Popular Cities Bucharest

The capital of Romania has a lot to offer its visitors! Discover the history of Bucharest and admire the old buildings of this city. We provide you with all the important information on the most interesting sights of Bucharest.

Sights of the city

• Site of the 1989 Revolution: Revolution Square

• Architecture & concerts: Romanian Athenaeum

• "Little Paris" of Eastern Europe: Arch of Triumph

• Mix of styles & atmosphere: Old Town

• Monumental grand building: Palace of the Parliament

• Tradition & craftsmanship: Peasant Museum

• Historic house of worship: New St. George's Church

• Art & history: Royal Palace

• Symbol of origin: Statue of Trajan

• Traces of Dracula: Ruins of the Old Princely Court and Church

Revolution Square

Revolution Square is regarded as the place where the communist dictatorship came to an end in 1989 following the overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. On the square stands the Revolution Memorial, which not only commemorates the country's history, but also honours the difficult times of the Romanian people. The memorial thus serves as a symbol of freedom and is definitely worth a visit!

Revolution Square is located in the centre of Bucharest and is not far from the National Museum of Romanian Art as well as the Royal Palace. At the same time, Revolution Square already showcases the Neoclassicism that is present alongside modern buildings throughout the city. However, although Revolution Square with its freedom memorial seems honourable, this place is not particularly popular among the Romanian population due to a lack of aesthetics. They sarcastically refer to the memorial as "the potato on a skewer."

Romanian Athenaeum

The Romanian Athenaeum is known as the most beautiful building in Bucharest and impresses with its mix of architectural styles, such as Gothic and Neoclassicism.

But it's not only the exterior of the building that enchants visitors to Bucharest, but also the impressive acoustics inside the building, which regularly host breathtaking concert evenings. If you're interested in attending a concert evening, book the performance in advance. Due to the unique setting, which practically invites you to dream, the concerts are often sold out quickly.

Arch of Triumph

Have you ever heard that Bucharest is referred to as the little Paris of Eastern Europe? If so, the reason for this name is the Romanian Arch of Triumph. It is an architectural replica of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe, known in Romania as the Arcul de Triumf. If you travel to Romania during the national holiday (National Unity Day), you can admire the National Day parade on the first of December at the Arch of Triumph. The current stone version of the Arch of Triumph has existed since 1936 and was first built as a temporary wooden structure in 1878.

Old Town

As with any other city visit, you shouldn't miss the Old Town in Bucharest either. Bucharest impresses not only with its beautiful buildings, but also captivates visitors with its unique mix of styles, which makes the city appear almost colourfully mismatched. A sight that is rarely seen.

By the way: The historic Old Town has been almost completely restored to this day and is in no way inferior to Paris with its own Arc de Triomphe.

Palace of the Parliament

The Palace of the Parliament is not only a magnificent building that takes every viewer's breath away, but its elaborate design also nearly led to Romania's state bankruptcy. Ironically, the Palace of the Parliament was once built under the name "Casa Poporului" (House of the People), even though dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had an entire neighbourhood, including homes and churches, demolished to ensure an unobstructed view of the palace.

Not far from the Palace of the Parliament lies the former retreat of Ceausescu, which is also worth a visit. If you visit the dictator's private residence, you'll quickly notice why Ceausescu was so hated by his people. While most of the city's citizens lived in poverty, Nicolae Ceausescu enjoyed a life of splendour and wealth.

Ironically, the dictator never lived to see the completion of the Palace of the Parliament himself, as he was executed in 1989 as a result of the revolution.

Peasant Museum

The Museum of the Romanian Peasant will bring you closer to the original, agriculturally shaped Romania and illustrate its craftsmanship. Admire the elaborate embroidery and beautiful traditional costumes that are part of the country's traditional folklore. If you're interested in the history of Romania, you should definitely visit this museum!

New St. George's Church

The St. George's Church can hardly still be called "new," as it has adorned the city since as early as 1699. The church was moved at the time, along with seven other churches, in order to save it from Nicolae Ceausescu's destructive plans as a result of the construction of the Palace of the Parliament.

Royal Palace

The former residence of the royal family now houses artworks from various eras and invites visitors to admire valuable international as well as national exhibits. The exhibits can also give you insights into Romania's communist past.

Statue of Trajan

The statue of the Roman emperor Trajan is located on the steps leading to the National Museum. It is a symbol of the unity of Romanian ancestry from the Dacians (Romania was formerly part of Dacia, a settlement area of the Roman Empire) and the Romans. These two lineages are represented as the she-wolf (Dacians) and as Trajan (former Roman emperor). The Roman emperor carries the she-wolf in his arms. However, it is still criticised to this day that Trajan is unclothed and the she-wolf appears to be floating.

Ruins of the Old Princely Court and Church

Vlad III Draculae, better known as Count Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, is still regarded as the most famous Romanian and received his names from his enemies in the Ottoman Empire.

The eerie stories surrounding the ruler Vlad III Draculea served as inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. If you're interested in the life of Count Dracula, you should visit the Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche), which was built in the 15th century and is known as the residence of Vlad III. Today, his residence can be visited as a museum.

Worth seeing near Bucharest

The capital of Romania is not the only place home to many impressive sights. There are also interesting places near the city. Snagov Monastery is just 40 km from Bucharest and gives you an insight into Romanian history.

According to legend, Count Dracula is said to be buried at this site. A figure from Romanian history that remains shrouded in many legends to this day. The monastery is located on an island in the middle of Lake Snagov and is definitely worth a visit to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the idyllic natural surroundings.

Another place to relax in nature is the Băneasa Forest, which serves as a wonderful spot for a walk and is located on the outskirts of Bucharest. Also worth seeing is Lake Cernica, which lies east of the Romanian capital and is wonderfully suited for walking and fishing. Enjoy nature during a lovely boat trip and use Lake Cernica as an excursion destination for friends and family.

Best time to travel

Every season has its own charm, but the months of April, May, June, September, or October are particularly well suited for a visit to Bucharest. This recommendation is due to the extreme heat during the summer months in Romania, which can be overwhelming even for summer enthusiasts. At the same time, the winter months are not suitable for a city trip due to very cold temperatures, including heavy snowfall. In addition, you'll have less daylight in winter to explore the city.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

We wish you a pleasant trip to Romania and are happy to help you with any further questions about Romania and the associated toll regulations. Contact us via our email.