Hotels in Bucharest

Hotels in Bucharest: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Bucharest for less

Bucharest is cheapest in winter. February is usually the bottom of the market, about 21 percent below the yearly average, when the fewest tourists come. May is the priciest, when rates can rise by nearly 40 percent as the open-air festival season starts, and summer can be hot, above 30 degrees. The arrival day matters too: Thursday works out cheapest, Saturday the most expensive, as guests pour into the Old Town bars for the weekend. For a regular trip, book about three months ahead, as the lowest rates show up around 72 days before the date and climb after that.

What a stay costs by property type

Bucharest is cheap for a European capital, so even five stars in the centre do not cost a fortune here. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and simple places outside the very centre; you pay the most for four and five stars along the boulevards. Below are indicative nightly rates.

Indicative rates for a double room, outside the May peak. In Bucharest the gap between a quiet February and a festival May can be clear, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

The most lively area is the Old Town, Lipscani, with its cobbled lanes, bars and restaurants, great for sightseeing though loud at night. Elegant business hotels and five stars cluster around Victory Square and the main boulevards. The city is split into sectors 1 to 6, and cheaper stays turn up in the residential sectors further out, such as Pajura, where the average night can be much lower. Bucharest has an efficient metro plus trams and buses, so a base outside the very centre is still convenient, and the central core is easily walkable.

Which stay in Bucharest suits whom

• First time in Bucharest. The Old Town or its edge is the easiest base. From here it is a few minutes to Lipscani, the Romanian Athenaeum and the Palace of Parliament, and to the bars and restaurants in the evening.
• For families. Family rooms in mid-range hotels near the parks and museums, including the National Village Museum. Easy to mix sightseeing with a break in one of the large city parks.
• For couples. Boutique hotels in the Old Town, where the evenings have the most restaurants and bars. A short walk from there along cobbled Lipscani or to the historic arcades.
• With breakfast. Many hotels in the centre include a buffet, which helps you set off early for sightseeing. Handy with a tight day plan.
• Near the airport. Hotels around Henri Coandă Airport suit an early flight or a layover. The airport is about 18 km from the centre, reachable by train or bus.

Example hotels in Bucharest with prices

From a good five-star deal to a classic hotel on a boulevard, a few Bucharest names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in May and on weekends.

From prices for a double room. In Bucharest the same hotel can differ a lot between a Thursday and a Saturday, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Bucharest costs more

It is pricier in spring and autumn, the main tourist season, with the price peak in May as the open-air festivals begin. Summer can be hot, above 30 degrees, but some big cultural events push rates up, such as the George Enescu Festival held every two years. Book further ahead for these dates, as the good central properties sell out earlier.