The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest – visit and curiosities

If you are organizing a visit to Bucharest, the Palace of Parliament is essential to see. It represents the heart of Romania and is one of the most remarkable structures globally, both for its scale and its background.

The largest Parliament in the world

The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is a grand structure, being the third biggest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon in the United States and the Grand Palace in Thailand) and the biggest parliamentary building on the planet. And the records continue: the building has an astonishing weight of 4 billion kilograms, which makes it the heaviest building worldwide. In addition, it features more than 1000 rooms.

History of the Bucharest Parliament Building – behind the scenes of the «Bucharest Project»

The Parliament Building in Bucharest is one of the most recognizable, but also most controversial architectural works of the 20th century. Its construction was started by the dictator of Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu, in 1984, as part of the ambitious reconstruction plan of the capital, known as the «Bucharest Project».

Ceaușescu, inspired by the monumental scenography of the DPRK, designed the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest along with a system of wide avenues and uniform blocks. The pretext was the «reconstruction» after the 1977 earthquake, even though mainly the unaffected neighborhoods were earmarked for investment.

Construction lasted 13 years. He disappeared approx. 1/5 of the historic center (up to 14 thousand buildings), and approx. 40 thousand people were forcibly displaced. More than 20 thousand workers, 700 architects and approx. 5 thousand soldiers. The main designer was Anca Petrescu, 28 years old.

The dictator never lived there. After 1989 the building became the seat of parliament, a museum of contemporary art and a conference centre; in the first years it even took approx. 25% of annual GDP. Today it is a symbol of Bucharest and, at the same time, a reminder of the regime’s abuses.

The interior of the Bucharest Palace, or 15,000 chandeliers and 3,500 tons of crystal

The style of the building combines neoclassicism with socialist realism and the Brancove current is present in the interiors. Only Romanian materials were used in the construction, such as marble from Transylvania, oak parquet, fabrics and carpets from Moldova, natural crystals from Transylvania and glass from western Romania.

The interiors of the Parliament Building are rich in golden decorations, splendid carpets for a total surface area of ​​220,000 m2, monumental chandeliers that reach 15,000 pieces and for which 3,500 tons of natural crystal were used, of which the largest chandelier weighs over 2.5 tons!

How to visit the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest?

The visit is guided only and lasts approximately 60–90 minutes.

During the tour you will see, among other things:

• plenary hall,
• monumental marble stairs,
• richly decorated corridors and chandeliers,
• the balcony overlooking Boulevard Unirii (inspired by the Champs-Élysées in Paris).

For those who wish, extended routes are also available, e.g. visiting the panoramic terrace or the underground.

Where to buy tickets for the Palace of Parliament?

If you plan to visit the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, tickets can be purchased directly on site, at the information point in the «Constantin Brâncusi» exhibition hall.

Tickets can also be found at tourist intermediaries, e.g. Get your guide. However, if you choose other suppliers, please ensure you use reliable and verified sources, as the Houses of Parliament cannot be held responsible for tickets purchased through unauthorized offices or individuals.

Rules for purchasing tickets to the Bucharest Parliament

If you decide to purchase tickets directly from Parliament you have two options:

• If you are going alone or in a small group (1-9 people), you can make a telephone reservation by calling Parliament directly the day before your visit, on the following numbers: +40 733 558 102 OR +40 733 558 103. Booking range: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• However, it is not mandatory: private individuals can purchase tickets even without reservation, directly at the «Constantin Brâncusi» information point on the day of the visit. However, it is worth arriving early, as the number of places for groups is limited and in the tourist season passes can sell out quickly.
• For groups larger than 10 peoplethe reservation must be made via e-mail ([email protected]), with at least 3 days before the visit. In the message it is useful to indicate:
  – name of the group,
  – contact person,
  – the number of participants,
  – preferred language for the tour,
  – as well as the date and time scheduled for the visit.

Important information for visitors:

• You must arrive at the information point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled entry time.
• Only identity cards issued in European Union countries are accepted.

All other visitors must present a valid passport in physical format. Copies or photos of documents are not accepted. Access is only possible with a valid identity document.

Tour program of the Parliament Building in Bucharest

The Palace of Parliament is open every day:

Monday – Sunday: 9:00 – 17:00and the last entry is around 4pm.

However, it is worth checking the current program before your visit, as it may change depending on parliamentary events or public holidays.

What is the easiest way to get to the Parliament Building area?

The Palace of Parliament is situated right in the center of Bucharest, in the Civic Center area, near the city’s main sights. You can reach this place from the old town using public transport or by a rented car. Traveling by car is the easiest option since the whole complex of the Palace of Parliament and nearby buildings was designed with wide and many roads, where parking lots can be found. Also, right in front of the Parliament building, on the main side, there is a large parking area, the Parking Piața Constituției, from which the iconic and well-known pictures of the building are taken.

If you choose to rent a car in Bucharest, you will have complete freedom to move about and the chance to stop at other nearby sites, like Grădina Cișmigiu, the Historic Center, or the Romanian Athenaeum. By using a rental car, you won’t have to worry about public transport schedules and issues caused by delays.

Where can you park near the Parliament Building in Bucharest?

If you wish to head straight to the Parliament or admire its design from the outside, we suggest parking at Constitution Square car park which is located right in front of the building and in the evening becomes a gathering spot for the city’s people. You can also use the parking spaces along the street Liberty Avenue to walk through the charming Parc Izvor, which is located along the northern side of the Parliament. And to enjoy the well-known fountains of Bucharest, you can park directly on Boulevard Unirii, where there are also many parking areas on both sides.