11 Must-Visit Photo Spots in Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is a gorgeous city, full of history and beautiful architecture – and therefore loads of amazing photo spots!

I realised after being in the city for only a matter of minutes that I would need to keep my camera fully charged for the duration of my trip. Luckily I’d packed spare batteries and an SD card so I should be safe, but in four days I still managed to rack up over 1000 snaps!

In this post I’m sharing what I think are the 11 photo spots in Bucharest that you absolutely cannot miss. Whether you want to take the perfect picture for Instagram or your photos are for your personal travel scrapbook, these destinations are guaranteed to get your fingers twitching to click the camera shutter!

11 Must-Visit Photo Spots in Bucharest, Romania

1. Carturesti Carusel Bookstore

This lovely little bookstore is an Instagrammer’s paradise. Winding staircases, white walls, and lines of colourful books (plus, all-important skylights which literally make the place sparkle). This is definitely a must-visit if you want the perfect Instagram photo, but also if you want to browse the books too. 

The building began life as a banking headquarters for the Chrissoveloni family, but was transformed into a general store in the 19th century. It was restored in the early 2000s since it had been abandoned and fallen into a state of disrepair for many years, and now houses many books, DVDs, CDs in the store, as well as a bistro right at the top (where there are good views of the street below!)

• Address: Strada Lipscani 55
• Cost: To visit, free! Books and other product costs vary.

2. Palace of the Parliament

The size of this building is enough to make you take a second glance; in fact it’s the heaviest building in the world due to its concrete foundations that were dug into the ground. Built to house the Parliament during the communist era, many people don’t realise that this building is now relatively little-used, as it’s just so big it’s impossible to fill.

However beautiful, this building has a dark history. Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu forced residents to relocate from the area to make way for the construction of his masterpiece; and it was built over 13 years of forced labour, with shifts round the clock 24/7. Many workers lost their lives due to poor safety regulations and were jailed if they tried to escape.

Have a look, enter if you wish, but don’t forget to spread the word about the story behind the building that makes this beautiful photo.

• Address: Strada Izvor 2-4
• Cost: Free to view; 40 lei per adult (more tariffs here

3. Pasajul Victoria (Umbrella Street)

This isn’t a typical Romanian street and the umbrellas have indeed been put there for one reason: to attract attention. I think given the amount of photos of this street on Instagram, it’s definitely worked!

This little street is perfectly quaint, with cafes lining the sides, tables and chairs spilling out into the walkways, and a beautifully bright cover overhead. It’s therefore a great place to enjoy a drink or bite to eat if it’s a particularly sunny day or if it’s raining, and there’s a secret underground bar here too.

• Address: Pasajul Victoria
• Cost: Free

4. The English Passage 

Once a brothel, where girls would dance on the railings above you as you entered. You could even purchase a subscription card for the same girl, where you would pay up front for 10 sessions! The paint on the walls is red which seems quite fitting.

Since the end of the Second World War it’s been an apartment block. When you visit, be sure to keep the noise down as the residents can sometimes get angry at tourists taking photos (fortunately our guide managed to calm one quite aggressive resident!)

There’s a lovely hat shop on the ground floor here called Palaraii la mesterul Nicu which is worth a peek too. The owner has been making hats here since he was 14 years old!

• Address: Pasajul Englez (Parallel to Pasajul Victoria)
• Cost: Free

5. The view from the Intercontinental Hotel Spa

For a view of the city from above, visit the spa on the 22nd floor of the Intercontinental Hotel. There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well as gym equipment and a bar. You can catch a tan on the terrace where there are sun loungers, too.

• Address: Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu 4
• Cost: Varies, rooms start at £195 on booking.com

6. Forma Cafe

This trendy cafe is not only a great place to stop for a coffee, but is also a must for your Instagram account. Not only is the decor worthy of an interior-design award, but the huge handpainted mural that covers one wall is enough to keep you mesmerised for hours. It is the work of a local street artist and draws much attention from passers-by outside!

• Address: Ion Ghica 4
• Cost: Varies (free to snap a photo!)

7. Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse 

This arcade was modelled on Italian architecture which is very much apparent when you gaze up at the roof above you. Once a fully functioning road that was built to lead to the nearby Bank, this was the birthplace of Shisha in Romania, when one Turkish cafe decided to set up shop. Now, most bars in this observatory offer Shisha and it’s a pleasant place to stop for a drink. I can’t imagine cars driving through it though! 

• Address: Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse
• Cost: Free

8. The Arch of Triumph

At 27m high, this symbol of triumph dates back to 1878, when a wooden structure was erected for military troops to march through after Romania gained its independence. The current structure was built in 1922 and was modelled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 

Also similar to Paris, the Arch is located on a roundabout, so can be a little tricky to photograph (it looks best at night in my opinion). There is a staircase to the top, and the viewing platform is open to visitors of special events or on national holidays. As a guest of #ExperienceBucharest I was lucky enough to attend the welcoming party which was held on the roof; the views are stunning. 

• Address: Piața Arcul de Triumf
• Cost: Free

9. Cismigiu Gardens

This is the oldest and largest park in Bucharest and it is really charming. There are a mix of native and exotic plants, many seating areas and statues of some of Romania’s finest writers. There are a few cafes and refreshment kiosks, and you can take a pedalo or row boat onto the lake and enjoy different views of the scenery. The artificial lake is drained in the winter and an ice rink is put in its place, to mimic the harsh winters of years previously when people would go ice skating on the natural frozen lake!

• Address: There are many entrances to the Gardens but the official entrance is on Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta
• Cost: Free

10. Simfonia Apei Water Fountain Light Show

If you’re in Bucharest on a weekend, be sure to see the light show at the fountains. Classic hits are played while the lights illuminate the fountains that dance above the pools of water. It lasts around an hour.

• Address: Unirii Square (between Alba Iulia Square and Constitutiei Square)
• Hours: 9pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between May to October
• Cost: Free

11. View from Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel 

I would never normally include visiting a hostel (especially one you’re not staying at) on a must-do list but the views here are gorgeous! You have great view of the streets below as it’s situated on the corner of two streets in the Old Town.

• Address: Strada Smârdan
• Cost: Probably free to take a photo if you ask nicely, but you can book a room here if you fancy it!

Where to stay in Bucharest

During my time in Bucharest I stayed at the Ibis Palatul Parlamentului Hotel which was a comfortable and pleasant stay. You can search other options with the widget below, or consider an AirBnB. Sign up with this link to get £25 off your first booking.

Don’t forget these essentials for your trip to Bucharest

• Camera: I use a Canon 80D with a 18-135mm lens, as well as my iPhone X.
• Whatever time of the year, make sure you take out travel insurance. I personally use World Nomads
• Don’t forget to pack a travel adapter (Romania uses the 2 prong plug like the rest of Europe) but I generally travel with a worldwide one – buy yours here.
• Remember your reusable water bottle, metal straw and bamboo cutlery to minimise your plastic use.
• In summer, take a hat and sunscreen. Take comfortable walking shoes in any weather!
• Don’t forget your guide book. I like Lonely Planet and Rough Guides books best.

Have you been to Bucharest? What were your favourite photo spots?

Thanks for reading and happy travels!

Disclaimer: I was invited to visit Bucharest on a press trip with #ExperienceBucharest. My accommodation, experiences, and some meals and transport were complimentary. All opinions are my own.

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