Bucharest itinerary: 1, 2 and 3 days

Bucharest rewards two days more than one, but it does not need three unless you want a day trip. The city's sights cluster in two areas: the Civic Centre and Old Town in the south, and the museums and parks around Piața Victoriei and Herăstrău in the north. One day forces you to pick one cluster. Two days lets you do both at a walkable pace.

The parent Romania plan puts two nights in Bucharest before moving on to Transylvania, and that matches what the city offers: enough time for the Parliament, the Old Town, the Village Museum and one long meal. Add a third day only if you want a half-day out of the city or a second restaurant evening.

Start at the Palace of the Parliament, the reason most people come. Tours run on a fixed schedule and you need photo ID to enter; slots sell out, so book before you arrive. The building is enormous and the tour is the only way in. From there walk or take the metro to the Old Town for lunch.

The afternoon is the Old Town and the area around it: Stavropoleos Church, the remains of the old princely court, and the streets of Lipscani. This is also where the bars and restaurants are, so it doubles as your evening. If you have energy left, walk up Calea Victoriei to Piața Revoluției for the interwar architecture and the Athenaeum.

One day is tight. Skip the Village Museum and the northern museums, and do not try to add a day trip.

Day one follows the one-day plan. Day two goes north. Start at the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului) on the shore of Herăstrău Lake, an open-air collection of relocated peasant houses, churches and windmills. It is the single best introduction to rural Romania and takes two to three hours.

From the museum, walk through Herăstrău Park or take the metro to Piața Victoriei, then follow the boulevards south. The Romanian Athenaeum, the former Royal Palace (now the National Art Museum) and the Kretzulescu Church sit close together. Finish with a long dinner; this is the city's strongest suit.

A third day is best spent outside the centre. Ștefănești, just north of the city, is wine country with cellars and tasting rooms; it is a short train or taxi ride and works as a half day. Ploiești, about 60 km north, has oil-industry history and a restored centre, and is reachable by train from Gara de Nord.

If you would rather stay in Bucharest, use the third day for the things two days cannot fit: the National History Museum, the Cotroceni Palace and neighbourhood, or a slow morning in Cișmigiu Gardens followed by the food market at Obor. Bucharest's restaurant scene is the reason many people extend, so a third evening is not wasted.

Prices below are 2026 estimates in Romanian lei (RON). Bucharest is cheaper than Western European capitals, and the biggest variable is how much you spend on food and drink.

Metro and surface transport use the same card system; a single ride is cheap and a day pass is better value if you move around. The Palace of the Parliament tour is the one ticket worth booking in advance.

Bucharest is walkable in the centre but the sights are spread out. The metro is fast and cheap; taxis and ride-hailing apps are also inexpensive, but agree the meter or use an app rather than hailing on the street.

Spring and autumn are the best months. Summers are hot and the city empties in August, when some restaurants close. Winters are cold and short on daylight. Book the Parliament tour and any popular restaurant ahead.

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and museums. Carry some lei in cash for markets and small places; cards are accepted almost everywhere else.