Where to stay in Bucharest – What you need to know
Hotels in Bucharest are quite cheap when compared to most capitals in Western Europe. A night in a budget hotel can be as cheap as 20 or 30 euro, and even superior options are sometimes really affordable, many around the 50 euro bracket.
In general, locally owned properties and small Romanian chains are cheaper than international brands, a Hilton hotel will probably cost as much in Bucharest as it does elsewhere.
In the last few years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of backpacker options around town. These cheap hostels and B&Bs are generally of very good quality and tend to have extremely low prices too.
When it comes to overall quality, Bucharest hotels are very much hit-or-miss. While some budget options (particularly the newer ones) tend to have an excellent price/quality ratio, other hotels can be very old fashioned and low value. The best idea here is to have a close look at the pictures and comments from other guests before committing to a booking.
Accommodation Options in Bucharest
Hotels in Bucharest
The best hotels to stay in Bucharest
Hostels in Bucharest
Hostels and cheap stays in Bucharest
Apartments in Bucharest
Would you like independence? Book an apartment in Bucharest
Bed & Breakfast in Bucharest
Inns, B&Bs and guest houses in several areas around Bucharest
The Best Areas to Stay in Bucharest
The problem with Bucharest is that its districts are huge and do not go by a name, but by number. The most central ones are 1,2,3 and 5.
As they all take a portion of what you could consider central Bucharest, we tried to associate the district to its most recognizable landmark.
This is a guide with the best areas to stay in Bucharest.
1. Best area: Old Town & Around University Square
Due to its location in the heart of the city, the Historical Center or Old Town is the best area to stay in Bucharest.
The Old Town is located near the University Square, and it’s the most central and most charming area in the Romanian capital.
The Historic Center we see today is practically the only thing left of pre Second World War Bucharest.
What the war did not destroy (and it destroyed a lot: the Allied bombing was fierce during the first part of 1944) communism did, especially with the great project of the Civic Center that saw almost a fifth of the total area of the city razed to the ground to make way for Bulevardul Unirii and Casa Poporului.
The medieval streets of the Historical Center of Bucharest have been pedestrianized and they are full of restaurants, bars, and shops.
The hotels in this area are usually small old houses with boutique style accommodation and some backpacker hostels. Prices here are a little higher than elsewhere in the city, but it is well worth it.
What makes this the best area to stay in Bucharest
- Heart of the city
- Best area for tourists
- Great nightlife
- Medieval charm
- Tourist attractions
- Great restaurants
Hand-picked hotels in this area
Our Top PickHotel Rembrandt is located in the historic center and occupies an original building dating back to 1925. This modern hotel is 500 meters from the Parliament Building and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
-
Budget Option
Antique Hostel is located in the very center of Bucharest, on the banks of the Dambovita River, and offers simple accommodation and easy access to the city’s attractions.
-
Midrange Option
Old City Bucharest NF Hotels, located on a pedestrian street in the historic center of Bucharest, a few steps from Unirii Square, it offers accommodation with free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception.
-
Luxury Option
Concorde Old Bucharest Hotel is located in the historical center of Bucharest, in a building of neoclassical inspiration overlooking the river or the city. The hotel, completely rebuilt in 2012, retains the details of its historic facade.
2. Pîata Unirii and Civic Center
The Civic Center extends from Piata Muncii in the east to the JW Mariott hotel in the west and represents almost one fifth of the total area of the city: an area that was completely rebuilt in the 1980s.
The centerpiece of this area is, of course, Casa Poporului, the largest building in Europe and the most infamous in Romania. Although the real focal point of the area is Piata Unirii, one of the largest public squares on the continent.
For visitors, much of the charm of the area is discovering those small corners that survived the excavators, such as the Antim monastery (hidden behind the monumental blocks of Bulevardul Unirii) or the remains of the Jewish district of Bucharest around Strada Iuliu Baraschi.
The area around the immense House of the People (present parliament of Romania) concentrates great quantity of luxury hotels in the palatial buildings constructed to lodge ministries and residences for the military elites of the old communist regime.
What makes this the best area to stay in Bucharest
- Piata Unirii
- Communist time buildings
- Shopping malls
- Jewish quarter
- Romanian Parliament
Hand-picked hotels in this area
-
Our Top Pick
Europa Royale Bucharest occupies a 19th-century building right in the center of Bucharest and offers air-conditioned rooms, as well as a restaurant serving international cuisine. Free WiFi is available in all areas.
-
Budget Option
Unirii Residence offers accommodation in Bucharest, in the Old Town, just 50 meters from the Unirii Square Metro Station and 900 meters from the Palace of the Parliament. The unit is 900 meters from Bucharest National Theater TNB.
-
Midrange Option
Tania-Frankfurt Hotel is located in the historic center of Bucharest, close to Lipscani Street and Unirii Square. It offers spacious accommodation with soundproof windows, parquet floors and free Wi-Fi.
-
Luxury Option
Concorde Old Bucharest Hotel is located in the center of Bucharest, it is superbly equipped and offers comfortable rooms with double beds and elegant furniture. It houses 4 elegant restaurant lounges and a conference room, with luxury equipment.
3. Piata Romana & Boulevard Dacia
The Dacia area of Bucharest is centered around the elegant boulevard of the same name, which links Piata Romana with Calea Mosilor.
The boulevard houses some of the most elegant villas of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and is flanked on the north by Strada Mihai Eminescu, and on the south by Stradas C.A. and Maria Rosetti.
Despite the convoluted architectural history of Bucharest, the vast majority of buildings in the area survived the demolitions of the communist era intact.
This area is a popular residential area for wealthy Romanians. The district also houses some elegant hotels and restaurants, along with a large number of foreign embassies and consulates.
It is one of the best areas to stay in Bucharest.
What makes this the best area to stay in Bucharest
- Piata Romana
- Charming streets
- Great food
- Connected by metro and tram
Hand-picked hotels in this area
-
Our Top Pick
Hotel Reginetta I occupies a renovated historic building in the historical and financial center of Bucharest. It offers elegant rooms with air conditioning.
-
Budget Option
Studio Piata Romana offers accommodation with free Wi-Fi, 400 meters from the Romanian Athenaeum and an 8-minute walk from the National Museum of Art. This property offers access to a balcony.
-
Midrange Option
Hotel Boutique Monaco, with a French style, it is located in the center of Bucharest and offers views of Gradina Icoanei Park, free Wi-Fi and free parking.
-
Luxury Option
Sheraton Bucharest Hotel is located in the center of Bucharest, within walking distance of the main public transport stations, and offers a variety of facilities and services such as free high speed WiFi, 24 hour reception and concierge service.
4. North Bucharest
The north of Bucharest, includes a series of bourgeois neighborhoods, considered the most elegant and expensive areas of the city, the Arc de Triomphe and the fantastic park of Herastrau.
Herastrau is the largest park in Bucharest, and the, mainly residential, area that surrounds it is, among others, home to the Romanian royal, whose main residence is the Elisabeta Palace.
Inside the park you can find the People’s Museum (one of the must-sees in Bucharest), as well as a large lake where you can rent boats in summer.
On the east side of the lake, along Soseaua Nordului, you will find some of the most exclusive terraces and restaurants in Bucharest, while to the north of the park you will find the huge Casa Scanteii, the Romexpo exhibition hall and several hotels.
In the rest of the area surrounding the park is the Arc de Triumf and the Romanian rugby stadium.
It is the best place to stay in Bucharest if you are looking for exclusivity and luxury.
What makes this the best area to stay in Bucharest
- Luxury area
- Connected by metro
- Parks and green areas
Hand-picked hotels in this area
-
Our Top Pick
Pullman Bucharest World Trade Center is next to Herastrau Park and ROMEXPO Exhibition Center, just a 5-minute drive from downtown Bucharest and arranges a shuttle service to Henri Coanda International Airport. Free WiFi is available in all areas.
Read this post in other languages
|ES| Dónde alojarse en Bucarest, Rumanía.
Other Accommodation Guides
- Best area to stay in Cluj-Napoca
- Best area to stay in Prague
- Best area to stay in Vienna
- Best area to stay in Istanbul
- Best area to stay in Budapest
- Best area to stay in Berlin
- Best area to stay in Bratislava
- Best area to stay in Sofia
- Best area to stay in Dubrovnik
- Best area to stay in Sochi
- Best area to stay in Saint Petersburg
