Bucharest on a Budget: My Weekend Itinerary for Romania’s Capital
Bucharest isn’t necessarily the first city that comes to mind when you think of a European city break.
But after visiting the Romanian capital several times, I’ve found there is actually a lot to see and do without spending a fortune.
It isn’t the prettiest city I’ve ever visited, and some areas can feel a little rough around the edges. I also found some people to be quite reserved compared with other places I’ve travelled.
But the city has an interesting mix of beautiful historic buildings, communist-era architecture, huge parks, fantastic Romanian food and some genuinely impressive attractions.
And best of all?
Bucharest can be very cheap.
On one of my weekend trips, my return flight from London Stansted was only around £35, and I kept my spending on accommodation, food, transport and activities under roughly £100, excluding the flight.
Here’s exactly how I’d spend a weekend there.
My Bucharest Weekend at a Glance
Length: Saturday–Sunday
Departure: London Stansted, 06:15
Arrival: Late morning
Airport: Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport
Accommodation: Central hostel
Airport transport: 783 bus
Return flight: Around 19:30 Sunday
Flight cost: Around £35 return
Trip spending: Under £100 excluding flights
I did end up buying a cheap eSim for the weekend which helped me navigate the city. You can also buy one here.
The biggest costs were the attractions rather than transport or food.
Getting From Bucharest Airport to the City
My flight from London Stansted left at 06:15.
Once I arrived in Bucharest, I had a choice between getting a Bolt/Uber or taking public transport.
Because I was travelling on a budget, I went for the 783 airport bus.
The 783 connects Henri Coandă Airport with central Bucharest and continues through areas including Piața Unirii. The route is still operated by Bucharest’s public transport operator, although the exact route can change because of roadworks or temporary diversions.
It takes longer than getting a taxi directly to your hostel, but it’s considerably more budget-friendly.
Budget travel tip
Don’t automatically get a taxi from Bucharest Airport.
Check the public transport options first.
For me, spending a little longer on a bus was worth it to keep the cost of the weekend down.
Where to Stay in Bucharest
I stayed in the centre, which I’d strongly recommend for a short visit.
Being close to Old Town means you can walk to a huge number of attractions, restaurants and bars without constantly paying for transport.
I can’t remember the exact hostel I stayed in, so rather than pretending I do, I’d recommend looking at current central options when booking.
For example, BEDSY is currently listed very close to the city centre, while Nest Boutique Hostel offers another centrally located option and advertises free breakfast. Current prices obviously vary depending on your dates.
For this type of weekend, I’d prioritise:
Location > luxury.
You’re going to spend most of your time exploring.
Saturday – Bucharest Old Town
Because I arrived around 11:30–12:00, Saturday was more of a brunch than breakfast.
For a central brunch stop, I’d look for somewhere around the Old Town rather than travelling across the city just to eat.
Then I started exploring the historic centre on foot.
This is one of the best things about Bucharest for budget travellers:
you can see a lot of the historic centre without spending anything.
Stavropoleos Monastery
My first stop was Stavropoleos Monastery.
It’s tucked away in the Old Town and is easy to miss if you’re simply wandering around the main streets.
It’s a great first stop because it gives you a glimpse of Bucharest’s older architecture before the city becomes dominated by its larger boulevards and communist-era buildings.
Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse
Next I walked through Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, one of the city’s distinctive covered passages.
It’s a nice place to stop for photos and have a look at the cafes and restaurants around it.
It’s also right in the centre, so you don’t need to make a special journey.
Caru’ cu Bere
You’ll probably hear about Caru’ cu Bere while researching Bucharest.
It’s one of the city’s most famous traditional restaurants and has been operating in the historic centre for well over a century. The restaurant is on Stavropoleos Street and serves traditional Romanian food.
I didn’t really bother with it because I’m not much of a beer drinker, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for somewhere atmospheric and historic.
Just don’t assume that famous automatically means cheap.
For a budget trip, I’d compare prices before sitting down.
Walk Along Calea Victoriei
From the Old Town, I walked north towards Calea Victoriei.
This is one of the main historic avenues in Bucharest and is packed with impressive buildings, cafes, shops and important landmarks.
One of my favourite things about Bucharest is that you can walk between many of the major sights instead of constantly jumping on public transport.
Revolution Square
I then continued to Revolution Square.
This area is particularly interesting because of its connection with Romania’s communist history and the 1989 revolution that helped bring down Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime.
It’s one of the places where Bucharest’s more recent history becomes much more visible.
Palace of Parliament
Then came one of the main attractions of the weekend:
the Palace of Parliament.
I took a guided tour, and honestly, this was one of the most impressive buildings I’ve visited in Europe.
The scale is ridiculous.
The building was constructed during Romania’s communist period and dominates the city.
Even if you’re not particularly interested in politics or architecture, I think it’s worth seeing.
My tip
Take the guided tour.
You can book a guided tour here.
Walking around the exterior is impressive enough, but the interior gives you a much better appreciation of just how enormous the building is.
It’s also one of the attractions where you’ll want to check current ticket and identification requirements before your visit, as entry arrangements can change.
Saturday Evening – Romanian Food
After walking around the city for most of the afternoon, I wasn’t actually that hungry.
So rather than spending money in a tourist restaurant, I picked up some food from a supermarket and carried on exploring.
This is something I do quite often when travelling on a budget.
You don’t have to eat three restaurant meals a day just because you’re on holiday.
However, Bucharest has some great Romanian food that you should try at least once.
What Romanian food should you try?
Sarmale
Cabbage rolls filled with seasoned meat and rice.
Ciorbă
Romanian sour soup, with lots of different varieties available.
Mici
Small grilled rolls of seasoned minced meat.
These would be my three recommendations for someone visiting Bucharest for the first time.
You’ll find Romanian food throughout the Old Town, although prices can rise considerably in the most tourist-heavy restaurants.
Restaurants Worth Trying
Hanu’ lui Manuc
One of the better-known traditional options in the Old Town.
It’s worth considering if you want a more traditional Romanian meal in a historic setting.
Caru’ cu Bere
Another classic.
It’s particularly interesting if you’re looking for atmosphere and history as well as food. The restaurant describes itself as having roots going back to the 19th century.
Mahala
A good option if you’re interested in a more modern take on Romanian cuisine.
Bucharest at Night
I didn’t go particularly hard on the nightlife because I was tired after such an early flight and a full day of walking.
But Bucharest does have a lively evening scene.
Some places worth putting on your list include:
Nomad Skybar – rooftop drinks and views.
Shift Pub – relaxed bar/pub atmosphere.
Mahala – Romanian-inspired food rather than a traditional nightclub.
Even if you’re not interested in partying, I recommend walking through the Old Town after dark.
I generally felt safe during my visits, although the usual city rules apply: keep your belongings close, avoid getting unnecessarily involved with strangers and use common sense late at night.
Sunday – Herăstrău Park
I started Sunday with breakfast at the hostel.
Then I headed north towards Herăstrău Park, also known as King Michael I Park.
This was a completely different side of Bucharest.
After spending Saturday surrounded by busy streets and historic buildings, it was nice to get into a huge green space and just walk.
I’d definitely recommend putting this on your itinerary.
You can also rent a bicycle, which would be a good way to cover more of the park if you don’t want to spend hours walking.
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
Right beside the park is one of my personal highlights from Bucharest:
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum.
This is essentially an open-air museum showcasing traditional Romanian rural buildings and village life.
Rather than walking through rooms in a conventional museum, you’re walking between houses, churches and other traditional structures.
For me, it was one of the most interesting attractions in Bucharest because it showed a completely different side of Romanian culture.
If you’re only going to pay for a couple of attractions during your weekend, I’d seriously consider putting this on the list.
Lunch at Berăria H
After exploring the park and village museum, I stopped at Berăria H for lunch.
It’s a large venue in the Herăstrău area and was a great place to sit down after a morning of walking.
It’s not necessarily the cheapest option in Bucharest, but after spending the morning exploring, it was a good place to relax before heading back into the centre.
Romanian Athenaeum
After lunch I headed back towards central Bucharest and tried to fit in the Romanian Athenaeum.
This is one of Bucharest’s most recognisable buildings, with its distinctive domed design and columns.
Unfortunately, by this point I was rushing because I had to get to the airport for my evening flight.
That brings me to one of my biggest tips for this itinerary:
Don’t leave the airport transfer until the last minute.
I managed to see the Athenaeum and walk along Calea Victoriei, where you’ll also find cafes, boutiques and souvenir shops, but eventually I had to give up exploring and head for the airport.
Getting Back to Bucharest Airport
This time I wasn’t taking any chances.
I used Bolt to get to the airport.
It cost considerably more than the 783 bus, but I’d rather pay extra than miss a flight.
I’d recommend doing the same if you’ve got a tight schedule.
Budget lesson
Saving money is great.
Missing your flight isn’t.
Budget travel should mean being smart with your money, not risking hundreds of pounds to save a few quid.
I grabbed some overpriced airport food, boarded the plane and eventually arrived back in London safely.
Therme Bucharest – The Attraction I Haven’t Included in the Weekend
One attraction I would seriously consider adding if you have another half-day is Therme Bucharest.
It’s a huge thermal wellness complex outside the centre of Bucharest with thermal pools, saunas, slides, restaurants and tropical gardens.
Therme Group describes the Bucharest site as one of Europe’s largest wellbeing destinations, welcoming more than 8,000 visitors a day.
It’s absolutely stunning.
The downside for a budget traveller is that adding Therme can push the cost of the trip up significantly.
I’d therefore treat it as an optional extra, rather than something you have to squeeze into a 48-hour itinerary.
You can buy a ticket for the spa here.
Other Places Worth Visiting
I’ve visited Bucharest several times, so there are a few places I’d recommend if you’re staying longer or returning.
Cotroceni Palace
A beautiful historic palace with a fascinating connection to Romania’s royal history.
Carol Park
A large park with impressive monuments, including the mausoleum area.
Bucharest Botanical Garden
A good option if you want somewhere quieter away from the busiest parts of the city.
Therme Bucharest
Probably the biggest “treat yourself” option.
Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum
My personal favourite from this list and one I’d prioritise even on a short trip.
How Much Did Bucharest Cost Me?
My return flight from London Stansted was around £35.
I then kept my spending on accommodation, food, transport and activities under roughly £100, although I don’t have an exact breakdown anymore.
I’d therefore use this as a rough guide rather than a fixed budget.
| Expense | My approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight | ~£35 |
| Hostel | ~£12/night |
| Airport bus | Cheap |
| Food | Relatively cheap |
| Football/other activities | Variable |
| Palace of Parliament tour | Main attraction cost |
| Trip spending excluding flights | Under £100 |
Your biggest variable will be activities.
You can make Bucharest extremely cheap if you focus on walking, parks, markets and free sights.
Alternatively, you can spend considerably more if you add attractions such as Therme, multiple museums and guided tours.
My Ideal Cheap Bucharest Weekend
Saturday
06:15 – Fly from London Stansted
Late morning – Arrive in Bucharest
Late morning – Take the 783 bus into the centre
12:00 – Drop bags at hostel
12:30 – Cheap brunch
13:00 – Stavropoleos Monastery
13:30 – Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse
14:00 – Explore Old Town
15:00 – Walk towards Calea Victoriei
15:30 – Revolution Square
16:00 – Palace of Parliament guided tour
18:30 – Walk back towards Old Town
19:30 – Romanian dinner
21:00 onwards – Old Town / bars / evening walk
Sunday
08:30 – Hostel breakfast
09:30 – Head to Herăstrău Park
10:00 – Walk around the park
11:30 – Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum
13:30 – Lunch at Berăria H
15:00 – Head back towards central Bucharest
15:30 – Romanian Athenaeum
16:00 – Calea Victoriei / cafes / shops
17:00 – Collect bags
17:15 – Bolt to airport
18:00 onwards – Airport / food / flight
~19:30 – Fly back to London
Final Thoughts: Is Bucharest Worth Visiting?
I’ll be honest:
Bucharest isn’t my favourite European city.
I’ve found parts of it a little dirty, and some people can come across as quite cold or reserved.
But I also think it’s a city that’s easy to underestimate.
There’s a fascinating amount of history here, particularly around communism and the 1989 revolution. The Palace of Parliament is genuinely incredible, the Village Museum was one of my personal highlights and the parks give you a completely different side of the city.
Then there’s the food.
Sarmale, ciorbă and mici are all worth trying, and you can eat relatively cheaply if you avoid the obvious tourist traps.
Most importantly for Adventure For Less, Bucharest is a destination where you don’t need a huge budget to have a good weekend.
My flights were around £35 return, accommodation was cheap, public transport was inexpensive and a lot of the city could be explored simply by walking.
I’d give Bucharest 4/5 for a budget weekend.
It isn’t perfect.
But for the money?
It’s definitely worth a visit.
Adventure For Less Budget Rating
✈️ Getting there: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🏨 Accommodation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍲 Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🚶 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
💰 Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🏛️ History & attractions: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌳 Parks & green spaces: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🎉 Nightlife: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: 4.5/5
Affiliate disclosure
Some links in this guide may be affiliate links. If you book through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend services and experiences that I believe are useful for travellers.