecture, Bucharest is often referred to as ‘little Paris’. And if you’re looking to see some Haussmannian style buildings for yourself, then you need to look no further than the beautiful horseshoe-shaped passage in the heart of the old town known as Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse.
Originally home to Bucharest’s very first Stock Exchange House, today the building it’s home to all manner of bars and eateries. (Pictured below is Bucharest’s very own former French-inspired department store).
Antiquities market at Bazar
If you’re a fan of all things vintage, then you simply must visit the antiquities market at Bazar (Strada Doamnei 11). Held inside a once-abandoned building in the heart of town, it’s a must-see for anyone who wishes to shop for antiquities and old wares while in Bucharest.
Remains of Vlad the Impaler’s Palace (Curtea Veche)
Because it’s Romania and the country is best known for the region of Transylvania (Bucharest is actually located in the Wallachia region of Romania) and Count Dracula, no mention of secret spots in Bucharest would be complete without a quick nod to the man who inspired the legend, Vlad the Impaler.
So-called because the prince famously impaled his many enemies on long poles outside Bucharest’s city enclosure, the remains of one of Vlad’s palaces can be found in the heart of Bucharest, not far from the Church of Saint Anthony.
Stavropoleos Monastery
On the fringes of the old town, the 18th-century Eastern Orthodox Church of Stavropoleos Monastery is easily one of the most beautiful places in Bucharest. With its stunning architecture and secret courtyard housing cloisters behind, it’s the perfect secret spot to get away from the rest of the city and relax in silence for a little while.
Within the church’s courtyard, there are also countless architectural pieces and sculptures, remnants of Bucharest’s long and complicated history. Of all the hidden gems within this article, the Stavropoleos monastery is easily my favourite recommendation!
Therme Bucharest
If you’re a fan of all things spa and bathing related (and who isn’t?) then one of the more unusual things to do in Bucharest is to venture out of the city to the Therme Bucharest. Situated near the city’s airport, it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of busy modern city life.
The pools are surrounded by palm trees and even have their own in-pool bars and water slides. So, if you’re looking for one of the best secret spots in Bucharest, then you simply must head to Therme Bucharest! Plus, entry costs less than $20 USD- bonus!
Map of the best hidden gems of Bucharest
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