Victoriei Street (Calea Victoriei)

The basics

With so many important landmarks situated along this thoroughfare, from Revolution Square (Piața Revoluției) to the White Church (Biserica Alba) to the George Enescu National Museum, Victoriei Street is an obvious starting point for sightseeing tours of the city. Walking tours, e-bike tours, scooter tours, and tours by private car all make stops at top sights along the street, from the National Museum of Romanian History to CEC Palace and Telephone Palace—Bucharest’s first skyscraper.

History tours focusing on particular chapters from the city’s history, such as the Belle Époque or Communist eras, also make stops at Victoriei Street, where buildings dating from these periods can be seen. Hop-on hop-off buses typically have more than one stop along the street.

Things to know before you go

• Victoriei Street is a must for history buffs, architecture lovers, shoppers, and keen sightseers.
• The southern part of the street is full of shops, banks, hotels, and restaurants.
• Victoriei Street is a busy street that sees lots of footfall and vehicular traffic, so be careful when crossing.

How to get there

If you plan on strolling along the length of the street, start at Piaţa Victoriei at the north end of the boulevard and head south so you finish up near the restaurant and café-packed Lipscani, also known as the Old Town. To get to Piaţa Victoriei, ride the Metro (M1 or M2) to Piaţa Victoriei station.

When to get there

Victoriei Street is frequently congested, and traffic peaks during morning and evening rush hours (around 7am–9am, and 4pm–6pm). Go on a Sunday morning to experience the street at its calmest.

Revolution Square

Victoriei Street leads past Revolution Square, one of Bucharest’s most historically significant and attraction-packed sites. Dominating the square is the pillar-style Monument of Rebirth, which honors the victims of the Romanian Revolution. The square itself is named for its central role in the 1989 Romanian Revolution: It was from here that Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu made his final speech in front of an agitated crowd before fleeing the city.