About Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.71 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 2.33 million residents, which makes Bucharest the fifteenth-largest city in Europe. The city has an area of 239 km2 (92 sq mi), while the metropolitan area covers 1,803 km2 (696 sq mi). The city proper is administratively known as the "Municipality of Bucharest", and has the same administrative level as that of a national county, being further subdivided into six sectors, each governed by a local mayor. Bucharest is a major cultural, political and economic hub, the country's seat of government, and the capital of the Muntenia region. It is an enclave completely surrounded by Ilfov County.
Cheap flights to Bucharest
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $692 from Toronto, travelling 19 Nov – 30 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- NYC New York to Bucharest23 Nov – 7 Dec · OTP from$957
- ORD Chicago to Bucharest9 Dec – 23 Dec · OTP from$1,068
- LAX Los Angeles to Bucharest8 Nov – 23 Nov · OTP from$995
- YTO Toronto to Bucharest19 Nov – 30 Nov · OTP from$692
- IAD Washington to Bucharest30 Nov – 14 Dec · OTP from$1,084
- SFO San Francisco to Bucharest7 Dec – 16 Dec · OTP from$1,076
- ATL Atlanta to Bucharest2 Dec – 9 Dec · OTP from$1,090
- MIA Miami to Bucharest27 Oct – 3 Nov · OTP from$1,051
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: United Airlines, Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, KLM.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to BucharestPlaces to visit in Bucharest
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Palace of the Parliament
LandmarkA colossal building from the communist era that houses the parliament and conference halls. Guided tours reveal marble halls, chandeliers and balconies; bring photo ID to enter.
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Old Town
Neighborhood · 1 mi from centreA district of cobbled streets with bars, cafes and historic buildings around Lipscani Street. Look for Stavropoleos Monastery, the old Manuc's Inn and the ruins of the Old Princely Court.
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Romanian Athenaeum
Landmark · 2 mi from centreA domed concert hall and home of the George Enescu Philharmonic. Attend a concert to see the circular auditorium and its frescoes depicting Romanian history.
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Stavropoleos Monastery
Religious · 1 mi from centreA small church in the old town with richly carved stone and wood and a painted facade. Its peaceful courtyard, lined with old gravestones, is a respite from the city.
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Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
Museum · 4 mi from centreAn open-air museum with traditional houses, churches and windmills brought from across Romania, set beside Herastrau Lake. It is a pleasant way to see rural architecture in one place.
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National Museum of Art of Romania
Museum · 2 mi from centreHoused in the former royal palace on Revolution Square, with galleries of Romanian medieval and modern art and a collection of European paintings by masters such as El Greco and Rembrandt.
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Cismigiu Gardens
ParkThe oldest public park in the city center, with a lake for rowing, shady paths and benches. It is a favorite place for locals to stroll, play chess or relax.
Things to do in Bucharest by type
29 tours, tickets and experiences across 4 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Day Trips & Excursions 12 experiences 2 Days / 1 Night: Danube Delta Small Group Tour -
Art & culture 11 experiences 2 Days / 1 Night: Danube Delta Small Group Tour -
City tours 4 experiences Bucharest Private Walking Tour -
Gastronomy & nightlife 2 experiences Private Bucharest Beer Tour
- Over 6 hours 5
- Families 4
- Senior 4
- Youth 4
- Couples 4
- Adult only 2
- Small group 9
- Private 5
Top experiences in Bucharest
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 29 available.
Dracula Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov - Full-Day Tour
From $69 per adult
Peles Castle and Bran Castle - Full-Day Tour
From $69 per adult
Therme Bucuresti SPA Ticket with Transfer
From $63 per adult
Peles Royal Castle and Wine Tasting – Full-Day Private Tour
From $169 per adult
Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting Tour
From $89 per adult
Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest - Small Group
From $79 per adult
Wines of Wallachia - Small Group Tour
From $199 per adult
Trip to Veliko Tarnovo and Ruse from Bucharest - Full-Day Tour
From $92 per adult
Bucharest Heritage City Tour - The Last Days of Communism
From $59 per adult
Discover Constanta - Full-Day Small Group Tour
From $159 per adult
Salt Mine Day Trip from Bucharest
From $57 per adult
Bucharest Private Walking Tour
From $257 per adult
Where to stay in Bucharest
Popular hotels in Bucharest, out of 278 properties you can book.
ibis Bucharest Politehnica
From $79 per night
Leonardo Hotel Bucharest City Center
From $99 per night
Capitol Bucharest
From $99 per night
Bucur 9
From $72 per night
Minerva
From $80 per night
Hemingway Residence Hotel
From $57 per night
Christina Hotel Bucharest
From $87 per night
Novotel Bucharest City Centre
From $129 per night
Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town
From $174 per night
Pullman Bucharest World Trade Center
From $221 per night
Zeus Essence Bucharest Central
From $82 per night
Peakture Hotel
From $90 per night
Best time to visit Bucharest
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Bucharest is September, when average daytime highs are around 79°F and rain falls on about 6 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Bucharest weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 67° 51° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 63° 54° 58%
- Fri 23 Oct 58° 53° 86%
- Sat 24 Oct 60° 53° 37%
- Sun 25 Oct 63° 55° 9%
- Mon 26 Oct 64° 55° 20%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON)1 US dollar ≈ lei4.75
- Language
- Romanian
- Calling code
- +40
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/BucharestUTC+3
Upcoming public holidays in Romania
- St. Andrew's DaySfântul Andrei
- National Day/Great UnionZiua Națională/Marea Unire
- Christmas DayCrăciunul
- St. Stephen's DayCrăciunul
- New Year's DayAnul Nou
- Day after New Year's DayAnul Nou
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Bucharest
These are the airports closest to central Bucharest. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- BBU Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport6 mi (10 km) from the city centre
- OTP Henri Coandă International Airport11 mi (18 km) from the city centre
Getting around Bucharest
Bucharest has one of the most extensive systems of public transport in Europe, even though it can sometimes be confusing and crowded.
Ticketing
The easiest option for the tourist is probably using a contactless card. In principle, this should work with any contactless credit or debit card as well as when using a smart phone or smart watch. The contactless option.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link] is always present at metro stations, and should be available on most buses (Otokar and Citaro Hybrid) and some trams, nominally lines 1, 10 and 41.
By metro
The Bucharest metro, which has five lines (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5) and covers the city quite extensively, is usually a cheap and easy way to get around even though there are surprisingly few stops in the city center, since the system was built to transport workers and commuters from outlying neighborhoods through the city to peripheral industrial areas.
By bus, tram or trolleybus
Bucharest has a very complex network of buses, trams and trolleybuses. The intricate web of hundreds of bus, tram and trolleybus routes may be confusing at first. Once you know your way around the network, however, public surface transport can be a very good way of getting around since there is a bus, tram or trolleybus stop virtually everywhere in the city. The vehicles are usually very frequent, although they can still get terribly crowded at peak hours. Route planner[dead link] is available online.
Bucharest travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Bucharest?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Bucharest is September, when average daytime highs are around 79°F and rain falls on about 6 days a month.
What is the weather like in Bucharest?
July is usually the warmest month in Bucharest, with average highs of 92°F (34°C). December is the coolest, with average lows of 34°F (1°C). The wettest month is typically May, with about 84 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Bucharest?
Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU) is the closest airport, about 6 miles (10 km) from the centre of Bucharest. Other nearby airports include Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP, 11 mi).
How much are flights to Bucharest?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Bucharest in the last 30 days was $692 from Toronto, travelling 19 Nov – 30 Nov. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $692.
What currency is used in Bucharest?
Bucharest uses the Romanian leu (RON). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ lei4.75.
What time zone is Bucharest in?
Bucharest uses the Europe/Bucharest time zone (currently UTC+3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Bucharest?
Bucharest has one of the most extensive systems of public transport in Europe, even though it can sometimes be confusing and crowded.
What are the best places to visit in Bucharest?
Top sights in Bucharest include Palace of the Parliament, Old Town, Romanian Athenaeum and Stavropoleos Monastery. A colossal building from the communist era that houses the parliament and conference halls. Guided tours reveal marble halls, chandeliers and balconies; bring photo ID to enter.
What are the top things to do in Bucharest?
Popular experiences you can book in Bucharest include Dracula Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov - Full-Day Tour, Peles Castle and Bran Castle - Full-Day Tour and Therme Bucuresti SPA Ticket with Transfer. Destina Holidays offers 29 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Bucharest?
The most popular types of experiences in Bucharest are day trips & excursions (12), art & culture (11), city tours (4) and gastronomy & nightlife (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Bucharest?
Popular areas for hotels in Bucharest include Bucharest City. Well-reviewed options include ibis Bucharest Politehnica and Leonardo Hotel Bucharest City Center.
How many hotels can I book in Bucharest?
Destina Holidays currently lists 278 properties in and around Bucharest, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
