- Bucharest
- Parlament și Cotroceni
Parlament și Cotroceni
Parliament and Cotroceni
The south side of central Bucharest, dominated by the Palace of the Parliament, with Patriarchate Hill, Carol I Park and the villa district of Cotroceni, where the former royal palace stands next to the Botanical Garden.
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What to see in Parlament și Cotroceni
Things to see, picked to fill a whole day.
- 1Parliament palace with guided tours
Palatul Parlamentului
The huge building begun in 1984 by the Ceaușescu regime as the House of the People, now home to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, which can only be visited on a guided tour.
Izvor 
2Historic church complexCatedrala Patriarhală și Dealul Patriarhiei
The complex on the hill next to Piața Unirii, with the Patriarchal Cathedral of 1654–1658, the bell tower, the Patriarchal Residence and the Palace of the Patriarchate.
Dealul Patriarhiei
3Royal palace and museumMuzeul Național Cotroceni
The palace built in 1893–1895 for Crown Prince Ferdinand on the site of Șerban Cantacuzino's monastery, now the seat of the Presidential Administration and a museum.
Cotroceni
4Historic parkParcul Carol I
A 36-hectare park laid out between 1900 and 1906 for the General Romanian Exhibition, with a monumental avenue, a lake, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Mausoleum on the hill.
Dealul Filaretului
5Botanical gardenGrădina Botanică „Dimitrie Brândză”
The University of Bucharest's botanical garden, on its present site since 1884, with exhibition greenhouses, the Botanical Museum, a rose garden and themed sections.
Cotroceni
Where to eat in Parlament și Cotroceni
Meals worth the trip.
- 1Club with an evening kitchen
Expirat
Club, concert hall and terrace in Halele Carol, with Inspirat, an evening kitchen serving pizza, burgers and flatbreads on concert and club nights.
Parcul Carol - 2Beer hall with Romanian food
Hanu' Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare
Restaurant serving beer and Romanian grilled and oven-baked dishes in Casa Oprea Soare, a Neo-Romanian house from 1914 that is a listed monument, with a terrace.
Națiunile Unite - 3Italian trattoria
Trattoria Garibaldi
Italian trattoria on a quiet street between Patriarchate Hill and Carol Park, with pasta, pizza, seafood and a lemon-themed decor.
Parcul Carol - 4Mediterranean restaurant with terrace
Haute Pepper
Restaurant with Mediterranean fusion cooking and home-made pasta at the start of Bulevardul Unirii, with a terrace looking towards the Palace of the Parliament.
Bulevardul Unirii - 5Restaurant with live music
Golden Blitz Restaurant
Restaurant in Cotroceni since 1991, with international cooking and some Romanian dishes, a garden and live music from Wednesday to Sunday evening.
Cotroceni
Where to stay in Parlament și Cotroceni
Places to sleep well, picked for comfort and location.
- 15-star hotel
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel
5-star hotel opened in 1999 in a building begun in 1986 as part of the complex around the Palace of the Parliament, with several restaurants, a casino, a fitness club and an indoor pool.
Calea 13 Septembrie - 25-star boutique hotel
Suter Palace Heritage Boutique Hotel
5-star boutique hotel in a restored villa from 1906 on Aleea Suter, next to Carol Park, with the Gramont restaurant, the Ora bistro and a garden.
Dealul Filaretului - 34-star hotel in a listed house
Hotel La Bohème Casa Oprea Soare
4-star hotel opened in 2022 in Casa Oprea Soare, a Neo-Romanian house from 1914 that is a listed monument; the Hanu' Berarilor restaurant is on the ground floor.
Națiunile Unite - 44-star hotel
Le Blanc Cotroceni Hotel
4-star hotel on Splaiul Independenței in Cotroceni, with a restaurant, bar and terrace, about 500 m from the Botanical Garden.
Cotroceni - 5Small self check-in hotel
Tempus
Small self check-in hotel decorated in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style, on a street of old houses next to Patriarchate Hill.
Dealul Patriarhiei
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Parlament și Cotroceni?
We recommend Palatul Parlamentului (parliament palace with guided tours, Izvor): It holds 4.4 on Google from more than 8,400 reviews, and the tours, listed as the Museum of the Palace of the Parliament, have 4.6 from more than 3,800. Other picks: Catedrala Patriarhală și Dealul Patriarhiei, Muzeul Național Cotroceni, Parcul Carol I and Grădina Botanică „Dimitrie Brândză”.
Where to eat in Parlament și Cotroceni?
We recommend Expirat (club with an evening kitchen, Parcul Carol): It won 'Best Resto-Club' at the Romanian Hospitality Awards 2026, and has 4.3 on Google from more than 1,400 reviews. Other picks: Hanu' Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare, Trattoria Garibaldi, Haute Pepper and Golden Blitz Restaurant.
Where to stay in Parlament și Cotroceni?
We recommend JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel (5-star hotel, Calea 13 Septembrie): It holds 9.1 on Booking from more than 3,600 reviews and 4.7 on Google from more than 12,000 reviews. Other picks: Suter Palace Heritage Boutique Hotel, Hotel La Bohème Casa Oprea Soare, Le Blanc Cotroceni Hotel and Tempus.
How far is Parlament și Cotroceni from Piața Universității?
About 4 km by road to Piața Universității.
How do you choose the places?
For each category we pick at most five places and check them: they exist, they are open and they are worth the trip. We take no money to list a place.