The city is big and the traffic is heavy, so deciding where to stay in Bucharest is really about staying close to the metro and to the things you want to see. Here are my six picks for areas, with three hotels in each.

Where to Stay in Bucharest: The Best Areas

• Old Town - best area for nightlife and first-time visitors
• Calea Victoriei & Piața Revoluției - best area for culture and classic hotels
• Cișmigiu & Universitate - best area for couples and romance
• Piața Romană & Magheru - best area for good prices and easy metro access
• Unirii & the Palace of the Parliament - best area for families and drivers
• Dorobanți & Herăstrău - best area for peace and quiet, parks and restaurants

Central Bucharest stretches along a north-south axis, and metro line M2 runs beneath most of it, from Herăstrău Park via Piața Romană and Universitate to Piața Unirii. The first five areas are all within half an hour’s walk of each other, while Dorobanți and Herăstrău lie further north. The prices below come from a search for a weekend in May for two people, and 1 lei is worth roughly 17p.

1. Old Town - best area for nightlife and first-time visitors 🍻

• 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the centre. From Strada Lipscani it’s a five-minute walk to Piața Universității and ten minutes to Piața Unirii.
• 🚇 Transport: Metro M2 from Universitate at the northern end, and M1, M2 and M3 from Piața Unirii at the southern end. Within the Old Town you can walk everywhere, as most of the streets are car-free.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: Around 45 to 60 minutes by train to Gara de Nord and then metro M1 on to Piața Unirii, or 30 to 45 minutes by car outside rush hour.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three hotels below cost roughly 530 to 1,240 lei (around £90 to £210) per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: Safe and full of people until late at night. Watch out for pickpockets, touts outside the bars and strip clubs with inflated bills, and never take a taxi that’s parked up waiting in the streets.

The Old Town is the small network of cobbled streets between Piața Universității and Piața Unirii, and it’s the only part of Bucharest where the pre-communist buildings still stand together. The main street is called Lipscani after the merchants who traded with Leipzig, and right next to it are the ruins of the princely court, Curtea Veche, where Vlad Țepeș, the man behind the Dracula myth, had his residence. Pop into the little church of Stavropoleos Monastery from 1724 too, and into the Cărturești Carusel bookshop, which fills a restored mansion with several floors of white balconies.

In the evening the area changes character. Strada Smârdan, Strada Gabroveni and the surrounding streets are full of terraces, bars and clubs, and at weekends the party carries on until the early hours. Hanul lui Manuc, an old caravanserai from 1808 with a large courtyard, is a good place to try Romanian food, and if you want the stories behind it all, you can take a guided walking tour of the Old Town and the centre.

See hotels in the Old Town here.

I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Bucharest and you want to be able to walk home from the bar. Most of what you’ve come for is within half an hour’s walk, including the Romanian Athenaeum on Calea Victoriei and the Palace of the Parliament to the south-west, and you’ve got the city’s biggest choice of restaurants right on your doorstep.

The downside is the noise. If you stay in the middle of the Old Town, you may hear music and shouting into the small hours on Fridays and Saturdays, so pick a hotel on the edge of the area or ask for a room away from the street. The restaurants on the main streets are also pricier and often worse than elsewhere in the city, and the touts can be pushy, so it’s worth walking a street further away before you sit down.

Hotels in the Old Town

The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection - five-star hotel in a former bank building

The Marmorosch is on Strada Doamnei in the northern part of the Old Town, in a former bank building with marble, high ceilings and beautiful details. The hotel has a spa with a sauna and indoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, and with a score of 9.2 from more than 4,000 reviews it’s one of the city’s highest-rated hotels. A few guests have been given rooms with dull views, so ask about the view when you book.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location. The staff. Clean, beautiful rooms.”

See photos and book The Marmorosch here.

Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town - modern four-star hotel on the edge of the Old Town

Hilton Garden Inn is also on Strada Doamnei, right on the edge of the Old Town, so you’ve got the bars round the corner without staying in the thick of them. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a 24-hour reception, and it scores 9.1 from more than 4,000 reviews. Some guests complain about street noise at night, so bring earplugs if you’re visiting at the weekend.

From one review: “The location is excellent, right on the edge of the Old Town but not in the middle of all the noise.”

See photos and book Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town here.

Rembrandt Old Town - small hotel in the heart of the Old Town with breakfast included

Rembrandt Old Town is on Strada Smârdan in the middle of the area. It’s a small hotel with a lift, a 24-hour reception and breakfast included in the price. The décor is on the old-fashioned side, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions here when I searched. The downside is the noise from the bars in the neighbouring streets, which several guests can hear into the small hours.

One guest highlights: “The hotel is a bit old-fashioned, but the location is fantastic.”

See photos and book Rembrandt Old Town here.

2. Calea Victoriei & Piața Revoluției - best area for culture and classic hotels 🎻

• 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the centre. From Piața Revoluției it’s a five-minute walk to the Romanian Athenaeum and ten minutes to the Old Town.
• 🚇 Transport: There’s no metro on Calea Victoriei itself, but Universitate and Piața Romană stations on line M2 are a 10 to 15-minute walk away.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: Around 45 to 60 minutes by train to Gara de Nord and then the metro via Piața Victoriei, or 30 to 45 minutes by car outside rush hour.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three hotels below cost around 530 to 1,140 lei (around £95 to £200) per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: Safe and well lit. In the evening the northern end of the street goes quiet, but it doesn’t feel unsafe to walk here.

Calea Victoriei is Bucharest’s grandest street, and this is where you’ll understand how the city earned its old nickname. The street winds north from the Dâmbovița river past the CEC Palace with its glass dome, Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, where the cafés sit beneath a glass roof, and a long line of mansions from the 19th century and the interwar years. Many of them now house museums, ministries and upmarket restaurants.

The heart of the area is Piața Revoluției. This is where Ceaușescu gave his final speech from the balcony of the Communist Party’s Central Committee building in December 1989, before fleeing by helicopter from the roof the following day, and today a large memorial to the revolution stands in the middle of the square. Opposite is the former Royal Palace, home to the National Museum of Art of Romania, and right next door is the Romanian Athenaeum from 1888 with its round dome. It’s the city’s most beautiful concert hall and home to the George Enescu Philharmonic.

See hotels near Calea Victoriei and Piața Revoluției here.

I’d stay here if you’re coming for the culture, want to stay in a classic grand hotel or simply want to be central without hearing the Old Town nightlife. You can walk to most places, and both Cișmigiu Gardens and Lipscani are around ten minutes away. It’s also a good choice for a first visit if you’re travelling with older parents or just want a good night’s sleep.

The downside is the traffic. Calea Victoriei and the boulevards around it are packed with cars and buses from morning till night, and the metro is further away than from the other central areas. Ask for a room facing the courtyard if you’re a light sleeper, and expect to walk 10 to 15 minutes to the nearest station when you want to head further out into the city.

Hotels near Calea Victoriei & Piața Revoluției

Grand Hotel Continental Bucuresti - historic grand hotel on Calea Victoriei

Grand Hotel Continental is on Calea Victoriei, a few minutes’ walk from both the Old Town and Piața Revoluției, in a historic building with classic décor and service that guests rate very highly. There’s a spa with a sauna and steam room, a gym and a restaurant, but no pool. Several guests mention that the shower can flood the bathroom floor, so don’t leave your clothes lying on the floor.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic hotel with an excellent location and very friendly staff.”

See photos and book Grand Hotel Continental here.

Novotel Bucharest City Centre - modern hotel with an indoor pool

Novotel Bucharest City Centre is on Calea Victoriei just south of Piața Revoluției. It’s a large, modern four-star hotel with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and gym. There are also family rooms and an indoor play area, so it works well for families. A recurring complaint is that the air conditioning doesn’t always work properly and that the windows can’t be opened.

From one review: “Fantastic hotel, fantastic location. The staff were very friendly.”

See photos and book Novotel Bucharest City Centre here.

Hotel Berthelot - four-star hotel with jazz in the restaurant

Hotel Berthelot is on Strada General Berthelot, a side street between Calea Victoriei and Cișmigiu Gardens. It’s a four-star hotel with a restaurant that hosts jazz on some evenings, and breakfast is included in the price. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions here when I searched, but if you’re coming by car, parking costs extra and spaces are limited.

One guest highlights: “We really liked the hotel. Very close to the centre.”

See photos and book Hotel Berthelot here.

3. Cișmigiu & Universitate - best area for couples and romance 🌳

• 📍 Distance to the centre: About 1 kilometre west of the Old Town. From Cișmigiu Park it’s a 10 to 15-minute walk to Strada Lipscani.
• 🚇 Transport: Metro lines M1 and M3 from Izvor, south of the park, and M2 from Universitate, east of it. Both stations are about a ten-minute walk from the park.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: About 45 to 60 minutes by train to Gara de Nord and then metro M1 to Izvor, or 30 to 45 minutes by car outside rush hour.
• 💰 Price level: Low to very high. The three hotels below cost around 490 to 2,220 lei (roughly £85 to £380) per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: Safe. The park is full of families and joggers during the day, and in the evening you should stick to the well-lit main paths.

Cișmigiu is the green heart of central Bucharest and one of the city’s oldest parks, laid out in the mid-1800s around an artificial lake. In summer you can hire rowing boats on the lake, and among the tall trees you’ll find a rose garden, playgrounds, pavilions and a corner with chess tables where the locals gather. This is where Bucharest residents go for their Sunday stroll, and where you see the city’s calmer side.

East of the park, Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta runs past the university to Piața Universității, where the National Theatre and the university’s old main building face each other. The square was the centre of the demonstrations in 1989 and 1990. West of the park you’ll find the National Opera and quiet streets with villas and small restaurants, where you’ll meet more locals than tourists.

See hotels near Cișmigiu and Universitate here.

I’d stay here if you’re a couple who want peace and quiet while still being within walking distance of everything. Some of the city’s most elegant hotels are here, and if you want to treat yourself, you get more luxury for your money than in most other European capitals. If you just want a cheap room somewhere quiet, you’ll find that too in the streets west of the park.

The downside is that the park is at its best during the day, and restaurants are few and far between in the quiet streets to the west. Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta is also a wide, busy boulevard, so if you choose a hotel facing it, ask for a room at the back overlooking the courtyard. In the evening you’ll usually walk into the Old Town to eat, which takes about a quarter of an hour.

Hotels near Cișmigiu & Universitate

Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest - the city’s most luxurious hotel in a historic palace

Corinthia sits on the corner of Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta and Calea Victoriei in the historic building that for many years was the Grand Hotel du Boulevard. There’s a spa, gym, restaurant, bar and concierge, and guests give it an impressive 9.7. On the other hand, there’s no pool, and the price was the highest in this entire guide when I searched, which is also the recurring complaint.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was perfect.”

See photos and book Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard here.

Hotel Cismigiu - hotel from 1912 right by the park

Hotel Cismigiu is on Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta by the park, in a building from 1912 where Art Nouveau blends with modern interiors. There’s a restaurant, bar, gym and underground car park, and it scores 8.9 from over 2,300 reviews. The breakfast gets mixed reviews, so consider having it at one of the nearby cafés instead.

From one review: “The hotel was perfect. Fantastic location. Friendly staff.”

See photos and book Hotel Cismigiu here.

Casa Siqua - small, quiet hotel close to the opera

Casa Siqua is on Bulevardul Plevnei west of the park, a few minutes’ walk from the National Opera, and it’s a small three-star hotel with a terrace and simple, clean rooms. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions in this area when I searched. Breakfast costs extra, though, and there are only a few parking spaces at the hotel.

One guest highlights: “Very friendly staff, and the room was clean.”

See photos and book Casa Siqua here.

4. Piața Romană & Magheru - best area for good prices and easy metro access 🚇

• 📍 Distance to the centre: About 1.5 kilometres north of the Old Town. From Piața Romană it’s a ten-minute walk to Ateneul Român and 20 minutes to Strada Lipscani.
• 🚇 Transport: Metro M2 from Piața Romană, which runs directly to Universitate and Piața Unirii to the south and to Piața Victoriei and Aviatorilor to the north.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: About 45 minutes by train to Gara de Nord and then the metro via Piața Victoriei, or 30 to 40 minutes by car outside rush hour.
• 💰 Price level: Low to mid-range. The three hotels below cost around 370 to 1,010 lei (around £70 to £190) per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: Safe and lively until late. The square is one of the city’s biggest traffic hubs, so take care at pedestrian crossings and watch out for pickpockets on the metro at rush hour.

Piața Romană is a large, busy square in the middle of the north-south axis that runs through Bucharest, and it’s dominated by the domed main building of the Academia de Studii Economice, the city’s big economics university. As a result, the area is full of students, cheap places to eat, coffee bars and bars that stay open late, and the atmosphere is young and unpretentious.

Bulevardul Magheru runs south towards Piața Universității, lined with cinemas, shops and hotels from the interwar years, and just to the west lies Piața Amzei with a small market and restaurants in the surrounding streets. To the east is Grădina Icoanei, a small park surrounded by villas, where things immediately become much quieter. It’s a good spot for a morning coffee before you take the metro into the centre.

See hotels near Piața Romană here.

I’d stay here if you want the most for your money while staying right by the metro. From here you’re in the Old Town within minutes, and line M2 also continues up to Herăstrău Park. This is also where you’ll find many of the city’s good-value four-star hotels within walking distance of both the Old Town and Calea Victoriei. And because Piața Romană sits halfway between the Old Town and Herăstrău, it’s easy to reach both ends of the city on the same day.

The downside is the noise. Piața Romană and Bulevardul Magheru are full of traffic from morning until late in the evening, and the area is more practical than pretty, with a mix of handsome interwar houses and grey communist-era buildings. Choose a hotel on a side street if you want to sleep with the window open, and don’t expect idyllic streets.

Hotels at Piața Romană & Magheru

Sheraton Bucharest Hotel - five-star hotel with an indoor pool near Piața Romană

Sheraton Bucharest is on Calea Dorobanților, a few minutes’ walk from Piața Romană and the metro, and it’s a large five-star hotel with an indoor pool, spa, sauna, gym and restaurant. The staff get a lot of praise in the reviews. Several guests do feel, however, that the hotel seems a little tired and in need of a refresh.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were so helpful in every department.”

See photos and book Sheraton Bucharest here.

Hotel Lido by Phoenicia - art deco hotel from 1930 on Magheru

Hotel Lido by Phoenicia is on Bulevardul Magheru between Piața Romană and Piața Universității, in a 1930 building with an art deco façade and boutique-style interiors. There’s a gym, a restaurant and massages on offer, and you can walk to both Ateneul Român and the metro in a few minutes. The breakfast, on the other hand, is criticised for being repetitive.

From one review: “Beautiful boutique-style hotel, we loved the décor.”

See photos and book Hotel Lido by Phoenicia here.

Hotel Minerva - low-priced four-star hotel close to Calea Victoriei

Hotel Minerva is on Strada Gheorghe Manu, a quieter side street between Piața Romană and the northern part of Calea Victoriei. It’s a four-star hotel with a restaurant, bar, room service and breakfast included, and it was one of the cheapest in this entire guide when I searched. Some guests have, however, experienced slow check-in and things in the room that needed fixing.

One guest highlights: “The staff were very friendly in their communication.”

See photos and book Hotel Minerva here.

5. Unirii & Palace of the Parliament - best area for families and drivers ⛲

• 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re in the southern part of the centre. From Piața Unirii it’s a ten-minute walk to the Old Town and 20 minutes to the Palace of the Parliament.
• 🚇 Transport: Piața Unirii is the metro’s biggest hub, served by lines M1, M2 and M3, and Izvor station on M1 and M3 is right next to the Palace of the Parliament.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: Around 45 to 60 minutes by train to Gara de Nord and then metro M1 straight to Izvor or Piața Unirii, or 35 to 50 minutes by car.
• 💰 Price level: Low to high. The three hotels below cost around 400 to 1,090 lei (roughly £70 to £185) per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: Safe around the square and the Palace of the Parliament. The wide boulevards get deserted late in the evening, so take a Bolt or Uber back if you’ve got a long way to go.

The area around Piața Unirii and the Palace of the Parliament is Ceaușescu’s Bucharest. In the 1980s, a large part of the historic district was demolished to make way for the Palace of the Parliament and Bulevardul Unirii, a long boulevard with fountains down the middle that was meant to outdo the Champs-Élysées. The result is overwhelming and fascinating at the same time, and it’s hard to understand the city without having seen it.

The Palace of the Parliament is the world’s second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon, and you can only get inside on a guided tour, for which you’ll need to bring your passport or ID card. The easiest option is to book a guided tour of the Palace of the Parliament in advance. From Piața Unirii it’s also a short walk to the Patriarchal Cathedral on Dealul Mitropoliei hill and to Hanul lui Manuc on the edge of the Old Town.

See hotels near Piața Unirii and the Palace of the Parliament here.

I’d stay here if you’re travelling with children or have a car, because the hotels are bigger, have parking and are often cheaper than in the Old Town for the same standard. The metro makes it easy to get around, and the Old Town is still within walking distance when you want to go out for dinner in the evening. If you need anything along the way, the Unirea shopping centre is right by the square, and several of the hotels have a pool or family rooms.

The downside is the atmosphere. The boulevards are wide and built for parades, not for strolling, and between Piața Unirii and the Palace of the Parliament cosy cafés are few and far between. In summer, the long walk on the tarmac in the sun can also be tough, so take the metro to Izvor when you’re heading to the palace and save the walk for a cooler evening.

Hotels near Unirii & the Palace of the Parliament

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel - large five-star hotel with a pool behind the Palace of the Parliament

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel is on Calea 13 Septembrie, right behind the Palace of the Parliament, and it’s a large luxury hotel with an indoor pool, spa, sauna, jacuzzi, several restaurants and a casino. Over the years the hotel has hosted heads of state and royalty, and it scores 9.1 from more than 3,600 reviews. A few guests have, however, found dust and hair in their room.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel made our stay easy and enjoyable.”

See photos and book JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel here.

Continental Forum Bucuresti Palatul Parlamentului - four-star hotel by Izvor Park

Continental Forum is on Strada Izvor by the park of the same name, a few minutes’ walk from the Palace of the Parliament and Izvor metro station. It’s a four-star hotel with a restaurant, bar and family rooms, and small pets are welcome. Breakfast and parking cost extra, and a few guests have come across staff who weren’t particularly polite.

From a review: “Clean hotel, helpful staff, highly recommended.”

See photos and book Continental Forum here.

Hotel Cantemir - quiet adults-only hotel with free parking

Hotel Cantemir is on Bulevardul Dimitrie Cantemir, about a ten-minute walk south of Piața Unirii, and it’s a simple three-star adults-only hotel with free parking and breakfast included. The rooms are basic and the building isn’t new, but for the price you get a quiet place to sleep close to the metro.

One guest highlights: “The hotel is comfortable and quiet.”

See photos and book Hotel Cantemir here.

6. Dorobanți & Herăstrău - best area for peace and quiet, parks and restaurants 🌿

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Around 3 to 4 kilometres north of the Old Town. It’s too far to walk every day, but by taxi or metro you’ll be in the centre in 15 to 20 minutes.
• 🚇 Transport: Metro M2 from Aviatorilor at the southern tip of the park and from Piața Victoriei. Dorobanți itself has no metro, so here you take the bus or a Bolt.
• ✈️ Time from Henri Coandă Airport: Around 20 to 35 minutes by car along the main road to the north, making this the area in the guide closest to the airport.
• 💰 Price level: Low to mid-range. The three hotels below cost around 370 to 720 lei (around £60 to £120) a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• 👮 Safety: One of the city’s safest and most affluent neighbourhoods, with embassies, villas and guards at many of the gates.

North of Piața Romană, Bucharest becomes greener and more expensive. Dorobanți is the neighbourhood around Calea Dorobanților and Piața Dorobanți, with shops, good restaurants, wine bars and cafés where the city’s well-off residents meet. Further north lies Primăverii, with embassies and large villas, and this is also where you’ll find Palatul Primăverii, Ceaușescu’s private residence, which you can see inside on a guided tour.

The neighbourhood borders Parcul Regele Mihai I, which most people still call Herăstrău. The park surrounds a large lake where you can go boating in summer, and on the western shore you’ll find Muzeul Satului, an open-air museum with old houses, churches and windmills from all over Romania. A ticket costs 40 lei (around £7), and it’s half price on Mondays and Tuesdays. At the southern tip of the park stands Arcul de Triumf, the city’s triumphal arch, and the park is one of the best places in Bucharest for a run or a long morning walk.

See hotels in Dorobanți and by Herăstrău here.

I’d stay here if you’ve been to Bucharest before, are travelling with children who need room to run around, or simply want to eat well and sleep soundly. It’s also the most practical area if you have an early flight, as you avoid the worst of the traffic through the city on the way to the airport.

The downside is the distance. You’ll need a taxi, bus or the metro every time you want to go into the Old Town, and the choice of hotels is smaller, because many of the places are small villa hotels and apartments. Main roads such as Calea Dorobanților can also be noisy at rush hour, and in the evening it’s the restaurants rather than the bars that draw people here.

Hotels in Dorobanți & by Herăstrău

Marshal Garden Hotel - four-star hotel with a heated terrace and free parking

Marshal Garden Hotel is on Calea Dorobanților in the southern part of the neighbourhood, a 15-minute walk from Piața Romană. It’s a four-star hotel with colourful, spacious rooms, a sauna, a restaurant with a heated terrace, breakfast included and free parking, subject to availability. The hotel also hosts events, and several guests mention noise at weekends.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was spacious, well equipped and elegantly furnished.”

See photos and book Marshal Garden Hotel here.

Vila Paris Boutique Hotel - villa hotel with a summer terrace in Dorobanți

Vila Paris Boutique Hotel is on Strada Paris near Piața Dorobanți, in a villa with a summer terrace and family rooms, and breakfast is included. It scores 9.1, and guests particularly praise the staff. There’s no lift, and some guests hear traffic from the busy streets at rush hour.

From one review: “I had a truly exceptional stay at this hotel, really perfect in every way.”

See photos and book Vila Paris Boutique Hotel here.

Pensiunea Helvetia - small guesthouse near Herăstrău and the metro

Pensiunea Helvetia is on Strada Popa Savu near Piața Charles de Gaulle, a few minutes’ walk from Herăstrău Park and Aviatorilor metro station. It’s a small three-star guesthouse with a 24-hour reception and breakfast included, and it was one of the cheapest in this guide when I searched. There’s no parking at the house, so if you arrive by car, you’ll have to pay for a space nearby.

One guest highlights: “Everything! The room and the location were perfect.”

See photos and book Pensiunea Helvetia here.

Where not to stay in Bucharest?

The area I most often advise against is the neighbourhood around Gara de Nord. The hotels are cheap and the train to the airport is handy, but the streets around the station are run-down and dreary after dark, and this is where the taxi drivers who rip off tourists wait. Ferentari and Rahova in the south of the city are poor neighbourhoods with nothing for tourists, and the large communist-era housing estates such as Militari, Drumul Taberei and Titan are a long way from everything you’ve come for. Don’t stay by the airport in Otopeni or in the Pipera office district either, unless you have an early morning flight, as the journey into the centre can take a long time at rush hour.

If it’s your first trip to Bucharest, I’d stay in the Old Town if you want to be in the thick of the nightlife, or by Calea Victoriei if you want the same central base without the noise. If you’re a couple looking to treat yourselves, choose Cișmigiu, and if you’re on a tight budget, Piața Romană gives you the most for your money. Families and drivers get the most space around Piața Unirii, while Dorobanți and Herăstrău are for those who want peace and quiet and good restaurants.

From the airport, the train to Gara de Nord takes 20 to 25 minutes, and a ticket costs under 10 lei (under £2). There’s also an express bus, route 100, running around the clock towards the centre, and here you pay 3 lei (around 50p) with your bank card. If you take a taxi, book it on the screens in the arrivals hall or use Bolt or Uber, and say no thanks to drivers who approach you inside the terminal. In the city, a ticket for the bus, tram and metro costs 7 lei (around £1.20), and a 24-hour pass costs 18 lei (around £3).

If you have an extra day, take a day trip to Transylvania. The train to Sinaia, where the royal Peleș Castle sits in the forest beneath the Carpathians, takes around two hours, and Brașov with its medieval Old Town is about an hour further on. Bran Castle, marketed as Dracula’s Castle, is around half an hour’s drive from Brașov, and if you want to see Peleș, Bran and Brașov in one day, an organised day trip from Bucharest is the easiest option. Peleș closes for periods, including for cleaning in the autumn, so check the opening hours before you go.

If you’d rather drive yourself and make it a road trip around Transylvania, you can find hire cars on Booking.com, but pick up the car at the airport or on your way out of the city, as the traffic in Bucharest is tough. And if you’re travelling on in the region, it’s a short flight to both Budapest and Istanbul, where I also have guides on where to stay in Budapest and where to stay in Istanbul.

The post Where to Stay in Bucharest? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.