Bulgaria & Romania - Day 2 🇷🇴

I got ready and left from Vila 11 Rooms to start my day exploring Bucharest. I walked to Gara de Nord 1 metro station and bought a City Card for RON 18 from the ticket office. It was not available for purchase from the kiosks. From here, I took the M 1 metro to Piața Unirii 1.

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After emerging from the Piața Unirii 1 metro station, I strolled down the expansive Bulevardul Unirii, often called the “Champs-Élysées of the East”. Heading westward toward the historic Constitution Square, I walked by the Seasons’ Fountains along the center of the boulevard with their rhythmic cascades.

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My destination loomed ahead: the monumental Palace of Parliament, an awe-inspiring first stop for my day of exploration. This architectural behemoth holds the title of the world’s heaviest building and stands as a symbol of Romania’s history.

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From here I walked to Old Town Bucharest. I saw The Palace of the Deposits and Consignments (CEC Palace) with its French-inspired eclectic, one of the most photographed buildings in Bucharest. The nearby Zlătari Church and the Brâncovenesc-style Stavropoleos Monastery offered glimpses into the city’s Orthodox heritage.

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I saw the neoclassical grandeur of the National Bank of Romania. I walked along the cobblestone streets to Piața Roma, where the Lupa Capitolina statue—depicting the she-wolf nursing Romulus and Remus— a gift from the city of Rome, represents the Latin heritage that defines the Romanian identity.

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Across the road was The New “Saint George” Church, serving as the final resting place of the martyr-prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, whose statue stands in the courtyard. This site also had the Kilometer Zero Monument, a symbolic brass compass marking the geographic heart of Romania from which all road distances are measured. To conclude this leg of the walk, I visited the Choral’ Temple, but it was closed and I was only able to get a glimpse of the Moorish-Byzantine facade from the gate.

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Walking further I saw the Statue of Mihail Cantacuzino and the Colțea Church. The Fântâna Vioara Spartă, “Broken Violin” Fountain, in the nearby Colțea Park. I crossed Pasaj Universitate towards the “Ion Luca Caragiale” National Theatre.

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The “Ion Luca Caragiale” National Theatre has a striking modern facade with a Statue of Ion Luca Caragiale, a tribute to the theater’s namesake. The “Căruța cu Paiațe” (The Cart of Clowns) monument brings the playwright’s beloved characters to life in a whimsical, larger-than-life bronze ensemble.

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I also saw Grand Hotel Bucharest, the city’s first true skyscraper. Crossing the road again, I saw the Universitate Clock Monument, a timeless landmark that acts as the city’s favorite rendezvous point and the nearby Fountain of Universitate. Tucked away in a nearby passage was the vibrant Umbrellas’ Street (Strada cu Umbrele), an urban art installation where a canopy of suspended umbrellas transformed a narrow alleyway into a corridor with a kaleidoscope of color.

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From there I headed to the Kretzulescu Church, an 18th-century Eastern Orthodox masterpiece, famous for its distinct red-brick exterior. Nearby, the Bust of Corneliu Coposu and the Monument of Iuliu Maniu stand as solemn tributes to two of Romania’s most significant political figures who fought against totalitarianism.

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The Memorial of Rebirth is a striking and controversial 25-meter marble spire that commemorates the victims of the 1989 Revolution.

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The National Museum of Art is housed in the former Royal Palace, and the majestic Equestrian Statue of Carol I, which honors Romania’s first king in the heart of Revolution Square.

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The New & Old Building showcased the juxtaposition of ornate, classical facades—heavy with stone carvings and historical gravitas—alongside sleek, glass-and-steel contemporary additions that reflected the city’s modern evolution.

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I saw the Boteanu Church, a hidden jewel near the city center, known for its elegant synthesis of Byzantine and neoclassical styles. A short walk away was the Romanian Athenaeum, the city’s most prestigious concert hall and an ornate neoclassical landmark with a magnificent dome. In front of the Athenaeum was the Statue of Mihai Eminescu, a tribute to Romania’s national poet.

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I took the M 2 from Piața Romană to Piața Victoriei to visit Kiseleff Park. I visited the Romanian Infantry Monument, a tribute to the foot soldiers who defended the nation during World War I. Nearby, the Monument to the American Heroes of the Second World War honors the Allied aviators who fell in Romania during the 1944 missions. The Monument to the Heroes of the Air, a 20-meter Art Deco masterpiece featuring a winged figure, symbolizes the courage of the nation’s early aviation pioneers.

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From here I took the bus from Arhitect Ion Mincu to Arcul de Triumf. Standing at the northern end of the city, the monumental Arcul de Triumf was my last stop for the day. The towering 27-meter structure is inspired by the design of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, featuring intricate bas-reliefs carved by famous Romanian sculptors.

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From here I took a bus from Arcul de Triumf to Piaţa Presei Libere]. I got a glimpse of the Aripi Monument, a staggering 28-meter-tall stainless steel sculpture consisting of three massive “wings” that symbolize the flight of the human spirit toward freedom after the collapse of communism. It stood in front of the House of the Free Press, a colossal Stalinist-Gothic landmark that was the tallest building in Bucharest for decades and once served as the headquarters for the state-run media during the socialist era. Then I took bus 100 from Piaţa Presei Libere to Henri Coandă International Airport which was covered by my City Card.

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After reaching the airport, I got something to eat at the Carrefour Express there. My flight to Barcelona was delayed but comfortable and I was able to sleep through most of it after a long day of walking in Bucharest.