11 reasons why Bucharest should be your next city break

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Bucharest doesn’t feature on must-visit lists the way long-time city break favourites like Paris or Rome do. So why choose it for your next weekend break?

1. It’s under the radar

Tourists are only just starting to discover Bucharest, so there’s a good chance you’ll have the sights to yourself. In two days in the city we only saw two tour groups. That’s not to say it isn’t geared up for tourists – it’s easy to get around, most people we met spoke at least some English and everywhere we went on our weekend trip we felt totally safe.

A vintage motorbike, repurposed as a flower planter in Bucharest
A vintage motorbike, repurposed as a flower planter in Bucharest

2. Bucharest is surprisingly beautiful, and getting better by the day

Having ended the 19th century with the nickname “Paris of the East”, the 20th century was not kind to Bucharest. It was bombed by both the Allies and the Nazis during World War II, much of the historic centre was demolished by Ceaușescu, and an earthquake in 1977 caused further damage to many of the old buildings that remained.

The beautiful Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse arcade
The beautiful Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse arcade
Many of the most mundane buiildings in the city centre have incredible details from the days when Bucharest was known as the "Paris of the East"
Many of the most mundane buildings in the city centre have incredible details from the days when Bucharest was known as the “Paris of the East”

There are still a lot of derelict buildings (some of which are being renovated, especially in the historic centre), and a lot of concrete, but there are wonderful details everywhere, the grand old buildings like the Athenaeum have been restored and look amazing, and even the 1970s and 1980s architecture of Ceaușescu’s era has quirky postmodern details.

Bucharest's Roman Athenaeum has been beautifully restored and is home to one of the city's orchestras
Bucharest’s Roman Athenaeum has been beautifully restored and is home to one of the city’s orchestras
Grand Bucharest architecture, Communist style
Grand Bucharest architecture, Communist style
The gorgeous glass-domed headquarters of the Romanian Savings Bank, CEC
The gorgeous glass-domed headquarters of the Romanian Savings Bank, CEC

3. There are loads of sights in an easily walkable area

This is pretty geeky, but when I go on a city break, I love mapping out all the places I want to see using Google Maps. I use it to choose where we stay (ideally in the middle of everything) and what we’ll do each day.

I love to make custom Google Maps before a trip. This map of Bucharest's key city centre sights makes them look spread out but in reality it's an easily walkable city.
I love to make custom Google Maps before a trip. This map of Bucharest’s key city centre sights makes them look spread out, but in reality it’s an easily walkable city. The star is where we stayed, at the Concorde Old Bucharest Hotel.

When I started mapping out the sights in Bucharest it looked like it was quite spread out, but that really wasn’t the case. We stayed on the southern edge of the historic centre and in one day saw almost all the sights we wanted to hit – without using public transport. Bucharest’s answer to Paris’s Arch de Triomphe is a little way out of the city centre but we saw it on our way to and from the airport.

4. Bucharest’s historic centre is on the up

Bucharest reminded me a lot of Porto in that in the old town (locals call it the historic centre), you’ll see a beautifully restored building, and then the building next door will be completely derelict.

In Bucharest's historic centre, derelict buildings are next door to newly restored ones
In Bucharest’s historic centre, derelict buildings are next door to newly restored ones

Until a very few years ago, the historic centre was effectively a no-go zone, with little of interest to most visitors. These days every street in the district is full of life, with coffee shops, restaurants, antique dealers and bookshops just made for lingering in.

One of the many gorgeous street cafés in Bucharest's historic centre
One of the many gorgeous street cafés in Bucharest’s historic centre

5. It’s got the world’s heaviest building

Yup. The centrepiece of Ceaușescu’s masterplan for Bucharest, the Palace of the Parliament is the heaviest building in the world, weighing in at 4,098,500,000 kilograms. It’s also the second-biggest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon.

The Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, the heaviest building in the world
The Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, the heaviest building in the world

6. There’s something surprising around every corner

When you’re in Bucharest, take detours down side streets and pop your head through open doors. You never know what you’ll find. We found a gorgeous street of umbrellas inside an unpromising arcade, not one but two incredible monasteries and a flea market which knocked the socks off anything I’ve seen in the UK.

Umbrella street inside Pasajul Victoria
Umbrella street inside Pasajul Victoria
One of the monasteries we came across by chance. In this one the monks were singing inside the tiny church
One of the monasteries we came across by chance. In this one the monks were singing inside the tiny church
Admiring the gorgeous murals at Antim Monastery. The rest of the buildings in this area were demolished to make way for Ceaușescu's vision for a new Bucharest
Admiring the gorgeous murals at Antim Monastery. The rest of the buildings in this area were demolished to make way for Ceaușescu’s vision for a new Bucharest
We came across this awesome flea market
We came across this awesome flea market

7. Bucharest’s bookshops

Oh the bookshops! If you’ve looked up Bucharest on Instagram, you’ll definitely have seen the stunning Carturesti Carusel. This beautiful bookshop is an insta-favourite, and for good reason – the white-and-wood interior, spiral staircases and graceful pillars are beyond photogenic.

Carturesti Carusel, the (rightly) insta-famous bookshop in Bucharest's Old Town
Carturesti Carusel, the (rightly) insta-famous bookshop in Bucharest’s Old Town

It’s just one example of the revival of Bucharest’s old town; confiscated by the government from the original owners during Communist times, it was turned into a department store. After the fall of Communism, the building stayed closed for nearly 25 years before reopening as this magical 6-floor emporium.

Carturesti Carusel isn’t the only bookshop in town though; we saw small, local bookshops everywhere. Across town, near the Athenaeum, you’ll find another branch of the Carturesti chain, Carturesti Verona.

The other city-centre branch of Carturesti is just as gorgeous as the one in the historic centre
The other city-centre branch of Carturesti is just as gorgeous as the one in the historic centre

While a little less polished than the grand Carusel, the warren-like, shabby-chic Verona is a lot of fun. Both branches sell books in English as well as Romanian.

Bookworm street art on the roof of Carturesti Verona
Bookworm street art on the roof of Carturesti Verona

8. Bucharest is really affordable (by Euro city break standards)

Hotels can be a little on the pricey side, but eating, drinking and getting around are all really affordable compared to most other European cities. Two pizzas and three beers at a restaurant in the middle of the historic centre came in at under £15. A pint of local beer at a fairly touristy pub was less than £2, and our Uber from the airport to our hotel late at night (a 25-minute journey) was around £7.50.

Gourmet éclair shop French Revolution. These beautiful and delicious éclairs were only £2.50 each
Gourmet éclair shop French Revolution. These beautiful and delicious éclairs were only £2.50 each
My lime éclair from French Revolution
My lime éclair from French Revolution

9. The Instagram game is strong

Between the gorgeous eclair shops, the eclectic flea market and the hipster coffee shop brews, you’ll be able to find plenty of fodder for your feed.

10. It’s where Dracula used to hang out

Sort of. At the south-eastern edge of the old town you’ll find the Old Princely Court, built during the reign of Vlad III Dracula, AKA Vlad the Impaler, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Archeological excavations are being carried out on the site, and it’s temporarily closed to visitors, but you can walk around the edge and see the rather menacing statue of Vlad himself.

The Old Princely Palace, Bucharest, and the statue of Vlad III (AKA Vlad the Impaler)
The Old Princely Palace, Bucharest, and the statue of Vlad III (AKA Vlad the Impaler)

11. The day trips from Bucharest

We only had one full day on our weekend break to Bucharest, but if we’d had longer there are plenty of other things to do in the city and some great day trips. One of the most popular is a day trip to Bran Castle in Transylvania, otherwise known as Dracula’s castle. A trip to Bran Castle is often combined with nearby Peles Castle and the medieval city of Brasov.

Closer to the city centre, in the summer locals recommend the large King Michael I city park which is also home to the open-air National Village Museum. If the weather isn’t so good, take a trip to the Therme wellness centre. Located just north of the city, it’s the biggest thermal wellness centre of its type in Europe and boasts 9 pools, 10 saunas, 16 water slides and the largest botanical garden in Romania.

Would you take a weekend city break to Bucharest? 

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7 thoughts on “11 reasons why Bucharest should be your next city break”

  1. If you will come back a suggestion: one of the best times to visit Romania is on Halloween.
    Available from Bucharest there is a very funny party in Sighisoara citadel with magician’s shows, Vampire Killing show and a Ritual Killing of a Living Dead.
    Nothing scary just people enjoying a well-organized masquerade party with contests.
    Another one is Bran Castle Halloween Party, which is a club like atmosphere and the biggest in Romania

    Reply
  2. Your pictures are beautiful! Bucharest is such an unexpected city, right?? We visited last October, and it felt like everything was surprising… because I had zero expectations for anything!

    Reply
  3. Helen this could not be more well timed – we booked a holiday to Bucharest and Brasov last night. I’m really intrigued by Romania and want to go before it gets too popular. Loved this post and have saved it for nearer the time when we’re planning our itinerary. I’ll be hunting out those brollies for definite. We can compare notes at the NBAs! 😀

    Reply
    • Hope you have an awesome time Caroline! I really want to go back to Romania, Brasov looks gorgeous, you’ll have to let me know what it’s like 🙂

      Reply
  4. Bucharest looks incredibly charming! I am always on the lookout for places that are still someone less touristy, so it’s nice to know places like that still exists! Great post thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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