Old Town Walking Tour (Self Guided), Bucharest

The Historical Center of Bucharest, or the Old Town, as the locals habitually refer to it, is one of the most beloved and attractive areas in the Romanian capital. The neighborhood is really beautiful a place to visit, and you can walk into it pretty much from anywhere in central Bucharest. Ion Constantin Brătianu Boulevard crosses the historic heart of the city from Piata Universitate (University Square), in the north, to Piata Unirii (Union Square) in the south, splitting it into two almost equal parts.

Steeped in a mix of neoclassical and neo-baroque architecture, the grand Old Town area is an open-air museum, featuring excavated medieval ruins of Curtea Veche, the former court of infamous ruler Vlad the Impaler, and the National Museum of Romanian History showcasing religious icons and royal treasures in a former palace.

Not far from University Square stands the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, commissioned in 1905. Further afield, tucked away between taller buildings is yet another, more ancient, 18th-century church of the Stavropoleos Convent.

Hanul cu Tei (The Linden Tree Inn), on Strada Lipscani (Lipscani street), is one of the few historic inns still existing in Bucharest. Having largely retained its original appearance since 1833, the Inn hosts one of the biggest art galleries in the country, featuring vintage furniture, tapestries, rugs, paintings, and other artifacts.

Another historical inn – Hanul lui Manuc (Manuc's Inn) – is the oldest operating hotel in the city. It also houses a popular restaurant, several bars, a coffee-house, stores, and an extensive bar.

If you care to wander through the cobbled lanes of Bucharest’s Old Town and explore its attractions in more detail, do it in your good time and at your own pace with the help of our self-guided walking tour and enjoy yourself!