Things To Do In Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is the capital of Romania, and was one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Europe. However, today Bucharest is a city that grows fast and pops on the tourists’ map more often. You will be surprised by what Bucharest and Romania in general has to offer. Here is a list of the most significant things to do in Bucharest. 

Things To Do In Bucharest

Explore Bucharest Old Town

Bucharest old town is the center of the city, and the place where you want to be. This is where all the fun happens, therefore tourists prefer to stay in the old town or close by. 

Bucharest old town is a place where you will find a lot of historical landmarks, and some of the best restaurants and cafes in the city. Besides, in the old town there are a lot of charming shops where you can find some souvenirs, antiques, or other cute things.  

Parliament Palace

Parliament building or Parliament palace is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. 

Parliament palace is 360,000 square meters that includes 1100 rooms. The Parliament palace was built by Nicolae Ceausescu, who spent not just an enormous amount of the country’s money, but also citizen’s lives. 

The Parliament palace has a few museums that you can visit: Museum of Palace, Museum of Communist Totalitarianism and the National Museum of Contemporary Art. 

One of the best ways to see the Parliament palace and learn its history is with a tour guide. You can book your guided tour in advance here.

Stavropoleos Church 

Stavropoleos church was built around 1720th. This is one of the most beautiful churches in Bucharest. 

Stavropoleos church is located in the middle of the old town, and you definitely will stumble on it while exploring Bucharest old town.

Stavropoleos church has a unique combination of Ottoman, Byzantine and Baroque architectural styles. 

Inside the church you will find lots of well-preserved frescoes and paintings. 

Have A Stroll Along The Dambovita River

On the edge of Bucharest’s old town there is a river called Dambovita. Along the river lies a beautiful walking path that you should take. 

The river walking path will lead you from the old town to park Izvor,  through which you can get to the Parliament Palace. 

Visit The Most Famous Restaurant in Bucharest – Caru Cu Bere

Caru Cu Bere restaurant was built in 1899. From the beginning the restaurant gained a lot of respect and became a popular place in Bucharest. Caru Cu Bere’s owner even received “The Star of Romania” and “The Crown of Romania” (the highest honors at that time) from King Carol I of Romania. 

One of the specialties of Caru cu Bere is slow roasted pork knuckle. This super tender dish with amazing crispy skin is a must try in the restaurant. Note that the pork knuckle is big, enough for 3 – 4 people plus sides, so don’t order too much food at the beginning. The pork knuckle will cost you around $23, which is pretty cheap considering how much food you get. 

Day Trip To Dracula’s Castle 

The first thing that comes to everyone’s head when you talk about Romania is the legend of Count Dracula. Who was a real, and at the same time fictional figure. 

Count Dracula is based on a real person – Vlad Tepes (Vlad Dracula), who, of course, wasn’t a vampire, but had a lot of blood on his hands.

Since Count Dracula is such a popular character, no wonder Romania is promoting the legend as a tourist attraction. Therefore, one of must do things in Romanis is to visit Bran Castle, which is named the Castle of Dracula. You can get there on your own by driving, or join many organized tours from Bucharest. 

Visiting Bran Castle, learning more about such a famous figure like Vlad Tepes, and enjoying a very beautiful ride from Bucharest to Brasov (a city near the castle) is a great day trip for any kind of tourist. 

Things To Do In Bucharest, Romania