Exploring Bucharest – The Best of Romania’s Capital

We spent a few days exploring Bucharest, the capital and largest city in Romania with about 2 million residents. It’s sometimes called “Little Paris” because of its architecture, but honestly, to us, it felt like a mix of big cities from all over the world. Its history stretches back to the mid-1400s, with ties to the Ottoman Empire and Imperial Russia, before becoming an independent kingdom under King Carol I. In 1916, it was occupied by German forces, and decades later fell under communist rule until 1990. That’s a lot of history packed into one place.

We started this trip in Hungary, then traveled to Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and now Romania. Sitting here now, we realized we’re only about 300 miles from the border with Ukraine — geography feels a lot more real when you’re looking at it on a map in person.

First Impressions and City Life

Billboards are everywhere as we explored Bucharest — and they are HUGE.

The streets in Bucharest have a lot going on — posters pasted everywhere, graffiti in some areas, and yes, more giant billboards. It gives the city a fast-paced, cosmopolitan energy, while historic buildings peek out between the modern signage.

One of the more striking landmarks while exploring Bucharest is the National Defense University, Romania’s equivalent to West Point. Established in 1889, its motto is “Hard work overcomes everything,” which seems fitting given Romania’s history.

We also saw the still-under-construction “People’s Salvation Cathedral,” set to become the largest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in the world when it opens in late 2025.

Exploring Bucharest Romania - Salvation Cathedral

The Palace of the Parliament – Massive in Every Way

The Palace of the Parliament is one of those buildings you have to see to believe. It’s one of the heaviest buildings in the world (over 4 million tons) and the third largest administrative building after Berlin’s Reichstag and the Pentagon. It took 13 years to build, has 20 floors and 1,100 rooms, and features an opulent, ornate interior. Beneath it lies a network of tunnels, bunkers, and even a parking garage for 20,000 cars. Wow!

Getting Around Bucharest – Metro Made Easy

One of the easiest surprises while exploring Bucharest? The metro. We used the subway several times while exploring Bucharest and found it cheap, clean, and straightforward — no stress at all. It was a great way to zip between different parts of the city without having to deal with traffic. We especially liked using it to reach Old Town, since it dropped us close to all the action.

Exploring Old Town and Local Life

We most enjoyed exploring Bucharest’s Old Town area. It’s packed with little shops, cozy cafes, and plenty of character. The streets are lively, with flowers everywhere and a real neighborhood feel.

Mid-afternoon, we stopped for coffee and couldn’t resist some pastries at a local spot. It was the perfect break and gave us a chance to watch the city go by.

While wandering around, we also noticed the Grand Hotel, formerly the InterContinental Bucharest. This iconic hotel wasn’t just a luxury spot for visitors—it played a unique role during the communist era. Back then, it was the only hotel where all foreign dignitaries and guests were required to stay, making it a hub of international diplomacy and, quietly, espionage. The entire hotel was completely wired with surveillance equipment so the communist party could monitor conversations and movements of its guests.

Today, the Grand Hotel stands as a symbol of Bucharest’s complex history—a reminder of how the city balanced luxury and control during a tense political period. Its towering presence near the city center continues to impress, blending modern comforts with stories from the past.

We also enjoyed geocaching with friends along the way, which added a fun and unexpected twist to our wanderings. We found hidden caches in some surprising places, including one inside a small restaurant where the owner kindly delivered the box to us. These little adventures made exploring Bucharest even more memorable.

Nearby, the University of Bucharest is well-regarded, offering courses in Romanian, French, and English. While wandering, we spotted a revolutionary statue that caught my eye — the artist stopped at the shoulders, making it definitely unique.

Part of our tour included a talk by a guide named Egman, who was just 15 years old during the revolution against the communist regime. Hearing him share his story really brought to life the horrors of that time and how deeply the revolution has shaped this region. His best friend was killed right beside him during the protests, and Egman still has the blood-stained flag they carried that day as a powerful reminder. He also saved one of the bullets lodged in the wall from that same day. Listening to him speak was incredibly moving — it’s one thing to learn history, but to hear it firsthand from someone who lived through such tumultuous times made it unforgettable.

Carturesti Carusel – The Most Beautiful Bookstore

Carturesti Carusel is one of the most stunning bookstores we’ve ever seen. Six floors of books, music, art, and even a coffee shop under a glass ceiling. The building itself has a fascinating history — originally built in 1903 by a Greek banking family, seized by the communists in the 1950s, abandoned, and finally restored by the original family’s heirs after a 24-year legal battle.

We could have easily spent the whole day here, surrounded by thousands of books, unique cards and gifts, the cozy coffee shop, and the beautiful atmosphere that makes this place truly special.

Dinner, Baklava, and Evening Delights

One of our most memorable evenings came with a dinner at the Salon Restaurant, which I can highly recommend. We were dining with new friends, sharing stories and enjoying the city vibe together.

I started with a beetroot salad with goat cheese and peaches — it was amazing. I also tried beef cheeks for the first time, served with cooked edamame, radishes, lemongrass, and cashews. The beef cheeks were incredibly tender and full of flavor.

After dinner, walking back, we discovered a small baklava shop across the street. We couldn’t resist stepping inside (nor trying the sweets). The variety was overwhelming, and all of the baklava looked so pretty, making it hard to choose. We ended up sitting down in the cozy shop and savoring the baklava — and we all agreed it was excellent.

Food, Coffee, and a Few Unexpected Finds

Food is always a big part of our travels, and Bucharest didn’t disappoint. While exploring the city, we couldn’t resist sampling some local street food. One standout was ham and cheese baked inside a warm, pretzel-like dough — every bite was as good as it sounds. Between sightseeing stops, we ducked into a pastry shop for coffee (more than once) and found ourselves surrounded by cases of tempting treats. Naturally, we had to try a few.

We also love to see everyday life in the places we visit, so we wandered into several local grocery stores. Each one told its own story — from neatly stacked produce to shelves lined with brands and flavors we’d never seen before. It’s always fascinating to see what locals buy for their daily meals, and in Bucharest, the produce was incredible and the rest of the items were certainly inviting. These simple moments made us feel more connected to the city than any souvenir ever could.

Saying Goodbye to Bucharest

Our time exploring Bucharest gave us a new perspective on Romania — its resilience, history, and modern-day vibrancy. We saw traces of its communist past everywhere, but also signs of a thriving present and hopeful future. We left on an early morning flight, catching a beautiful sunrise over the city, with a quick stop in Warsaw before heading home.

Travel (for us) inspires a sense of wonder and discovery, and there’s a whole world of things to do and people to meet. The food, the sights, the sounds, the experiences and the history…all capture something deep inside and teach us about ourselves and the global community.

On this trip, some of the lessons were sobering and heavy. Many were unsettling and brought us to tears. In others, we found laughter and joy in the little things. Making new friends, savouring the outdoor cafes, exploring new places and cultures, just made it special. We learned so much, not only from our environment, but from our fellow travellers.

Visiting Eastern Europe has been a privilege, leaving an enduring impression on our hearts. This experience was truly remarkable.