Bucharest doesn’t exactly have the best reputation among travelers, but it’s an interesting destination at the very least. Some complain that the Soviet Era still feels alive and well, though progress is continually being made, so those wanting to see those influences should probably come soon.
Bucharest has been one of Europe’s cheapest capital cities for decades. It’s worth stopping for a day or two on your way to smaller cities and natural sites, and those tend to be even a bit cheaper.
| Population | 1,900,000 |
| Area | 2,200,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+2 |
| Currency | Romanian leu |
| Airports | Henri Coand? International Airport (OTP), Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU) |
Since Bucharest isn’t yet a major tourist city, the hotels tend to follow a pattern mostly for business people. The high season mostly runs from February through June and from September through November. The low season includes July and August, when many offices are closed, plus December and January, when the weather is terrible. Prices at hostels and cheaper hotels barely change through the year.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 15.79 - 17.89 |
| 23.16 - 32.63 |
| 26.32 - 64.21 |
| 36.84 - 101.05 |
| 74.74 - 118.95 |
Ostasilor Homestay Doubles from €32/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Bucharest |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 5.26 - 12.63 |
Little Bucharest Bar & Hostel Beds from €8/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Bucharest |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parliament Palace | This Soviet-era structure is the second largest building in the world, and the price includes a tour. | adults students | 12.68 4.23 |
| Museum of the Romanian Peasant | This museum showing what simple life was like is strangely popular. It is currently temporarily closed. | adults students | 2.54 0.63 |
| Village Museum | An open-air museum displaying a full-size village from the past. | adults students | 3.17 1.69 |
Food and drinks are also pleasantly cheap for most visitors, and the main attractions will barely make a dent in your budget, so you won’t be rushed to see everything in one or two days, at least.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel doesn't include breakfast you'll have some decent budget options nearby. | 2.33 - 3.81 |
| Budget lunch | The local food is hearty and usually cheap if you avoid the tourist places. | 3.59 - 7.61 |
| Budget dinner | There are many international cuisines available in Bucharest if you tire of the local favorites. | 5.92 - 10.57 |
| Beer .5 liter | The local lager is very cheap in a few places, and reasonable in most others. | 1.48 - 2.54 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 6.13 - 8.03 |
| Train from HC airport to city | 1.69 |
| 3km taxi ride in Bucharest | 1.48 - 3.17 |
| Metro, tram, bus ride | 0.42 |
| Metro, tram, bus day pass | 1.69 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35 | 22 | 1.6 |
| February | 39 | 26 | 1.4 |
| March | 51 | 33 | 1.5 |
| April | 64 | 42 | 1.8 |
| May | 74 | 51 | 2.8 |
| June | 80 | 57 | 3.0 |
| July | 84 | 60 | 2.5 |
| August | 83 | 59 | 2.3 |
| September | 76 | 52 | 1.7 |
| October | 64 | 42 | 1.3 |
| November | 50 | 35 | 1.9 |
| December | 39 | 27 | 1.7 |
Bucharest’s climate holds few surprises. Summers are generally warm, but rarely scorching or humid, and rainfall during summer tends to be low as well. Winters can freeze, though standing snow is usually not a problem. Spring and autumn are quite pleasant in general, but windy days can make it feel colder than it really is.
| 21 Mar | 6:17am | 6:29pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:31am | 9:03pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:01am | 7:15pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:48am | 4:39pm |