Bucharest Travel Guide

Bucharest is a huge city, but not one that pops up on too many travelers’ itineraries. The capital of Romania and its 2 million residents have a reputation of being unfriendly and uncharming, but this is not necessarily completely deserved. Yes, it does have more than its fair share of communist-era gray and bland architecture, but there is a lot to see if you are in the mood to look for it. Most younger people speak English so visiting isn’t as difficult as with some other Eastern countries.

What To Do

Bucharest’s Old Center is still partially in tact and undergoing renovation, but you’ll still find churches and cobblestone streets winding between the old shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The city has several interesting museums including the open-air Village Museum, which recreates a small working craft village. The Museum of the Romanian Peasant is another fascinating glimpse into traditional life of inhabitants before big industry took over.

The Parliament Palace is hard to miss, being one of the world’s biggest buildings. It used to be known as Casa Poporului (People's House) by Ceausescu and public tours are available in a variety of languages. The National Art Museum located in the former Royal Palace building is also popular featuring European art dating back to the 14th Century.

Getting There

If you are coming from elsewhere in the region it’s best to arrive by train as the station is right in the center, but coming from any longer distance you’ll want to book a flight into Bucharest’s Henri Coanda International Airport (code: OTP). It’s a large modern airport that has recently been renovated. The smaller and older Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (code: BBU) is where most of the discount carriers land.

Where To Stay

Bucharest is really spread out and much of it is rather plain. There are hostels in Bucharest and it might be worth paying a bit more to stay somewhere near the center. There are hotels in Bucharest as well, but as with anywhere the better places book up early so plan ahead.