Trip highlights
- 1Palace of the Parliament
- 2Old Town Lipscani
- 3Romanian Athenaeum
- 4Village Museum
- 5Transylvania day-trip context
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Palace of the Parliament
Monday, June 7
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP)
Henri Coandă International Airport
The Henri Coandă Express train connects the airport to Gara de Nord in the city centre in about 25 minutes.
Buy the train ticket from the machine at the airport — it's far cheaper than a taxi for the same trip.
☀️ Afternoon
Palace of the Parliament
Strada Izvor 2-4, Bucharest
One of the largest administrative buildings in the world, built under Ceaușescu's regime, with a guided tour through its marble halls and oversized chandeliers.
Bring your passport — it's required for the guided tour booking and security check.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Old Town Lipscani
Lipscani Street, Bucharest
Bucharest's historic merchant quarter, now packed with restaurants, bars, and street performers in a maze of narrow lanes.
Caru' cu Bere, a century-old beer hall nearby, is a beautiful stained-glass dining room worth a look even if you eat elsewhere.
🍽️ Meals
Airport café breakfast
Romanian · $6
City centre lunch
Romanian · $9
Lipscani dinner
Romanian · $22
Romanian Athenaeum & Revolution Square
Tuesday, June 8
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Romanian Athenaeum
Strada Benjamin Franklin 1-3, Bucharest
A gilded neoclassical concert hall, home to the George Enescu Philharmonic, considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest.
Check if there's an evening concert during your stay — hearing a performance inside is a memorable experience.
☀️ Afternoon
Revolution Square and Calea Victoriei
Calea Victoriei, Bucharest
Walk Calea Victoriei, Bucharest's grand historic boulevard, past Revolution Square, site of the 1989 uprising that toppled Ceaușescu.
The CEC Palace and the Old Royal Palace along this boulevard are striking Belle Époque architecture.
🌙 Evening
Dinner and rooftop drinks
City centre, Bucharest
Dinner at a Romanian bistro followed by drinks at one of Bucharest's increasingly popular rooftop bars overlooking the city.
🍽️ Meals
Café breakfast
Romanian · $7
Calea Victoriei lunch
Romanian · $10
Rooftop dinner
Romanian/European · $28
Village Museum & Herastrau Park
Wednesday, June 9
Est. spend
$85
per person
🌅 Morning
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
Șoseaua Pavel Dimitrievici Kiseleff 28-30, Bucharest
An open-air museum displaying over 300 authentic traditional houses, churches, and windmills relocated from across rural Romania.
Allow plenty of time to wander — the museum spans a large wooded area beside Herăstrău Lake.
☀️ Afternoon
Herăstrău Park lakeside walk
Herăstrău Park, Bucharest
Bucharest's largest park, with a scenic lake, paddleboat rentals, and shaded paths popular with locals year-round.
Rent a paddleboat for a relaxed view of the park from the water.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with traditional folklore show
Herăstrău area, Bucharest
A restaurant evening featuring traditional Romanian folk music and dance alongside hearty mămăligă and sarmale dishes.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Romanian · $7
Village Museum area lunch
Romanian · $11
Folklore dinner show
Romanian · $30
Dracula Lore & Departure
Thursday, June 10
Est. spend
$65
per person
🌅 Morning
Curtea Veche (Old Princely Court) and Vlad the Impaler history
Strada Franceză 25-27, Bucharest
Visit the ruins of the Old Princely Court, once home to Vlad III ('the Impaler'), the historical figure behind the Dracula legend, set in the heart of Old Town.
This is a good substitute for a full Transylvania trip if time is short — the Dracula connection and Bram Stoker lore both trace back here and to Bran Castle, a separate multi-day excursion further north.
☀️ Afternoon
Final Old Town shopping
Lipscani, Bucharest
Browse Romanian ceramics, painted eggs, and local crafts in Lipscani before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Henri Coandă Airport
Henri Coandă International Airport
The express train returns to the airport from Gara de Nord in about 25 minutes.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Romanian · $7
Old Town lunch
Romanian · $11
Airport snack
International · $8
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
May to September offers the warmest weather for walking Bucharest's boulevards and parks. If extending to Transylvania, autumn foliage around Bran Castle and Brașov is especially scenic.
🛂 Visas
Romania is part of the Schengen Area as of 2024. Visitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most Western nations can stay visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across Schengen.
💱 Currency
Romania uses the Romanian Leu (RON), not the Euro. Cards are widely accepted in central Bucharest; carry some cash for smaller shops and the Village Museum area.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 112
ambulance: 112
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Bucharest is sometimes called 'Little Paris' for its Belle Époque architecture along Calea Victoriei — worth a slow walking tour.
- The Palace of the Parliament tour requires a passport and ID check — bring it along on the day you plan to visit.
- A full Transylvania day trip to Bran Castle and Brașov is roughly 3 hours each way from Bucharest and better suited to an overnight extension if Dracula lore is a priority.
- Bucharest's nightlife in Old Town Lipscani is lively and affordable compared to most European capitals.
- Romanian hospitality is warm and food portions are generous — come hungry to traditional restaurants.
One thing worth not skipping
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