Free, tip what you liked · ★ 9.3/10 (11,381 reviews) · on Civitatis
Quick answer
Yes. There are 2 free walking tours in Bucharest listed here, bookable for free on Civitatis. The most reviewed is Free Walking Tour of Bucharest: it meets at Biserica Colței, lasts about 2h45 and is guided in English, rated 9.3/10 from 11,381 reviews.
Start times vary by date and are confirmed when you book.
Bucharest is a city of sharp contrasts. Its old quarter around Lipscani keeps small Orthodox churches, old inns and 19th-century bank palaces from the years when it was called the Little Paris of the East. A short walk away, whole districts were flattened in the 1980s to build the Palace of the Parliament and the avenue leading to it, the most visible legacy of the Ceaușescu regime.
The free walking tour reads both layers in about two hours and three quarters. It meets in front of Colțea Church, goes to the Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, and crosses the river Dâmbovița into the old town. There the guide tells the legend of how the city was founded, and the route reaches the National Bank of Romania before finishing back in front of the Parliament.
Plan your visit to Bucharest
What to see in Bucharest
In the old town, Stavropoleos Church is a small 18th-century Orthodox church with a carved stone portico and a quiet courtyard. On Calea Victoriei, the Romanian Athenaeum is the city's concert hall, and Revolution Square is where the 1989 uprising against Ceaușescu came to a head.
North of the centre, the Village Museum gathers wooden houses, churches and mills brought from every region of Romania into a park by a lake; opening times are on the museum's official website.
Getting around and when to go
The centre is flat and walkable, and the metro is the fastest way across town. May, June and September are the most comfortable months; winters are cold and summers hot. Trains from the North Station reach Sinaia and Brașov in Transylvania. Travellers heading south often continue to Sofia, and Budapest lies to the west. See the month-by-month guide for timing.
Good to know before you go
Romania does not use the euro. Tips are easiest in lei, and it helps to have small notes ready at the end of the tour.
The tour sees the Palace of the Parliament from outside. Visits inside are guided, need to be booked ahead and require a passport or national ID at the entrance.
At close to three hours this is a long walk. Wear comfortable shoes, and in July and August choose a morning start.
An express bus and a train link Henri Coandă airport with the city, and the metro covers the main sights.
Rest those walking legs
Where to stay in Bucharest
Well-reviewed stays from our partner Booking.com. Check rates and availability for your dates on their site.
Yes. The Free Walking Tour of Bucharest on Civitatis covers the Palace of the Parliament, the old town and the National Bank of Romania with an English-speaking guide. You reserve for free and tip at the end.
Where does the Bucharest free tour start?
In front of Colțea Church (Biserica Colței), in the centre. The exact point and how to recognise the guide are confirmed in your booking.
How long is the free tour of Bucharest?
About two hours and 45 minutes. It ends in front of the Palace of the Parliament.
Does the tour go inside the Palace of the Parliament?
No. The building is explained from outside. Interior visits are run separately, with advance booking and an identity document.
How much should I tip on a free tour in Bucharest?
There is no fixed amount. At the end you give the guide what you think the tour was worth. Our tip calculator shows the usual range in Romanian lei.
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