Points of interest

Grigore Antipa Museum of Natural History

Grigore Antipa Museum is one of the oldest research institutions in biodiversity and public education. At the same time, it is one of the most famous and appreciated “database” by its collections, some of them world heritage values. The heritage of this museum consists of over 2 million pieces, grouped in various collections: zoological, paleontological, ethnographic, minerals and rocks. Schedule: Tuesday to Thursday : 10 AM to 6 PM. (last visit 5 PM.)

National Museum of Geology

Located in the historical building of the Romanian Geological Institute, the National Museum of Geology was opened to the public in 1990. Storing a collection of over 80,000 specimens of minerals, rocks and fossils, the museum is organized as a book that illustrates the main areas of geology. The museum houses a priceless scientific treasure, represented by mineralogical, petrographic and paleontological collections recognized internationally. This can be seen both as an impressive collection of "mine flowers”, as well as the most comprehensive collection of rocks and fossils from Romania. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM. (last visit 5 PM)

George Enescu National Museum

In 1956, Cantacuzino Palace became "George Enescu" Memorial Museum, dedicated to the great Romanian composer. The museum displays documents and personal objects that belonged to the musician. You will find here, along with the violin received as a gift by Enescu from one of his uncles when he was only 4 years old, scores of his works, diplomas and medals that have been awarded to him, including the French Legion of Honor. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday : 10 AM to 5 PM (last entry 4.30 PM) Free on the 26th of each month.

National History Museum

The National History Museum is the most important museum of the Romanian state. It holds objects of historical value found in Romania from prehistoric times until the contemporary period. The museum was founded in 1970 in order to illustrate cultural developments recorded during all historical periods in the geographic area of Romania. It is the most important museum of history and archeology in Romania, both by size and by heritage. There were brought here the most famous treasures, primarily of precious metal. Also, a lot of other valuable pieces were displayed in archaeological and historical exhibitions of the National Museum to illustrate millennia of history. Schedule: Wednesday to Sunday : 10 AM to 6 PM (summer schedule); 9 AM to 5 PM (winter schedule).

National Museum of Art

The National Museum of Art, located in the former Royal Palace, is the most important art museum in the country. It features notable collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as the international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family. The Museum’s collection of European paintings and sculptures comprises 2 742 works (2 214 paintings and 528 sculptures) and is the largest in Romania. Organized by schools, the works range in date from the fourteenth to the twentieth century. The Department of Romanian Medieval Art holds over 9 500 works, including icons, fresco fragments, embroideries and textiles, illuminated manuscripts and rare books, silver, jewelry, woodcarvings, metalwork, and ceramics. The Department of Romanian Modern Art holds more than 8 600 paintings and 2 000 sculptures, which represent the largest and finest collection of Romanian art in the country. Schedule: Wednesday to Sunday : 11 AM to 7 PM (May to September) 10 AM to 6 PM (October to April)

Zambaccian Museum

The Zambaccian Museum is a museum in the former home of Krikor Zambaccian, a businessman and art collector. The Museum, whose holdings included 165 paintings, 71 prints and drawings, 40 sculptures and 16 furniture pieces, was inaugurated in 1947. The collection focuses on Romanian art, richly represented by works of exceptional quality ranging in date from the second half of the nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Among the masterpieces of the collection there are also 19 paintings by famous French artists, such as Delacroix, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Cézanne, Bonnard, Utrillo, Marquet and Matisse. Schedule: Saturday - Wednesday : 11 AM to 7 PM (May to September) 10 AM to 6 PM(October to April)

Parliament Palace

Right in the historical and geographical center of Bucharest stands an impressive building that strikes the eye by its particular style. It is the Palace of the Parliament, the world's largest civilian building, a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. The Palace measures 270 m by 240 m, 86 m high and 92 m underground. It has 1,100 rooms, 2 underground parking garages and is 12 stories tall. The floor space is 340,000 m2. The pompous halls and galleries are generously decorated with monumental sculptures, golden plaster, laced ceilings, tapestries and heavy carpets, which harmoniously overwhelm the visitors. Schedule: Daily: 10 AM to 4 PM (last entry 3:30 PM)

Cotroceni Palace

In 1888 King Carol I of Romania built a palace in the monastery precincts, in a privileged, quiet and green area, to serve him as residence in Bucharest. The plans of the building were made by architect Paul Gottereau in Venetian Classic style. Later, the Romanian architect Grigore Cerchez rebuilt the northern wing in National Romantic style, adding a big hall with a terrace on top and two look-out towers with columns, of which one was the replica of the famous watch tower of Hurez Monastery. Cotroceni Palace is nowadays the residence of the President of Romania. Schedule: Museum & Church: Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM ( last visit group 4.30 PM).

Romanian Athenaeum

Symbolic edifice of the national culture, the Romanian Athenaeum, built in the heart of Bucharest 120 years ago, has become the architectural and spiritual landmark of a whole nation, not just of a capital city. Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city's main concert hall and home of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic and of the George Enescu annual international music festival. The overall style is neoclassical, with some more romantic touches. In front of the building there is a small park and a statue of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu. Recognized as a symbol of Romanian culture, the building has been inscribed in 2007 on the list of the Label of European Heritage sites.

Old City

Old City is the place where the past and the present meet. You will find here historical monuments like Stavropoles Monastery, National Museum of Art, the CEC Palace, the Romanian National Bank Palace and well-established places like Hanul lui Manuc, Caru' cu bere, Hanul cu tei.

Romanian Orthodox Church

The Romanian Orthodox Church is a Church of apostolic origins, born out of the mission of St Andrew the Apostle, who preached the Word of the Gospel also in the old Roman province of Scythia Minor, the territory between the Danube and the western part of the Black Sea, present Dobrogea (south east of Romania). On 25th of April 1885, the Romanian Orthodox Church became autocephal (self-governing) and on 25th of February 1925 it was elevated to the rank of Patriarchate, being in dogmatic, liturgical and canonical communion with the other Sister Orthodox Churches. According the last census, (2002), Romania has a population of 21,794,793 inhabitants, of which 86,7 % declared themselves as Christian Orthodox.