How to Visit Palace of Parliament in Bucharest: Tickets, Tours, Prices and Hours

Among the best things to do in Bucharest, visiting the Palace of Parliament is a must, not only because it is one of the largest public buildings in the world, but also because it is one of the most visited attractions of this destination.

Located in the heart of the old town, near the Romanian Athenaeum and the Cismigiu Garden, the Palace of Parliament is a neoclassical building that began to be built during the time of the communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu and was completed in 1997, and is currently the seat of the Legislative Power of Romania. Its silhouette is one of the unmistakable faces of Bucharest.

Tickets for the Palace of the Parliament of Bucharest have an initial cost of approximately 14 euros per person for adults and 5 euros per person for children from 7 to 18 years, although these tickets do not include the assistance of an expert local guide, but only the right to access the building and tour it on your own in the spaces provided for this purpose.

If you want to have the assistance of an expert local guide you can find one at the door of the building, who will agree with you a fee and will accompany you during the tour. The official organization of the Palace of Parliament does not provide for the possibility of purchasing tickets with guided tours.

Tickets for Romanian citizens are free of charge and for students who can prove their status as such the approximate initial cost of the tickets is 7 euros. Note also that some of the best tours of Bucharest include a stop at the Palace of Parliament.

Details of interest

• Location... Strada Izvor 2-4, Bucharest.
• Hours... March to October daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and November to February daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Inside the Palace of Parliament you can find different tickets. General tickets for adults have an initial cost of approximately 14 euros per person, and apply to all persons over 18 years of age who do not prove Romanian nationality. For local citizens, tickets are free of charge.

On the other hand, children between the ages of 7 and 18 will pay an initial fee of approximately 5 euros, while children under 7 will enter free of charge, provided they are accompanied by a responsible adult. Students who can prove their status as such will pay a €7 ticket.

All tickets will give visitors access to the areas set aside for tours inside and outside the building, and also to the corridors on the top floor, from which you can contemplate some of the best wide views of the city, which on the horizon include some popular buildings such as the Romanian Athenaeum, the Arc de Triomphe and the monuments of the University Square.

The ticket office of the Palace of Parliament does not offer skip-the-line tickets, but guided tours of this building usually ensure priority access in small groups, even during the high season months. Tickets included in the Bucharest Card also offer priority access.

Tickets to the Palace of Parliament are included in the Bucharest Card, a tourist pass that includes free travel on public transport in the city and free access to more than 50 attractions in the Romanian capital, including the legislative building.

The Bucharest Card can be purchased in 1, 2, 3, 3, 5 or 7-day services, which will be activated from the moment of first use and will be counted in consecutive days from activation. The approximate initial price of this tourist pass, for 1-day tours, is 19 euros.

Note that this alternative may be of interest if you plan to visit Bucharest in 3 days or even less time and you need tickets without queues, although they do not include in your Palace of Parliament ticket the assistance of an expert local guide.

The tickets for the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest sold on the official website of the building or at the ticket office do not include or offer a guided tour, but will only give you the right to walk through the spaces provided inside and outside the building. However, you can hire a guided tour on your own, either in advance online or on the steps of the palace.

Although you can visit the Palace of Parliament on your own, I advise you to choose an option with a guided tour, as this will allow you to know in depth the past of this site and its intimate relationship with the history of the country, either during its construction at the time of the communist regime or its role as an epicenter of meeting during the 1989 Revolution in Romania.

Also, keep in mind that some of the best tours of Bucharest include a guided tour of this site in their itineraries, so you can also save time with these combined alternatives.

Tickets for adults have an initial cost of approximately 14 euros per person, while children between 7 and 18 years old pay a special ticket of 5 euros. Children under the age of 7 enter free of charge, provided they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

This differential rate will be ideal if you plan to visit Bucharest with your family or children and if you plan to visit this site, because you will be able to get discounts. Some tourist service providers offering guided tours also propose offers for family groups.

The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is the main attraction and the most visited building in the city, so it is usually very crowded, whether you plan to travel in summer, during the high season, or visit the Romanian capital in the winter. Therefore, the best alternative is to buy tickets in advance online and avoid last minute delays at the ticket office of the building.

On the other hand, if you book your tickets in advance online you will be able to build a detailed itinerary to visit the most famous sites of the city and make the most of your visit to the Romanian capital, which will be ideal if you have planned a short stay of 2 days in Bucharest or even less time.

Also, by booking in advance online you can set the day of your visit and ensure your space in this site, which is one of the essential buildings that you can not miss during your tour of the city.

The Palace of Parliament is open every day of the year, except on public holidays, which include Christmas on December 25 and New Year's Day on January 1, plus some specific dates that are usually indicated on the official website of the building.

However, you should keep in mind that the schedule changes according to the time of the year. If you plan to visit the city from March to October, you can tour the palace from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while if you plan to travel from November to February, which coincides with the winter in Bucharest, the opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can visit the Palace of Parliament in a tour of about 1 hour, which is also the time it takes for the circuit proposed by the expert local guides. During that time you will be able to see the rooms of the building, the luxurious meeting rooms, the outdoor gardens and the main halls.

However, if you wish, during your visit you can stay longer in the Palace of Parliament and, once the guided tour is over, if you have chosen this alternative, walk around the site at your own pace or visit again some of the rooms of this building before continuing your itinerary to the best museums in Bucharest or to the public parks of the city.

One of the best times to visit the Palace of Parliament is during spring and summer, especially from May to September. During these months, the weather in Bucharest is warmer and more pleasant, allowing visitors to explore the gardens surrounding the palace and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its spacious terraces.

In addition to favorable weather conditions, the high tourist season offers the opportunity to participate in more regular guided tours and special events organized at the Palace of Parliament. During this period, the opening hours are extended, allowing visitors to enjoy the architecture and history housed in the palace for longer periods of time. However, you should be aware that the crowds are also larger.

However, those who prefer to avoid the crowds and enjoy a quieter experience may want to consider visiting this site during the cooler months of the year. Between November and February the tourist influx decreases substantially and the Palace of Parliament becomes an ideal refuge to avoid the winter cold in Bucharest and also to discover the city's snowy skyline.

Getting to the Palace of Parliament is easy from anywhere in the city because it is located in the center of the Romanian capital, although one of the best alternatives is to take the Metro to the Unirii station and from there walk two streets to the steps of the building. You can also get there by bus lines N101, N104, N106, N114, N118 and N122.

Another popular alternative is to use the cab service, which is readily available throughout the city. Cabs in Bucharest are relatively inexpensive and offer a convenient way to get directly to the Palace of Parliament. In addition, many visitors choose to arrive on foot, as the palace is located in an area that is often in between the Romanian capital's best museums and other famous attractions.

The Palace of Parliament is one of the most imposing buildings in the world and houses several attractions you won't want to miss. The Mirror Room, which is one of the most luxurious rooms in the building, stands out for its decoration, which includes a large number of mirrors and crystals that make it the epicenter of official meetings of the Romanian government.

Another outstanding room is the Union Hall, a hall that also serves as a stage for official ceremonies and events and is characterized by its opulent design, with marble columns and ornate details, reflecting Romania's rich culture and history. Nearby, you can also explore the Palace Library, which contains a collection of books and documents on the country's history.

The extensive gardens surrounding the Palace of Parliament are also a must-see. There you can stroll along the green paths and enjoy panoramic views of the city, which provides a charming contrast to the architecture of the building.

As a first step, I advise you to book tickets in advance, especially if you plan to visit the city during the high tourist season, which coincides with the European summer. This will allow you to avoid long lines and ensure your access to the interior of the palace.

Also, if you plan to visit the building on your own, keep in mind that the size of the palace can be overwhelming, so make sure you have enough time to explore each room and corner calm ly. In any case, I advise you to book a guided tour, as this experience is often part of the best tours in Bucharest.

Finally, don't forget to explore the surroundings of the Palace of Parliament. The surrounding gardens offer a tranquil setting and unmissable views, ideal for relaxing after a visit inside the building.