Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, a Danube-plain metropolis of about 1.7 million people known for the monumental Palace of the Parliament, a revived medieval Old Town, grand Calea Victoriei and its belle epoque 'Little Paris' boulevards. It combines Ottoman-era inns, Brancovenesc churches, interwar villas and communist-era blocks with a lively cafe, bar and live-music scene.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Țuică and Palincă (plum brandy)
Traditional Romanian plum brandy, distilled once (țuică) or twice (palincă); buy sealed bottles in a supermarket or specialty shop to pack in checked luggage
Price: 30-120 lei ($7-26) per 0.5 L bottle
Where: Carrefour and Mega Image supermarkets, Piața Amzei market, shops on Lipscani
Cozonac and Romanian sweets
Sweet walnut or poppy-seed bread and local chocolate (Kandia, Poiana) or Joe biscuits that travel well
Price: 15-50 lei ($3-11)
Where: Supermarkets, Piața Obor, local bakeries
Zacuscă and local jars
Roasted vegetable spread, pickles and honey in jars sold by farmers, a typical Romanian gift
Price: 10-30 lei ($2-6.50) per jar
Where: Piața Obor, Piața Amzei, Hala Traian
Romanian wines (Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală)
Red Fetească Neagră and white Fetească Regală from Dealu Mare, Murfatlar and Recaș are the best-value local grapes
Price: 30-150 lei ($7-33) per bottle
Where: Vinoteca shops on Calea Victoriei, supermarkets, Carrefour
Hand-painted Ceramics (Horezu and Corund)
Colourful plates and mugs in Horezu cockerel designs and black Marginea pottery
Price: 30-250 lei ($7-54)
Where: Romanian Peasant Museum shop, Lipscani craft shops
Ia (traditional embroidered blouse)
Hand-embroidered blouse that became a Romanian national symbol; real hand-sewn pieces cost far more than machine-made versions
Price: 150-800 lei ($33-175)
Where: Romanian Peasant Museum shop, Hanul cu Tei craft stalls, Lipscani
Wooden spoons, carved objects and traditional rugs
Carpathian woodcarving and woven wool rugs from Maramureș and Oltenia
Price: 20-400 lei ($4-87)
Where: Romanian Peasant Museum shop, Calea Victoriei craft stores
Books and art prints
English translations of Romanian authors and Bucharest photo books
Price: 40-120 lei ($9-26)
Where: Cărturești Carusel, Humanitas Cișmigiu, Librarium shops
Communist-era memorabilia and antiques
Old badges, posters and retro design from antique shops; check authenticity and export rules for older items
Price: 20-500 lei ($4-110)
Where: Lipscani antique shops, Piața Unirii flea stalls
Gerovital and Farmec cosmetics
Romanian skin-care brands (Gerovital, Farmec, Elmiplant) sold in pharmacies, inexpensive gifts
Price: 15-80 lei ($3-17)
Where: Sensiblu and Catena pharmacies, Dr. Max, supermarkets
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Piața Obor
Fresh produce, cheese, honey, meat, jars and local crafts
Where: Șos. Colentina, Sector 2, Bucharest
Hours: Daily 6AM-6PM (best before 11AM), reduced on Sundays
Piața Amzei
Fresh produce, flowers, deli counters and street-food stalls
Where: Str. Amzei, central Bucharest
Hours: Mon-Sat 7AM-7PM, Sun 8AM-3PM
Hala Traian
Covered market for meat, cheese, vegetables and pickles
Where: Piața Traian, Sector 3, Bucharest
Hours: Daily 6AM-7PM (food stalls close earlier on Sundays)
Hanul cu Tei craft passage
Craft stalls, antiques, ceramics and local gift shops in a historic inn courtyard
Where: Str. Lipscani 63-65, Old Town, Bucharest
Hours: Daily 10AM-8PM (shops vary)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Lipscani Old Town
Pedestrian lanes of cafes, bars, antique shops, souvenir stalls and bookshops, including the Cărturești Carusel bookshop and Hanul cu Tei craft passage
Calea Victoriei
Bucharest's historic main street with boutiques, galleries, antiquarian bookshops, the CEC Palace and vintage shops
Piața Romană and Magheru Boulevard
Modern shops, Unirea shopping area and department-store-style stores along Bd. Magheru
Unirii Boulevard and Piața Unirii
Big shopping strip leading to the Palace of Parliament with Unirea Shopping Center and street stalls
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
AFI Cotroceni
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
ParkLake Shopping Center
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Băneasa Shopping City
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Sun Plaza
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Prices in shops, malls and supermarkets are fixed; bargaining is not done
At flea markets, antique stalls and craft stalls, a 10-20% discount is possible when paying in cash
Agree on the price in lei, not euros or dollars, and count change at touristy stalls
Farmers' markets (Piața Obor, Amzei) quote prices per kilo; always check the scale