Bucharest, formerly known as “Little Paris” due to its Art Nouveau buildings, has today become a place of architectural contrasts. The capital city is full of surprises for tourists, rich with places and things to see. If you plan to visit Bucharest and want to hit some to the main tourist attractions, we invite you to consider the objectives below.
Top 15 places:
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The Palace of Parliament
This is the largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The Palace of Parliament is also the most expensive and heaviest building in the world. It has over 1000 rooms, and among those open to visitors it is worth mentioning: the Human Rights Hall, Nicolae Iorga Hall, Ion I. C. Brătianu Hall, Tache Ionescu Hall or C.A. Rosetti Hall. The building is located on 2-4 Izvor Street.
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Romanian Athenaeum
This building is considered a national symbol with a great, captivating history. The construction was made thanks to the company “Romanian Athenaeum” which relied on the slogan “Give a leu for the Athenaeum!” to obtain donations for the purpose of the construction process. The architectural style of the building is neoclassical, to which eclectic elements are added. The concert hall is imposing, with its 800 seats “guarded” by a huge dome. The Athenaeum is located on 1-3 Benjamin Franklin Street.
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Arc de Triomphe
The monument was built after the French model and has an important historical significance for Romania. The building is historically representative, as it is closely related to Romania’s victory during the First World War and the Great Union in 1918. The construction is 27 m high and is the main landmark of the military parade organized yearly on December 1st. The Arc de Triomphe is located in one of the busiest intersections in northern Bucharest. It sits at the intersection of Șoseaua Kiseleff with the Constantin Prezan, Al. Averescu and Al. Constantinescu Boulevards.
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Cotroceni Palace
This building was the residence of many rulers and kings and is now the seat of the Presidency. The decoration of the building was customized according to the preferences of Queen Mary. Her creativity was translated into the organization and arrangement of the living rooms, bedrooms, and drawing rooms. The part open to the general public takes the form of a museum that combines art and history and contains over 20,000 exhibits. The Palace is located on 1-3 Geniului Boulevard.
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Revolution Square
The square was originally known as the “Palace Square” until 1989 when the revolution took place that changed the country’s leadership. Here you can find the Memorial of Rebirth which is dedicated to the victims of the event. It was lifted in 2005 and includes the names of 1058 victims. The square is a true symbol of national history.
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Coral Temple
The temple is a special architectural “character” on the list of objectives in Bucharest. The style in which the construction was made is the Mauro-Byzantine one. The Coral Temple is a synagogue of the Jewish community and is located on 9-11 Friday Street. The interior of the building is rich in brightly colored stained glass and painstakingly beautiful hand-made paintings.
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Hanul cu Tei Art Gallery
You will find the gallery on the first floor of the “Hanul cu Tei” and it hosts a collection of precious antiques. The building is unique in that its architecture has been preserved over time, becoming an emblematic and representative building of the medieval period. Hanul cu Tei is located on 63-65 Lipscani Street.
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Hanul lui Manuc (Manuc’s Inn)
The building was erected in 1806 and has gone through countless historical events. In the past, the inn was a landmark for merchants and hikers. The summer garden, restaurants and shops inside the inn perfectly embody the bohemian atmosphere of yesteryear. Its purpose has remained unchanged, today it is a place for fun and leisure. The inn is located on French Street, at no. 62.
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CEC Palace
On Calea Victoriei, at no. 13, stands an imposing monument with a rich history behind it. It is the CEC Palace, whose Renaissance architecture is just breathtaking. It can only be admired from the outside and is one of the sturdiest buildings in the capital.
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Kisselef Park
The park is full of numerous statues of people of culture: Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, Nicolae Leonard, and George Apostu. At the same time, the park also houses the Romanian Infantry Monument. The park runs on both sides of the eponymous road. Peace, quiet, green spaces and fountains – are some of the other elements that make this park a beautiful landmark in the city.
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Palace of the National Military Circle
The palace houses the main cultural institution of the Romanian Army and is a historical monument of reference for the Romanian people. The architectural style of the building is neoclassical French. The Military Circle has three rooms dedicated to art exhibitions and various events in this area.
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The Holocaust Memorial
The monument was made to commemorate the Jews and Roma who died during the deportation in 1914. The memorial consists of five sculptures that symbolize events that took place in that dark period: Memorial Column, Via Dolorosa, Wheel of the Roma, Star of David and the Epitaph. The ensemble is located on 1 Saligny Street.
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The Fire Tower (Foișorul de Foc)
The building is 42 m high and is open to the general public from Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 4 pm. You will have to climb 170 steps, but the effort is worth it. Since 1992, the Fire Tower has received the status of National Museum of Romanian Firefighters. The museum is an X-ray of the evolution of firefighting activities in antiquity and the nineteenth century. It is located on Ferdinand I Boulevard, no. 33.
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Bellu Cemetery
Although apparently a more unusual attraction, be aware that this is one of the most visited cultural locations in the capital. The cemetery brings together a collection of funerary sculptures created by famous artists. Two hundred of these have been classified as historical monuments. Art, history, tragic love stories – these are the elements that describe the story of the monuments here. Among the most important sculptures found in Bellu are: the monument of the Poroineanu family, the Lady with the umbrella, the tomb of Iulia Hașdeu, the chapel in the Art Deco style. The cemetery is located on 249 Calea Șerban Vodă.
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Kretzulescu Church
The building is made in the Romanian Renaissance style that combines Byzantine and Western architectural styles. The church was damaged during the 1989 revolution, but its beauty was not left to its own devices, being reconditioned. The place of worship is located on 45 Calea Victoriei.
