The 7 Best Day Trips From Bucharest

With its hectic pace, Bucharest can easily suck you in and spit you out. That is why many go for a relaxing day out at weekends to soak up the tranquility of nature, reconnect with the country’s cultural heritage and take part in fun activities. We’ve chosen seven of the best day trips in Bucharest’s surroundings that won’t keep you in the car for longer than one hour.

Mogoșoaia Palace

A 15-kilometre drive from the city centre, Mogoșoaia Palace is a very popular attraction due to a great combination of beautiful architecture, nature and fresh air. The palace, built at the end of the 17th-century by ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu, was destroyed and rebuilt twice after suffering badly during the two wars. Today it hosts the Museum of Brâncovenesc and an art gallery and is surrounded by other buildings of the time, all built in the style introduced by Constantin Brâncoveanu, a combination of late Renaissance, Baroque and Byzantine. The park, partially set alongside a lake, as well as the picnic area are especially popular with families.

Comana

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Snagov Monastery

Built on an island approximately 40 kilometres away from Bucharest, Snagov Monastery is a place of worship that also carries a great historical significance. Erected on an ancient Dacian site, it was first mentioned in the 14th-century when a local ruler donated the monastery to the nearby village. It was later enlarged by Vlad the Impaler, who built a belfry tower, thick walls, a bridge, and legend says, an underwater tunnel. The fact that Vlad himself is buried here is also the stuff of legend.

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Domeniul Ştirbey

Half an hour from Bucharest, Domeniul Ştirbey is home to Ştirbey Palace, a beautiful and imposing edifice with large rooms filled with history and antiques, surrounded by a large forest crossed by walking lanes. With its red brick walls and curved stairs, the chapel found on the premises is a stunning example of Neo-gothic architecture. The wide meadows are perfect for picnics, but if you want to drop by spontaneously, the restaurant on the estate will more than satisfy your cravings.

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Băneasa Forest

Immerse yourself in nature by walking the long paths and alleys of Băneasa Forest, only a half-hour drive from Bucharest’s Piața Unirii. Many of Bucharest’s inhabitants do that, just like Ștefan, the main character in Noaptea de Sânziene, a novel by famed Romanian author Mircea Eliade, who regularly went to ‘the forbidden forest’ to escape the modern world. Animal lovers are in for a treat, as the Bucharest Zoo is located on the edge of the forest.

Domeniul Goleşti

Dating from 1640, the Goleşti estate was the first biggest private estate built in the country. A little more than one hour away from the capital, the estate includes a villa and beautifully decorated open-air village museum. Visitors can also walk through an orchard and have a picnic.

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Therme

Open year-round, Therme is the closest thing to the sea you will find 10 minutes away from Bucharest. Covering 30,000 square meters, it offers swimming pools where the water is a constant 33 degrees and, in summer, one of the biggest urban beaches in Europe, Sands of Therme.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.