Cost per day · Romania
Bucharest on $35, $80 or $240 a day
How much does Bucharest cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $35 a day, mid-range trips run around $80, and luxury starts near $240 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Bucharest the 19th cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Bucharest is Eastern Europe's most underrated capital — a city of grand Belle Époque boulevards, world-class art deco architecture, the absurdly large Palace of the Parliament, and a nightlife scene that regularly tops European rankings. Known as the Little Paris of the East, it offers extraordinary value and increasingly excellent food.
Bucharest is one of Europe's best budget destinations. A craft beer costs €2, a full sit-down lunch is €5, and the metro is excellent. The Old Town has some of Europe's densest bar and restaurant streets, most of which are very cheap. A hostel bed in the centre costs under €15.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Rural Romania collected in a lakeside park — 300 real houses, churches and windmills moved beam-by-beam from every region since 1936.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The heaviest building on Earth — Ceaușescu's 1,100-room monument to himself, toured with passport in hand and superlatives on tap.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The dictator's private house, preserved as left in 1989 — gold bathrooms, a cinema, peacocks in the garden, and the banality behind the balcony.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Central Old Town location, social and well-managed
Check prices on Klook →Excellent Old Town hostel with free breakfast and bar
Check prices on Klook →Hostel accommodation with dorm beds and, usually, a few private rooms.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Old Town & Palace ~$20
Day 2: Calea Victoriei ~$18
Day 3: Parks & Museum ~$20
The Centru Vechi (Old Town) is the hub for cheap eating and drinking. Caru cu Bere is a Belle Époque masterpiece — have a beer inside even if you don't eat. The metro (Metrou) is cheap and efficient. Street food in Piata Obor market is excellent. Avoid tourist menus in Lipscani Street — walk one block back for authentic prices.
Mid-range Bucharest is extraordinary value. Boutique hotels in restored Inter-war mansions, excellent contemporary Romanian restaurants, wine bars stocking the excellent and unknown wines of the Dealu Mare region, and a thriving arts scene make it one of Europe's most interesting cities to explore with a slightly higher budget.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The heaviest building on Earth — Ceaușescu's 1,100-room monument to himself, toured with passport in hand and superlatives on tap.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The dictator's private house, preserved as left in 1989 — gold bathrooms, a cinema, peacocks in the garden, and the banality behind the balcony.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Rural Romania collected in a lakeside park — 300 real houses, churches and windmills moved beam-by-beam from every region since 1936.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Rembrandt Hotel is an intimate and stylish hotel with 16 spacious rooms, located in the heart of Bucharest. Well known for its’ personal service and genuine hospitality, Rembrandt provides contemporary guest rooms with comfortable beds, hardwood floors, leather armchairs, free wi-fi internet access and spacious bathrooms. Café Klein, on the mezzanine floor of the hotel, is a cozy and comfortable lounge where we serve breakfast, drinks and snacks. You will find Rembrandt Hotel in the middle of the old city centre of Bucharest. From here you can access the city in all its’ aspects: the wide Paris-style boulevards, the worn down 1920ies modernist architecture, the narrow streets of charming Lipscani and the modern day cosmopolitan life. Being on walking distance from the central Unirii and Universitate squares, the hotel is ideally positioned for both business and leisure guests.
Check prices on Klook →Conveniently located near Cismigiu Gardens and the most important cultural, historical and entertainment attractions in the Old Town, Hotel Cismigiu is a charming and history rich hotel in Bucharest. Its Architecture is very special, blending modern interior with old features: the historical door, the Art Nouveau facades, and the original cupola. We invite you to discover the soul of the location! The hotel is just 3 minutes away from the famous bar and terraces of the Historical Center and 20 minutes by taxi from the International Otopeni Airport. Discover joie de vivre, choosing one of our 60 fully equipped apartments, designed for your comfort! The hotel also harbors the Gambrinus Restaurant, as well as a decadent rooftop terrace, an efficient Business Center with all facilities and a practical underground parking. All our services respect and promote a responsible environmental behavior! We are here for you – and nearby almost all points of interest in Bucharest!
Check prices on Klook →Award-winning small luxury hotel in a 1939 villa, impeccable taste
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Communist History ~$70
Day 2: Belle Époque ~$75
Day 3: Day to Sinaia ~$80
Stay in the Floreasca or Dorobanți neighbourhood for upscale residential atmosphere. Caru cu Bere restaurant is touristy but the room is so magnificent it's worth it once. Romanian wine is world-class and unknown — try the Prahova Valley reds. The Atheneum is Europe's most beautiful concert hall and tickets start at €10. A day trip to Peles Castle in Sinaia takes 90 minutes by train.
Luxury Bucharest is exceptional value — what costs €200 in Paris costs €80 here. The Grand Hotel du Boulevard and Epoque Hotel are both world-class. Fine dining at Lacrimi şi Sfinţi or Chef Joseph Hadad's restaurants matches anything in Western Europe at a fraction of the price. The Carpathian mountains are 90 minutes away by car.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The heaviest building on Earth — Ceaușescu's 1,100-room monument to himself, toured with passport in hand and superlatives on tap.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Rural Romania collected in a lakeside park — 300 real houses, churches and windmills moved beam-by-beam from every region since 1936.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The dictator's private house, preserved as left in 1989 — gold bathrooms, a cinema, peacocks in the garden, and the banality behind the balcony.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Five-star international hotel with a full spa, notable restaurants and the service standard the brand implies.
Check prices on Klook →Five-star international hotel with a full spa, notable restaurants and the service standard the brand implies.
Check prices on Klook →Ultra-boutique villa hotel, one of Eastern Europe's finest stays
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Bucharest ~$280
Day 2: Carpathian Castles ~$350
Day 3: Wine & Countryside ~$320
The Epoque Hotel is one of Eastern Europe's finest boutique hotels, beautifully designed. Book a private car to Peles Castle and Sinaia ski resort — magnificent 90-minute drive through the Prahova Valley. Lacrimi şi Sfinţi is the most creative restaurant in Romania — needs booking 2 weeks ahead. A private wine tour of the Dealu Mare region near Ploiești is a hidden gem.
About Bucharest
A humid continental climate with sharp seasons. Hot summers (28°C+, with the occasional 35°C heatwave), cold winters that often hover below zero, and pleasant springs and autumns. Big skies, dry-ish summers.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -1° | 1° | 7° | 12° | 18° | 22° | 24° | 23° | 18° | 12° | 5° | 1° |
| 7d | 7d | 8d | 9d | 11d | 10d | 8d | 6d | 6d | 6d | 8d | 8d |
| low | low | low | mid | mid | high | high | high | mid | mid | low | low |
A useful metro (four lines), trams, buses and trolleybuses cover the city. Bolt and Uber are cheap; agree fares with any non-metered taxis. The historic centre is walkable but stretches between districts are best taken by metro.
The second largest building on earth, then the old merchant lanes and the concert hall behind them.
Three hundred relocated peasant houses, the arch, and the biggest park in the city.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Romania — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The restored 16th–19th-century core: cobbled streets, terraces, the Caru' cu Bere beer hall and most of the bars and tour-friendly restaurants.
Best for midrangeThe "Paris of the East" axis: the Royal Palace, the Athenaeum concert hall and grand 19th-century facades.
Best for luxuryA genteel quarter around the Cotroceni Palace, full of Art-Nouveau villas and good cafés.
Best for midrangeThe smart north-central district with embassies, the best restaurants and tree-lined avenues.
Best for luxuryAround Herăstrău Park and Aviatorilor Boulevard: lakeside walks, boutiques and well-heeled cafés.
Best for midrangeQuieter pockets with budget guesthouses, student taverns and the day-to-day Bucharest few tourists see.
Best for budget- ✓Greet politely — "bună ziua" (formal) opens any interaction
- ✓Use Uber or Bolt — they're cheap and avoid taxi-fare arguments
- ✓Tip around 10% at sit-down restaurants
- ✓Validate your transport ticket on entry — inspectors do check
- ✓Carry small lei — change is sometimes scarce
- ✓Try homemade țuică if offered — refusing a toast is rude
- ✗Hail unmetered "taxis" at the airport — use ride apps or licensed fixed-price stands
- ✗Accept "free" roses, bracelets or quizzes in Old Town — they come with a hard sell
- ✗Discuss communism dismissively — many lived through it
- ✗Confuse Romania with the Balkans or Slavic neighbours — Romanian is a Latin language
- ✗Photograph the Palace of Parliament's interior without permission
- ✗Expect strict service — Romania is friendly but informal
Travel Insurance for Bucharest
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Bucharest. Safety is rated Generally safe — petty theft, ATM scams and persistent Old-Town street touts are the main hazards. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Visa-free for up to 90 days for most Western nationalities (Romania is in the EU and Schengen).. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Bucharest →FAQ: Bucharest Travel Questions
Is Bucharest safe to visit? ▾
Generally safe — petty theft, ATM scams and persistent Old-Town street touts are the main hazards.
When is the best time to visit Bucharest? ▾
May – June, September – October A humid continental climate with sharp seasons. Hot summers (28°C+, with the occasional 35°C heatwave), cold winters that often hover below zero, and pleasant springs and autumns. Big skies, dry-ish summers.
How much does a trip to Bucharest cost per day? ▾
- budget: $35–$60/day
- midrange: $80–$140/day
- luxury: $240–$430/day
- business: $110–$220/day
Do I need a visa to visit Romania? ▾
Visa-free for up to 90 days for most Western nationalities (Romania is in the EU and Schengen).
How do I get around Bucharest? ▾
A useful metro (four lines), trams, buses and trolleybuses cover the city. Bolt and Uber are cheap; agree fares with any non-metered taxis. The historic centre is walkable but stretches between districts are best taken by metro. Bucharest has a metro system. Taxi base fare ~$2. Day pass ~$2.
Is tipping expected in Bucharest? ▾
Expected — 10% at sit-down restaurants; round up taxis and tip guides.
What currency is used in Romania? ▾
The local currency is RON (lei), and the official language is Romanian.