Top 10 Bucharest attractions

Tour of Bucharest attractions

While there are many wonderful destinations in the world, the great capitals of Western Europe getting millions of visitors each year, for people who also want to discover something new and authentic, there are other choices. Bucharest is the capital and biggest city of Romania, with about 2 million people and plenty of great features that make it a charming tourist destination. Going back to the beginning of the 19th century, the Bucharest attractions combine interesting cultural sites with pleasant natural locations. From insightful museums to beautiful historical monuments, from the immense Parliament House tot the countless pubs of the Historical Centre and from the vibrant nightlife to beautiful parks and gardens, there are many things to see and do in a Bucharest sightseeing tour.

1. Triumphant Arch

2. Village Museum

3. Bucharest Old Town

4. Cismigiu Garden

5. Revolution Square

6. Romanian Athenaeum 

7. Palace of Parliament

8. Metropolitan Church

9. Bucharest History Museum

10. Victory Avenue

 While many might consider it an exotic or unusual destination, the truth is that Bucharest today is a modern city, although it has its problems, like any big city for that matter. You can find everything one might need to have a great experience, from budget hostels to boutique or luxury hotels and from street food to high class restaurants, as well as shopping areas, theaters, cinemas, malls, a good transportation system and pretty nice people. Another big advantage of Bucharest as a travel destination is the fact that it’s pretty cheap, especially compared to the traditional destinations. Practically, you could spend a week in Bucharest and not get bored on a 2 days budget in Paris or London. But the best part are truly the Bucharest sights, which can be discovered using a Bucharest tour among those that are available in the city.

While there are many things to see in a Bucharest sightseeing tour, we have chosen the best ten Bucharest tourist attractions that anyone should visit. Bear in mind that the city is pretty big and while many of the attractions are located in or near the Old Centre of the city, others are a bit further, so you will need to use the public transportation system to get around. Whether you are in Bucharest for couple of days or even a week, here are the top 10 Bucharest attractions:

bucharest attractions

1. Triumphant Arch

One of the symbols of Bucharest and a little brother of the Triumphant Arch in Paris, this monument is especially beautiful viewed in contrast with the busy traffic that seems to go around at all times. This beautiful Bucharest attraction also houses a small museum with interesting collections. The Arch is located in the northern part of the city, at the intersection of Kiseleff Avenue with several other streets, the small plaza where it sits serving as a sort of roundabout. The Triumphal Arch of Bucharest is 27 meters tall and was build between 1921 and 1922, commemorating the victory of Romania in World War I.

Although highly deteriorated during the Communist period, with several inscriptions being taken out, the Arch has been restored through the years and now looks pretty much the same it did almost a century ago. It is considered one of the most beautiful civil monuments in Romania and it makes as an exceptional photography subject. Other than these, tourists in a Bucharest tour can also visit the small museums housed inside, but it is open only on special occasions. One of the best times to visit the Arch is on December 1st each year, for the National Day of Romania. There are many festivities and the biggest military parade in Romania held on this avenue, passing under the Triumphal Arch.

2. Village Museum

Definitely one of the most interesting and enchanting Bucharest tourist attractions, spread over a large green area on the banks of the Herăstrău River, next to the park with the same name. This is the best destination possible to discover the traditional architecture of Romania, with dozens of old authentic houses and other buildings from all over Romania. Each one of them has its own story and characteristics, from small wooden shacks to real inns and wooden churches. It makes for a fascinating journey back in time and if you want to craft the ultimate Bucharest tour, the Village Museum has to be included.

Opened back in 1936 and boasting a surface of over 100,000 square meters, containing almost 300 houses, buildings and other facilities. This has become today one of the most popular and also interesting tourist attractions, not only in Bucharest, but also Romania. The exhibits reflect the traditional Romanian culture, art, architecture, customs and many other characteristics. The museums is organized on geographical, historical and authenticity criteria, with a grand diversity of buildings. Among other, visits can admire houses, churches, wind and watermills, workshops, technological installations and many other objects, all of them properly organized and scientifically explained. It is a veritable journey back in time and a unique cultural discovery. The National Village Museum of Bucharest is definitely one of the best Bucharest attractions.

3. Old Town

If there is one area that no tourist should and probably will not miss, that is the Old Town of Bucharest, a large area characterized by a multitude of historical buildings and monuments, today filled with restaurants, pubs, cafes, antique shops, art galleries and everything in between. Although most people get to the Old Centre in order to search for the best dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities, it also packs a good amount of monuments and highlights. The best idea would be to just wander around the streets of old Bucharest, including Lipscani, Șelari, Covaci, Șepcari, Stavropoleos, Doamnei, Smârdan and many others. Here, one can discover some of the most charming Bucharest tourist attractions, apart from the general feeling of being surrounded by history.

The main attractions of the Old Centre include the Royal Court, the Stavropoleos Church, Saint Anton Church, as well as the beautiful old inns, including Hanul lui Manuc and Hanul cu Tei. All of these and many other smaller landmarks make for an extremely pleasant Bucharest sightseeing tour inside the old centre. The Royal Court of Bucharest was the first royal court of the city, built by Vlad the Impaler. After fires and earthquakes it became unused and today it houses an interesting museum. The beautiful small church Stavropoelos has a charming architecture and dates back at the beginning of the 18th century. Hanul lui Manuc is one of the most impressive landmarks in this area, a huge inn with wooden arches and cobblestone yard. It makes for great location to drink a pint or grab lunch while exploring the Bucharest attractions.

4. Cismigiu Garden

The Cismigiu Garden is the oldest park of Bucharest and is located close to the Old Town, a few hundred meters from University Square. It is a charming natural area right in the middle of Bucharest, with several entries. It is designed in the English garden style, being also declared a historical monument. Tourists can seek the shaded benches of Cismigiu Garden after a hot day visiting the other Bucharest tourist attractions. It was created around the middle of the 19th century and along the years has become a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.

Among the attractions of Cismigiu Garden, apart from the vegetation, there are many monuments and sculptures, including an area especially created to house the statues of Romanian writers. There are also several fountains, a beautiful lake, a Roman area, a rose garden and many others. But more than these, the location of the garden is exceptional, a veritable oasis right in the middle of the town and the traffic. Whether you are discovering the best parks of Bucharest or want to have a full Bucharest tour, the Cismigiu Garden is one of the highlights of the city.

5. Revolution Square

More than the symbol of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, this square is also a popular tourist attractions in Bucharest, surrounded by some of the most important and interesting buildings of the city. Revolution Square has been renamed like this after 1989 from Palace Square and was the starting point of the fall of Ceausescu and the communism in Bucharest. The last discourse of the dictator has been held in this square, when the crowd started revolting. Today, this in truly one of the most important Bucharest tourist attractions. There are plenty of highlights for people visiting the Revolution Square, but is also a good destination to find good cafes and hotels.

The most important monuments located in or around the square include the Royal Palace, the Romanian Athenaeum, the University of Bucharest Library, the former Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Memorial of Rebirth, the Athenee Palace Hotel and others. The main landmark during a Bucharest tour of Revolution Square has to be former Royal Palace of Romania, today housing the National Museum of Art, with an amazing collection of valuable art pieces, including Romanian and International artists. The memorial of Rebirth located in the same square commemorates the victims of the 1989 Revolution and was inaugurated in 2005.

6. Romanian Athenaeum

It is probably one of the most enchanting buildings of Bucharest, featuring an exceptional neoclassical style with romantic touches. The Athenaeum was built at the end of the 19th century, through a high effort of public donations. The architect was French and the location was chosen where today lies the Revolution Square. The main attractions is represented by the concerts that take place inside, although the building itself makes for one of the most enchanting images in Bucharest. In front of the beautiful facade with columns, there is a small statue of the national poet of Romania, Mihai Eminescu.

This exceptional Bucharest tourist attraction also contains an interesting fresco around the outer main cupola, presenting 25 scenes from the history of the Romanian people. The inside of the Athenaeum is also outstanding, with intricate decorations and a main concert hall with about 800 places. If you happen to be in a Bucharest Sightseeing Tour and pass along this building you should also try to visit its inside and maybe even attend an event. It is considered one of the prime cultural locations of the entire country.

7. Palace of Parliament

There would be many things to say about the Palace of Parliament, or People House as it is known by Romanians, but one things is more than enough; according to World Records Academy, it is the biggest, the heaviest and the most expensive civil administrative building in the world. This not only shows the megalomania of Ceausescu, but also the architectural prowess of Romanians, who build it in the 1980s, using huge amounts of materials and cheap labor. To build this gigantic edifice, some of the old historical parts of Bucharest were demolished. To make an idea about how big it really is, the Parliament Palace is 270 by 240 meters, with 86 meters high and 92 meters deep, having 12 levels above ground and 8 underground.

For people visiting the city, it makes for one of the most important attractions and stop during a Bucharest tour. Walking from Union square or sitting in Izvor Park, you can admire the massive silhouette of this gigantic building. There are even guided tours of the inside for those interested in other grand details about its construction. It took over 14 years to complete it, the constructions being begun during Communism in 1983 and finished in 1997. It took a total of about 3 billion Euros to complete it and the style is neoclassical. Today, it houses the parliament of Romania, as well as events and other facilities. The Palace of Parliament is definitely one of the top Bucharest tourist attractions.

8. Metropolitan Church

The metropolitan Church of Bucharest, part of a larger religious complex, is one of the most significant Bucharest tourist attractions. Also known as the Patriarch Cathedral of Bucharest, the church has a long history that goes back for centuries, at the beginning of the 17th century. It is the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Church, but is also represents a charming tourist destination, bearing the traditional architecture and paintings from past centuries. It is located on the Mitropoliei Hill, really close to the Parliament Palace and the Union Square. It is also easily accessible by foot from the Old Town of Bucharest.

The cathedral itself is truly impressive, a bigger replica of the Curtea de Arges monastery church in Romania. Visitors should admire the architecture, but also the beautiful interior, with paintings and sacred relics. The Patriarchy Complex of Bucharest should be included in any Bucharest tour for those who wish to explore all the important landmarks of the city. The complex also contains the Bell Tower, the Patriarchy Palace, the chapel and three old crosses.

 9. Bucharest History Museum

The National History Museum is located in the heart of Bucharest, in the Old Town, close to the most important tourist attractions of the city. The History Museum of Bucharest is the most important in the country, presenting the history of Romania from its earliest stages and up until the modern era. The museum was inaugurated in 1970 in the former building of the Mail Palace, on the trendy Victory Street. It is easily accessible from anywhere within the city and the entrance ticket is affordable, at about 6 Euros/$8. It is truly one of the top Bucharest attractions, having a huge collection of historical items and artifacts, presenting the past of Romania.

The building that the museum is housed in is also a historical building from the end of the 19th century, in a beautiful neoclassical style. Entering the museum, the collections are exceptionally presented in about 60 halls, beginning with the replica of the Trajan Column in Rome and continuing with priceless relics from ancient times. There are also some temporary exhibitions housed inside from time to time. Considering the amazing treasures that can be discovered within, the National History Museum of Bucharest should definitely be included in any Bucharest sightseeing tour.

10. Victory Avenue

One of the oldest streets of Bucharest, the Victory Avenue is also one of the most beautiful, interesting and stylish for that matter. Flanked with landmarks, designer shops, boutique hotels and restaurants, it is a sort of Champs Elysees or Las Ramblas of Bucharest. The avenue stretches in the center of Bucharest for almost 3 km, from Victory Square to United Nations Square. Through the years, this has been the most important street of Bucharest, with countless noblemen villas, palaces, inns and all type of high class buildings. Today, the Victory Avenue is the most fashionable street of the city, with many hotels, restaurants, cafes, stores and most importantly, a grand number of Bucharest tourist attractions.

Along this avenue, the most important landmarks and attractions include: the National History Museum, Romanian Athenaeum, National Military Circle, Odeon Theatre, National Rebirth Monument, Telephone Palace, Athenee Palace Hotel, Continental Hotel, Senate Palace, Cantacuzino Palace, Romanian Academy and at least a dozen more palaces, museums, hotels, theatres and churches. The Victory Avenue can be a great place for a Bucharest tour, discovering a charming part of the old city, back when it was called Little Paris.

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