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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Bucharest
București
Bucharest is a spread-out city of big boulevards and a small old core: do the Old Town on foot, book the Parliament tour ahead, and use ride-hailing between clusters.
Bucharest's sights are scattered along wide boulevards with heavy traffic, uneven pavements and parked cars. The trips that go wrong are the ones that turn up at the Palace of the Parliament without a booked tour and a passport, walk between clusters in July heat, or take an airport taxi from a tout. Four clusters cover a first visit; Brașov and Sinaia are trips away, usually with a change of base.
- Country
- Romania
- Local name
- București
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct · Dec
- Time zone
- Europe/Bucharest
- Stay
- 2 days: Old Town, Victoriei and the Parliament tour
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Cards and contactless work in most cafés, shops and restaurants; carry RON for small vendors, markets, tips and some taxis. Euros are not accepted in shops.
- Daily spend
- Budget RON 150–250 excl. bed · Mid RON 250–450 excl. bed · High RON 450+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a SIM at the airport shops (passport needed).
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- 230 V; two-pin round sockets (type F, also C).
- Tipping
- Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants if service is not included.
- Water
- Tap water is treated and generally safe; many visitors prefer bottled.
- Toilets
- Cafés, malls and museums; carry small coins for a few public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | RON 12–22 |
| Ciorbă (soup) lunch | RON 30–55 |
| Local draught beer, 0.5 L | RON 12–22 |
| Bolt/Uber, 5 km across the centre | RON 15–35 |
| Metro single ticket (2 trips) | RON 5–8 |
| Tourist eSIM, about a week | RON 40–80 (2026 estimate) |
| Museum or monastery entry | RON 20–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP)
- OTP to the Old Town: one ride-hail car from the pickup area, 25–45 minutes at about RON 70–120 — the risk is not the ride but a guesthouse door that locks at midnight.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Gara de Nord | All domestic lines and international trains (Sinaia, Brașov, and connections onward) | Car 10–15 min, RON 20–35; metro to the centre in about 10–15 min |
| Otopeni international bus/coach stops | Some international coach routes | Car or express bus to the centre |
| Autogara Militari and other bus terminals | Domestic and some regional international routes | Car 15–30 min |
Typical fares
- Henri Coandă → Old Town, app car
- RON 70–120, 30–45 min
- Henri Coandă → centre, express bus 780
- about RON 5–8 (check)
- App car across the centre
- RON 15–35
Get around
Walk inside a cluster, ride-hail (Bolt or Uber) between them. The metro is useful for Victoriei and the north; trams and buses are cheap but slower in traffic.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside the Old Town, Victoriei and the parks |
| Ride-hail car (Bolt, Uber) | RON 15–35 across the centre | Between clusters, bags, night |
| Metro | RON 5–8 per two trips; check the current fare table | Victoriei, Aviatorilor (for Herăstrău), Gara de Nord |
| Tram and trolleybus | RON 3–5 per ride (check) | Routes the metro does not cover |
| Metered taxi | Flag fall plus per-km rate shown on the door | Street hail when apps are slow |
| Bicycle share | Check current city bike-share pricing | Herăstrău Park loop, quieter mornings |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass needed; short rides in the centre are cheap.
- Late at night
- The metro closes around 23:00; ride-hailing runs all night.
See and do
01The Palace of the Parliament guided tourPalatul Parlamentului
The world's heaviest building and Ceaușescu's most divisive project; a 60–90 minute tour explains the scale and the history.
Hours: best Morning, booked ahead · Price: RON 50–100 · Time: 60–90 min
02Stavropoleos Monastery and the Old TownMănăstirea Stavropoleos
A quiet early-18th-century church, then the packed bar streets around it.
Hours: best Late afternoon into evening · Price: Free monastery; RON 70–150 for a meal · Time: 2–3 h with a meal
03Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche)Curtea Veche
The ruined 15th-century seat of Vlad the Impaler and the origin point of the city.
Hours: best Any time, quieter mornings · Price: RON 10–20 · Time: 20–30 min · 44.4302, 26.1009
04Revolution SquarePiața Revoluției
Where the 1989 revolution against Ceaușescu began; the balcony and the Memorial of Rebirth in 20 minutes.
Hours: best Any time · Price: Free · Time: 15–30 min · 44.4387, 26.0975
05Romanian AthenaeumAteneul Român
A domed 1888 concert hall; look inside by day or come back for a concert.
Hours: best Late morning, or an evening performance · Price: Free lobby; RON 40–150 for a concert · Time: 20–45 min, or an evening for a concert · 44.4412, 26.0973
06Cișmigiu GardensGrădina Cișmigiu
The oldest public park in the centre, a shaded lake loop and a rest stop between clusters.
Hours: best Any time, especially hot afternoons · Price: Free · Time: 20–45 min · 44.4366, 26.0942
07Village Museum and Herăstrău ParkMuzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
Relocated farmhouses and churches beside the biggest lake park in the centre-north.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: RON 20–40 museum; park free · Time: 2–3 h combined
08Dinner at Caru' cu Bere
A neo-Gothic beer hall with painted ceilings, the most photographed restaurant interior in the city.
Hours: best Before 12:00 or after 15:00 to dodge tour groups · Price: RON 80–150 · Time: 1.5–2 h
09National Museum of Art of Romania
Romanian medieval and modern art inside the former Royal Palace, facing Revolution Square.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: RON 20–40 · Time: 1.5–2 h
10Palace of the ParliamentPalatul Parlamentului
The world's heaviest building and Ceaușescu's largest project; book ahead with your passport.
Hours: Booked tours; check the official site · Price: RON 50–100
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sinaia (Peleș Castle) | Train from Gara de Nord about 1.5–2 h each way | Full day — leave before 08:00 |
| Brașov | Train about 2.5–3 h each way | Very long as a day-trip; better as a base change |
| Snagov Lake and monastery | Car or taxi about 45 min each way | Half day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mici stand (street or market) | Mici with mustard and bread · Any market or festival stall | RON 20–35 | Budget |
| Covrigi stand | Covrigi (soft pretzel-bread rings) · Street kiosks citywide | RON 4–8 | Budget |
| Simple ciorbă counters | Ciorbă de burtă or de legume · Old Town and office-street lunch spots | RON 20–35 | Budget |
| Origo Coffee Shop | Coffee and a pastry · Old Town | RON 25–35 | Budget |
| Caru' cu Bere | Mixed grill and sarmale under the painted ceiling · Old Town | RON 80–150 | Mid-range |
| Hanul lui Manuc | Traditional Romanian menu in an 1808 inn courtyard · Old Town | RON 70–140 | Mid-range |
| Casa Doina | Mici, sarmale, tochitură in a villa garden · Kiseleff | RON 70–150 | Mid-range |
| Lacrimi și Sfinți | Modern small plates on traditional ingredients · Victoriei | RON 100–200 | Mid-range |
| Tasting-menu restaurants on Calea Victoriei | Modern European or Romanian tasting menus · Victoriei | RON 300–600 (check) | Splurge |
| Hotel fine-dining rooms | International and Romanian fusion · Old Town, Victoriei | RON 250–500 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | RON 40–90 dorm bed · RON 150–300 double | Old Town | Hostels, small guesthouses |
| mid | RON 350–700 | Old Town edge, Calea Victoriei | 3–4 star hotels, boutique properties |
| splurge | RON 900–2,500+ | Calea Victoriei, city-centre international chains | Grand hotels, international chains |
Per room per night in RON, 2026 estimate; the George Enescu Festival and Christmas market weeks add 20–50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good day | Bună ziuaBOO-na ZEE-wa |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kuht KOHS-tuh |
| The bill, please | Nota, vă rogNOH-ta vuh rohg |
| To this address, please | La această adresă, vă rogla ah-CHAS-tuh ah-DRESS-uh vuh rohg |
| Delicious | Deliciosdeh-lee-CHOHS |
| Excuse me | Scuzați-măskoo-ZAHTS-uh-muh |
| Goodbye | La revederela reh-veh-DEH-reh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Orthodox churches: Shoulders and knees covered, men remove hats, no flash during a service; keep to the sides if a service is in progress.
- Shoes: Not usually removed in churches (unlike some Asian temples); look for local cues at smaller sites.
- Queues: Loose but generally respected; stand your ground politely at counters and ticket windows.
- Tipping: Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants if service is not included; not expected at cafés for a coffee.
- Paying and bargaining: Fixed prices almost everywhere; light bargaining only at flea markets and with street antique sellers.
- Greetings: A handshake is standard; close friends may exchange cheek kisses. 'Bună ziua' (good day) is the polite greeting for shopkeepers and staff.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people up close; avoid close-up shots of the Interior Ministry building on Revolution Square.
Red lines
- Orthodox churches: cover shoulders and knees, men remove hats, no flash during services.
- Do not photograph inside the Palace of the Parliament except where the guide allows it.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unbooked taxis at the airport and Gara de Nord quote fixed high fares: book in an app or use the official rank and check the tariff on the door.
- Old Town restaurants that hand over a menu without prices: ask for the price of each dish before you order.
- Money changers with 'no commission' boards give poor rates: use a bank ATM or a bank branch.
- Distraction thefts on the metro and at crossings: keep bags closed and in front.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover before or after a Transylvania trip. Skip: The Palace of the Parliament and Herăstrău: both need a booked tour or a longer ride and do not fit a single day well.
- 09:00Stavropoleos Monastery and a walk through the Old Town
- 10:00Curtea Veche ruins
- 11:30Walk or ride north to Revolution Square
- 12:00Romanian Athenaeum lobby
- 13:00Lunch in the Old Town
- 15:00Cișmigiu Gardens, a rest in the shade
- 18:30Old Town cellars and dinner
2 days
The usual short Bucharest stay. Skip: A second museum on the same day as the Palace tour: the tour alone fills the morning.
Day 1 — Old Town and Victoriei
- 09:30Stavropoleos and Curtea Veche
- 11:00Walk north up Calea Victoriei to Revolution Square
- 12:00Romanian Athenaeum
- 13:00Lunch, then Cișmigiu Gardens
- 18:30Old Town dinner and cellars
Day 2 — Palace tour, Herăstrău
- 09:00Palace of the Parliament guided tour (booked)
- 11:00Izvor Park and a car north
- 13:00Lunch near Kiseleff
- 14:30Village Museum
- 16:00Herăstrău Park lakeside walk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Romania Tourism (official): www.romania.travel/
- Bucharest tourism (official city portal): www.visitbucharest.today/
- Wikivoyage — Bucharest: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bucharest
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
BucharestBucurești
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Palatul ParlamentuluiPalace of the Parliament
- Mănăstirea StavropoleosStavropoleos Monastery
- Curtea VecheOld Princely Court
- Piața RevoluțieiRevolution Square
- Ateneul RomânRomanian Athenaeum
- Grădina CișmigiuCișmigiu Gardens
- Police, fire, ambulance112
Most embassies are north of Victoriei; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Show the address in Romanian with street name and number; drivers search that.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bucharest). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.