Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- May–Jun and Sep
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON)
- Language
- Romanian
- From the airport
- Train to Gara de Nord or express bus 100
- Getting around
- STB buses and trams, Metrorex metro
Bucharest is Romania’s capital and biggest city, spread across the plain of the Dâmbovița river in the south of the country. It mixes a small historic Old Town with grand boulevards, communist-era landmarks and large parks, and it is cheaper than most EU capitals for hotels and transport. Prices and dates below were checked on 9 October 2026; our Romania country guide covers entry rules, trains and the rest of the country.
When is the best time to visit Bucharest?
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | Rain days | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.8°C / -4.8°C | 33 mm | 9 | Coldest month, frost most nights |
| February | 5.5°C / -4.0°C | 33 mm | 8 | Cold, quiet, low hotel prices |
| March | 11.4°C / 0.1°C | 39 mm | 10 | Early spring |
| April | 18.0°C / 4.9°C | 49 mm | 10 | Mild, parks turning green |
| May | 24.0°C / 9.6°C | 56 mm | 11 | Ideal city weather |
| June | 27.7°C / 13.6°C | 79 mm | 12 | Warm, the wettest month |
| July | 29.8°C / 15.4°C | 64 mm | 10 | Hottest month |
| August | 29.8°C / 14.9°C | 51 mm | 8 | Hot, plan indoor afternoons |
| September | 24.6°C / 10.5°C | 53 mm | 7 | Warm and settled |
| October | 17.9°C / 5.4°C | 47 mm | 8 | Mild, autumn colour in the parks |
| November | 9.8°C / 0.6°C | 43 mm | 9 | Grey, Christmas lights go up late in the month |
| December | 3.8°C / -3.4°C | 44 mm | 10 | Cold, Christmas market season |
Figures are the National Meteorological Administration’s 1981-2010 averages for Bucharest, published by the World Meteorological Organization. Summer is properly hot, so walk early and late in July and August. Winter lows sit below freezing from December to February, so pack a warm layer from our best packable down jackets guide, winter boots for icy pavements and thermal base layers if you plan long market evenings.
Bucharest in winter: the Christmas market
The Bucharest Christmas Market fills Piața Constituției, the square in front of the Palace of Parliament, and is organised by CREART, the city’s centre for creation, art and tradition. The 2025 edition ran from 29 November to 28 December with free entry, more than 120 decorated wooden stalls, a 10-metre Christmas pyramid, a Venetian carousel, a panoramic wheel, festive projections on the Palace of Parliament and Santa’s House from 13 to 24 December. The 2026 dates had not been announced when we checked on 9 October 2026, so confirm them on CREART’s site before booking. Come for the lights, the crafts, the food stalls and the hot chocolate; our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide compares it with the bigger markets in Budapest and Vienna, and our Christmas market packing list covers what to bring.
Where should you stay in Bucharest?
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Centrul Vechi) | First visits, walking to the Palace of Parliament, the Christmas market and Calea Victoriei | Busy streets and evening noise, especially at weekends |
| Calea Victoriei and Piața Romană | Central but calmer, near the Romanian Athenaeum and the metro | Fewer budget hotels right on the avenue |
| Piața Unirii | The express bus 100 terminus, metro hub, a short walk to the Old Town | Big traffic junction, less character |
| Piața Victoriei and Aviatorilor | Quieter streets, the Village Museum and the big parks in the north | A metro or bus ride to the Old Town |
| Gara de Nord area | Early trains to Brașov and the airport train | Mixed streets, not where you want to spend the evening |
For a first visit, stay in or next to the Old Town. In a Booking.com check on 9 October 2026, well-reviewed three- and four-star hotels in the Old Town for a mid-December weekend started at around 60 to 100 euros a night for two, with five-star hotels from around 185 euros. Check live rates here: compare Bucharest hotel prices .
How do you get to and around Bucharest?
Flying in. Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni, north of the city, is Romania’s main airport, and Wizz Air has a base there; our Wizz Air review covers its fares and baggage rules.
From the airport.
- Train to București Nord (Gara de Nord) with CFR Călători in about 20 to 25 minutes. A ticket costs 6.50 lei bought in advance on the CFR website or app, at the station ticket window or machines, or by contactless card on board, and 13 lei if you buy it from the conductor.
- Express bus 100, which replaced line 783 in December 2023, runs 24 hours a day to Piața Unirii, stopping at Piața Presei, Piața Victoriei, Piața Romană and Universitate. Buses leave about every 15 minutes by day and every 30 minutes at night. A 90-minute STB ticket costs 3 lei, and you can tap a contactless bank card on the validator.
In the city. STB runs the buses, trams and trolleybuses: 3 lei for 90 minutes, 8 lei for 24 hours or 20 lei for 72 hours, and contactless Visa and Mastercard cards work at the validators with no extra fee. Metrorex runs the metro, and a combined surface-and-metro ticket valid for 120 minutes costs 7 lei. The Old Town, Calea Victoriei and Piața Unirii are close enough to walk between.
Onward by train. CFR Călători InterCity and InterRegio trains leave Gara de Nord for Brașov about 20 times a day, in about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes, passing Sinaia on the way.
What should you not miss in Bucharest?
- Palace of Parliament. Built under Nicolae Ceaușescu and about 60% finished at the 1989 revolution, it covers 365,000 square metres of floor space and stands 84 metres high. Visits are guided only: the standard tour costs 85 lei for adults, 55 lei for students aged 19 to 26 and 40 lei for children aged 7 to 18, daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Check in 15 minutes early for the security screening.
- The Old Town (Centrul Vechi). The historic core around Strada Lipscani, with small churches, passages and cafés, a short walk from both the Palace of Parliament and Piața Unirii.
- Calea Victoriei. Bucharest’s grand avenue, running from the Old Town past Revolution Square and the Romanian Athenaeum, the city’s domed concert hall, to Piața Victoriei.
- Village Museum (Muzeul Satului). An open-air museum of traditional rural houses and churches from across Romania, on Șoseaua Kiseleff by Herăstrău lake. Adults pay 40 lei, with half price on Mondays and Tuesdays, when most of the buildings are closed for maintenance. In winter the outdoor exhibition opens Wednesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00.
- The parks. Herăstrău, now King Michael I Park, and Cișmigiu Gardens near the centre are where Bucharest spends its summer evenings.
What day trips can you take from Bucharest?
- Peleș Castle, Sinaia. The former royal summer residence in the Prahova Valley, on the railway to Brașov. Tickets cost 100 lei for adults for the ground and first floor, sold online or at machines on site in timed slots, and the castle opens Wednesday to Sunday. It closes from 2 November to 1 December 2026 for cleaning and conservation.
- Brașov and Bran Castle. Brașov is about 2 hours 15 minutes by train, and Bran Castle is a further 30 km; by road it is 160 km and about 2.5 hours from Bucharest, so most people stay a night in Brașov. Our Romania guide covers Transylvania.
What goes wrong in Bucharest?
- Turning up at the Palace of Parliament without a booking. Small groups must phone at least 24 hours ahead, and tours fill up.
- Bringing the wrong ID. Only an original ID card or passport is accepted; no driving licences, no photocopies.
- Planning Peleș for a Monday or Tuesday, or for November 2026. It is closed on both days, and shut from 2 November to 1 December 2026.
- Paying the conductor on the airport train. The on-board price is 13 lei, double the advance fare.
- Accepting dynamic currency conversion. Pay card terminals in lei, not in your home currency.
How many days do you need in Bucharest?
Two days covers the Palace of Parliament, the Old Town, Calea Victoriei and the Village Museum. Three days adds a day trip to Peleș Castle, and four or five lets you continue to Brașov, Bran and Sibiu.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Bucharest?
May, June and September are the most comfortable months, with average highs of 24.0°C in May, 27.7°C in June and 24.6°C in September, according to the National Meteorological Administration’s 1981-2010 averages for Bucharest. July and August average about 30°C. Winter is cold, with a January high of 2.8°C and a low of -4.8°C, but it brings the Christmas market in Piața Constituției.
Where should I stay in Bucharest?
Stay in or next to the Old Town (Centrul Vechi) for walking to the main sights, the Palace of Parliament and the Christmas market, accepting some evening noise. The Calea Victoriei and Piața Romană area is central but calmer, with the Romanian Athenaeum and good metro links. Piața Victoriei and Aviatorilor suit a quieter stay near the Village Museum, and the Gara de Nord area is handy for early trains.
How do I get from Bucharest Airport to the city centre?
Henri Coandă Airport in Otopeni has two cheap options. CFR Călători trains run to București Nord (Gara de Nord) in about 20 to 25 minutes for 6.50 lei bought in advance, or 13 lei from the conductor. STB express bus 100, formerly line 783, runs around the clock to Piața Unirii via Piața Victoriei, Piața Romană and Universitate, every 15 minutes by day and every 30 minutes at night.
How do I visit the Palace of Parliament?
Only on a guided tour. The Palace of Parliament can be visited daily from 09:00 to 17:00, and groups of one to nine people book by phone at least 24 hours ahead. The standard tour costs 85 lei for adults, 55 lei for students and 40 lei for children aged 7 to 18. Bring an original ID card or passport: driving licences are not accepted, and every visitor and bag goes through security screening.
When is the Bucharest Christmas market?
The main Bucharest Christmas Market is held in Piața Constituției, in front of the Palace of Parliament, and is organised by the city’s CREART centre. The 2025 edition ran from 29 November to 28 December with free entry, a Christmas pyramid, a Venetian carousel and Santa’s House. The 2026 dates had not been announced on 9 October 2026.
How many days do you need in Bucharest?
Two days covers the Palace of Parliament, the Old Town, Calea Victoriei with the Romanian Athenaeum, and the Village Museum. A third day lets you take the train into the Prahova Valley to Peleș Castle in Sinaia, which is open Wednesday to Sunday, or start the onward journey to Brașov and Transylvania.
Start planning your Bucharest trip
Book the flight first, because fares into Bucharest move more than room rates do, then the room: Old Town hotels are good value but fill up on Christmas-market weekends.
Find cheap flights to Bucharest | Compare Bucharest hotel prices
More ideas: where to go in May, where to go in December, our Sofia guide for Bulgaria’s capital next door and the cheapest European countries to visit in 2026.
