20 Best Instagrammable Places in Bucharest

Last Updated on March 13, 2025

Have you ever thought about Bucharest as a dream destination for photographers?

While a Bucharest vs. Budapest comparison may favor the latter, Bucharest still features some Instagram-worthy spots and tourist objectives.

Here are the 20 best instagrammable places in Bucharest to save for your next trip to Romania’s capital city.

1. Carturesti Carusel

Known as “The Carousel of Light,” this bookstore features sweeping white staircases, elegant balconies, and wonderful natural light.

It is one of the fanciest spots in Bucharest, a place where you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take great shots.

2. Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse

Macca-Vilacrosse is a yellow-tinted glass-covered arcade with charming cafes and vintage vibes, perfect for moody photos.

The passageway has three exits, two on Calea Victoriei and the third one to the National Bank of Romania in the Old Town.

3. The Old Town (Centrul Vechi)

This is an area featuring narrow cobblestone streets, historic buildings, cozy cafes, and lively atmosphere in the heart of the city.

Just wander the streets to find the most beautiful corners for your Instagram profile.

4. The CEC Palace

This massive Belle Époque building with a glass and metal dome, is perfect for architectural photography, as well as for Instagram travel shots and reels.

It’s best to take photos from the opposite sidewalk or even from the tiny street across the road.

5. Stavropoleos Monastery

Located right in the Old Town, Stavropoleos monastery is a beautifully preserved 18th-century Orthodox church with stunning courtyard, intricate stone carvings, and peaceful ambiance.

6. The Romanian Athenaeum

A very beautiful concert hall with neoclassical architecture, ornate dome, and beautiful interior frescoes.

7. Cișmigiu Gardens

Bucharest’s oldest public garden with romantic bridges, a lake, flower gardens, and tree-lined alleyways.

8. Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum

Open-air museum with traditional Romanian houses from different regions.

9. Pasajul Victoriei

Romantic passageway with colorful umbrellas.

10. Herastrau (King Mihai) Park

There are many beautiful spots in this park. Nevertheless, should you visit Bucharest in the spring, make sure you check out the Japanese Garden in King Mihai park to take photos of the amazing cherry blossoms.

11.Cotroceni Neighborhood

Cotroceni is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Bucharest, home to many architectural gems.

You’ll find many lovely spots for your Instagram photos and reels.

While here, search for The Stairway of Happiness in Romniceanu Park.

12. Lacul Morii

Lacul Morii is one of the best places to view the sunset in Bucharest, as well as one of the newest promenade areas in town.

 

This is just another beautiful park in Bucharest. It features a very long promenade and a peninsula which is currently undergoing restoration works.

Click here to buy my self-guided Bucharest Communist Heritage itinerary to see how you can visit this monument and many other communism-related objectives.

14. The Botanical Garden

Located in Cotroceni, the Botanical Garden of Bucharest is one of the best spots to walk, relax and enjoy nature right in the middle of the city.

Should you visit it in the spring, you may find some cute little ducklings on the lake.

15. St. Anton Church

There are hundreds of churches in Bucharest. All of them are beautiful, but some stand out from the crowd, thanks to either their size or their specific architectural elements.

The church of St. Anton is one of the most impressive buildings of this kind.

16. Kretzulescu Church

Another lovely sight, Kretzulescu Church is a distinctive Orthodox church located in central Bucharest on Calea Victoriei.

Built between 1720-1722 during the rule of Nicolae Mavrocordat, it’s a remarkable example of Brâncovenesc architecture, a style unique to Wallachia that combines Ottoman, Byzantine, and Renaissance elements. The church is notable for its striking red brick exterior, ornate stone carvings, and decorative arches. Despite surviving multiple earthquakes and narrowly escaping demolition during Romania’s communist era, Kretzulescu Church stands today as one of Bucharest’s most important historical monuments, featuring beautiful interior frescoes that have been carefully restored over the years.

17. Casa Mița Biciclista

Built in the early 1900s in an eclectic Art Nouveau style, Casa Mița Biciclista was commissioned by Maria “Mița” Mihăescu, a famous Romanian socialite nicknamed “Biciclista” (the Cyclist) for her scandalous habit of cycling in public at a time when this was considered inappropriate for women.

The building is architecturally distinctive with its ornate façade featuring decorative elements such as female figures, floral motifs, and wrought iron balconies.

Mița was known for her numerous romantic affairs with influential men of her time, including King Carol I. Today, the building stands as both an architectural gem and a symbol of Belle Époque Bucharest, representing the city’s cosmopolitan past and the story of a woman who defied social conventions of her era.

18. Mogoșoaia Palace

Mogoșoaia Palace is located about 10 kilometers northwest of Bucharest.

Here’s my article about taking a day trip from Bucharest to Mogosoaia.

Built between 1698 and 1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu, Prince of Wallachia, the palace is one of the most relevant samples of Brâncovenesc architecture, a unique Romanian style that blends Renaissance, Baroque, Ottoman, and Byzantine elements.

The palace complex includes the main residence, a watchtower, a guest house, and beautiful gardens set along the shores of Lake Mogoșoaia. Its distinctive features include ornate stone carvings, elegant arcades, and intricately decorated balconies. After passing through various owners and surviving periods of neglect, the palace was restored in the early 20th century by Princess Martha Bibescu.

Today, Mogoșoaia Palace functions as a museum displaying art collections, historical artifacts, and period furniture, making it a popular destination for both tourists and locals seeking to experience Romania’s architectural heritage.

I love coming to Mogosoaia in the spring, to enjoy the beautiful garden and the lake views.

19. Arcul de Triumf (the Arch of Triumph)

Arcul de Triumf commemorates Romania’s independence and honors those who fought in World War I.

The current structure, completed in 1936, replaced earlier temporary wooden versions built in 1878 and 1922.

Designed by architect Petre Antonescu in a neoclassical style, the 27-meter-high arch is made of granite and features elaborate sculptures and reliefs created by renowned Romanian artists like Ion Jalea and Dimitrie Paciurea. These decorative elements depict important historical figures and scenes from Romanian history. Located in the affluent Herastrău area at the northern end of Kiseleff Road, the arch serves as a central point where several major boulevards converge.

Visitors can occasionally access the observation platform at the top via an interior staircase, offering panoramic views of the city. Arcul de Triumf remains an important symbol of Romanian national identity and a site for official military ceremonies.

20. Calea Victoriei

Calea Victoriei is one of the main boulevards of Bucharest.

During summer weekends it becomes pedestrian-only. This attracts lots of tourists and locals alike, turning the street into a vibrant hub of the city.

These are only 20 of the beautiful spots in Bucharest that are instagram-worthy.

For more information about finding your way around Bucharest, check out this quick guide to the city. It is a pdf file that lists some of the best things to know before visiting Bucharest.

Did I mention it is also free of charge?