Bucharest

The second-heaviest building on earth sits in the middle of Bucharest, and most visitors show up expecting to just walk in. You can’t anymore. The Palace of Parliament now requires booking a guided tour at least 24 hours ahead, and independent wandering through the marble corridors is no longer an option, a change that catches a surprising number of travelers who planned their whole first day around a same-day visit.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot, warm enough for the parks and outdoor terraces without the heavy heat that settles over the city in July and August. Winter has its own appeal if you don’t mind cold: Christmas markets fill the main squares from late November, and hotel prices drop noticeably. Avoid peak August if you can, plenty of local businesses close for holidays and the city runs quieter but with reduced restaurant options.

Getting around

From Otopeni airport, skip the taxis idling right outside the terminal doors, overcharging by unofficial operators is a well-documented problem there. Use Bolt or Uber instead, both work reliably in Bucharest and a ride into Old Town typically runs 65 to 90 lei, roughly 13 to 18 euros, for a 25 to 45 minute trip depending on traffic. If you do want an official taxi, agree the fare or confirm the meter is running before you leave the curb.

Inside the city, the metro is fast and cheap and the best way to cross town during rush hour when surface traffic seizes up. Trams and RATB buses cover everything else, and tickets are sold at kiosks or occasionally from the driver. Old Town itself is entirely walkable once you’re there.

The Palace of Parliament

Book your guided tour online at least a day ahead; standard tickets run around 85 lei, roughly 14 euros for adults and about 5 euros for children, with the guided route taking about an hour, though budget 90 minutes to two hours once security screening is factored in. It’s open 9am to 5pm March through October and 10am to 4pm the rest of the year. Bring your passport, you’ll need ID to get past security. Whatever you think about the building’s Ceausescu-era history, the sheer scale of it, built from Romanian materials on Ceausescu’s insistence, makes the tour worthwhile even at a premium price for what amounts to an hour indoors.

Neighborhoods and sights

Old Town, sometimes called Lipscani, is where most first-time visitors gravitate, dense with restaurants, bars, and the genuinely lovely Stavropoleos Church tucked between the noise. It’s touristy by Bucharest standards but still walkable and safe. For a break from the crowds, Cismigiu Gardens is the city’s oldest and most central park, good for a bench and a coffee rather than an itinerary item. The Village Museum, an open-air collection of traditional houses relocated from across Romania, is worth the trip if you’re not planning to travel into rural Transylvania, since it condenses that architecture into an afternoon.

Food

Caru cu Bere in Old Town, open since 1879 and in its current building since 1899, is the obvious tourist draw with live folk performances and a genuinely striking interior, and the food holds up despite the crowds, expect 4 euros for soup up to about 15 euros for a hearty main like the pork knuckle. It’s touristy, but it earns the reputation rather than coasting on it. For a cheaper and arguably more authentic hit of the same cuisine, head to Obor Market on the city’s east side, where street stalls serve some of the best mici, grilled minced meat rolls, in the city, and a full meal with a couple of beers rarely tops 10 euros. My honest recommendation: do one formal Old Town dinner for the atmosphere, then spend the rest of your meals at places like Obor where the food-to-price ratio is far better.

Sarmale, cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice, and mamaliga, a cornmeal polenta that shows up as a side to almost everything, are the two dishes to actively seek out rather than let show up incidentally on a set menu.

A local favorite

Turkish-style coffee, locally called cafea turceasca, served thick and unfiltered in small cups at neighborhood cafes away from Old Town, is where a lot of Bucharest residents actually start their day, and it’s a better window into daily life than another Old Town brunch spot.

A transit and scam gotcha

Beyond the airport taxi overcharging, watch for unlicensed cabs anywhere near major tourist sites offering a flat rate that sounds reasonable until you’re already in the car and the number changes. Stick to Bolt, Uber, or a taxi you’ve called yourself rather than one that approaches you. On the metro, keep bags zipped and in front of you during rush hour, pickpocketing on crowded lines is the most common petty crime reported by visitors.

Where to stay

A hotel near Old Town gets you walking distance to restaurants and the main sights, though ask for a room away from the street if you’re sensitive to nightlife noise, the area gets loud on weekends. A boutique option near Cismigiu Gardens offers a quieter alternative with easy access to both the park and the centre. Renting an apartment makes sense for longer stays or groups, and hostels remain some of the cheapest quality options in any major European capital if you’re travelling solo on a budget.

Practical notes

Romania uses the leu, not the euro, and while ATMs are everywhere, euros aren’t reliably accepted outside a handful of hotels, so plan to withdraw local currency. English is common among younger Romanians and in any tourist-facing business, less so with older generations outside the centre. Standard European plugs apply, 230V, type C or F. Tipping around 10 percent for good service is customary but not obligatory. Tap water is safe to drink. The emergency number nationwide is 112. One last practical tip: if you’re heading to Obor Market for mici, go before early evening, the best stalls sell out and the atmosphere changes considerably once the after-work crowd thins out.