Bucharest Sightseeing: First Visit, Return

Bucharest Sightseeing: First Visit or Return

A first trip to Bucharest and a return trip should look quite different. First-timers want the landmarks that explain the city; second-timers can go deeper into museums and quieter districts. Here is a split for each.

First visit: the essentials

Curtea Veche on Strada Franceză holds the brick ruins of the princely court of Vlad III, mentioned in a decree of 20 September 1459. Next to it stands the Annunciation Church from 1559, the oldest surviving religious building in the city.

Stavropoleos Church on Strada Poștei, built in 1724, is a masterpiece of Brâncovenesc style, with a stone-carved porch and a courtyard of old tombstones. Entry is free.

The Romanian Athenaeum, opened in 1888, is a domed neoclassical concert hall on Strada Benjamin Franklin. Outside concert hours a visit costs about 15 lei, so check the Athenaeum site for times.

Calea Victoriei links these, past the CEC Palace of 1900 and the Cantacuzino Palace. It is Bucharest’s oldest avenue, paved with oak beams in 1692.

The Palace of the Parliament is the heaviest building in the world, with 365,000 square metres of floor space. Tours are guided only and booked ahead, with a passport or national ID card needed on the day. See cic.cdep.ro .

Return visit: the deeper layers

Revolution Square is a quiet free stop on Calea Victoriei, where the events of December 1989 unfolded. It holds a white marble memorial and the former Royal Palace; visit it respectfully.

The National Museum of Art occupies that palace and shows medieval church art, Grigorescu and Aman, and European masters including Rembrandt and Monet. It is closed Monday and Tuesday and costs about 32 lei for the combined ticket; see mnar.arts.ro .

Casa Ceaușescu offers 45-minute guided tours of the family residence on Bulevardul Primăverii, at 85 lei, Tuesday to Sunday; booking is required through casaceausescu.ro .

The Village Museum in King Michael I Park has more than 300 reconstructed houses and costs 40 lei; see muzeul-satului.ro .

The Antipa museum on Kiseleff costs 32 lei and suits a wet afternoon; see antipa.ro .

Practical details

  • Metro: 7 lei single, 18 lei for 24 hours.
  • Cards work almost everywhere, but keep some cash for small stalls.
  • Spring and autumn are comfortable for walking, while summer can be hot.

Moving on

For a guided city overview, GetYourGuide lists options. After the sights, the walking page strings them into routes, and the two-day itinerary sets a pace for a short stay.