Bucharest

A mix of history, nightlife and charm

Bucharest stands out as Romania’s largest city and main hub for business, culture and transport. The capital has wide boulevards lined with historic buildings that show influences from French and Art Nouveau styles. Many people visit the Palace of the Parliament, one of the biggest administrative buildings in the world. Traditional markets sell local crafts alongside modern shops, while parks provide quiet spaces away from busy streets. Public transport connects neighborhoods efficiently, making it easy to explore museums, restaurants and nightlife options throughout the city.

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City in Romania

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

4/5

Most young people and those in tourism speak English well. Older locals might not, but they are usually friendly and willing to help. Signs in tourist areas often have English translations.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Bucharest Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Strong in architecture and city culture. Explore grand boulevards, visit museums, enjoy lively cafés and experience vibrant nightlife.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Guided tours

Luxury shopping

Fine dining

Local cuisine

Street food

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 8

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Romania – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Romanian Leu (RON) £1 ≈ RON 6.39
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted in cities, though cash is often required in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Romania. 10-15% in restaurants is standard, and small tips for taxi drivers and hotel staff are common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not widely accepted, though it is tolerated in some festive events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and transport, with designated areas available.

Unification Day (December)	Expect closures and parades.
Easter (March/April)	Religious and cultural activities dominate.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive celebrations occur.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber, Clever
Other:	Romania is famous for its castles, including Dracula’s Castle, and its beautiful Carpathian landscapes.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Bucharest, Romania

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

☁️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	May - June, Sep.
Shoulder season:	April, July - Aug., Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Summer heat waves regularly pass 35°C in July and August, sightseeing best in the morning or evening

Orthodox Easter, April or early May: midnight church services, many shops and restaurants closed Easter Sunday and Monday

Christmas market at Piața Constituției runs late November to early January

Don't miss

🏛️ Tour the grand Palace of the Parliament, one of the world’s largest buildings
☕ Walk through the charming streets and cafés of Lipscani Old Town
🖼️ Admire Romanian art inside the National Museum of Art
🏰 Stroll along Calea Victoriei and explore elegant architecture
🚣‍♀️ Relax at Herăstrău Park and take a boat on the lake
🏡 Visit the Village Museum to discover Romanian rural heritage

You've been here?

Why travel to Bucharest?

Bucharest is a city that surprises at every turn. The massive Palace of Parliament is a reminder of its communist past, while hidden streets reveal charming 19th-century buildings, lively bars and an emerging arts scene. The nightlife is legendary and the food scene is an exciting mix of traditional Romanian dishes and international influences.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Triumphal Arch
2 Old Town
3 Palace of the Parliament
4 Revolution Square
5 Romanian Atheneum
6 Village Museum
7 Stavropoleos Monastery

🎡Places for activities

1 National Museum of Art of Romania
2 Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
3 "Grigore Antipa" Natural History National Museum
4 Therme București
5 Lipscani

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 "Dimitrie Brandza" Botanic Garden
2 Carol Park
3 Herăstrău Park
4 Cișmigiu Gardens
5 Coffee By The Lake
6 Parcul Plumbuita II

🛍️Shopping

1 Unirea Shopping Center
2 Mega Mall
3 Băneasa Shopping City
4 AFI Cotroceni
5 Promenada Mall
6 Obor Market
7 Complexul Comercial Dragonul Roșu

🎈Events

George Enescu Classical Music Festival
Bucharest Jazz Festival
Summer Well Festival
Electric Castle (nearby)
Untold Festival (nearby)
Romanian Wine Festival
Bucharest Christmas Market
Halloween Party at Bran Castle (nearby)
Bucharest International Film Festival
Street Delivery Art Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Stay central near Old Town for walkable sights, cafés and nightlife.
Use licensed metered taxis or ride-hailing apps and keep valuables secure in crowded Old Town streets and public transport.
Expect four distinct seasons; pack for hot summers or chilly winters and check indoor opening hours on Mondays and holidays.
Explore beyond Old Town to see Belle Époque avenues, communist-era architecture and leafy parks that reveal the city’s layered, often surprising character.

How to travel to Bucharest

Bucharest is served by Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), with direct flights from many European cities. The train station (Gara de Nord) connects to major Romanian and international destinations. Buses also link the city to nearby countries.

Access summary

From Otopeni Airport (OTP): CFR airport train to Gara de Nord, about 20–25 minutes.
From Budapest: Overnight and daytime trains or buses, typically around 10–15 hours.
From Sofia: Long-distance buses to Bucharest, usually about 6–8 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Bucharest

Bucharest offers everything from budget hostels to luxury hotels. The Old Town is best for nightlife lovers, while Victoriei Avenue and Dorobanți are more upscale. Northern areas like Herăstrău are quieter and close to parks.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Grand Hotel Bucharest

8.9

Radisson Blu Bucharest

8.8

Europa Royale Bucharest Hotel

8.7

Hotel Lido by Phoenicia

9.0

RIN Airport Hotel

8.5

InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest By IHG

9.1

Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town

9.2

Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Airport

9.2

Hotel Maison Orient

8.1

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

8.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Bucharest

Public transport is cheap but sometimes unreliable. Metro is the fastest way to get around. Buses and trams cover most areas, but traffic can be heavy. Taxis and ride-sharing apps (Bolt, Uber) are widely used. Walking is great in central areas.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-37 %

Daily expenses in Bucharest are around 37% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-10 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to RON) is 10% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£39	£91	£224
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£75
🍝 Food per day	£20	£48	£138
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£11

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£9
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£50
🤧 Cold medication	£5.50
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Bucharest is generally safe, but watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas. Avoid unlicensed taxis, especially near the airport. Some parts of Old Town can get rowdy at night.

Health & Medical

Healthcare in Bucharest is decent, with private clinics offering better service than public hospitals. Tap water is safe but might have a strong chlorine taste. Pharmacies are common and well-stocked.

Accessibility

Public transport is improving but not always wheelchair-friendly. Major attractions have ramps, but sidewalks can be uneven. Ride-sharing services offer better accessibility options.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe but has a strong chlorine taste. Bottled water is cheap and widely available. Free public water fountains are rare.