Trip for · Tight budgets
Bucharest for budget travellers
Meals under RON 40 and beer under RON 25 outside the tourist restaurants.
Key facts
- Days
- 4
- Matching items
- 15
- Verdict
- good fit
A 4-day outline
Grouped by walking cluster where the guide gives one. Order inside a day is loose: the timed day plans check opening hours and walking.
Day 1
Stavropoleos Monastery and the Old Town
Why it fits: Free monastery; RON 70–150 for a meal. A quiet early-18th-century church, then the packed bar streets around it.
From: Top 10 · cost
Why it fits: Free. Where the 1989 revolution against Ceaușescu began; the balcony and the Memorial of Rebirth in 20 minutes.
From: Top 10 · cost
Why it fits: Free lobby; RON 40–150 for a concert. A domed 1888 concert hall; look inside by day or come back for a concert.
From: Top 10 · cost
Covrigi stand
Why it fits: Covrigi (soft pretzel-bread rings) · RON 4–8. The city's grab-and-go breakfast.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 2
Why it fits: Free. The oldest public park in the centre, a shaded lake loop and a rest stop between clusters.
From: Top 10 · cost
Village Museum and Herăstrău Park
Why it fits: RON 20–40 museum; park free. Relocated farmhouses and churches beside the biggest lake park in the centre-north.
From: Top 10 · cost
Bike or pedal boat at Herăstrău
Why it fits: The simplest way to enjoy the lake; no tour markup needed.
From: Experience · verdict: do it yourself
Simple ciorbă counters
Why it fits: Ciorbă de burtă or de legume · RON 20–35
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 3
Mici stands
Why it fits: a filling lunch for RON 20–35.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Free sights
Why it fits: Cișmigiu, Herăstrău, Revolution Square and the Athenaeum lobby all cost nothing.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Metro across town
Why it fits: RON 5–8 against RON 20–35 for a car ride.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Bakery lunch (covrigărie or patiserie)
Why it fits: Savoury pastry and a drink · RON 20–35
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 4
Mici stand (street or market)
Why it fits: Mici with mustard and bread · RON 20–35. Order five or more; a light lunch on their own.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Supermarket deli counter
Why it fits: Cold cuts, cheese, bread for a picnic in Cișmigiu or Herăstrău · RON 15–30
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Where to stay
Sleep areas the guide points budget travellers to.
A wide range of hostels and mid-range hotels.
From: Sleep fit · budget 4/5
Before you go
What the guide flags for budget travellers.
- Keep RON 100–200 in small notes for cafés and tips; use bank ATMs in banks or malls and decline dynamic currency conversion. (Money · ATM rule)