Bucharest's Old Town

26-Jul-2024 • Bucharest Romania

We decided to explore Old Town in detail on our second full day in Bucharest. We clocked in thousands of steps and traveled by Metro to see the city's attractions the day before. We felt it would be a shame if we didn't get to see Old Town and visited its most famous landmarks while we were in the Romanian capital. We just had to explore it at leisure since it was quite a big area with equally important if not more important churches and museums. It was after all, just a skip and a hop from our Mercure Hotel where we were staying.

We had briefly visited it in the afternoon of our arrival in the country. But since we were basically half asleep then, we were wide awake the second time we went. We retraced our steps walking up Lipscani Street then entering Old Town where the Capitoline Wolf or She Wolf Monument was located.

Here's the Capitoline Monument in Old Town.

To start our trek, we passed by the Luca Bakery where we bought some apple and cherry strudels as well as some pizza slices for breakfast. To this day, I cannot believe how affordable food here was. Less than a $1 for each pastry!

Enjoy!

The Carturesti Carusel in Old Town. I believe this is a chain. I remember seeing one inside the Promenada Mall one evening.

I listed the Carturesi Carusel Bookstore as one of the must sees in Bucharest after I saw a post of it on Instagram prior to our trip. It has gotten so famous on IG over the years. I together with many visitors to the bookstore, went up and down the floors to take pictures. The staff must have already known how popular the place had gotten. Photography was allowed and visitors took pictures galore.

The Stavropoleos Monastery is one of the biggest attractions here in Old Town. There was no admission and people went in and out freely. Just like the Kretzulescu Church we saw the day before, the Stavropoleos also had some magnificent frescoes and murals inside. It's not to be missed in Bucharest!

Inside the Stavropoleos Monastery

Birth of the Virgin Mary Saints Martyrs Cyprian and Justina Goldsmiths Church in Old Town

The CEC Palace, The Palace of the Savings Bank opposite the Romanian Museum of History

Inside the Birth of the Virgin Mary Saints Martyrs Cyprian and Justina Goldsmiths Church in Old Town

Bars and restaurants filled Old Town street after street

Pasajul Macca Vilacrosse Passage

Pasajul Macca Vilacrosse Passage

The Annunciation St. Anthony Princely Old Court Church in Old Town Bucharest

Could this bank be Dracula's bank?

Romanian architecture in Old Town

The facade of the National Bank of Romania

The National Bank of Romania