Bucharest in 1 Day: all you need to know

Bucharest is the capital of Romania, one of the most visited destinations in Eastern Europe. With a wealth of government buildings and lavish monuments, Little Paris can be an unmanageable city in a 1-day tour, but with the right itinerary and plenty of sightseeing, you'll at least get to see the main sights of this beautiful city.

Some of the best things to do in Bucharest in a 1-day tour include visiting the Palace of Parliament, walking along Unirii Boulevard, seeing the Old Court and its striking architecture, marvelling at the Stavropoleos Church, having lunch in the University Square area, visiting the National Museum of the Villa, watching the sunset from the Arc de Triomphe and discovering the Romanian capital's nightlife at Lipscani.

The Palace of Parliament is the most famous and most visited building in Bucharest, so I suggest you put it first on the list of your full-day tour of the Romanian capital. This palace is an architectural gem located in the heart of the city and is open daily from 9.00 am, so you can visit it early in the morning.

A visit to the Palace of Parliament, however, will not only give you a beautiful postcard of the city's neoclassical architecture, but will also allow you to learn about the history of the country. Built during the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu in the 1980s, this colossal building is considered one of the largest in the world and its intricate detailing makes it a must-see in the Romanian capital.

During your visit you can explore its vast halls and corridors, see the luxurious rooms and ornate details that adorn every corner and also visit the outdoor gardens, which will give you a perspective not only of the vast size of this legislative palace, but also of the city, as it is located on Spirii Hill.

Take a guided tour of the Parliament Palace

You can visit the Palace of Parliament on your own without too much trouble, but if you want to maximise your experience you can opt for a guided tour of the site, which is one of the best tours in Bucharest. This will allow you to learn about the intimate relationship between the building and local history and its immediate past as the epicentre of Romania's 1989 Revolution.

These guided tours last approximately one hour and the Palace of Parliament can be reached from anywhere in the city by metro to Unirii station or by bus on lines N101, N104, N106, N114, N118 and N122.

Located opposite the steps of the Palace of Parliament, Unirii Boulevard is the main artery connecting the city and serves as a silent witness to urban evolution over the years. This boulevard was built during the communist regime as an ambitious urbanisation project that radically transformed the appearance of the city.

Over three kilometres long, Unirii Boulevard offers a panoramic view of communist architecture, with buildings and monuments representing the ambition and power of the era, making it often the epicentre of the best guided tours of Bucharest.

A short walk along Unirii Boulevard will give you a unique experience to see the sights of Bucharest from a privileged perspective. Also, with the Palace of Parliament in the background, this boulevard will allow you to discover one of the most significant images of the city.

Although the construction of this boulevard was marked by the demolition of many historic buildings and entire neighbourhoods, today the boulevard is a tangible testimony to Bucharest's resilience and its ability to reinvent itself.

The Old Court, located across the Dambovita River from Unirii Boulevard, is one of the city's best kept secrets. Although overshadowed by the magnificence of the Palace of Parliament and other better-known monuments, this building offers a fascinating immersion into medieval Romanian history.

This architectural complex was the official residence of Vlad the Impaler, who is best known as the bloodthirsty prince who inspired Bram Stoker to write the novel Dracula and, despite having suffered damage over the centuries, retains traces of its original splendour.

The architecture of the Old Court fuses medieval and Renaissance elements, revealing the cultural richness and historical complexity of Romania. With its watchtowers, underground passages and cobbled courtyards, this complex is a living testimony to Bucharest's evolution as the epicentre of political and social power in the region.

Despite its historical importance, the Old Court remains largely off the conventional tourist radar, adding a tinge of authenticity to the experience for those who discover it. Also, during your full-day tour of Bucharest, you'll pass through on your way to Stavropoleos Church.

Built in the early 18th century, the Orthodox Church of Stavropoleos is known for its elegant Brancovenesc style, a unique combination of Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Founded by the monk Ioanichie Stratonikeas, the church has played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of Bucharest and remains, today, the most important Romanian Orthodox church.

The church, however, is famous for its architectural uniqueness and its refined hand-carved decorations that adorn both the exterior and the interior of the building. The inner courtyard houses an ancient cemetery, a fountain and a library containing a collection of ancient books and manuscripts, officiating as a cultural reservoir of the religious and cultural history of the region.

The history of the Stavropoleos Church is also closely linked to the vicissitudes of Bucharest over the years, from periods of growth and splendour to times of conflict and change. Despite the challenges and the communist regime's attempt to demolish it, the church has stood the test of time, and its preservation and restoration have contributed to keeping alive the richness of the Romanian Orthodox tradition.

This church is located four streets away from the Old Court, opposite the Comedy Theatre.

The University Square, located about three streets away from the Stavropoleos Church, is one of the ideal places to discover the architecture around the historic centre and also an area with a rich gastronomic offer, so you can stop for lunch during your full day tour of Bucharest.

One recommendation for lunch is Hanul lui Manuc, which is one of the oldest restaurants in Bucharest and specialises in Romanian and Ottoman cuisine. In its garden courtyards you can try mici, which are grilled sausages, and ciorba de burta, a traditional tripe soup that will be ideal to combat the cold if you plan to tour the Romanian capital during the winter.

Located just off University Square, the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage, built in the late 19th century, is known for its unique architecture, which is an amalgam of styles including French elements and oriental influences, giving it a distinctive character.

Inside the passage, the decorative stained glass windows, intricate details and artistic embellishments bear witness to the splendour of the Belle Époque and the architecture that flourished in the city and led to the Romanian capital being nicknamed Little Paris. Also, during the tour you will notice how the natural daylight illuminates the passage, highlighting the beauty of its details.

Moreover, the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage is a place that houses a variety of cafes, shops and restaurants. Here you can enjoy a diverse culinary palette, ranging from cosy cafés to restaurants serving local and international specialities that mark the meeting point for visitors and locals.

An eight-street walk or a 10-minute ride on the N101 bus will take you from the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage to the Romanian Athenaeum, an architectural masterpiece that encapsulates Romania's rich cultural heritage. Opened in 1888, this building stands as one of the capital's iconic landmarks and has earned its place as one of Europe's most prominent theatres.

Although its concert hall is not open every month of the year and the George Enescu Philharmonic, which is the local orchestra, only plays here a few times during the season, you can enter the building and tour it on your own to get to know the interior and also the details of this Roman-style theatre.

Alternatively, you can visit the National Museum of Art.

If you are not interested in the interior of the Romanian Athenaeum, opposite this building you can find the National Museum of Art, which is not only one of the best museums in Bucharest, but also allows you to see the Palace of the Revolution Square, as the exhibition is housed here.

In this exhibition you will find a collection of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as international paintings and sculptures that were collected by the Romanian royal family over the years. The tour of this museum usually lasts approximately 2 hours, which you can spend reducing the time you spend in the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage and inside the Romanian Athenaeum.

For the next stop, I suggest you leave the historic centre of Bucharest to visit the National Museum of the Villa, which is one of the cultural reservoirs of Romanian history and artistic wealth. It is housed in the Sutu Palace, a 19th-century building that has been meticulously restored to house an extensive collection of art and historical artefacts.

The National Museum of the Villa presents exhibits ranging from paintings and sculptures to historical items and documents illustrating daily life in Romania over the centuries. Among the outstanding collections are works by renowned local artists, as well as objects depicting the political, social and cultural history of the country.

The history of the Sutu Palace, home of the National Museum of the Villa, dates back to the 18th century and has undergone several transformations throughout its existence. From serving as a residence for the noble Sutu family to housing the city administration, the building has witnessed key events in Bucharest's history and is now home to one of Bucharest's finest museums.

From the Romanian Athenaeum you can reach the National Museum of the Villa on bus lines 100, 178, 205, 282, 301, 331, 368 and 381 in approximately 20 minutes.

To begin your full-day tour of Bucharest, I suggest watching the sunset from the Arc de Triomphe, a magical experience that combines architectural beauty with the natural charm of the sunset sky. This monument, built to commemorate Romania's independence, offers a panoramic view of the city from its 27-metre-high observation deck.

The design of the Arc de Triomphe fuses classical architectural elements with Romanian motifs, highlighting the influence of the equestrian architecture of European monuments. The structure is also adorned with reliefs depicting key moments in Romanian history and allegorical sculptures that personify victory and glory. Also, if you watch the sunset from the base at the right angle, you will be able to see the sun set in the arch of the monument.

If you plan to visit Bucharest in winter, when the sunset is earlier, you can combine watching the sunset with the snow-covered surroundings of the monument in a unique spectacle.

From the National Museum of the Villa, you can reach the Arc de Triomphe in a 10-minute walk along the five streets that separate the two attractions.

You can't leave Bucharest without discovering its lively nightlife, so to round off your intense day of sightseeing in the Romanian capital I suggest a tour of the lively Lipscani district, the historic and bohemian heart of the city. This lively neighbourhood, known for its cobbled streets and historic buildings, comes alive after dark, offering visitors plenty of entertainment options.

Lipscani is home to a variety of themed bars, such as Control Club, a popular spot in the city that combines indie music and the contemporary art scene, while Joben Bistro surprises visitors with its steampunk-inspired décor and innovative cocktail menu.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a quieter option, Lipscani's top restaurants include Caru' cu Bere, a historic beer garden that not only serves traditional Romanian dishes, but also transports diners to another era with its medieval architecture and lively atmosphere. Also, this place is usually included in the Bucharest pub crawl circuit.

From the Arc de Triomphe you can reach Lipscani on bus lines 100, 205, 282, 331, 335 and 381.

During this full day tour you can spend the whole day in the capital to discover the essence and culture of Romania through its architecture, its best museums and some of the typical customs of this destination, including the local gastronomy. Are you ready for this intense tour?