BucharestCapital
Romania · Country profile
Bucharest is the capital of Romania, a vast, lively city that the wits of the last century called the little Paris for the belle-epoque boulevards, the elegant villas and the arcaded shops of its old centre. The historic quarter with its cobbled lanes, its cafes and its churches anchors the old life, while the city spreads the enormous palace of the parliament, the tree-lined parks and the busy malls and boulevards of the modern capital. Bucharest has a restless, creative, slightly chaotic energy, its mix of the Orthodox churches, the communist architecture and the newly polished districts giving it a layered, distinctly East European character. Affordable, friendly and increasingly stylish, the city is the natural gateway to the whole country, from the painted monasteries of the north to the castles and the mountains of the Carpathians.
About Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital of Romania. The city's documented population is around 1,716,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Romanian Leu (RON) and Romanian is spoken; the dialling code is +40. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Henri Coandă International.
The Little Paris, the Old Quarter and the Enormous Palace
Bucharest is a big, lively, sometimes chaotic capital with a wonderful old centre and an energy that surprises the first-time visitor. The historic quarter, with its narrow lanes, its churches and its packed bars, is the great social heart, while the enormous palace and the grand boulevards of the centre carry the monumental side of the city. It is a place of stark contrasts, the elegant and the crumbling, the historic and the newly rebuilt, existing on the same streets. The city is inexpensive by the western standards, friendly and increasingly cosmopolitan, and the nights out in the old quarter are among the most enjoyable in the region. It is also the natural base for the whole of the country.
The Leu, the Metro and the Seasons of the Capital
The seasons are continental, with cold winters, hot summers and the spring and the autumn the most pleasant windows. The old town, the monumental palaces and the museums of the city are the essential circuit, and the park of the Herastrau with its lake and its open-air museum of the village fills the green side of the visit. The Romanian leu is the currency, the Romanian is the language with the English growing fast among the young, and the cards work widely. The metro of the city is cheap and efficient, the taxi apps are the reliable way around and the city is safe in its main areas with the usual care at night.
The Lipscani, the Village Museum and the Lake of the Herastrau
The historic quarter, the Lipscani district with its cobbled lanes, its cafes, its churches and its bars, is the great walk of the city and the social heart of the evenings, while the enormous palace of the parliament, part of the world heritage of the communist architecture, dominates the seat of the government and can be visited on the guided tours. The museums of the city, from the national art gallery to the village museum of the folk architecture, fill out the cultural picture, and the parks of the city, the enormous green of the capital with its lakes and its boathouses, hold the leisure life. The fine restaurants of the new districts and the concert halls complete the modern picture of the old little Paris.
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- Country
- Romania
- Population
- 1,716,000
- Coordinates
- 44.5711, 26.0851
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Romanian Leu (RON)
- Languages
- Romanian
- Calling code
- +40
- Country code
- RO
Entry requirements for Romania
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Romania for tourism.
Getting to Bucharest
Airports we list for Bucharest:
Frequently asked questions
Is Bucharest the capital of Romania?
Yes — Bucharest is the capital of Romania.
What currency do I need in Bucharest?
The local currency is the Romanian Leu (RON). Languages spoken in Romania include Romanian.
What is the dialling code for Romania?
The international dialling code for Romania is +40.
Which airport should I fly into for Bucharest?
Henri Coandă International (OTP) is the airport we list for Bucharest.
Do I need a visa to visit Romania?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Romania visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Bucharest? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.