Bucharest itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Bucharest, day by day: the Palace of the Parliament, Piata Unirii, the National Museum of Romanian History, Curtea Veche and the Romanian Athenaeum first, then the Village Museum, Herastrau Park and the National Museum of Contemporary Art as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Bucharest in 1 day
Day 1
Palace of the Parliament
Vast Communist-era palace begun in 1984, one of the world's largest administrative buildings, shown on guided tours with grand halls and a balcony view.
Piața Unirii
Large central square where several main boulevards meet, with fountains and a metro station, on the way between the old centre and the Palace.
National Museum of Romanian History
Museum in the old Postal Palace on Calea Victoriei, with a cast of Trajan's Column and the Romanian Crown Jewels in the Treasury.
Curtea Veche
Ruins of the Old Princely Court, linked to Vlad the Impaler, in the heart of the old centre with a small museum.
National Bank of Romania
Historic bank headquarters in the old centre, a late 19th-century building with a grand facade; mainly seen from the street.
National Museum of Art of Romania
Romania's national art museum in the former Royal Palace on Calea Victoriei, with Romanian medieval and modern art and European masters.
Romanian Athenaeum
Domed 1888 concert hall on Calea Victoriei, home of the George Enescu Philharmonic, with a painted frieze of Romanian history inside.
Bucharest in 2 days
Day 1
Village Museum
Open-air museum beside Herăstrău Park with farmhouses, churches and workshops moved from villages across Romania.
Herăstrău Park
Large lakeside park in the north of the city with boat rides, shaded paths and cafes, a favourite for weekend walks.
Romanian Athenaeum
Domed 1888 concert hall on Calea Victoriei, home of the George Enescu Philharmonic, with a painted frieze of Romanian history inside.
Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse
Covered 19th-century arcade with a curved glass roof, lined with cafes and restaurants, just off the old centre's main streets.
Curtea Veche
Ruins of the Old Princely Court, linked to Vlad the Impaler, in the heart of the old centre with a small museum.
Piața Unirii
Large central square where several main boulevards meet, with fountains and a metro station, on the way between the old centre and the Palace.
Day 2
National Museum of Art of Romania
Romania's national art museum in the former Royal Palace on Calea Victoriei, with Romanian medieval and modern art and European masters.
National Museum of Romanian History
Museum in the old Postal Palace on Calea Victoriei, with a cast of Trajan's Column and the Romanian Crown Jewels in the Treasury.
Palace of the Parliament
Vast Communist-era palace begun in 1984, one of the world's largest administrative buildings, shown on guided tours with grand halls and a balcony view.
National Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art museum housed in one wing of the Palace of the Parliament,, with changing exhibitions.
Watch: Bucharest
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Bucharest
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) are the most comfortable seasons for walking, with mild days. Summers are hot, often above 30 C in July and August, and winters are cold and can bring snow. The George Enescu Festival, a major classical music event, is held in Bucharest in late summer in odd-numbered years.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bucharest on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bucharest on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bucharest on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Bucharest with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Romania from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Bucharest with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bucharest
- The Palace of the Parliament can only be visited on a guided tour; book ahead and bring photo ID, as tours often sell out.
- Many museums close on Mondays and some on Tuesdays; check opening days before fixing the order of a day.
- The old centre and Calea Victoriei are best seen on foot, while the Palace of the Parliament is a short metro or taxi ride from Piata Unirii.
- The Romanian Athenaeum is best enjoyed at a concert; check the programme before you go.
- Summer afternoons can be hot, so plan outdoor sights for the morning and keep museums for midday.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Curtea Veche: Nicubunu, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro
- Herăstrău Park: Andrei Anghelov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Bank of Romania: unknown author, Public domain
- National Museum of Art of Romania: Britchi Mirela, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro
- National Museum of Contemporary Art: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Museum of Romanian History: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palace of the Parliament: Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada, CC-BY-SA-2.0
- Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse: Octav Vladu, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Piața Unirii: bogdan, CC BY 2.0
- Romanian Athenaeum: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Village Museum: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
