Bucharest is packed full of incredible architecture which covers a wide range of styles and all of which showcase how the city has changed and evolved through its seasons of history. From Art Nouveau facades to Belle Epoque domes and neo Baroque buildings and even Romanian Renaissance! There are trendy coffee shops, fabulous rooftop views and one of Europe’s most beautiful bookshops. These are 15 of the best Instagrammable places in the city.
1. Carturesti Carusel
Starting up with the gorgeous Carturesti Carusel bookshop in the Old Town. You’ve perhaps already seen this stunner on Instagram as it regular features on most beautiful bookshop lists around Europe and even the world. The name translates to Carousel of Light and when you step through the doors into the book oasis you’ll understand why it’s called that. The high windows allow light to flood into the open space and the curving, narrow staircases reach up to the floors above. Surprisingly, I managed to take the phot above in the middle of a wednesday afternoon so if you have a little patience (and probably don’t come on a weekend!) you can get a snap with nobody in it fairly easily.
2. Royal Palace of Bucharest
The Royal Palace of Bucharest is opulent and huge. Located at Calea Victoriei, it’s been the home of the National Museum of Art of Romania since the 1950s since during the era of communism in Romania, the Royal Palace was no longer royal and any royal artefacts were removed. Today, however, some spaces have been opened to showcase what the Palace would have been like when it was a royal residence. The most incredible space in the Palace open area is the Voïvods’ Stairs which make an exceptional photo from a number of angles. The splendour and glow is just mind blowing and you’ll be saying wow as you ascend the stairs to see the throne room. The throne room is also perfect for an Insta shot. I love a stunning interior with some symmetrical lines and the Royal Palace certainly provides.
3. Romanian Athenaeum
The Romanian Athenaeum is a gorgeous concert hall and one of the most fabulous buildings in Bucharest. The Athenaeum was opened in 1888 and was designed by the French architect Albert Galleron. The stunning exterior is neoclassical with Ionic columns. There are so many details to photograph but particularly the entrance portico would be a great fashion shoot spot. I was by myself for this trip which is much harder to get any Insta photos with myself in (it also doesn’t help when you forget a tripod attachment!). I didn’t visit the inside (although I’m now thinking I should have done!) and the interior of the Athenaeum mixes the neoclassical style with Belle Époque elements to create a sumptuous environment. It would likely be a pretty amazing venue to listen to a concert so take a look at ‘what’s on’ and see if there is something that would suit your tastes during your trip.
4. Macca – Villacrosse Passage
To take a shot of the Villacrosse Passage I would recommend coming early before the bars and cafes open. It can be pretty busy and congested in this passage as there are many tables sitting out in the passageway, plus a number of them have shisha so the later in the day you come, the more likely you are to have to walk through a sickly sweet shisha smog. Having said that, as you can see from the photo above, this is a beautiful spot to photograph with with charming yellow glass roof casting a golden hue into the Passage and the rather beautiful buildings curving around to join Calea Victoriei and Lipscani Street.
5. Linea: Closer to the Moon
The most epic rooftop view is the panoramic terrace at Linea: Closer to the Moon. It certainly helps that the drinks are also great! Come here to capture a great Bucharest skyline view and visit at sunset for fabulous colours to make it even better.
6. History Museum Arches
At the Romanian History Museum, the arches that traverse the entrance terrace make for a great Insta shot as you line them up with the lamps and the doorway at the end. Again, this is another spot that would make for a good walking snap as you post underneath the arches.
7. Stavropoleos Monastery
The Stavropoleos Monastery seems so unassuming sitting in the heart of the Old Town of Bucharest, surround by grand buildings. It is squat and feels almost tucked away on this street corner yet it is still active and you may spot some of the nuns going about their duties. The style is Brâncovenesc which can also be known as Romanian Renaissance and features lots of intricate details. The carved door has incredible craftmanship and the details and motifs that adorn the exterior of the monastery are almost fabric like in their details.
8. Strada Stavropoleos
Step outside the Monastery onto Strada Stavropoleos and turn to face the CEC bank for one of the most Instagrammable street views in Bucharest. This street is so beautiful with the lamposts, benches and the balcony of Car’ cu Bere giving details to the scene.
9. The Gallery of European Art
We move back to the National Museum of Art of Romania for this next Insta spot which is specifically the Gallery of European Art, the gallery housed on the left hand side of the building. In particular the staircase here is jaw dropping and when you finish in the galleries, stop before you start walking out to the exit and look down onto the staircase for a great shot. If you have someone with you, a great capture would be to have someone wait at the stop as you walk down and take a top down view of that section of staircase in the middle of the right most photo above. Outside the gallery, the entrance door and staircase is a stunner – the perfect place to pose.
10. Pasajul Victoria (Umbrella Street)
So many cities seem to be developing their own Umbrella Streets and Bucharest is no exception so head to Pasajul Victoria for a rainbow coloured snap.
11. CEC
The CEC bank is another fabulous example of Bucharest’s architectural prowess at the end of the 19th century and turn of the 20th century. The CEC bank building has already featured in two slots on this list and here it has its own spot as well because getting a shot straight on is also absolutely worthwhile. The more I’m writing up this post, the more I’m wishing I had someone with me as this is another location that would be perfect for a little skirt or dress twirling to add a splash of colour and movement to the scene! It seems the architectural style is described as ‘eclectic’ online and features various different elements brought together including its Renaissance domes and Belle Epoque details.
12. Romanian Parliament
The Romanian Parliament is the heaviest building in the world (who knew that was a thing!) weighing in at approx 4.1 million tonnes. There is some irony that its construction was ordered in 1984 by the Romanian communist leader / dictator Nicolae CeauÈ™escu who displaced many to build this extremely oppressive building with so much marble, crystal glass, bronze and other materials which you have to raise your eyebrows at how exactly this sits with the alleged communist values. Take a tour of the inside and you’ll be even more shocked at the level of excess that this building represents when the people of Romania were living in completely different conditions. Around 70% of the Parliament is unused and has more than four hundred rooms. It’s a fascinating place to photograph.
13. Sloane Coffee
Sloane Coffee is a speciality coffee roaster and coffee shop in Bucharest which I’ve featured on this list because it’s interior is beeeautiful. Plus the aesthetic of how the coffee is served and the mugs are gorgeous. The pink, blue and white colours with a warm, light tone makes Sloane Coffee the perfect spot to unwind for a little while and take some photos at the same time!
14. Strada Lipscani
Strada Lipscani must be the most bustling street in Bucharest, right in the centre of the Old Town. There are lots of bars and restaurants with terraces and seating that spill out onto the street. As the day wares on, you’ll have to watch where you’re going as people are milling around and servers try and get your attention to head into their establishment so come earlier in the day to have time and space to look up and admire the superb buildings that soar up above.
15. La Mița Biciclista
La MiÈ›a Biciclista is a cafe which is named after the person that the building was originally built for, MiÈ›a the cyclist! The Art Nouveau facade is a stunner which is what makes it so Insta worthy. Plus, it’s known for having a great Christmas display so it’s even better for the Insta grid when decorated for the season!
Discover some incredible places to eat and drink in Bucharest below 👇
Cat x