The best first-timer itinerary for 3 days in Bucharest

Planning to spend 3 days in Bucharest but not sure where to start? Romania’s capital is one of Europe’s most captivating cities, and it’s nickname “Little Paris of the East” doesn’t do it justice. The city’s experiences of conflict and revolution in the 20th century tell a unique story, and its earlier roots of trade, village life and the influence of royalty add deeper layers of complexity.

Today, Bucharest is a thriving cultural hotpot with diverse architecture, sprawling parks and rich food traditions. In this guide, we share the perfect 3-day Bucharest itinerary to help you discover the city for the first time.

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Is 3 days in Bucharest enough?

Spending 3 days in Bucharest is enough to give you a well-rounded introduction to Romania’s capital. This is a nice amount of time to see some of the city’s highlights at a fairly relaxed pace along with some of the lesser-known sights.

In fact, our suggested itinerary for Bucharest in 3 days also includes a day trip outside the city.

Bucharest is a large city that has so much to offer, from the charm and historical sights of its Old Town to the huge green spaces that are spread all over it, and from the fascinating interactive museums to the bustling markets of the suburbs.

You could always spend more time here, and a short trip might leave you wanting to get to know the city more intimately. Bucharest is a great option for a remote working trip or workation, with a vibrant coworking scene to be found in the laid-back neighbourhoods of Piața Romană and Dorobanți north of the Old Town.

When is the best time to visit Bucharest?

Bucharest has hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures can soar in the busy peaks of July and August, while there are typically freezing lows from December through February.

The shoulder seasons in spring and autumn are ideal for visiting if you want to explore in warm, moderate weather on a city break. I first visited in March, when it was still quite crisp, but lovely for wandering around on foot. April–May and September–October are warm in the daytime and it’s a bit less crowded.

I am reliably told that the city is magical at Christmas time with its seasonal markets and illuminated light displays, but that’s a story for another trip!

Where to stay in Bucharest for a 3-day itinerary

For a short stay in Bucharest, the Old Town is the most convenient area to stay. It’s the epicentre of the city’s historic charm, it sits in close proximity to many of the architectural highlights and landmarks, and there are countless options for food and drink.

These are some of the best places to stay in Bucharest Old Town for a short break:

• Top-end: The Marmorosch, possibly Bucharest’s most beautiful hotel, set in the former palace of the historic Marmorosch-Blank Bank.
• Mid-range: Vilacrosse Boutique Inn, a characterful hotel that goes bright and loud with colours, and has spacious, excellent value rooms.
• Backpackers: Bedsy, a clean, secure and sociable hostel in the heart of the Old Town.

One thing I must say about Bucharest’s Old Town is it’s probably the busiest old town I have visited in any European city. There are a lot of bars and restaurants crammed into a compact few blocks, and it gets pretty noisy at night outside.

On my visit to Bucharest I stayed with a friend who had an apartment in the heart of the Old Town. Inside the older buildings you are sheltered from the outside noise, and it’s great to be able to step straight out into the historic beating heart of the city.

But if you prefer to stay somewhere a bit more laid-back but that still has a buzz about it, then Dorobanți is a great option. Situated in the “Sector 1” area to the north of the Old Town, it has a more upmarket feel, with broader, leafy streets lined with red brick and period buildings. Some of the city’s nicest boutique hotels are in this neighbourhood.

Dorobanți also works very well for this Bucharest itinerary, because it sits midway between the Old Town and Herăstrău Park, which are each the focus of a day’s activity.

These are some accommodation options in Dorobanți that caught my eye:

• Vila Paris Boutique Hotel is a pretty bohemian-style hotel in a quiet area that is a bit cheaper than similar boutique hotels in the Old Town.
• Victoriei City Studios is an aparthotel-style accommodation in a clean, quiet setting, a good option at the budget end of the scale.

3-day Bucharest itinerary at a glance

Now, a quick rundown of our Bucharest itinerary for 3 days before we get into the details:

Day 1: explore Bucharest Old Town

• Morning: breakfast at Grand Café Van Gogh, free walking tour of the Old Town
• Lunch: dine casually at Bazaar in the Old Town
• Afternoon: explore the famous Palace of the Parliament
• Evening: have a classic dinner at Caru’ cu bere

Day 2: Village museum, parks and markets

• Morning: grab a bakery breakfast, walk to Herăstrău Park, stop for coffee at BOB
• Late morning: experience the outstanding Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
• Lunch and afternoon: street food at Obor Market, shopping, taverns, back to Old Town
• Evening: go for dinner and beers at Bereria Nenea Iancu

Day 3: day trip to Bran Castle, Peleș Castle and Brașov

• All day: take a day trip to some of Romania’s most recognised historic landmarks
• Evening: finish with a special dinner at Hanul lui Manuc, then wine and music at Corks

3-day Bucharest itinerary in detail

Day 1: exploring Bucharest Old Town

The Old Town is the perfect place to start your Bucharest itinerary, as it is the easiest place to get your bearings in this chaotic yet charming city.

Have breakfast at Grand Café Van Gogh

There are lots of options for breakfast around Bucharest Old Town, so take some time on your first morning to ease into the city. To begin in classy style, head to Grand Café Van Gogh, a one-of-a-kind breakfast spot where you will be surrounded by classic Van Gogh paintings. Check out the beautiful spiral staircase here too!

The breakfast menu is more international than local, featuring the likes of omelettes and American pancakes. But for a local flavour you can try a variation on the traditional Romanian coliva, a comforting sweet bowl of soft wheat with ground walnuts, citrus and cinnamon.

Morning: take a free walking tour of Bucharest Old Town

Free walking tours are always a great way to begin a city break. And especially for a city like Bucharest that stands on the foundations of so much fascinating history, it is helpful to understand that context more deeply from a local guide.

On my first full day in Bucharest I did a tour of the Old Town with Walkabout Free Tours. Their “Story of Bucharest” tour hits a lot of the Old Town highlights.

Our guide was Lorin, a local Instagrammer who took a special interest in the communist era under Ceaușescu from the 1960s to the revolution of 1989. This period shaped much of the city’s identity that remains today, from brutalist architecture to sprawling civic squares, which stand in contrast to the cobbled streets and lively cafés of the medieval Old Town.

The tour explores many of the most distinctive buildings around the Old Town, like the Stavropoleos Monastery Church, Curtea Veche Church (the oldest in Bucharest), and the National Bank of Romania, as well as hidden passageways, shopping alleys and foodie spots.

Have lunch at Bazaar

The walking tour should finish around 1pm, just in time for lunch. It’s always a good idea to ask your walking tour guide for food recommendations, as any guide on a different day might uncover a favourite local gem that you won’t hear about otherwise.

One quirky spot I enjoyed in the Old Town is Bazaar. In fact, this is where I had my first ever meal in Romania. It has a big interior with low lighting and old-fashioned decor, with dark red patterned carpets and high wooden chairs.

The menu is extensive and varied with lots of different international dishes, but some local options as well. I had pork chops in a white creamy garlic sauce.

Afternoon: explore the formidable Palace of the Parliament

I’ve often found that the best format for a first day in a city is a walking tour in the morning, followed by a slower wander around the same areas in the afternoon, dipping into the places that caught your imagination.

The Palace of the Parliament is Bucharest’s most striking building and the biggest symbol of the Ceaușescu communist era, despite the fact he never lived to see it finished. In fact, it is the heaviest building in the world! While the face of the building is stark and imposing, its interior is marked by vast, opulent hallways with marbled floors and ornate glass ceilings.

You only see the building from the outside on the tour, so it’s worth taking some time in the afternoon to wander inside the world’s largest parliament building on a Palace of Parliament guided tour. Tours typically last an hour or 90 minutes, with an afternoon slot at 15:30 that fits perfectly into this itinerary.

If you have any spare time either side of the tour, you can take a closer look inside some of the other walking tour spots, or maybe just hang out at a coffee shop in the Old Town like Origo.

Try the traditional sarmale for dinner at Caru’ cu Bere

There are two restaurants in Bucharest that you absolutely must try on your trip, both of which were recommended to me by my friend Joanna who grew up in Romania and runs the blog The Romanian Cookbook. Make sure you check out her guide to the best street food in Bucharest.

The first of these standout restaurants is Caru’ cu Bere. You might need to book ahead to get a table as it’s very popular. This is one of the city’s oldest restaurants, dating back to 1899, and the interior is magnificent with wooden balconies and stairways, tall ornate glass windows, and high decorative ceilings.

You can also sit outside and soak up the Old Town atmosphere, which is what we did. The menu is full of traditional Romanian classics, and I tried sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), which were divine. It’s also a great place to try the local favourite dessert papanasi, which are like cheese-based donuts served with sour cream and berry jam.

Day 2: village museum, parks and markets

The second day of this itinerary for 3 days in Bucharest is my favourite, because it includes a visit to the best open-air museum I’ve ever seen!

On this day we venture out of the Old Town towards the north side of Bucharest, where there are beautiful parks and monuments to be found, plus a little foodie side mission to one of the city’s best markets.

Breakfast: grab a filled covrigi from a Luca bakery

As our second day begins with a bit of walking, it’s a good idea to grab a pastry or two from a local bakery to eat breakfast on the go. You will notice many bakeries called Luca around the city, which are highly popular with locals for takeaway snacks in the morning.

Try some of the covrigi from Luca. These are like giant pretzels that come with various fillings, sweet or savoury. And they’re great!

Morning: take a stroll to Arcul de Triumf and Herăstrău Park

Paris has the world’s most famous Arc de Triomphe, but there are many other cities that have their own versions inspired by it. A year before my Bucharest trip I saw the “Porta Macedonia”, one of the highlights of Skopje, and just a few days after leaving Romania’s capital I saw the Triumphal Arch in Chișinău, Moldova.

Bucharest also has its own triumphal arch: Arcul de Triumf, which stands in the north of the city. It’s more than an hour’s walk from the Old Town, so it’s understandable if you prefer to take a ride on the 205 bus, but I really enjoyed this stroll through some of Bucharest’s laid-back neighbourhoods like Piața Romană and Dorobanți.

If you do decide to walk, you will see some of the city’s famous landmarks and buildings as you’re strolling from the Old Town up through Piața Romană, like the Memorial of Rebirth, the formidable National Museum of Art, and the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall.

Then, you can stop along the way at green spaces like Nicolae Iorga Park or Kiseleff Park to take a seat, eat your breakfast bakery treat and absorb the suburban Bucharest atmosphere.

Finally, at the end of a long tree-lined avenue, you will reach the 27-metre-high arch, which stands on the corner of the vast Herăstrău Park. This area is the focal point for the morning, with lots to see and do, and coffee shops to slow down for a while.

Near the arch, take a very short walk to see Cașin Church, a splendid-looking white Russian orthodox church with domes rising over the treetops.

Stop for a Romanian coffee at BOB Coffee Lab

You will probably be ready for a rest and some refreshment at this point. From the arch, take a very short stroll along the southern edge of the park, and you will find a couple of fantastic little coffee shops by the roundabout at Aviatorilor. (This is also a metro stop if you want an easier morning ride in from the Old Town.)

We sat down at BOB Coffee Lab where you can try various locally roasted speciality coffees. I had a Japanese-inspired V60 Superstar, served in a glass decanter with tiny cups. Cute! And suitably strong and punchy.

Go for a little wander in Herăstrău Park

From here, the only thing separating you from the museum stop is the city’s biggest park, Herăstrău Park (which is officially called King Michael I Park, but locals always call it Herăstrău Park).

This is one of the prettiest parks you will find in a European capital city, with a huge lake, gardens, sculptures and endless paths for walking and cycling.

You will often see people out boating or canoeing on the lake, and the warmer months the green spaces are one of the most popular hangout spots for families or groups of friends.

Across the shimmering waters of the lake you can see Casa Presei Libere, the House of the Free Press, another of the city’s colossal communist-era structures.

Explore the wonderful Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum

Now for my favourite part. And I’m sure you will love this place too! Make your way over to the west side of the park and you will find Dimitrie Gusti, the National Village Museum.

This place is this morning’s main highlight, and if you’d prefer to cut out the walking and other stops for a more relaxed day, you can take a guided tour of the National Village Museum that includes hotel pickup from the city centre.

This open-air museum sits just inside Herăstrău Park, but you need to go out onto the main road to find the entrance.

Essentially, this place is a huge open-air celebration of village life in Romania over the centuries, brought to life with remarkable authenticity. Set among the grounds are dozens of full-size replicas of cottages, churches, mills, and various other constructions from all over Romania, covering a period from the 17th through to the 20th century.

You can walk inside most of the cottages, some of which burrow beneath the ground. And the interiors are complete with genuine furnishings and paraphernalia from the corresponding era.

Allow a couple of hours for this visit, as it’s a large complex and you’ll make the most of it by taking time to wander among the buildings and structures.

If you do just one thing while you are in Bucharest, make it be a visit to the National Village Museum. It’s not often I go to a museum that leaves me feeling awestruck, but this place had that rare effect on me. Between the creaking old gates and the earthy smell of timber, it feels more like stepping into another age than just another museum.

Take a bus to Obor Market for a street food lunch

By this point you’re probably ready for some food. Our suggested lunch spot is a bit of a ride on public transport or taxi, but it’s worth it to try some of the best authentic Romanian street food.

This was another recommendation from my Romanian friend Joanna. Obor Market is one of the city’s oldest traditional markets, dating three centuries, and it covers a huge area with a labyrinth of stalls selling anything from fresh produce to local goods.

It is also one of the very best places to try mici, a classic Romanian street food snack made from a blend of grilled ground meats. They sort of look like a skinless sausage.

From Arc de Triumf (near the village museum) it’s about a half-our ride on the metro, or from the Old Town it’s about 20 minutes or so. We arrived there in the afternoon sunshine, and, after a long walk round the market, found a little outdoor eatery called Terasa Obor 2, where there was a HUGE queue for the mici.

A queue is a good sign, but we decided instead to go back to another spot we’d seen five minutes’ walk around the corner called Terasa Platou. From the outside it looks a bit like a takeaway joint, but inside there’s a roomy seating area that feels more like a village tavern, with chequered cloths laid out on tables with painted blue chairs.

Undeterred by the slightly smaller queue here, we had some mici and fried potatoes, washed down with an Ursus Romanian beer. Incredibly cheap and incredibly delicious!

Afternoon: peruse the markets, head back to the Old Town to unwind

It’s been quite a packed day to this point! After finishing up some mici and maybe having another slow beer in the tavern, take some time to wander around Obor Market and maybe grab a souvenir to take home. Don’t expect much touristy stuff on the stalls, this is very much a local market, but there’s also a shopping centre next to the market if you want to keep browsing.

When you’re done, it’s time to head back to the Old Town and start unwinding, perhaps with a cool beer or two in one of the many, many bars.

Have dinner and craft beers at Bereria Nenea Iancu

If you like good beers, you’ll love Bereria Nenea Iancu, a brewery restaurant in the heart of the old town. We first came across this place later one evening, when it gets livelier and turns into a drinking spot.

But you can eat here too, and the food is great. Expect a wide choice of local fayre at very reasonable prices for the Old Town. Then, you’re in the perfect place to have a couple more beers, or maybe a shot or two of țuică plum brandy, which we tried here. It is considered the national drink in Romania.

Day 3: day trip to Bran Castle, Peleș Castle and Brașov

For the final of our 3 days in Bucharest itinerary, we suggest getting out of the city to see some of Romania’s famous sights on a day trip to Bran Castle, Peleș Castle and Brașov Old Town.

The first thing to know about this tour is that it leaves on time, and won’t wait for stragglers. This is because you need to arrive at Peleș Castle in good time to avoid horrendous queues.

Just before 7am in University Square you will see rows of tour buses ready to depart, and within minutes, they’re all gone. Don’t be late!

Peleș Castle: inside the lives of the nobility

The first stop on the tour takes you up into the Carpathian Mountains to a castle built as a summer residence for Carol I, the first King of Romania.

Construction of Peleș Castle began in the 1870s. As it was attached to a small hydroelectric plant, it was one of the very first castles in Europe to have electricity and central heating. (This was yet another example of my random encounters with hydropower on my travels!)

The views from outside the castle are gorgeous as you take in a green hilly valley and forestland against a backdrop of rugged peaks. We visited at the beginning of March when there was still quite a bit of ice on the ground. You do need to be very careful with your footing at this time of year, as I found out the hard way.

A guided tour inside the castle is included on the trip, taking around an hour. The interior is exactly how you might imagine 19th century splendour to be, with fabulously intricate dark-wood sculpted structural surfaces, and colourful patterned glass ceilings. There’s also a unique spiral staircase that was apparently voted among the world’s most beautiful staircases.

You will hear stories about the royal occupants, nobility and the lives and times the castle’s walls have witnessed.

Bran (Dracula’s) Castle: Bram Stoker’s inspiration?

Popularly known as Dracula’s Castle, Bran Castle is set in Transylvania, world-renowned as the setting for Bram Stoker’s 1897 Novel Dracula. The region’s name alone conjures up images of vampires and moody castles.

Bran Castle was built in the 14th century and supposedly provided the creative spark for Dracula’s residence, although I admit I found the story a little tenuous. Stoker never actually visited Romania, but he was supposedly inspired when he saw a photograph of the castle.

Even so, when you emerge from the coach and walk up to the castle, you definitely get those vampire vibes! It protrudes upwards from a giant rocky foundation on the cliffside, with fairytale red-tiled towers rising over the trees.

Inside, the likeness continues with the castle’s eerie narrow passageways and balconies. Some of the best views are from the interior, as you look across the courtyard and turrets to the landscape beyond.

Much of the castle has been museum-ified, and there’s a lot to learn about its history and occupants as you potter around.

Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most visited locations in Romania, and so there’s a lot of tourist tat outside as well as various restaurants and shops. I made a beeline for the row of street food stalls where you can try various grilled meats and the like. Much more expensive than Obor Market and not quite as memorable, but still great food.

Brașov: a storybook mountain town

The last leg of this packed day trip will take you to Brașov, a picturesque city in Transylvania with a storybook Old Town, surrounded by mountainous scenery.

With some time to explore Brașov at your own pace, there are plenty of options. You might just want to slow down and have a drink in the colourful Old Town square. But, be aware there’s a three-hour drive back to Bucharest coming next, so you might want to keep your legs stretched.

The standout landmark in Brașov is the Black Church, so called because its walls were forever blackened with soot by a 17th-century fire. You can pay to go inside, although the main spectacle is the starkness of the building’s exterior.

A not-so-historic but still a curious sight in Brașov is Strada Sforii, which translates as “Rope Street”. The city’s narrowest street has become something of a meme and an Instagram hotspot, with graffiti daubed all along its colourful walls.

Have flaming lamb knuckle for dinner at Hanul lui Manuc

You arrival time back in Bucharest from the day trip might depend on traffic, but for us it was around 7pm after a steady drive. Just in time for dinner!

Hanul lui Manuc is one of the best-known restaurants in Bucharest Old Town, and it has a large outdoor courtyard that is usually packed with diners. Or, you can sit inside in the cosy warmth of an early 19th-century inn.

We suggest ending your 3 days in Bucharest in style with an impressive house speciality. The flaming lamb knuckle! As the name suggests, a tray of lamb knuckle is set alight as it is served to you. Unless you have a gargantuan appetite, this is very much a sharing dish.

We tried the papanași for dessert here too, which was superb, but hard to finish after all that lamb.

Have a glass of wine or two at Corks

Not everyone realises that Romania is a wine destination. But wine has been produced in the country for 6,000 years, and today it is among the top ten producers in the world.

So, why not round off your Bucharest itinerary by trying some of the best local wines? Corks is a cracking little wine bar in the Old Town that has an expertly curated selection. The guys at the bar were more than happy to give us recommendations.

It’s an intimate little place with a lively vibe, and we were treated to the dulcet tones of a keyboard player. Outstanding!

3 days in Bucharest itinerary: map

You can browse the locations of the accommodation, food, drink, activities and sightseeing included in this itinerary for 3 days in Bucharest by clicking on the map below:

Have you got any recommendations to add to our itinerary for 3 days in Bucharest? Let us know in the comments below.

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