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14 Top Things To Do In Bucharest, Romania

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    Jonathan Chum
    Twitter
    @jchum

Introduction

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is a vibrant city that's steeped in history. The city has been around for over 3,000 years and has been ruled by the Dacians, Romans, and Ottomans. However, it wasn't until 1859 that Bucharest became the capital of modern-day Romania. Today, Bucharest is a bustling metropolis with over two million residents and plenty to do during your visit! We have compiled a list of the top things to see while visiting this beautiful country:

Visit the Village Museum

While you're in Bucharest, make sure to check out the Village Museum. It's a great place to learn about Romanian culture and history, and it will give you a taste of what village life was like before the communist regime took over. The Village Museum is set up like an old Romanian village, complete with houses, shops, and a church. It's also worth mentioning that there are many other museums located throughout Bucharest with exhibits on everything from art to science.

Watch a Film at an Old Communist Theater

If you're looking for a more unique outing, head over to Cinema Patria and Cinema Elvire Popesco. These two theaters are located in the former House of Culture building, which also used to be an exhibition hall for communist propaganda art. It's now home to these two theaters that play films from all over the world.

One of these cinemas even has an old organ from the 19th century! The other one is built into a room that was once used as a bunker during World War II (if you're into historical buildings and war history, this could be interesting).

Go on a Free Walking Tour

Free walking tours are one of the best ways to see a city, especially if you're traveling alone. They are an excellent way to learn about a city's history and culture and meet other travelers. You can find free walking tours online or at your hostel, either way, it is well worth it!

Explore the Grand Palace of Parliament

The Palace of Parliament is the second-largest civilian administrative building in the world, after The Pentagon. It is also the largest building in Romania and was built during Ceaușescu's regime. At that time, he wanted to create a monument that would glorify him and his family (the Communist Party). Today, this giant palace houses both chambers of parliament as well as other government offices. It's open for visitors for free on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am until noon or 2 pm until 4 pm depending on which day you go there!

If you have time for only one thing on this list, it should be this one because it will change your life forever!

Visit the Monastery of Snagov

The Monastery of Snagov is located on the island of Snagov, about 20 kilometers away from Bucharest. This monastery was founded in 1695 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, who wanted a place to retreat with his family. The monastery is considered one of the most beautiful in Romania and was even visited by Pope John Paul II when he was still alive.

The monastery is also known as "The Pearl of Bucharest," because it's surrounded by water and trees that make it look like a pearl floating on top of an ocean. There are many buildings inside this complex: A chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, where you can see some original paintings; a bell tower with 10 bells; a chapel dedicated to Saint Parascheva (a martyr); an amphitheater where concerts are held during summertime; and many others!

Visit the Palace of Parliament

The Palace of Parliament is the largest civilian administrative building in the world. It was built by Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romania's last communist leader, who had an obsession with grandiose public projects and built many of them throughout his reign.

The Palace of Parliament is also the second largest building on Earth after The Pentagon, which should give you some idea as to how large it is! It has 1 million square meters (10 million sq ft) of surface area and 2 million square meters (20 million sq ft) inside---and that doesn't include its underground area that extends down to subway tunnels!

It cost 1billionbackwhenitwasfinishedin1984(about1 billion back when it was finished in 1984 (about 2 billion today), making it the most expensive administrative building ever built; even more than Buckingham Palace ($900 million).

Explore Știrbey Palace

The Știrbey Palace is a museum of Romanian culture, located in the Old Town of Bucharest. It was built in 1859 for Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza and it now houses an impressive collection of art and furniture. The Știrbey Palace also features an impressive collection of books and manuscripts that are open to the public.

Discover the National Museum of Art

Located in the old Royal Palace, this museum is a must-see for art lovers. It features collections of Romanian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum was founded in 1948 and includes works by Constantin Brâncuși, Victor Brauner, Camil Ressu, Nicolae Tonitza, Gheorghe Tattarescu, and others. Don't miss your chance to see Romanians' favorite artist: Constantin Brâncuși's "Adam and Eve"

Stop by the Triumphal Arch

The Triumphal Arch is located in Victory Square, Bucharest. It was built in 1906 for the 100th anniversary of the Romanian War of Independence. The arch commemorates the heroes of the war and is decorated with statues of soldiers on horseback and other figures, including a winged victory statue at its center.

The structure itself is pretty impressive---it's 290 feet tall (88 meters) and made from 50 tons (50 metric tonnes) of metal. You'll also find stained glass windows inside that depict scenes from Romanian military history; there are over 3,000 pieces in total!

Wander the streets of the Old Town

The Old Town is a historic district in the middle of Bucharest. You'll find large squares, as well as small cobblestone streets that wind their way through picturesque buildings.

The Old Town has a lot of charm to offer travelers! If you're looking for something unique and offbeat, this is the place for you.

Admire Romanian Atheneum

The Romanian Atheneum is a beautiful building that you should check out. It's both a library and a museum, so you will be able to learn about the history of Bucharest while admiring the architecture of this gorgeous structure.

This beautiful museum is located in the Old Town and was built between 1898 and 1900, during an era when Romania was under control by Austria-Hungary. The building itself was designed by architect Petre Antonescu, who drew inspiration from Roman buildings from ancient times.

The museum has three floors filled with displays that tell stories about Romania's past through artworks and historical artifacts (some of them are quite rare). You can find many pieces here that were created by famous artists like Constantin Brancusi or Nicolae Grigorescu---two painters who made important contributions to Romanian culture during their lifetimes. If you love art museums, then this one might be right up your alley!

Walk on Kiseleff Road

The Kiseleff Road is a pedestrian street in Bucharest, Romania. It is located in the northern part of the city, near the intersection of Calea Victoriei and Bulevardul Kiseleff.

Bucharest has many other attractions that are worth exploring. However, you need to get to know this city and do some research before deciding where to go first.

Check out Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum

The museum houses an important collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs collected during the 1950s and 1960s.

It is located in the village of Muzeul Satului (The Museum Village), which was built by Dimitrie Gusti as a model for restoring traditional Romanian villages after being destroyed during World War II.

Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum exhibits include agricultural tools; household goods; everyday clothing that illustrate how traditional Romanian people dressed; folk art objects such as ceramics made by villagers' wives or local potters in the neighboring village of Zavoi (Zavoi Ceramics).

Conclusion

There are many things to do in Bucharest, Romania. You can visit the village museum and explore the history of the country, go on a free walking tour around the city or take a boat trip underneath its bridges. There are also many other interesting places to visit such as Snagov Monastery or the Palace of Parliament.