Bucharest

Day 1: Little Paris layers – Old Town and Calea Victoriei

Bucharest’s historic centre rewards slow strolling and looking up – the best details sit above eye level. Today mixes medieval fragments, Belle Époque grandeur, and intimate courtyards, with plenty of cafés for pauses.

• Morning: Drift through the Old Town: Stavropoleos Monastery (modest dress; step inside for frescoes), Hanul lui Manuc’s wooden galleries, and the ruins of the Old Princely Court. Detour via Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse for its yellow-glass arcade, then coffee near Grădina Icoanei before a peek at Casa Mița Biciclista if open.
• Midday: Walk Calea Victoriei from the Romanian Athenaeum past the former Royal Palace and Cantacuzino Palace to CEC Palace. Tip: on summer weekends the street is often pedestrianised (Străzi Deschise), perfect for photos; book museum entries or concerts ahead if you want to go inside.
• Afternoon: Choose a museum stop (National Museum of Art or the George Enescu Museum) or browse Cărturești Carusel’s restored 19th‑century interiors. Watch for red circular seismic-risk dots (bulină roșie) and avoid lingering under crumbling façades on windy days.
• Evening: Start with rooftop views at Linea / Closer to the Moon (glass domes in winter) or NOMAD Skybar. For nightlife, try cocktails at EDDA in Casa Monteoru then music at Control Club; clubs fill late (after 00:30). Use Uber/Bolt after dark; the metro closes around 23:30.

Day 2: Neo‑Romanian villas and interwar modernism

Today is about residential Bucharest: leafy streets, Neo‑Romanian porches and turrets, and elegant interwar apartment blocks. It’s best on foot, camera in hand, reading the small architect plaques by doorways.

• Morning: Meander through Cotroceni’s quiet streets (start near Cotroceni Palace) along Strada Dr. Lister and Strada Dr. Romniceanu to see Neo‑Romanian loggias, carved columns and folk motifs. Pause at a neighbourhood café; keep an eye out for heritage plaques noting architects and years.
• Midday: Head north to Primăverii for a guided tour of Primăverii Palace (Ceaușescu’s former residence; book in advance). Explore the surrounding Primăverii and Dorobanți streets and Bulevardul Aviatorilor for pristine Art Deco and modernist villas.
• Afternoon: Cross to Bulevardul Magheru to see interwar modernism like Horia Creangă’s ARO (Patria) building and streamline façades. If you need a green break, dip into Herăstrău (King Michael I) Park’s lakeside paths before dinner.
• Evening: Choose your scene: dinner then high‑end clubbing in Floreasca/Dorobanți (Nuba, Fratelli, Loft – smart dress, reservations essential), or an alternative night at Expirat or Fabrica with big summer gardens. Arrive late (after midnight) for clubs; check event pages for line‑ups and entry fees.

Day 3: The communist axis, memory, and hidden stories

Contrast day: Ceaușescu‑era gigantism, churches rescued and moved on rails, and remnants of the old Jewish quarter. Keep plans flexible – some interiors have limited hours and require ID.

• Morning: Tour the Palace of the Parliament (pre‑book with photo ID) to grasp the scale of the Centrul Civic. Walk Bulevardul Unirii afterwards to feel the planned grandeur and repetitive façades.
• Midday: Trace the “moving churches” story: find Mihai Vodă Church and Schitul Maicilor tucked behind blocuri, saved by engineer Eugeniu Iordăchescu’s sliding method. If you’re nearby, swing by the Zodiac Fountain at Carol Park’s entrance; grab lunch at Manasia Hub’s garden in season.
• Afternoon: Explore the Jewish quarter remnants around Unirii and beyond: Templul Coral (if open) and streets with a mix of small houses and synagogues. For adaptive reuse and culture, drop into Palatul Universul’s Apollo111 bar/theatre when programming aligns.
• Evening: Final night options: craft cocktails at Fix Me a Drink (tiny; book) then a set at Guesthouse or Kristal Glam Club if you want Bucharest’s electronic pedigree; or a summer unwind at Grădina Eden, or winter jazz at Green Hours. Stick to ride‑share, watch your drinks, and on blustery nights avoid walking close to decayed façades.

Notes for all days: interiors often need reservations; churches require modest dress; many venues are card‑friendly but keep some cash; spring/autumn are ideal for long walks, with Open House Bucharest and Romanian Design Week offering rare building access.

By Air

• Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP, Otopeni) – main hub, 17 km north of the centre.
  • Airport train to Gara de Nord: 20–25 minutes, frequent, 24/7.
  • Express buses to central areas run day and night.
  • Ride‑hailing/taxi to the centre: 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
• Aurel Vlaicu Airport (BBU, Băneasa) – 9 km north; mainly business jets and occasional charters.
• Key direct links: most major European hubs (e.g., London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna, Istanbul), plus many regional cities via full‑service and low‑cost carriers.

By Train

• Main station: Gara de Nord (București Nord) – city’s long‑distance and international hub.
• International routes:
  • Daily direct services to Budapest (Keleti) and Vienna (overnight).
  • Daily Bucharest–Sofia (via Ruse).
  • Seasonal direct night train to Istanbul (Halkalı).
  • Night train to Chișinău (Moldova).
• Domestic key lines (typical fastest times):
  • Brașov ~2.5–3.5 h; Constanța ~2–2.5 h (more frequent in summer);
  • Iași ~6–7 h; Cluj‑Napoca ~7–9 h; Timișoara ~9–10 h.

By Coach/Bus

• Main coach terminals include Autogara Filaret, Autogara Obor, and Autogara Militari (multiple private operators).
• International coaches (e.g., FlixBus and others) to Sofia, Istanbul, Chișinău, Budapest, Thessaloniki and regional cities.
• Useful for towns not well served by rail; check operator sites for exact departure points and timings.

By Car

• Primary approaches:
  • A2 from Constanța (Black Sea) ~2–2.5 h;
  • DN1/A3 from Ploiești/Brașov; A1 from Pitești/West;
  • From Sofia ~5–6 h via the Giurgiu–Ruse bridge; from Budapest ~8–9 h.
• Vignette (rovinietă) required for national roads outside cities (not for driving only within Bucharest).
• Traffic is heavy at peak times; parking in the centre is limited and mostly paid. A city ring road exists, with a new orbital motorway (A0) opening in sections.