a large building with a clock tower on top of it

Bucharest

Bucharest is Romania's capital, known for Belle Époque boulevards, the Palace of Parliament and an Old Town of courtyards and bars. It suits a two to three day city break.

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Bucharest is the capital of Romania, set on the Dâmbovița River in the south of the country. Many visitors come for its Belle Époque buildings, dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, which earned the city the nickname Little Paris. The Old Town, the historic core, has narrow streets, restored courtyards and a busy evening scene of bars and restaurants. The Palace of Parliament, begun under Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 1980s, is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world.

Two to three days cover the main sights, museums and a few good meals, and a longer stay lets you see Romania beyond the capital. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons, with mild weather for walking between sights. Summers are hot, and winters are cold and often snowy, so pack for the season you choose.

Bucharest in five

Phone ahead for the Palace of ParliamentVisits run daily and tickets are sold on site, but parties of 1 to 9 must phone 24 hours ahead, and an original passport or ID card is required. Plan the tour first, then build the day around it.Palace of Parliament tour
Match museums to Wednesday through SundayThe National Museum of the Romanian Peasant is closed Monday and Tuesday, and the Village Museum's open-air houses open Wednesday to Sunday. Put both on a midweek or weekend day.Bucharest in 2 days
Choose a base before you choose a hotelThe Old Town is lively until late, Calea Victoriei is calmer and central, Piața Romană has restaurants and the metro, and Gara de Nord suits an early train. Match the area to your evenings.Where to stay in Bucharest
Pair the capital with Brașov or SinaiaTrains to the Carpathian towns leave from Gara de Nord. Check times and fares on the CFR Călători site, and sleep in Brașov rather than rushing a day return.Brașov travel guide
Guard your bag on airport and station transitThe UK government warns of petty theft in large towns, especially Bucharest: on public transport to the airport, in main railway stations and near money exchanges. Use a ride app or a marked taxi.Travel insurance

Things to do in Bucharest

See all attractions in Bucharest

Sight · BucharestSnagov Monastery

Sight · BucharestSnagov Palace

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BucharestPut the places you like in Bucharest on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Henri Coandă International (OTP), north of the center
Getting there: Fly into OTP; trains from Brașov and Sinaia arrive at Gara de Nord
Getting around: Walking in the center; metro, trams and buses for longer hops
Best base: Old Town, Calea Victoriei or Piața Romană
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with a day trip

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-2°Cold
FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low0°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low3°Cool
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Warm, green
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm
JulyClear9 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Hot
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot
SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, quieter
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cool, gray
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, markets

Average daily high and low in Bucharest, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Aug George Enescu Festival · Sep George Enescu Festival

Right now in Bucharest

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 5°
Humidity: 82%
Wind: 31 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Bucharest

10:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today9°7°100%Monday: Rain. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue10°8°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed10°6°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu7°3°46%Thursday: Rain. High 7°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 46%.
Fri10°2°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat9°3°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun10°1°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 10:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 4.782 RON

Amount

Converted to

RON · Romanian Leu

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Bucharest

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Aug–SepGeorge Enescu FestivalBucharest

Day trips by train

Before you go to Bucharest

Hotels in the Old Town or VictorieiWalkable bases near the metroCheck availability

Walking and communism toursGuided city routes with local contextCompare tours

eSIM for BucharestRide apps and metro maps on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for BucharestBag theft and delayed-flight coverRead the guide

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Rules for Bucharest, checked

Palace of Parliament tours run daily 09:00–17:00. Adults pay 85 lei, tickets are sold on site, and an original passport or ID card is required.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Village Museum: adult ticket 40 lei; open-air houses open Wednesday to Sunday, summer 9:00–19:00 and winter 9:00–17:00.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Petty theft is a risk in Bucharest, especially on public transport to the airport, in main railway stations and near money exchanges and hotels.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

All Bucharest guides

a large building with a dome on top of it

ItineraryBucharest in 2 days: Old Town, Parliament and museumsChecked Oct 3, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Bucharest: four bases, from the Old Town to Gara de NordChecked Oct 3, 2026

How toPalace of Parliament tour in Bucharest: tickets, ID and bookingChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Bucharest

Sinaia and Peleș Castle

The royal summer town on the Brașov rail line

Read the guide Brașov travel guide

Saxon old town and the base for Bran Castle

Read the guide Constanța and the Black Sea

Roman ruins and beaches on the coast

Read the guide All of Romania

Transylvania, entry rules and where to base

Read the guide

Bucharest FAQ

How many days do you need in Bucharest?

Two days cover the Old Town, Calea Victoriei, the Palace of Parliament and one museum. Add a third day for the Village Museum and Herăstrău park, or for Sinaia by train. Most visitors treat it as the entry point to Transylvania.

Is Bucharest worth visiting?

Yes for architecture, food and the Communist-era history, less so if you want a postcard old town; Brașov and Sibiu do that better. Two nights is enough to judge it, and cheap to combine with a Transylvania trip.

Is Bucharest safe for tourists?

Generally yes. The usual city risks apply: pickpockets in crowded transit and around Gara de Nord, and taxis that overcharge. Use a ride app or a marked taxi, and keep valuables out of back pockets.

Can you visit the Palace of Parliament without a booking?

Groups of 1 to 9 are asked to phone 24 hours ahead, and tickets are bought on site. Tours are subject to availability, and you need an original passport or ID card. Check the official page before you go.

What is the best time to visit Bucharest?

May, June, September and October are warm without July and August heat. December has Christmas markets but is cold and gray. Summer is hot, and many locals leave for the coast or the mountains.