Muzeul Național de Istorie Naturală Grigore Antipa

Cărturești Carusel

Cărturești Carusel is the most photogenic bookshop in Bucharest and one of the most beautiful in Europe. Set in a 19th-century building on Lipscani Street, in the heart of the old town, it was carefully restored and turned into a "carousel of light": six immaculate white levels linked by elegant staircases and slender columns, beneath a generous skylight that floods the space with natural light. Shelves full of books, a bistro on the top floor, an art gallery and a media space round out the experience. The building once belonged to a merchant family, and the renovation restored its splendour, winning architecture awards. It is a place where you come for a book but stay for the atmosphere and photographs. In the pedestrian zone, it pairs perfectly with a walk through the old centre; check the schedule before visiting.

Ateneul Român

The Romanian Athenaeum is the most beautiful concert hall in Bucharest and a symbol of national culture, home of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic. Inaugurated in 1888 and built by public subscription under the motto "Give a leu for the Athenaeum," the neoclassical edifice impresses with its peristyle of Ionic columns, high dome and elegant rotunda. The interior is a jewel: the circular concert hall, with exceptional acoustics, is adorned with a monumental fresco wrapping the walls over dozens of metres, illustrating key moments in Romanian history. It hosts the "George Enescu" International Festival and landmark concerts. Even without a ticket, the façade and marble staircases are worth admiring. Located near Calea Victoriei and the Athenaeum Park, it is a city landmark. Check the concert schedule and the possibility of visiting the interior outside events.

Cărturești Verona

Cărturești Carusel, often also called Cărturești Verona after the nearby street, is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, set in a carefully restored historic building in the Old Town of Bucharest. The bright, airy interior, with elegant white columns, winding stairs and fine balustrades climbing several levels beneath a generous skylight, has turned the simple act of buying a book into an aesthetic experience. The space holds thousands of books and albums, an art gallery on the top floor and a pleasant café-bistro, becoming a meeting point for locals and a magnet for tourists and photographers. Its position in the heart of the historic area makes it easy to include in a city walk. It is a place worth lingering in, even if you buy nothing, just for the architecture and atmosphere. Check the schedule, which may run late into the evening, and go up to the top-floor gallery.

The Artist Restaurant

Hanu' lui Manuc

Classic Romanian dishes served in a historic building, with traditional music and a spacious courtyard.

Caru' cu Bere

A Romanian restaurant with striking architecture, wood panelling, stained glass and a courtyard.

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

An elegant hotel with luxurious rooms and suites, plus five restaurants, a casino and a spa with a sauna.

Grand Hotel Continental Bucharest

Elegant rooms and suites in a refined hotel with an upscale restaurant, a spa and a bar.

Epoque Hotel Bucharest

Luxurious quarters in a stylish hotel with suites, plus a French restaurant, a spa and free breakfast.