Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bucharest?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bucharest?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Bucharest, Romania? Most people spend one to three days in Bucharest during their visit. After all, the cultural city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, learn about the history of the town, soak up the big city atmosphere, and taste delicious cuisine.
Bucharest is the capital of Romania and it has an authentic and fascinating culture that includes architecture, a nightlife scene, and deep-rooted religion. While it may be overlooked by many European tourists, those who visit will enjoy a glimpse into a less touristy side of Europe.
Do you have one or two days to visit Bucharest? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Bucharest?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the cultural city of Bucharest, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, learn about the history of the town, soak up the big city atmosphere, and taste delicious cuisine. You'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Bucharest
Perhaps the most famous place in Bucharest is the Palace of Parliament, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. Many Romanian recipes have been passed down through the generations and they still use traditional flavors. You'll see some German or Hungarian influences, but the flavors are still uniquely Romanian. Popular dishes include ciorba (tripe soup), cabbage rolls, and mici (grilled meat rolls).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Discover Bucharest: Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour ($109)
- Salt Mine, the Muddy Volcanoes and Wine Tasting Private Day Tour from Bucharest! ($179)
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour ($60)
Public transit in Bucharest is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Bucharest?
A weekend offers a good amount of time to enjoy much of what Bucharest has for visitors. In addition to the museums and landmarks and charming old town, visitors can enjoy the food, nightlife, and shopping. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here.
Bucharest, Romania
How to spend 2 days in Bucharest
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Bucharest will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. The city is rich in landmarks and historical buildings. Popular sights include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Church, and Curtea Veche.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Dracula's Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov - Private Day Trip from Bucharest ($164)
- Libearty Bear Sanctuary and Dracula's Castle - Day Tour from Bucharest ($170)
- Dracula and Peles Castles Premium Tour with Hotel pick-up ($121)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has come to life with its party scene, with many bars and clubs that you can choose from. There are rooftop bars, chic dance clubs, and cozy pubs where you can pass the evening. You'll find most of the upscale clubs in the northern part of the city, with a more casual scene found in the downtown areas around Universitate and Romanā.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City ($43)
- Revealing Bucharest's Nightlife Scene ($60)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Bucharest, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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