10 Best Museums in Bucharest

Bucharest is Romania's most populous city and also the country's capital, and as such is one of the most important cultural reservoirs in the region. With museums and exhibitions that showcase the works of local and international artists but also other everyday aspects of Romanian life during the communist years, you'll easily find something to suit your interests during your visit.

Some of the best things to do in Bucharest include visiting the National Museum of the Villa, having a thematic experience at the Museum of the Senses, touring the exhibitions at the National Museum of Romania, visiting the Cotroceni Palace Museum, visiting the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, learning about the country's darkest years at the Museum of Communism and seeing the Villa Ceausescu exhibition.

The National Villa Museum is one of the most important exhibitions in Bucharest, offering visitors a fascinating insight into Romanian history and art. Located in the former Stirbei Palace, it houses a collection spanning from the 18th century to the present day. Here you can see the evolution of Romanian society and creativity over the years.

In this museum you can explore a variety of objects, paintings and documents that reveal the history of the country. Its outstanding collection of 19th century Romanian art includes works by Nicolae Grigorescu and Theodor Aman and the museum's rooms also feature traditional costumes, period furniture and objects that offer a detailed insight into Romanian life and culture in different periods.

The National Museum of the Villa also often organises temporary exhibitions that highlight contemporary creativity and current artistic expressions in Romania. These exhibitions may include multimedia installations, modern photography and works by emerging contemporary artists that reflect the diversity and innovation in the local art scene.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 4 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
• Location: Şoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 30, Bucharest.

One of the best things to do in Bucharest is to visit the Museum of the Senses, a unique experience that challenges the limits of perception and stimulates visitors' senses in an innovative way. This museum is designed to provide a multi-sensory experience, where each room presents challenges and exhibits that invite you to explore human perception in an alternative way.

In this museum you can visit rooms that defy gravity, disorient perspective and play with optical illusion. The Hall of Infinite Mirrors, one of the highlights of the exhibition, creates a visual effect that gives the sensation of being immersed in an endless space. In addition, in the Sensory Distortion Room you will experience an alteration of sizes and shapes in a bewildering experience.

The museum also has hands-on activities and interactive exhibits that aim to stimulate the other senses. From tactile experiences in the Hall of Touch to testing listening skills in the Hall of Hearing, you'll be challenged to explore how your senses interpret the world around them. Also, if you are planning to visit Bucharest at Christmas time you can find Christmas Eve themed activities here.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 8 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.
• Location: Bulevardul General Paul Teodorescu 4, Bucharest.

For one of the most visited exhibitions in Bucharest, don't miss the Romanian National History Museum, which approaches the country's history and cultural heritage from a holistic perspective. With its meticulously curated exhibits, the displays offer visitors a journey through the centuries, exploring the events that have shaped Romanian identity, from prehistoric times to the contemporary era.

Inside the museum you can see archaeological items, works of art, historical objects and documents illustrating the various periods of the country's history. The collection includes pieces of different origins such as Dacian jewellery, Roman sculptures and paintings that reflect the influence of the different cultures that have left their mark on the region.

In addition, among the most outstanding exhibitions is the one dedicated to the 1989 Revolution in Romania, a crucial event that marked the end of the communist regime in the country. The museum also houses a special collection dedicated to Prince Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, who inspired the legend of Dracula, and as this exhibition is located in the heart of Bucharest, you can combine it with some of the best guided tours of the Romanian capital.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 5 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Location: Calea Victoriei 12, Bucharest.

Cotroceni Palace is one of Romania's historic presidential residences and offers one of the most comprehensive displays in the country. In its internal museum, which is part of the complex, you can explore the palace's luxurious rooms and discover an extensive collection of art, historical objects and documents illustrating the evolution of the nation and its various governments.

In the Cotroceni rooms you can walk among period furniture, art pieces, textiles and personal objects that belonged to Romanian historical leaders. The collection includes items dating from the 17th century to the present day, providing a comprehensive overview of aristocratic and political life in Romania over the centuries. In addition, one of the highlights is the Throne Room, where official ceremonies were held.

In addition to the exhibits focusing on history and culture, the museum features a section dedicated to the religious art collection, which includes icons and liturgical objects of great value. You can also explore the Art Gallery, which houses works by contemporary Romanian artists and portraits of the country's former presidents.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 13 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-5.30pm.
• Location: Bulevardul Geniului 1, Bucharest.

Bucharest has a deep artistic tradition and one of the best ways to discover this is to visit the National Art Museum of Romania, which houses a collection of paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum is considered the main custodian of the country's artistic heritage and is housed in the Royal Palace, a monumental building dating from the 19th century.

The museum's collection features works by notable Romanian artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu, Theodor Aman and Ion Andreescu. It also has pieces by renowned European painters such as El Greco, Rembrandt and Rubens, so the diversity of styles and periods on display gives visitors a complete perspective of artistic evolution over the centuries.

The museum is also relatively close to the Bucharest Parliament, one of the city's most famous attractions, which you can visit on a guided tour of the building.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 5 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
• Location: Calea Victoriei 49-53, Bucharest.

If you are a natural science enthusiast or plan to visit Bucharest with children, one of the best exhibitions to visit is the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, which offers visitors a tour of the diversity of life on Earth. Founded in 1834, the museum has established itself as one of the main centres for scientific research and dissemination in Romania and Eastern Europe and its exhibits range from marine biology to palaeontology.

Inside the museum you can discover exhibits on the flora and fauna of different geographical regions, ranging from the Carpathian Mountains to the marine ecosystems of the Black Sea. In addition, the room dedicated to fossils offers a journey through time, showing the evolution of species over the years.

On the other hand, one of the most outstanding attractions is the butterfly room, where thousands of these species are arranged to reveal their unique shapes and colours. In addition, the museum has an interactive exhibition that addresses the conservation of biodiversity and the importance of preserving our natural environment, in an activity that is ideal for children.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 5 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Location: Şoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 1, Bucharest.

The National Museum of the Romanian Pe asantry celebrates and honours the heritage and traditions of the local people. This museum, founded in 1990, is dedicated to preserving the diversity of peasant culture in Romania, which has been very influential over the centuries. The museum's exhibits, then, range from historical objects to contemporary artistic expressions, providing a complete picture of rural life in the country.

In this museum you will find objects and artefacts from the daily life, festivities and beliefs of the peasant communities. Among the galleries you will find traditional regional costumes, agricultural implements, musical instruments and decorative elements that reflect the richness of Romanian rural culture. In addition, the museum houses a collection of ceramics, textiles and embroidery, highlighting the craftsmanship and stylistic diversity of the different regions of the country.

A highlight of the site is the outdoor area that recreates an authentic peasant village, with traditional houses, wooden churches and agricultural structures. This space provides an immersive experience that transports visitors to the rural life of the past and fosters an appreciation of Romania's peasant heritage.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 2.50 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
• Location: Şoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 3, Bucharest.

If you want to discover an exhibition that rescues the true local essence, you can't miss the Museum of Communism, which is a revealing window into one of the darkest and most complex periods of Romania's history. This museum, opened in 2015, is located in the city centre and is dedicated to documenting and exposing the reality of the communist regime that ruled the country from 1947 to 1989.

Through its exhibits, the museum offers a powerful insight into life under the leadership of Nicolae Ceausescu and the oppression of the Communist Party. In the galleries you will find a collection of photographs, official documents, testimonies and everyday objects that illustrate the harsh reality of the country during this period. In addition, the exhibition includes reproductions of prison cells, as well as personal belongings of Ceausescu and his wife Elena.

The museum, which is often included in the circuit of the best guided tours in Bucharest, also covers various aspects of daily life, from media censorship to restrictions on education and artistic expression.

One of the most striking sections is the one documenting the 1989 Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the communist regime. Photographs, videos and testimonies narrate the crucial events that led to the fall of Ceausescu and the beginning of a new era in Romania's history.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 6 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Location: Strada Covaci 6, Bucharest.

The Villa Ceausescu Museum offers visitors a unique insight into the life and legacy of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena. This museum, housed in the couple's former official residence, allows visitors to explore the luxurious interiors and vast gardens that once served as the epicentre of power in Romania during the communist regime. In addition, the museum's exhibits reveal the extravagance and control exercised by Ceausescu over the country.

In this museum you can see the opulent halls, extravagant decoration and architectural details that characterise the presidential residence. The couple's personal belongings, including clothing, jewellery and gifts from foreign dignitaries, offer an intimate insight into their daily lives. In addition, the collection also includes historical documents, photographs and videos narrating key moments of the communist regime, from the seizure of power to the 1989 Revolution.

A visit to the Villa Ceausescu Museum gives visitors the opportunity to understand the megalomania of the Romanian communist regime and the life of the presidential couple in a setting that reflects the disconnection between the leadership and the reality of the country. The garden, although now a public park, remains a testament to the luxury and grandeur that characterised Ceausescu's lifestyle.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 15 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Location: Bulevardul Primăverii 50, Bucharest.

One of the most comprehensive displays in Bucharest is the National Museum of Military History, a site that offers visitors an extensive collection of objects, documents and exhibits spanning from the medieval years to the present day. Here you can explore a variety of themed rooms detailing the most significant periods of the country's military history.

Inside the museum you will find artefacts, uniforms, weapons, equipment and military remnants used over the years by the Romanian armed forces. The collection includes items dating from the Middle Ages to the wars of the 20th century. Among the most prominent exhibits are objects related to Romania's participation in the First and Second World Wars, as well as key moments in the country's military history.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum organises temporary exhibitions and special events highlighting specific aspects of military history, such as Romanian participation in peace missions or the evolution of military technology.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 7 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Location: Strada Mircea Vulcănescu 125-127, Bucharest.