Bucharest – Architecture and Nightlife in the Capital of Romania

AT A GLANCE

• Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
• Group size: min 16
• Theme: architecture & nightlife
• Arrival: on Fridays

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Calea Victoriei – Bucharest’s grand avenue of Belle Époque palaces, historic cafés and Art Deco landmarks
• Palatul Telefoanelor – the 1930s Telephone Palace, once the tallest building in the city
• Magheru Boulevard – Romania’s finest collection of interwar modernist apartment blocks, cinemas and hotels
• Marcel Iancu’s villas – modernist homes by the Romanian co-founder of the Dada movement
• Arcul de Triumf – Bucharest’s own Arc de Triomphe, rebuilt in stone in the 1930s
• The Royal Palace – now the National Museum of Art of Romania
• Village Museum – the open-air museum founded in 1936 on the shores of Lake Herăstrău
• Mogoșoaia Palace – the princely palace restored in the interwar years by Princess Martha Bibescu, muse of Proust
• Welcome dinner with music in the spirit of 1930s Bucharest

ITINERARY

DAY 1 · Arrival & the Little Paris of the East

Airport transfer to your hotel in central Bucharest. Welcome dinner and night life in Bucharest.

DAY 2 · Art Deco & Modernist Bucharest

Dedicated to the architecture of the 1930s.

DAY 3 · Royal Bucharest & Mogoșoaia

Morning visit of Europe’s aristocracy life of Bucharest. Free evening to discover Bucharest’s restaurants and terraces at your own pace.

DAY 4 · Departure

Free morning for a last coffee on Calea Victoriei or shopping in the old town. Transfer to the airport.

The order of visits may change depending on museum opening hours and local conditions.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
• 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in a modern 3* hotel in central Bucharest
• Private bus for airport transfers
• National tour guide throughout the tour
• Local specialist guide for Bucharest’s architecture and history, where appliable
• A curated souvenir
• Welcome dinner in the first evening

NOT INCLUDED

• Flights to and from Bucharest
• Museum entrance fees
• Meals and drinks not mentioned in the programme
• Travel insurance
• Tips and personal expenses

PRICING

Arrival on Fridays.

WHY TRAVEL WITH US

We are a boutique Romanian travel agency that knows these streets, villas and stories first-hand. Our groups are kept small, so you can enter courtyards, cafés and museums without the crowds, and have time to ask questions. Every tour is led by a national guide who stays with you throughout, and by a local expert in Bucharest’s architecture.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is Bucharest called the “Little Paris of the East”?

Between the late 19th century and the Second World War, Bucharest’s elite looked to France for architecture, fashion and culture. Wide boulevards, French-style palaces, the Arc de Triomphe and a lively café society earned the city its nickname.

Is this tour suitable for architecture lovers?

Yes. The programme focuses on Art Deco and Modernist buildings from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as the Belle Époque palaces that came before them. No specialist knowledge is needed, but architecture enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy.

How much walking is involved?

Days 1 and 2 include walking tours of about 3–5 km at a relaxed pace, with breaks.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal, with mild weather for walking and parks in full colour.

Can I combine this with another tour?

Yes. This tour pairs well with our Castles of Transylvania tour, which also starts and ends in Bucharest.

Bucharest Between the Wars is a guided small-group cultural tour of Bucharest, Romania, exploring Art Deco and Modernist architecture, royal palaces and the history of the Little Paris of the East.