Romania
Bucharest trip: full budget breakdown
Plan €998 for 7 nights in Bucharest, return flight from London included, or €431 travelling cheap. On the ground that works out at €136 per person per day.
Bucharest - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.
- From
- €56/day
- vs. London
- 73%
- Best month
- Jun
Your trip to Bucharest
Set the length, the number of travellers and the comfort level: the figures recompute here.
€998
per person, flight included
- on the ground
- €952
- flight from London
- €46
- per person per day, on the ground
- €136
InstantTripCost estimate
Full 7-night budget breakdown
Per-person estimate including flights from London, split across the six expense categories.
per person · Comfort
| Category | Budget | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | €39 | €46 | €69 |
| Hotel | €126 | €280 | €658 |
| Food | €168 | €378 | €945 |
| Transport | €56 | €126 | €315 |
| Activities | €21 | €98 | €378 |
| Misc | €21 | €70 | €273 |
| 7-night total | €431 | €998 | €2638 |
Flight from London (annual median).
Unit prices
comfort
Enough to check the total yourself, line by line, at the comfort level you picked.
- €8
- Breakfast
- €15
- Lunch
- €31
- Dinner
- €6
- City ride
- €14
- Site admission
- €136
- A full day
Orders of magnitude derived from our measured ranges, not surveyed venue by venue. Prices vary by neighbourhood and season.
Why go
Why visit Bucharest
People come to Bucharest for the atmosphere, food, and heritage, but budget is the least-anticipated dimension of any trip: from €56 to €367 per day depending on travel style, the gap between budget and premium is easy to measure.
Winter in Bucharest is long and pronounced, with temperatures falling below 5 °C between December and February - which also happens to be when hotels and restaurants offer the best rates.
Real budget
What a trip to Bucharest actually costs
Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €18 per night, a well-rated 3-star around €40, and 4 to 5-star around €94. Food: around €8 a day eating local, €18 mixing canteens and restaurants, €45 if you sit down for dinner every evening.
Local transport: roughly €8 a day on public transit, €18 adding a few taxi rides. Activities: about €18 a day at a normal sightseeing pace, €45 if you stack paid entries and day trips.
On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Bucharest trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.
Seasonality
When to go and what it costs
The best price-weather compromise is June: temperatures in the 18-25 °C sweet spot, crowds still manageable, and airfares near the annual median. If budget is the priority, September delivers the cheapest flight of the year (€24 round-trip from London in median), at the cost of generally less pleasant weather.
Money saving
How to cut the Bucharest budget
Flights to Bucharest shed up to 52 % of their price in shoulder season. It's the easiest saving to capture: just move the dates. For the hotel, booking 6 to 8 weeks out beats both last-minute and extreme anticipation.
Two more habits round it out. First, stay one or two metro stops away from the center: hotel rates often drop by half for identical comfort. Second, cap paid activities at one per day. A good guided tour or workshop beats four back-to-back tickets every time.
Practical info
Language, currency, and logistics in Bucharest
Language: Romanian, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: Leu (lei) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.
The three tiers
What a budget traveller, a comfort traveller and a premium traveller typically spend.
Budget
€50
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €18
- Meal
- €8
- Transit / day
- €8
Comfort
€112
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €40
- Meal
- €18
- Transit / day
- €18
Luxury
€274
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €94
- Meal
- €45
- Transit / day
- €45
Weather & best time to visit
Average temperatures and conditions by month in Bucharest.
Best month to visitJune
Where to sleep in Bucharest
The hotels we measured
Accommodation picks by price range.
A.G ROMANA HOSTEL
Hostel, standard (5.8/10) from 749 reviews.
Ely's Mansion-24h Check-in
guesthouse, well rated (8.2/10) from 489 reviews.
Iancu Apartments
Hotel, decent (7.5/10) from 1,370 reviews.
AMADEUS RESIDENCE
Hotel, rated excellent (9.4/10) from 2,345 reviews.
Hotel Casa Capsa
5-star, decent (7.8/10) from 362 reviews.
Hotel Boutique Monaco
Hotel, rated excellent (9/10) from 1,168 reviews.
All observed hotels in Bucharest
24 properties, nightly rate for a 2-night stay arriving 15 October 2026.
| Hotel | Category | Rating | From / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.G ROMANA HOSTEL | Budget | ★ 5.8 | €8 |
| CAZAN HOUSE | Budget | ★ 5.8 | €8 |
| FunHouse | Budget | ★ 6.1 | €11 |
| Popcorn Hostel | Budget | ★ 7.6 | €11 |
| Sleep Inn Hostel | Budget | ★ 8 | €12 |
| First Hostel | Budget | ★ 6.9 | €13 |
| Nest Boutique Hostel | Budget | ★ 7.6 | €13 |
| Hostello | Budget | ★ 7.5 | €14 |
| Ely's Mansion-24h Check-in | Mid-range | ★ 8.2 | €19 |
| Iancu Apartments | Mid-range | ★ 7.5 | €26 |
| ZET Studio 1 | Mid-range | ★ 0 | €30 |
| Tango Suite - city center | Mid-range | ★ 10 | €31 |
| Vila Ada | Mid-range | ★ 8.8 | €34 |
| Central Old Town Studio | Mid-range | ★ 8.2 | €35 |
| Hotel Amphitryon | Mid-range | ★ 8.3 | €35 |
| Hotel Foisor | Mid-range | ★ 8.5 | €36 |
| AMADEUS RESIDENCE | Luxury | ★ 9.4 | €60 |
| Hotel Casa Capsa | Luxury | ★ 7.8 | €68 |
| Hotel Boutique Monaco | Luxury | ★ 9 | €73 |
| Stil Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.7 | €75 |
| Peakture Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.6 | €79 |
| Tomis Garden Bucuresti | Luxury | ★ 9.4 | €83 |
| Christina Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.9 | €87 |
| Hotel CH Bucharest | Luxury | ★ 8.8 | €88 |
Things to do in Bucharest
Recommended activities and tours.
National Museum of Art of Romania
The National Museum of Art of Romania (Romanian: Muzeul Național de Artă al României) is located in the Royal Palace in Revolution Square, central Bucharest. It features collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as the international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family.
Art museum
Romanian Peasant Museum
The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Romanian: Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român) is a museum in Bucharest, Romania, with a collection of textiles (especially costumes), icons, ceramics, and other artifacts of Romanian peasant life. One of Europe's leading museums of popular arts and traditions, it was designated "European Museum of the Year" for 1996.
Museum
“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History
The Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History (Romanian: Muzeul Național de Istorie Naturală „Grigore Antipa”) is a natural history museum, located in Bucharest, Romania. It was originally established as the National Museum of Natural History on 3 November 1834.
Natural history museum
University Square
University Square (Romanian: Piața Universității) is located in Bucharest city centre, near the University of Bucharest. It is served by Universitate metro station.
Square
Calea Victoriei
Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue) is a major avenue in central Bucharest. Situated in Sector 1, and having a length of 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi), it leads from Splaiul Independenței (which runs parallel to the Dâmbovița River) to the north and then northwest up to Piața Victoriei, where Șoseaua Kiseleff continues north.
Tourist attraction
Revolution Square, Bucharest
Revolution Square (Romanian: Piața Revoluției) is a square in central Bucharest, on Calea Victoriei. Known as Palace Square (Romanian: Piața Palatului) until 1989, it was renamed after the Romanian Revolution of December 1989.
Square
Cișmigiu Gardens
The Cișmigiu Gardens or Cișmigiu Park (Romanian: Grădinile Cișmigiu or Parcul Cișmigiu) are a public park in the center of Bucharest, Romania, spanning areas on all sides of an artificial lake. The gardens' creation was an important moment in the history of Bucharest.
Park
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest
The Village Museum or formally National Museum of the Village "Dimitrie Gusti" (Romanian: Muzeul Național al Satului "Dimitrie Gusti") is an open-air ethnographic museum located in the King Michael I Park, Bucharest, Romania. The museum showcases traditional Romanian village life.
Notable place
National Museum of Romanian History
The National History Museum of Romania (Romanian: Muzeul Național de Istorie a României) is a museum located at 12 Calea Victoriei in Bucharest, Romania, which contains Romanian historical artifacts from prehistoric times up to modern times.
History museum
Piața Unirii
Piața Unirii (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈpjat͡sa uˈnirij], Union Square) is the largest square in central Bucharest, Romania, and one of the largest public spaces in Europe, being located immediately south of the old town and within the boundaries of Sector 3. Part of the Civic Centre, it is bisected by Unirii Boulevard, originally built during the Communist era as the Boulevard of the Victory of Socialism, and renamed after the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
Square
Places referenced on Wikidata. Admission prices vary by season - check each venue's official site.
Paying less in Bucharest
What moves the needle
What each decision takes off the €980 total, strongest lever first.
- − €560
Travel cheap rather than mid-range
Hostel or entry-level hotel, local canteens, public transport. Accommodation is where the gap opens up.
- − €272
Stay five nights instead of seven
Two fewer nights also removes two days of meals, transport and sightseeing.
- − €140
Travel as a pair
The room is shared, nothing else is. Travellers themselves name this as the strongest lever.
Differences computed from our own measurements, for a 7-night mid-range stay, excluding flights.
FAQ
FAQ - Bucharest
- How much should I budget for a trip to Bucharest?
- For a 7-day trip to Bucharest, expect roughly €431 - €2638 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
- When is the best time to visit Bucharest?
- The best value is in June, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
- How do I get around in Bucharest?
- Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
- How can I do Bucharest on a budget?
- For a cheap trip to Bucharest, target around €56 - €136 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
- What's the budget for a weekend in Bucharest?
- For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Bucharest, plan around €192 - €436 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
- Is Bucharest an expensive or affordable destination?
- At 57 % of our reference index, Bucharest ranks among the most affordable destinations we track. In practice, a daily budget about 43 % below the average destination we track.
- How many days do you need in Bucharest?
- Plan 4 days for the essentials. A full week lets you add the surroundings without rushing, for roughly €408 more per person. Beyond ten days the cost grows linearly: each extra night adds about €136, lodging and daily spending included.
- Do you need a car in Bucharest?
- Our estimates assume public transport, which covers the centre and its near surroundings. Rental, fuel, parking and tolls are not included: if your route leaves the served area, add them as a separate line.
- How much cash should you bring to Bucharest?
- Bring €50 to €100 for the first days, until you see where cards work. When paying or withdrawing, decline the conversion into your home currency that terminals offer: it applies its own rate, consistently worse than your bank's.
At a glance
Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data
- Population
- 1.7M
- Area
- 226 km²
- Elevation
- 70 m
- Language
- Romanian
- Currency
- lei
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Founded
- 1459
- Avg. July temp.
- 24°
- Avg. Jan. temp.
- -1°
- Rainy days / year
- 99
inhabitants
Leu
18° - 29°
-4° - 3°
About
Bucharest in brief
Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.71 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 2.31 million residents, which makes Bucharest the 9th most-populous city by population within city limits in the European Union. The city has an area of 240 km2 (93 sq mi), while the metropolitan area covers 1,811 km2 (699 sq mi).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Keep exploring
Similar budget
Destinations at a similar price
Cost index close to Bucharest.