10 best things to do in Bucharest, Romania

If you’re looking for a cheap city break, then you need to add Bucharest to your list. And we’ve compiled a list of the very best things to do in Bucharest so you can make the most of your trip there!

Bucharest is the capital city of Romania and has an incredibly rich history. The city has gone through so much; once it was called Little Paris due to its Parisian-inspired architecture however a strong earthquake, followed by decades under communism, meant many of these historic buildings were destroyed. Now when you take a walk, there is a real mix of architecture throughout the city.

I didn’t know what to expect on this trip, however, I fell in love with this city. There is incredible food, brilliant day trips, and so many activities in the city itself, and here are 10 of the BEST things to do in Bucharest…

Pele’s Castle, Brascov & Dracula’s Castle day trip

This 12-hour day trip starts with your pick up from the city centre and heading out to the Romanian countryside. We booked through Get Your Guide, who provided transport and an expert guide for the whole day. This jam-packed day included visiting three incredible places;

the BEST thing to do in Bucharest : Pele’s Castle

Pele’s Castle was built by the former king of Romania as his summer residence. This building has been perfectly kept and is such a beautiful building in the hills of Romania.

We had around 1.5 hours here, which included the tour and time for pictures, a browse in the gift shop and time for a drink at the cafe on site.

Brascov

The second stop on the tour is to the smaller city of Brascov. This is your lunch spot, and we had time for a leisurely lunch and a little explore of two of the main attractions in the square; the black church and the Piata Sfatului which was where the witch trials were held.

Our guide recommended lunch at La Ceaun, which served traditional Romanian food. We tried Transylvanian soup (smoked meat and veg soup), garlic chicken and tomato on bread. But the standout was dessert which was Papansi; a donut-like dessert with sour cream, fruit and marmalade. This was so so so so good and if you head to Romania, you need to try this

Visiting Dracula’s Castle

The final stop on the tour was Dracula’s castle, also known as Bran Castle. Vlad Dracula, who owned the castle, was the inspiration for Mary Shelly’s book and the castle explains the history of Vlad and his ancestors.

It was really interesting and whilst the castle isn’t as pretty as Pele’s, it was such an interesting place.

I can’t recommend this day trip enough. It’s such a brilliant way to see more of the country, and learn about the history of Romania. If you do one thing when you come to Bucharest, make sure it’s to book onto this tour!

Therme Spa: Europe’s largest spa

There’s a good chance you’ve seen Europe’s Largest Indoor Spa on social media and because of the hype, it’s become very popular. Reviews for Therme Bucharest are mixed to say the least, with many people saying it’s become overcrowded.

We went on a Thursday afternoon and evening, and it wasn’t overcrowded at all. We managed to get sunbeds easily, get served at the bar easily and have space whilst we were in the pools.

There are two parts to the spa : The Palm which is adults only and where the big indoor and outdoor pools are, and Galaxy which has the children’s area, wave pool and all of the waterslides.

It cost us £25 for full access for the day, which is such good value!

One big recommendation is to make sure you’re there for sunset – it was truly magical sitting in the outdoor pool watching the sunset with a mocktail in hand. Whenever you search for things to do in Bucharest, this comes up and it is so worth it!

Palace of Parliament

Another trip we booked through Get Your Guide was a tour of the Palace of Parliament.

The build started whilst the country was under a dictatorship, and the building has key designs from communism. However, by the time the building was finished, the country was a democracy again.

This felt like a really important tour to do whilst you’re in Bucharest, to understand the more recent history.

Head to The Museum of Senses

The Museum of Senses is a mad space, perfect for the whole family to get lost in. From 2D spaces, to infinity rooms to brilliant photo spots, the museum is a feast for your senses.

The only downside to the museum is it’s a bit difficult to get to as it’s a good half hour out of the city to you’ll need to get a taxi there.

Brunch at Le Bab

One of the best meals I had whilst we were in Bucharest was brunch at La Bab. I had the Shakshukka which was incredible, but the stand out was our side of tater tots with truffle.

Everyone always says to go for brunch at the Van Gogh cafe, however having tried both, Le Bab is by FAR the better meal for a similar price!

Explore the most incredible bookshop

I love a bookshop and after seeing Cărturești Carusel all over Instagram, I knew I had to take a trip.

Four floors of books in this gorgeous building, with a cafe at the top, and it is such a beautiful and calming space. What was a lovely surprise was that they have a huge section of english books so I could actually buy a book whilst I was there which made me so happy!

This is one of the brilliant free things to do in Bucharest and should be at the top of your list!

Coffee at Bob George’s

When you walk past a cafe which says it’s one of the top 50 coffee shops in Europe, you have to go in.

I have an awkward coffee order – a decaf oat milk flat white – which means I can’t always get a coffee when I’m out. The excitement of seeing decaf and oat milk won me over straight away. But this was genuinely one of the best coffee’s I’ve had. (Northern pals, if you’ve had a coffee from Laynes in Leeds, this is almost identical!!)

It deserves to be in the top 50 coffee shops in Europe, and that’s why it’s firmly in my top things to do in Bucharest!

The Observatory

The Observatory wasn’t far from our Air bnb so we had to go and check it out. We mainly wanted to go to see the gorgeous stained glass windows, and were surprised to find a full museum.

Most of the exhibition is in Romanian, and sadly we do not speak the language, but for £1, it was still worth going! It’s not talked about enough in my opinion, and should be on your list of things to do in Bucharest.

Explore the Salvador Dali exhibition

Until 12th April 2024, you’ll find the Salvador Dali Universe exhibition at ARCUB.

This is a brilliant exhibition focusing on Dali’s sculptures and illustrations and has over 170 pieces of work. It’s worth paying the extra to do the VR experience, where you’re truly taken into Dali’s universe!

The National Village Museum

On our final morning, we headed to the National Village Museum which is a museum dedicated to the villages of Romania. Traditional buildings (houses, churches and even a pub!) from as far back as the 17th Century are now set into a village and you can walk around them.

Sadly when we were there, many were under restoration which meant we couldn’t go inside. However, it looks as though in the summertime, there’s events on!

And there are the very best things to do in Bucharest. I can’t recommend a city break here enough – there’s so much to do and it’s very affordable for a city break. Plus, there’s so much good food here, which is a must for me! You can find more European Travel Guides here and our travel articles here. I always use Get Your Guide to book my excursions when I’m away as it’s hassle-free and there’s so much to choose from.