Explore a European hidden gem with this complete guide to the best Bucharest photography spots! Discover the capital city of Romania, its history, culture, and beauty.
Romania is amongst the least visited countries in the European Union. Its capital, Bucharest, is the main gateway into one of the most fascinating and unknown locations in Europe. Many people skip it and go towards the famous Carpathian mountains, Brasov, or the Black Sea. However, Bucharest is a really interesting city, one that deserves to be explored.
Despite some harsh opinions online, when it comes to photography, Bucharest is an amazing place to visit. It is a city full of contrasts, photo opportunities, and interesting sites. Even if we exclude its parliament, the heaviest building in the world, Bucharest is worth a visit.
In this Bucharest photography spots guide, you’ll find a list of its best locations. Instead of a long list, with some fillers, I decided to go straight to the point, to the places that anyone visiting Bucharest must visit and photograph.
If, after reading this guide, you want to know more about Bucharest, or you have questions about visiting Romania, you can schedule a 1-on-1 call with me using the link below!
Bucharest photography guide: FAQs
Before jumping into the best Bucharest photography spots, this is a list of questions I had before visiting Romania. A good photography trip starts with knowing the context you will be in, and with some good planning skills!
How many days to visit Bucharest?
I might be the only one who says this, but Bucharest is worth a visit, and more than a 24 or 48h stay. Especially as a photographer, this is a city with layers, and it can take some time to go over the first touristy one.
The main sights of Bucharest can be visited in a couple of days, true. But to go beyond its old town and popular spots, you will need at least a third day. Thus, I would recommend 3 days to visit Bucharest if you want to explore it at a slower pace. More days would mean more opportunities to go on photo walks and to explore lesser-visited areas of the city
However, if you’re in a rush, 2 days are enough to visit the main Bucharest photography spots in this guide. Days will be busy, but you’ll see most of what the first layer of the city has to offer
Where to stay in Bucharest?
Bucharest is a relatively big city, with around 1.7 million inhabitants. Thus, deciding on a good area to stay is key. There are two I would recommend.
The first one is the area between Cismigiu Gardens and Calea Victoriei. This area is within walking distance of the old town, but not exactly the old town. Full of restaurants, pretty well connected with the rest of the city, and with plenty of accommodation options available. This area could be extended east of Calea Victoriei until Bulevardul Nicolae Balcescu, so this is more of a rough area than a very specific spot.
The second area is the old town. Of course, it’s where many of the Bucharest photography spots are, but this also means that’s where most tourists are. Prices will be higher, streets can be noisier, and some buildings can be less well preserved. In the old town, there are some luxury hotels in historical buildings, but if you are on a budget, the first suggested area might be the right one for you.
How to move around in Bucharest?
While Bucharest is a big city, its old town is quite compressed. In fact, one can visit all the Bucharest photography spots in this guide on foot, without making it an extremely high-step day (maybe 30k?). Nonetheless, Bucharest has a solid transportation system.
The main ones you might use are the metro and the buses, although trams are also part of the picture. The metro, as usual, is the easiest way to move from distant points, as there’s no traffic. Buses are inexpensive and efficient, but can be stuck in traffic, especially at peak hour. If you’re ok with it, it will cost you less than 1 euro to go from the Airport to the Old Town, which is much cheaper than a taxi.
Speaking of taxis, that’s the other option for tourists. Both Uber and Bolt are operating in Bucharest, and prices are acceptable, although way higher than public transport. 10-15⏠for a ride from the airport to the old town, and 5-10⏠for moving within Bucharest.
How expensive is Bucharest?
Bucharest is among the most expensive cities in Romania. However, Romania is a cheap place to visit. Thus, Bucharest is not expensive, especially when you compare it to the most visited European cities.
If you compare it with the likes of Paris, Barcelona, Rome or London, Bucharest might be half or a third of the price of these cities. Accommodation, food, transportation,… even some of the tourist attractions are way cheaper than those in other European countries.
Of course, there are luxury options in Bucharest. You can splurge and make it extremely expensive, but Romania and Bucharest are quite cheap to visit if you compare them with other countries in Europe. It’s not Southeast Asia, but it’s a great way to make a European trip budget less scary.
What is the best season to visit Bucharest?
Most people would say that summer is the time to visit Bucharest. While I don’t necessarily disagree, Summer means more tourists (although it’s not that much of a problem in Romania, yet), and heat. Heat is the reason why I’d recommend the shoulder season to visit Bucharest.
You might be lucky (I was), and get great temperatures, enjoy the city in mid-August, and have the time of your life. However, it’s not always the case. Moreover, many of the Bucharest photography spots in this guide would benefit from spring or autumn conditions. Even some snow in winter can make the city look completely different.
To be very honest, though, if you visit Bucharest as part of a trip to Romania, unless you’re there for the snow, I’d recommend avoiding the winter months, as some of its main attractions might be difficult to visit in challenging weather conditions. More on that on my dedicated Romania photography spots guide!
How safe is Bucharest?
Historically, Romania has had a bit of a reputation when it comes to safety. I’m happy to say that these days are far gone. Bucharest, and overall Romania, is a safe place to be.
However, as in all touristy cities, you need to be wary of where you are, where your personal belongings are, and what surrounds you. If you are exploring any of the Bucharest photography spots, don’t leave your gear unattended or zone out. If you follow these basic security recommendations, you will be okay.
Bucharest photography spots: a guide
This Bucharest photography spots guide is not listed in any specific order. These were all visited during 3 days in Bucharest, in mid-2025. I have not included any spots where photography is restricted or prohibited.
Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul RomĂąn)
The first of the Bucharest photography spots is one that surprised me positively. This is a circular concert hall, inspired by the French and Italian constructions. Built in the 19th century, it’s a building that will undoubtedly catch your attention.
There are two ways to visit it. The first by getting tickets to one of the concerts. There are cheap ones, and they can be a great way to also enjoy some classical music if you’re into it. The second, to go on a non-concert day and pay cash to visit it. Importantly, it’s a cash-only place, unlike most places in Romania and Bucharest.
Once inside, there are plenty of photography opportunities: the main staircase, the concert hall, the decorations, the side spiral staircases…
While I usually would recommend visiting it on a concert day, if you want to take photos, going on a non-concert day will make it easier to get photos like the one below.
Parliament (exterior)
The Romanian parliament is a unique building. It’s the heaviest building in the world, and a great photography spot. In fact, I have divided it into two spots, as they are completely different. The first one is its exterior.
From the outside, the building is impressive. Tall, square, with endless windows, arches, columns,… The best time to visit it is early in the morning, to ensure that it gets the best possible light.
Being such a big building, it takes quite some time to walk around it, so make sure to take this into account. One of the most common views, and the one depicted below, is from the Unirii Boulevard. One of the most well-known Bucharest photography spots, and a must-visit.
Parliament (interior)
If seeing the outside of the parliament is not enough for you, great news, you can visit its interior. The process, though, is cumbersome. It could be that when you read these lines, there’s an online ticketing system, and this is no longer valid.
But as of 2025, the only ways to get a ticket are: getting to this door early in the morning and praying that there are free spots, or calling the day before to a Romanian number and booking your visit.
There’s a third option, which is buying from one of the non-official resellers, but I don’t recommend it. Not because you won’t get your ticket, but because they bump the price up by quite a lot.
After going through this scavenger hunt, there’s a visit. To put it plainly: it’s worth it, but could be much better. The visit is short, the explanations don’t focus on the convoluted past of the country, and you only visit some rooms (not the main chamber, which is a shame).
As one of the main Bucharest photography spots, you will be able to take great photos, but it can be a bit disappointing if you compare it with other parliament visits, such as the one in Budapest.
CÄrtureÈti Carusel: Bucharest bookstore
This is one of my favourite Bucharest photography spots. The CÄrtureÈti Carusel library is not a hidden spot. However, it’s a quiet one. This bookstore is a fantastic place to take photos because of its modern architecture. Its white interior is full of spiral staircases, viewing platforms, and, of course, lots of books.
The first thing to say about this spot is that it’s a bookstore, which means that you should be very respectful when visiting it. It’s a place where people go to read, find books, or have some coffee on its top floor. It’s not a place to be noisy or run around. That said, you could spend an hour taking photos, as there are so many interesting angles and opportunities.
After taking the main photo of the overview of the whole library, walk on the middle levels, and check some of the other views. It’s really worth it. Bonus points for being air-conditioned. If visiting during the summer months, it’s a fantastic place to hide from the heat.
Old Town
Bucharest’s old town had to make it to this list. Like any European city, it has its cute old town, cobblestone streets, churches, and historical buildings, but in this case, it has a twist.
If you read about the history of Romania, you’ll notice how they have endured some convulse periods, and this can be seen in the architecture of the city. From the cute monasteries (more on that below), to the impressive “French-inspired” buildings, including the “Soviet-inspired” mega structures.
Walking through the old town of Bucharest, photography spots appear one after the other. Look for the contrasts, how light plays with the buildings and streets, and you’ll be able to take great photos. Not being a super-photographed city, it’s still possible to take different photos, unlike other European destinations.
Stavropoleos Monastery
One of the cutest Bucharest photography spots is the Stavropoleos Monastery. If you visit Bucharest after a trip through Romania, you’ll say: Oh, another monastery. However, if you visit it before checking the rest of the monasteries in the country, you will be greatly impressed bit its frescoes and its patio (cloister).
There are many photo opportunities in this tiny monastery. The most obvious one is the interior of the church. Greatly decorated, if you get there the moment the doors open, you may get it all by yourself. Otherwise, due to its size, you’ll be sharing the space with others.
The other main spot is the cloyster. It’s nothing special, but it has a nice vibe and can make for nice photos. During the summer months, it was full of mosquitoes, so be ready to get bitten.
The final spot is the monastery itself, hidden in the middle of the old town streets of Bucharest. It feels as if the old town grew beyond the monastery, and it makes for a great photo.
Night streets
In this Bucharest photography spots guide, I wanted to also mention something that is not a specific place, but more of an opportunity. Bucharest is a city that comes to life at night. Thus, it’s a fantastic moment to explore the city and take different photos.
My favourite spots were those that I stumbled upon. An area that I found really photogenic was the one around Calea Victoriei, especially the side alleys. They were full of contrasts, photo opportunities, and allowed me to capture a different side of Bucharest.
Street photography in Bucharest (4 spots)
Besides the night streets, Bucharest is a great city for street photography. Again, it’s because of the contrasts. This is the reason why I recommend spending a bit more time in the city, to grab your camera, and walk around.
While these are not specific Bucharest photography spots, here are some of the photo opportunities I would recommend looking into:
- Churches: many of them don’t allow photography in their interior. However, even just from the outside, you can take some great shots.
- Metro exits: as with any city with underpasses, it can be a great place for highly contrasted images. If the light is right, you can take really nice photos.
- Daily life: from the university area to the bus stops. Bucharest has a lot to offer, and the flows of people work really well for photography.
- Parks: the image below is from Cismigiu Gardens, which could have its own section in this Bucharest photography spots guide. The city has many parks, and they are great places for contemplative photography, especially during the warm summer months.
Arcul de Triumf
The last of the Bucharest photography spots is the Arcul de Triumf. Just like in Paris, Bucharest has its own Arc of Triumph. It is an extremely photogenic building. I did not have enough time to visit it on a sunrise or sunset setup, but with a tripod, some time and a bit of luck, you could take one of the best photos of Bucharest there.
The main drawback of this location is that it’s not that close to the old town. One option is to walk there. The path is nice, with parks and a big avenue. I choose to run, as it’s always one of the great ways to explore a city.
Other options would be to take a taxi or to visit it on your way from or to the airport, as it’s on the main route, even if you take the public bus.
This concludes this Bucharest photography spots guide. If you have any questions about Bucharest or Romania, you can schedule a 1-on-1 call with me using the link below. If you are planning to spend thousands on a trip, why not make sure that it’s adapted to your way of travelling? For more travel inspiration, find me on Instagram! (@aniolvisuals).
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