For decades, restricted access left Romania largely forgotten by international travellers. But, finally, things are changing.
As western Europe’s conventional holiday destinations struggle to absorb immense crowds and all the complications of over-tourism, more intrepid travellers have turned their attention towards eastern Europe. A member of Schengen only since January 2026, Romania has suddenly become easier to access for many – and people are belatedly discovering that its capital city Bucharest is remarkably interesting, unexpectedly tranquil and exceptionally affordable. They’re attributes that could soon draw the attention of the public at large, so now’s the time to discover this genuinely distinctive city, with its leafy parks, raft of independent boutiques and a genuinely staggering architectural heritage that runs from grand European palaces and dilapidated Addams Family-style mansions to foreboding Brutalist Soviet landmarks and gleaming modern marvels.
This is List's full visitor guide to the underrated and rewarding city of Bucharest.
Where to stay
The newly opened Corinthia Bucharest is pitching itself as the best luxury hotel in the city, and with some justification. By the Old Town, the 30-key property sits in an impeccably restored Belle Époque landmark along the most prestigious avenue in the city. Rooms and suites are elegantly styled – hand-painted woodland scenes decorate immaculate bedrooms; breakfast is served in a grand, golden renovated ballroom; and the top floor is given over to an exclusive spa and wellness facilities.
Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, The Marmorosch Hotel delivers real gravitas: housed within a cleverly converted bank in the Old Town, it’s packed with curious original features including a speakeasy-style bar in a former vault that retains its original deposit boxes and armoured safe door. Some named after precious metals, suites and rooms are spruce and spacious; the spa’s aesthetic, with a sparkling illuminated roof set above a bright-blue swimming pool, is inspired by gemstones.
Read our full review of Corinthia Bucharest here
Best things to do in Bucharest
In every respect an unmissable attraction, the Palace of the Parliament is the world’s third largest building, a staggering white-grey monolith that looms forebodingly over its surroundings (though it won’t forever – it’s so heavily laden with Romanian marble that it’s slowly sinking).
That challenging legacy is explained in depth during regular guided tours of this fascinating building, still functioning as the country’s seat of government but with many of its thousands of rooms used for other purposes – fashion shows, concerts, weddings – to help cover its colossal operational expenses. If you only have time for one tourist attraction in Bucharest, this should be it. A sudden glut of overpriced souvenir shops is your first sign you’ve entered the most touristy part of the city, but there’s just reason for the popularity of Bucharest’s Old Town. A jumble of pedestrianised cobbled streets, (largely mid-market) restaurants, bars and cafes, the district is layered with centuries of history – amble from one street to the next and you might move from old Ottoman relics to grand Neoclassical palaces.
Elaborately decorated with stone carvings and stuccowork, the 300-year-old Stavropoleos Orthodox Church is a key attraction here and one of the most significant religious buildings in the country; a three-minute walk away, Cărturești Carusel bookshop sits in a remodelled bank and crams in many thousands of books, gifts and a pleasant top-floor café across its six storeys. Set in a former royal palace and situated just off Revolution Square, The National Museum of Art is Romania’s definitive cultural attraction. Home to more than 100,000 works, its collection runs from Medieval frescos and manuscripts to 20th-century Romanian Impressionism. Celebrated works by the country’s greatest artists and masterpieces by Rubens and Rembrandt draw appreciative European art enthusiasts, but the gallery holds a superb, lesser-known assembly of Islamic artworks too – dating from the 7th to 20th century, some 1,400 such pieces, including carpets, ceramics and embroidered works, have been drawn from Morocco, Turkey, India and across Central Asia.
Top places to eat
A relatively relaxed sibling to the more boisterous, eponymous Monaco original, Sass’ Restaurant & Lounge is part live-entertainment venue – musicians and DJs perform nightly – and decadent dinner venue, where an upmarket Mediterranean menu might feature pumpkin and kale salad, lobster linguini and French fries topped with a dollop of caviar. Alongside enjoying two singers’ renditions of classic Western pop songs and the occasional power ballad, the highlight of my meal here was the pistachio and praline crème brulee, perhaps the most delicious dessert I’ve had all year – it was just a shame that dated and aggressive dark-red ‘mood lighting’ rendered the dishes I’ve ordered and much of the beautiful jungle-themed interior almost invisible.
One of the poshest restaurants in the city, Kaiamo may be prohibitively expensive by local standards (with tasting menus from €135), but for epicureans this is one of the most exciting places to dine in Romania. Having trained in London, chef Radu Ionescu has returned to his home city with a culinary style that goes big on experimentation and flamboyant shows of creativity – order a dish of ‘edible stone’ for dessert and you’ll be presented with a rock that is in fact a blackcurrant mousse. More a recommendation for a general dining destination than a specific restaurant, Bucharest’s historic Calea Victoriei is pedestrianised on weekends throughout spring and summer, a progressive move that transforms this elegant boulevard into one of the most vibrant parts of the city. Often set within elaborately decorated landmark buildings, cafés and casual restaurants line the avenue and often feature impromptu terrace set-ups with tables and chairs fanned onto the pavement.
Walk for five minutes and you’re likely to cross everything from traditional Romanian spots serving sarmale cabbage rolls and hearty soups to flamboyant Belle Époque tea rooms and buzzy ramen spots. After dinner, order a scoop of sour cherry or peanut and chocolate gelato from the Velocita ice-cream parlour to enjoy an on-the-go dessert complemented by assorted busker performances and some great people-watching.
Where to shop
Housed in a converted palace and flamboyantly decorated with gold leaf and silk tapestries, Artmark is worth visiting for its beauty alone – but it also happens to be the country’s most dynamic and engaging auction house. Visitors are welcome to peruse exhibitions of forthcoming lots, with sales covering everything from military antiques to art to classic cars to jewellery. If you see something you like the look of, staff can advise on how to make a bid. Developed in response to the erosion of Romania’s indigenous crafts, Mesteshukar ButiQ is a social enterprise committed to celebrating and supporting the country’s creatives and makers. Perusing a workshop-style space stocked with individually made goods handmade by some of the country’s most talented artisans, shoppers can pick up jewellery, homeware, clothing and more.
