Bucharest On a Rainy Day: 11 Things To Do
Bucharest on a rainy day can be just as fun as Bucharest when the weather is really good. You will find that there are so many fun things to do in this city that a day of rain will not impede your plans much at all. You could even use the rain as an excuse to enjoy some sightseeing that you might not have taken advantage of if the weather was better. This is one of the most enjoyable cities to visit in the world and you won't feel like the rain impacted your trip at all with this guide in hand.
The first thing that you need to do when you get to Bucharest is make sure that your luggage is securely stored. You will want to place your luggage in secure storage in Bucharest so that you can have more fun during your travels. Bucharest on a rainy day is no place for heavy luggage, and you will be relieved that you do not have to worry about your bags while you are navigating the city center. Once your bags are in storage, you will be able to head out to have some fun on rainy days or sunny days in this city.
Once your bags are stored, you are ready to go forth and see what Bucharest is all about!
Bucharest On a Rainy Day: Things To Do
These are the best places to head to when the weather is not at its best in Bucharest. You will have access to many quality museums in this city as well as amazing places to sit down for a brunch and stay dry. You will not have to struggle to find fun things to do when the weather is not at its best and you will make just as many memories in Bucharest on a rainy day as you would on a day when the weather was perfect for outdoor adventures.
Royal Palace
This location is the former home of the current royal family and the former royal palace, and you can tour the site with access to the right tickets. You will likely need to secure a private tour guide to be able to gain access to the palace, but it is worth planning to do this on a rainy day that is predicted to occur during your trip. You will love getting to see this part of Bucharest's history that most people do not ever get access to.
The Royal Palace was home to the ruling family of Bucharest until the '40s when the family moved to Elisabeta Palace. This site is also the location to see the National Museum of Art, so you can combine the tour of the palace with a tour of this collection. This is a beautiful building that allows you to learn a lot about the history of the royal family as well as the politics of this country over time. You will be fascinated by this site and it's worth every penny of your private tour guide's fee.
The Peasant Museum
This is a Romanian collection that shows clearly the unique and special cultural history of this part of the world. There are even concerts and live exhibitions of cultural information at this site, so you might get to see more than just the exhibitions about Romania and the history of Bucharest. The peasant history of this part of the world has a rich and colorful story and you will find the engaging and effective exhibitions very moving. This is one of the most inspiring and informative indoor activities that you can engage in on a rainy day in this city and you will love everything about your time in this museum.
The House in a House exhibit inside the museum was originally the home of Antonie Mogo. This house was originally displayed outdoors but was moved inside to preserve it better. This is one of the Bucharest things that no one should miss out on because of how unique it is, and is definitely one of the best museums in the city.
Coffee Shops
This is a city that gives you access to many lovely coffee shops that welcome you in with a cozy atmosphere and delicious coffee. Coffee shops are considered social locations here in Bucharest and you can find people happily chatting at tables inside every coffee shop on different topics. You will feel totally immersed in the culture around you when you sit down with some strong coffee and a pastry. You might even meet some new local friends who can help you to make the most of your trip to this lovely city.
Coffee shops in this city are so much more than just a place to grab a quick bite to eat and a pick-me-up. Make sure that you are prepared to sit down and enjoy the full experience when you head to a coffee shop on a rainy day in this city. Most of the best of these shops are clustered around Old Town but you will not have to work hard to find a coffee stop in nearly any part of the city.
Baneasa Shopping City
This huge shopping center is actually owned by a convicted criminal. This does not impact the quality of the shopping here and you will find that this is one of the best malls away from the city center. This location is quite large and they even have their own magazine that they release a few times a year.
Coming here will give you a good break from the rain and you can be inside this shopping location without issue for many hours of the day. Even if shopping is not your favorite activity, the mall is a very impressive building and worth a look even for those who are not interested in shopping malls in Romania.
Romanian Athenaeum
This is a huge concert hall in the city center that is worth a visit if you have to deal with some rain during your time in Bucharest. The neoclassical building is lovely but there are also really enjoyable shows and concerts to see here. The "George Enescu" Philharmonic plays here and there is a festival that is put on each year under the name of the philharmonic as well.
This building dates back to 1888 and it is considered a landmark for the city. This is one of the buildings that Bucharest is most proud of and you should stop in to at least see this lovely site during your stay when the weather is not ideal.
Bucharest National Museum
As mentioned before, this art collection is located in the former royal palace. You will be able to see all kinds of art here, from Romanian works to works by famous artists. This is a gorgeous venue as well, and the building itself can be considered art. This is a museum that you will likely have to access with the help of a tour guide, and you will get so much more information about Romania and Bucharest when you do this tour with guidance.
The history of the communist regime and some of the other social and historical events that most people are not aware of are discussed by the guides as you look at the art on the walls and you will learn a lot more about Romania in this art museum than you would have thought possible.
Village Museum
This lovely and special museum actually represents a working farm village as it would have existed in Bucharest during the era when there was a peasant class. You can wander among buildings that are perfect representations of peasant cottages and local village buildings and you can learn about food preparation and farming processes that would have sustained this large part of the population of Bucharest during this period.
You will not stay as dry on a rainy day in Bucharest at this site, but you will be inside each time you stop at each building to see the exhibit that is located inside. The skillful people who work at this museum stay perfectly in character and are dressed as peasants. They will tell you more about Bucharest's history as you tour the museum and you will love how immersive their presence makes the site.
Book Shops
If you love to read and you also enjoy shopping, there are many large bookstores in Bucharest that you can stop in at on a rainy day. You will be surrounded by many stories of books in most of these shops and you can easily sit down and read near the windows or in a quiet corner of the building as well. Book shops are a great place to visit before you head to a coffee shop to sit and quietly watch the rain fall with your book in hand.
Ceaușescu Mansion
This lovely home was once the residence of the head of the country during its Communist era. Tour the luxurious interior of this building and you will see beautiful art, lovely porcelain items, and furniture that has been carefully preserved. You will also learn about Ceaușescu himself and what his presence in Bucharest meant for the city as well as its people. This is one of the most unique museum opportunities in this city and you should consider this near the top of your list of things to do and see when you are in Bucharest on a rainy day.
Stavropoleos Monastery
This location is also known as Stavropoleos Church, and is a very interesting site to see when the weather is not ideal in Bucharest. You can head here to learn about monastic life and to see Brâncovenesc style buildings and the beautiful church. The nuns are no longer in residence as the monastery was dissolved quite some time ago, but you get the feeling when you are touring this site that a woman wearing a nun's habit could walk around any corner and greet you.
Monastery life is not something that is common to all other parts of the world, and it can be really fascinating to tour this location that commemorates and teaches about this unique way of life. The monastic history of many parts of the world is tightly connected with its culture and this is very true in Bucharest. This is a lovely and immersive experience that you will not regret getting to enjoy during your trip to Bucharest.
Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History
This is one of the oldest research institutions in the country and it is devoted to research into education and biodiversity. This is a really fun thing to do with kids but adults will also have a great time here. The beautiful old building that this museum is housed in is exactly what you would expect to see for this kind of museum and you and your group will have a great time touring the exhibits here. This is a fun history museum that is a bit different than the other offerings within this city. Bucharest museums come in many shapes and sizes and you will love having different experiences as you tour the city.
You Can Have a Great Time in Bucharest Even When it Rains
This guide will help you to make the most of your rainy day plans in Bucharest. You will find that there is no shortage of shopping, sightseeing, and historical exhibitions to see when you are in all the various parts of this city on a rainy day. There is something to do in every part of the city when it rains, from the old town to the newer parts of the city.
No matter what your rainy day plans are for your time in Bucharest, you need to be sure that you have placed your bags in secure storage first. You will have so much more fun on your trip if you know that your bags are safe and secure and you will love that you do not have to drag them around with you all day long.
