Palace of the Parliament

Palatul Parlamentului

The world's heaviest building and second-largest administrative structure, a colossal monument to Ceaușescu's megalomania with over 1,000 rooms. Guided tours reveal opulent marble halls, crystal chandeliers and vast state chambers, plus sweeping views over the boulevard from its balcony.

Things to do

• Take the standard guided tour — Explore the opulent marble halls, grand staircases and vast state chambers on a ticketed guided tour that covers a fraction of the building's 1,000+ rooms.
• Step onto the balcony — Enjoy sweeping views down the grand Bulevardul Unirii from the balcony where Michael Jackson famously greeted crowds in 1992.
• Visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) — Housed within a wing of the palace, this museum showcases cutting-edge Romanian and international contemporary art.
• Admire the Human Rights Hall chandeliers — Marvel at the enormous crystal chandeliers, one weighing several tonnes, in the palace's most spectacular reception rooms.
• Walk Bulevardul Unirii — Stroll the deliberately grand boulevard, designed to rival the Champs-Élysées, with its fountains stretching toward Piața Unirii.
• See the underground levels — Some extended tours descend into the vast subterranean floors and nuclear bunker built beneath the structure.
• Photograph the exterior from Piața Constituției — Capture the colossal facade in full from the open square in front, especially striking at sunset.

Food to try

• Sarmale — Cabbage rolls stuffed with minced pork and rice, a Romanian staple often served with polenta and sour cream.
• Ciorbă de burtă — A sour tripe soup rich with garlic and cream, a beloved comfort dish found in traditional Bucharest restaurants nearby.
• Mici (mititei) — Grilled skinless minced-meat rolls seasoned with garlic and spices, a popular street and terrace snack eaten with mustard.
• Papanași — A warm fried or boiled doughnut-style dessert topped with sour cream and sweet berry jam.
• Covrigi — Soft pretzels sold from street stands throughout central Bucharest, perfect as a quick bite between sights.

Local customs & good to know

• Book tickets and bring ID — Tours must often be reserved in advance and you must carry a passport or ID card, as it remains an active government building.
• Expect airport-style security — Photography rules and bag checks apply, and you should arrive early to clear the entrance screening.
• Understand its complex history — Locals have mixed feelings about this symbol of Ceaușescu's dictatorship, so approach the subject with sensitivity.
• Wear comfortable shoes — Tours cover long distances across marble floors and many staircases inside the enormous structure.

Nearby

• Stavropoleos Monastery — 1 km
• Cișmigiu Gardens — 1 km
• National Museum of Romanian History — 1 km
• Old Town (Lipscani) — 1 km