Bucharest City Holidays

Bucharest City covers the walkable centre of Bucharest, from the cobbled Old Town bar scene to the grand Belle Epoque boulevards of Calea Victoriei, with the Palace of Parliament and Revolution Square all within strolling distance.

Highlights of Bucharest City Centre

• Old Town (Lipscani) – the restored cobbled district packed with centuries-old buildings, rooftop bars and some of the cheapest rounds in a European capital. Properly alive day and night, this is where most evenings in the city centre start and finish.

• Calea Victoriei – the grand boulevard running through the heart of the city, lined with neoclassical architecture, the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall, the National Museum of Art and Cismigiu Gardens. The most photogenic walk in Bucharest.

• Palace of Parliament – the heaviest building in the world and the second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon, built by Ceausescu with marble and crystal chandeliers throughout. Guided tours run daily in English (passport required for entry).

• Revolution Square – where Ceausescu gave his final speech in December 1989 before fleeing by helicopter. The former Royal Palace (now the National Museum of Art) and the memorial to the revolution's victims sit alongside it.

• Carturesti Carusel – a neoclassical former bank turned into a spectacular five-storey bookshop in the Old Town. One of the most photographed bookshops in the world, and the top-floor cafe has proper atmosphere.

🏨 Hotels

All the hotels in Bucharest City sit within the walkable centre, from the Old Town through to Calea Victoriei and the areas around the main parks.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Novotel Bucharest City Centre is the reliable family base, with a pool, children's playground, Turkish bath and a central location 500 metres from the National Art Museum. The kind of dependable Novotel setup that takes the stress out of travelling with kiddos.

• Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town puts families right in the Old Town with spacious rooms, an outdoor terrace restaurant and walking distance to the National Museum of Romanian History and Carturesti Carusel bookshop.

• ibis Styles Bucharest Erbas is the budget family pick, with a dedicated kids' club, playground and rooms refreshed in 2018. Properly set up for families who want to spend the budget on days out rather than the hotel.

💑 Couples

• The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection is the headline couples pick in central Bucharest. A converted 1930s bank building with an indoor pool, spa and five-star Marriott finish on Calea Victoriei, walking distance to the Romanian Athenaeum and Old Town.

• Peakture Hotel is a four-star boutique with a wellness centre, sauna and professional massage therapy. Consistently well reviewed and the kind of intimate setup that suits a couples' city break.

• La Boheme Casa Soare has proper boutique character in the historic centre, 200 metres from the Old Town with an on-site restaurant, bar and a breakfast spread that is serious business.

👉 Bucharest City hotels

More Destinations

• Bucharest – the full city guide with Transylvania day trips, nightlife, neighbourhood breakdowns and the complete hotel selection across families, couples, groups, luxury and value.

• Romania – Transylvania's castles, the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea coast at Mamaia. City break, beach holiday and mountain adventure all under one flag.