Bucharest City in 2 Days on a Budget
A 2-day Bucharest plan, city only, priced in RON
Two days covers Bucharest’s core without a rental car: the Palace of Parliament and the Old Town on day one, then Revolution Square, the Village Museum and Cismigiu Gardens on day two. This nests into the 3 , 4 and 6-day versions below if you add time.
Book these before you go
- Book the Palace of Parliament tour or call +40 733 558 102 at least 24 hours ahead yourself; there is no walk-up or online ticket.
- Check Old Town hotel rates on Booking.com ; rooms here put you inside walking distance of both days.
- Book a Bucharest communism and city history tour if you want a guide walking you through the 1989 history on day two.
| Day | Focus | Getting there | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Palace of Parliament, Old Town | Central, walk or metro | 150-200 RON |
| Day 2 | Revolution Square, Village Museum, Cismigiu | Central, metro or bus, 15-20 min | 100-150 RON |
Day 1: Palace of Parliament and the Old Town
Start at the Palace of Parliament for your booked morning slot; bring an original passport or ID, since photocopies get turned away. The standard tour runs 60 RON adult, 30 RON student, 20 RON child, plus 10 RON if you add the basement. From there it is a short metro or walk to the Old Town (Lipscani), free to wander, where lunch at a “meniul zilei” (menu of the day) spot runs well under 30 RON. Spend the afternoon on the cobbled streets and Stavropoleos Monastery, then have dinner at a historic spot like Caru’ cu Bere, sarmale and mici with the bill landing near 100 RON with a drink.
Day 2: Revolution Square, the Village Museum and Cismigiu
Morning goes to Revolution Square, free and outdoors, plus the Romanian Athenaeum’s 15 RON visit-only ticket if you want to see the concert hall without a performance. The National Museum of Art next door runs 24 RON per gallery, free if you happen to land on the first Wednesday of the month. In the afternoon, take the metro or a short taxi to the Village Museum (40 RON adult, half that on a Monday or Tuesday) inside King Michael I Park, then close the day at Cismigiu Gardens, free, for a walk around the lake before dinner.
Is 2 days enough to see Bucharest’s highlights?
Yes, for the headline sights. Two days covers the Palace of Parliament, Revolution Square, the Athenaeum, the Village Museum and the Old Town, the picks that make up most of a first Bucharest visit. What it skips is depth: Cotroceni, Therme Bucuresti and any Transylvania day trip need a longer stay.
Do you need a rental car for this 2-day plan?
No. Everything on this plan sits inside the metro and STB network : a metro ride runs about 5 RON, a bus or tram ticket about 3 RON, and Bolt covers the rest for under 20 RON a ride. Renting a car for two city-only days adds cost without adding access to anything on the list.
Keep 5-10 RON in coins and small notes on you for STB ticket machines and the covrigi stand outside the Old Town; not every cheap stop in this plan takes a card.