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The Palace of Parliament

"people's house".

One of the most interesting to visit tourist objectives in Bucharest is the Palace of Parliament . No matter how many other palaces have you visited in your lifetime, this grand edifice will impress you with its size and its architectural style. Did we say „architectural style”? In fact, most architects blame this palace for not having one but more architectural styles. Also called the People's House , during Ceausescu’s regime, this building is, in fact, a symbol of the old communist times, an extravagance if you want to put it that way. Thanks to its solid wood furniture, crystal chandeliers, impressive dimensions, huge marble columns and other carefully chosen interior design elements for each room, this palace is one of Bucharest's most visited tourist objectives.

Nowadays, the Palace of Parliament is the scene of interesting new media events, such as iMapp Bucharest . 

The Beginnings

Shortly after the earthquake in 1977, the Romanian communist leader of the time, Nicolae Ceauşescu, initiated the plan to build a new political-administrative center in Bucharest, in the area of the Uranus hill, the higher part of the Dâmboviţa hill, area which was confirmed by specialists as being safe for the construction of monumental buildings. This plan started as a consequence of the urbanization campaign and it was influenced by the friendship with the North Korean leader at that time, Kim Ir Sen.

Starting in 1980, 5% of the Bucharest area was demolished. An area almost equivalent to the total surface of Venice. This was the end of Uranus neighborhood, the end of those small streets paved with cubic stone, with old and quaint Romanian houses with bohemian glamour, many of which brought to light by architects from that time. 20 churches were destroyed, 8 were moved, 10,000 homes were demolished, and over 57,000 families were evicted. Brâncovenesc Hospital which was the first forensic medicine institute in the world was demolished, also.

But this was only the beginning: People's House, the current Palace of Parliament, took almost 10 years of hard work that brought together over 100,000 workers, more than 20,000 persons working 24 hours three shifts per day. Between 1984 and 1990, 12,000 soldiers took part in the construction works, as well.

The building was erected with construction materials produced in Romania, amongst which: 1,000,000 cubic meters of marble, 550,000 tons of cement, 700,000 tons of steel, 2,000,000 tons of sand, 1,000 tons of basalt, 900,000 cubic meters of rich wood, 3,500 tons of crystal, 200,000 cubic meters of glass, 2,800 chandeliers, 220,000 sqm carpets, 3,500 sqm leather.

Interesting is the fact that, for the construction of the Palace of Parliament, all the foam models were made on a scale of 1/1000 presenting the entire Bucharest city, including the streets, plazas, buildings, houses and monuments, also with certain details. Some parts of the building, like stairs, for example, were made on a scale of 1/1! The Ceaușescu couple could not understand the architectural plans and this was the handiest plan for architects to show their plans. The couple was walking over the models on a rolling bridge, giving instructions. Every 7 days, the plans changed according to the new instructions given by the ruling couple.

In 1989, when the Revolution started, only 60% of the building was finalized. At that moment, giving the resentfulness of the population against the symbols of the past era, the demolition of the building was taking into account. Yet, following the economic considerations, it was decided to complete the construction as it was cheaper than demolishing it. Thus, between the years 1992 and 1996, the construction started again.

Now, when you are looking at this massive construction, you can see:

• the largest administrative building (for civil use), as confirmed by the Guinness World Records Book
• the 3rd place worldwide by its volume
• the heaviest and the most expensive building in the world

Sounds great, right?

So, let's have a look inside...

Inside the Building

We recommend you to quickly make a reservation for a tour. Worth a visit because what you will see here you will not see anywhere in the world!

Palace of Parliament Map Plan

Before presenting you a short description of each area that you are going to visit, let's show you the plan of the building. You will find this symbol inlaid in marble on the floor almost everywhere. Most people think it's just an intricate paint on the floor, but now you know it's not only that!

Palace of Parliament Official Entrance

With approximately 1000 rooms of which 440 are offices, more than 30 ballrooms, 4 restaurants, 3 libraries, 2 underground parking lots, 1 big concert room, 1 unfinished pool, and thousands of square meters in which no one knows what is happening, the Palace of Parliament offers you contradictory feelings every time you step on its doorstep.

This is the official entrance. Often used as an official entrance when fairs, exhibitions or other events take place here, the entrance fascinates with the red carpet, the huge chandelier, and, especially, with the stairs you will see: one on the left and one on the right. Built-in a mirror, the two stairs were created especially so that the Ceaușescu couple could use them when they were to receive their guests. One would descend on one side, the other on the other, and meet in the middle. The steps are 13 cm high, less than the usual dimensions and this was also done on purpose. Thus, you could descend naturally, without looking at your feet and without taking bigger steps to climb them. Remember what we have told you about foam models of stairs that were made on a scale of 1/1? These are the stairs we are talking about! In front of each staircase, there is a window covered with curtains. These curtains hold the record for the tallest curtains in the world in an administrative building. Their weight exceeds 250 kg each!

Nicolae Titulescu Hall

This Hall is currently used by the President of the Chamber of Deputies and President of the Senate during the official meetings. The French style was chosen to decorate this room. The color used for this camera was not randomly chosen. Pink is a neutral color and is not used by any political party. So, apart from the fact that it inspires calm, no one can accuse anyone of being subtly influenced in decision-making.

Human Rights Hall

This hall is one of the most impressive that you are going to see. It was projected in order to hold the meetings of the Executive Political Committee of the Communist Party. You will see here a huge round table, 60 identical chairs for the Executive Political Committee members (the armchair for Nicolae Ceaușescu was never finished), and the second-largest chandelier in the Palace of Parliament.

Take Ionescu Hall

This Hall does not have natural light, but the 12 chandeliers and the over 20 sconces manage to illuminate the room, highlighting the beauty of the columns that support it. Pay attention to the ornaments on the ceiling. They are covered with gold leaf. You will notice that the acoustics in this room are special and even the whispers are echoed. In this room, Ceausescu was to be received on the occasion of various events. At his entrance, everyone had to applaud enthusiastically. The echo would have made the applause louder, the effect becoming one with great impact.

This is the largest hall in the building. It has 2200 sqm. The carpet you will see in this room (most of the time it is rolled because it is a room where many events take place) has 1100 sqm and weighs 3 tons. It was woven directly inside the room, being too big to be transported. On two of the walls of the room, on the left and your right, you will see the place where the portrait of Nicolae Ceaușescu should have been on one side and a huge mirror in which it should be reflected on the other side.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza Hall

At the end of your visit, you will see the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Hall. This hall is impressive due to its' highs (it is the highest in the Palace of Parliament), but also due to its balcony. From here you can see Unirii Boulevard. The only person who addressed the crowd speaking from this balcony was Michael Jackson in 1992. He addressed to his fans "Hello, Budapest!" instead of "Hello, Bucharest!", but he wasn't the first or the last personality to confuse the two capitals.

Would you like to learn more about the curiosities that make the Palace of Parliament one of the most impressive buildings in the world?

Opening hours & ticket price

• March - October, daily 09:00 am - 5:00 pm  (last round at 4:30 pm )
• November - February , daily 10:00 am  - 4:00 pm (last round at 3:30 pm )

Ticket prices:

Standard tour.

• Adults: 40 lei / person ~ 8 euro
• Students: 20 lei/person (19 - 26 years old, with student card approved) ~ 4 euro
• Children: 10 lei / person (7-18 years) ~ 2 euro

Standard tour + basement (2 stairs descent)

• Adults: 45 lei / person ~ 10 euro
• Students: 23 lei/person (19 - 26 years old, with student card) ~ 5 euro
• Children: 15 lei / person (7-18 years) ~ 3 euro

Tour Panorama of the city - Terrace (elevator access)

Maximum 6 people / group

• Single rate: 600 lei / tour ~ 125 euro

Standard Tour Package 35

• Single rate: 1400 lei / tour ~ 290 euro

Standard tour package + Basement 35

Single rate: 1575 lei / tour ~ 330 euro

Free admission for:

• children aged 0-6 years , accompanied; persons with disabilities (with evidence) and their companion; accompanying guide (for organized groups, minimum 10 adults).
• Professional photo shooting: 300 EURO/hour
• Professional film shooting: 5000 EURO/hour
• For professional photography and shooting, please send your request to [email protected] or to the fax number: + 40 21 312 09 02.

The tickets for the visit of the Parliament Palace are purchased on the day of the visit, only from the ticket office inside the Exhibition Hall "Constantin Brâncuși", Izvor Street, no. 2-4 . Payment can be made in cash or by bank card.

For reservation:

• Bookings for 1 to 9 people can be made only by phone, 24 hours prior to the visit, between 09:00 – 16:00, at the following telephone numbers: + 40 733 558 102 or +40 733 558 103
• Bookings for groups of 10 people + can be made at the following email address: [email protected]
• Requests for bookings made via email for 1 to 9 people will not be taken into consideration

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How to Visit the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

Bucharest’s Palace of the Parliament, formerly known as “The House of the People” (“casa poporului”), is one of Romania’s most iconic landmarks. The socialist-era building is the second-largest government building in the world and will likely be at the top of your to-do list if you’re planning a trip to Bucharest.

The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest welcomes tourists all throughout the year, seven days-a-week. To visit, you’ll need to schedule your tour in advance, bring proper identification, and carry adequate cash to pay for your tour.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through planning your tour to this socialist relic and give you a glimpse of what you can expect from each tour package. I’ll also provide information that doesn’t appear on the building’s official tour site, like how to find the entrance (seriously, how did they leave this out).

Hours of Operation

Impressively, the Palace of the Parliament is open seven days-a-week year-round, though it is closed for government holidays. This site provides a list of government holidays in Romania.

It is important to note that the Palace of the Parliament is a functioning parliament building, so you cannot simply wander around on your own. As a tourist, you are only permitted in the building if you are taking part in an official, scheduled tour.

The building’s operational hours vary according to the time of year:

• March-October: Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• November-February: Open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The last tour of the day begins thirty minutes before closing time, so keep this in mind when scheduling your visit.

Additionally, visitors are required to be at the information desk at least 15 minutes before their scheduled tour begins, otherwise the tour may be canceled without notice. Plan your trip so that you will have plenty of time to get to the building and find the information desk.

Tickets and Packages

Standard tour.

Adults:       40 lei ($10 USD)/person

Students:   20 lei ($5 USD)/person (19 – 26 years old, with a valid student ID)

Children:    10 lei ($2.50 USD)/person (7 – 18 years old)

Standard + Underground Tour (access 2 floors on stairs)

Adults:       45 lei ($11 USD)/person

Students:   23 lei ($6 USD)/person (19 – 26 years old, with a valid student ID)

Children:    15 lei ($4 USD)/person (7 – 18 years old)

Panoramic Tour – Terrace (lift access)

Maximum 6 people/group

Admission price: 600 lei ($150 USD)/tour

Scheduling your Visit

One cannot visit the world’s largest monument to Socialism without encountering some form of post-socialist bureaucracy.

Anyone who has visited Rome, where the Colosseum or Vatican can be visited on a whim, will be surprised by the amount of fussing it takes just to visit a landmark in this part of the world.

Before you can tour the Palace of the Parliament, you must schedule your tour, by phone, with a live operator, at least 24 hours beforehand. For most of you, this means you will have to make an international call in order to schedule your visit.

If your telephone provider does not allow international calls to Europe or if they charge an arm and a leg, then I recommend using Skype to place the call. I’ve used Skype many times in the past to make calls to landlines and cellphone numbers in Europe without any hassle. Simply create a Skype account, add $10 of credit, and place your call. It couldn’t be simpler, really.

You must schedule your tour by dialing either of these lines during operational hours:

• + 40 733 558 102

Luckily, the tour staff speaks English so you should be able to communicate easily when you call in. The scheduler should let you know if they have availability on the date you are requesting and what type of tours are being offered that day.

Finding the Entrance

Finding the entrance to the Palace of the Parliament can be quite daunting. The grounds are completely walled off except for a few designated places. Complicating matters further, the grounds are bordered by busy boulevards with few crosswalks.

The entrance you must use to arrive at the information desk is located on the north side of the palace, across from Izvor Park (Parcul Izvor). If you are traveling via metro, you’ll want to exit at Izvor station, located in Izvor park. From the station, you’ll have to walk through the park and toward the Palace.

Using the designated crosswalk, traverse Izvor Boulevard and enter the palace grounds where the car approach and security booth are located. Walk up the long sidewalk toward the building’s facade and enter through the doors at the center of the building.

Once inside, you will have to undergo a brief bag check and metal detector screening. Be careful not to bring anything sketchy (knives, lighters, fireworks, etc.). You will also be asked to present a recognized form of identification.

You must bring your valid passport in order to enter the Palace of the Parliament and participate in a tour.

Is It Worth It?

At a price point of just $10, it would be hard to argue against visiting the Palace of the Parliament.

The sheer scale of the Palace speaks to the grandiose vision of Romania’s brutal dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, who demolished entire historic neighborhoods to make space for his grand tribute to socialism, the House of the People.

Walking through the building’s unused chambers and empty halls inspire visions of a different Romania, one far removed from the bustling shopping malls and commercial centers that now dot the cityscape. A visit to this monument allows for moments of reflection, fascination, and learning from the past.

Happy exploring.

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Book Palace of Parliament Bucharest Tours & Tickets

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.

• Palace of Parliament Bucharest Skip-the-line Tickets with Guided Tour
• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Enjoy a comprehensive tour of Romania's Parliament, one of Eastern Europe's most interesting buildings.
• The 2nd largest building in the world, this landmark has much to drink in! Thanks to your skip-the-line ticket, you won't have to while your time away in line.
• Follow your official tour guide around, who will usher you with facts about the parliament building and its construction during the darkest period of communism.
• Waltz across three levels of the building and delve into the history and contemporary realities of Romania.
• Stumble through the main meeting rooms and the Ballroom, across 500 chandeliers, 1400 mirrors, and elaborate decorations.
• From the Dictator’s Balcony (2nd level of the building), soak up panoramic views of the fountains boulevard.
• Skip-the-line ticket to Parliament Palace
• Official English-speaking tour guide
• Booking fee
• Hotel transfers
• Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly
• Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with your passport to your tour guide
• Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the start time of your tour to avoid delays

Meeting Point

• Meet your guide at the right side of the Parliament building at the entrance by the Izvor Park
• Address: Strada Izvor 2-4, București 041037, Romania

• 1-Hour Skip-the-Line Guided Tour of Palace of Parliament in Bucharest
• Avoid long waiting queues with your skip-the-line ticket and head right into the Palace of the Parliament, Europe's biggest building and a cherished local landmark.
• Learn about Romania's past and present political stand from your expert tour guide.
• Get an insight into Romanian art and history as you admire the Palace's large halls, opulent decorations, and fascinating interiors.
• Get to know some significant figures from the past like Nicolae Ceausescu, who helped shape Romania.
• Head up to the 2nd level for terrific balcony views. Bring your cameras to capture the stunning Fountains Avenue from this vantage point.
• Keep in mind that you will meet your guide at the North entrance, the intersection of Bulevardul Națiunile Unite and Bulevardul Libertății, right next to the traffic light. Please do not go to the main entrance.
• Skip-the-line access to Palace of Parliament
• English or Spanish-speaking guide
• A passport or valid ID card is necessary to enter the Palace of Parliament. Driver's license is NOT accepted regardless of the country coming from. If you are not in possession of one of the two mentioned documents, your tour will be automatically canceled.
• You need to arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the tour starts.

4-Hour Guided Tour of Palace of Parliament and City of Bucharest

• Deep dive into the history of Bucharest on this 4-hour guided tour.
• Learn about the story behind the Palace of the Parliament, built by Nicolae Ceausescu.
• Enter the charming Village Museum, which contains authentic Romanian peasant homes from across the country.
• Tour the iconic spots in the city such as Revolution Square and Constitution Square.
• Your ticket includes a hassle-free pick-up and drop-off from your hotel.
• Transportation by an air conditioned vehicle
• Certified English speaking tour guide
• Hotel pick-up & drop-off
• Entrance fees (40 lei per person at the Parliament Palace and 15 lei per person at the Village Museum)

Top things to do in Bucharest

Visiting Palace of Parliament in Bucharest | Book Palace of Parliament Tickets

Bucharest is one of the most visited cities in Europe. A city with a tumultuous history, Bucharest is famous for its architecture which is a reflection of its past. With plenty of landmarks depicting different eras, the city has plenty to offer tourists. Whether it’s the beautiful Belle Epoch buildings, the renowned Revolution Square or the galleries and antique shops in Old Town Bucharest, it’s impossible not to be pleasantly surprised at every turn of the road. But none are as attention-grabbing or controversial as the Palace of Parliament Bucharest.

To make things easier for you, we provide key information like FAQs, timings, and highlights of the famous monument. Keep reading this guide to get the most out of your Palace of Parliament Bucharest Tour .

Why Visit the Palace of Parliament?

Wondering whether you should book a Palace of Parliament Bucharest Tour? Take a look at the highlights given below to find out more about this historical landmark.

• The opulent edifice, which is in Bucharest, is a vital part of Romanian history.
• Presently, the second largest parliament building in the world, still in use, the Palace of Parliament Bucharest weighs a whopping 4.10 million tonnes, making it the heaviest building on the planet.
• The enormous structure boasts 1100 rooms, with most of the materials used in the construction, sourced from Romania.
• Step into any of the brilliantly decorated halls and marvel at the gorgeous architecture. 
• Take in the view of Unirii Boulevard from the 2nd floor.
• The building’s lavish interiors make it the most expensive administrative building in the globe.
• Make your way into the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which is housed in the Palace of Parliament along with two others.

Which Palace of Parliament ticket should you buy?

If you have limited time

Go for: Skip-the-line tickets Duration: 1 hour Guide: English-speaking guide, Spanish-speaking guide

• If you are short on time, opt for skip-the-line tickets, where you can save time by bypassing long ticket queues and gain direct entry to the Palace of Parliament.
• These tickets include guided tours, where an English or Spanish-speaking guide will show you around and give you in-depth information and facts about the Parliament building, its construction, and its opulent interiors.

Recommended ticket:

If you want to explore in depth

Go for: Guided tours Duration: 1 hour Guide: English-speaking guide, Spanish-speaking guide

• Enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Palace of Parliament with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, and learn about the past and contemporary politics of Romania and some of its famous political figures.
• These tickets include skip-the-line access to the Parliament building, which means you won’t have to wait in long entry lines.

If you want to explore beyond Palace of Parliament

Go for: City tour Duration: 4 hours Guide: English-speaking guide

• Dive deep into the history of Bucharest with a guided tour of iconic landmarks and attractions such as Palace of the Parliament, Village Museum, Revolution Square, and Constitution Square.
• Enjoy a comfortable and hassle-free trip with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour

Palace of Parliament Bucharest Highlights

Here are some special attractions you can witness on the Palace of Parliament Bucharest Tour:

National Museum of Contemporary Art

Romania's capital city of Bucharest is home to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Muzeul Național de Artă Contemporană, or MNAC). A new glass wing of the Palace of the Parliament Bucharest houses the museum.

Nicolae Titulescu Hall

The President of the Senate and the President of the Chamber of Deputies currently hold formal sessions in this hall. This architectural marvel of a room was decorated in the French style, which guests can marvel at during the visit.

Take Ionescu Hall

Gold leaf-covered ceilings, 12 chandeliers and more than 20 sconces to dazzle visitors with their brilliant light, this hall was named after the Romanian premier, centrist politician, journalist, lawyer, diplomat and short story writer.

This gorgeous hall is the biggest one in the building. You can see where Nicolae Ceaușescu's portrait would have been and a large mirror that was supposed to be reflected on two of the room's walls, on your left and right, respectively.

Plan Your Visit To the Palace of Parliament

Listed below are crucial pieces of information that can help you plan your Palace of Parliament Bucharest tour:

• Timings: March to October, daily 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM, November to February, daily 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Last Entry: March to October- 4.30 PM, November to February-3.30 PM
• Closed On: 25th December and 1st January every year, 15th August to 28th of October, 2022
• Best Time To Visit: Early mornings when it is less crowded.

Address: Strada Izvor 2 - 4, Calea 13 Septembrie 1, Sector 5

Find on Maps.

• By Metro: M1, M3   Nearest Stop: Izvor 
• By Tram: 32 Nearest Stop: 11 lunie
• By Bus: Bus # 104, 117, 123, 124, 136, 361, 385, 783 Nearest Stop: Piața Regina Maria
• By Car: Distance From Airport: 19.3 km from Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) Car Parking: Building's underground parking lot, (subject to availability)

Here are some rules you must follow while visiting the Palace of Parliament:

• All visitors must carry IDs (valid passports for international tourists) to get into the building.
• During the tour, avoid sitting on the stairs or any of the furniture.
• Smoking and drinking are not permitted within the Palace of Parliament.
• Dress appropriately.
• Do not litter.
• During the tour, please be silent and aware of your surroundings to avoid interfering with ongoing parliamentary sessions or conferences.
• Nothing in the building's artwork or furniture should be touched or damaged.
• Do not wander off from the guided tour deliberately.

• Antim Monastery : One of the most stunning monasteries in the capital, is located very close to the Parliament Palace on Unirii Boulevard in Bucharest.
• Romanian Athenaeum : It is situated on Calea Victoriei, is an important historical and cultural hub and a stunning piece of architecture.
• Primăverii Palace: The former home of the Ceaușescu family, it is now a museum and is situated near the Palace of Parliament.

Here are some useful tips for your Palace of Parliament tour:

• Carry your national IDs or passports, this is important for getting through the security and gaining admittance.
• If you are a student, you can get a discounted ticket. Remember to bring your student ID card to confirm that you are a student.
• Dress in layers, as the building can get quite cool at times.
• Bring a bottle of non-alcoholic beverages or water in a transparent plastic or glass bottle.
• Do not bring any type of banner, flag or placard etc as it might lead to refusal of entry.
• Wear comfortable footwear, as the Palace of Parliament tour may involve a lot of walking.

All Your Questions About Palace of Parliament Tickets Answered

A. You can buy Palace of Parliament tickets online.

A. Yes, you can buy Palace of Parliament tickets online.

A.  Palace of Parliament tour ticket prices begin at €19.

A. Yes, you can get a discount on the Palace of Parliament tickets .

A. The Palace of Parliament is the administrative building that houses the Parliament of Romania, with its Chamber of Deputies, the Palace of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Romanian Senate.

A. You can get access to the Palace of Parliament by booking a Palace of Parliament tour.

A. The Palace of Parliament is located atop Delul Spirii in Bucharest, Romania.

A. The grand staircase, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Union Hall are some of the highlights of the Palace of Parliament.

A. You can reach the Palace of Parliament by bus, tram or metro. You could also use a car or trolley bus.

A. The Palace of Parliament is open from 9 am to 5 pm during the months of March to October, and from 10 am to 4 pm from November to February.

A. Palace of Parliament has a lot of conference rooms, restaurants, a medical centre and parking etc.

A. Yes, the Palace of Parliament is wheelchair accessible, though you have to arrange it before your visit.

A. Yes, photography is allowed in the Palace of Parliament, however, you may have to pay a fee for using your camera.

A. Palace of Parliament is a stunning piece of history come alive that is definitely worth visiting.. You can experience the grandeur of this magnificent building and learn about the history of Romania.

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Bucharest: Palace of Parliament Guided Tour

• 6.30 / 10 6 reviews | 76 travellers Very good. The guide Christian is very attentive to the group. You can see little of Parliament but enough to get an idea 10 Anonymous
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the service starts

Did you know that the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is the largest administrative building in the world ? On this guided tour, we'll visit the most iconic and important parts of this architectural landmark – a real privilege!

Palace of Parliament Guided Tour

At the indicated time, we'll meet at  Bulevardul Natiunile Unite 4 . From there, we'll walk towards the Palace of Parliament , an a rchitectural gem of Bucharest .

From the entrance to the foyer, we'll start the visit by walking through the Hall of Honour , decorated with several busts of Romanian kings . This image will give us an introduction to start immersing ourselves in the historical importance of the building.

We'll continue the tour in one of the most prominent halls of the Parliament, the Balcescu Room , which is currently used for international conferences . Then, we'll reach the  Kogalniceanu Room  and the Music Hall , where renowned musicians from all over the world have performed.

Afterwards, we'll see the famous Pink Room , also called the Nicolae Titulescu Hall , used for meetings between public officials. You'll see that it actually is all pink, it's like a fairytale palace !

Our penultimate stop will be at the Ballroom of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest , the largest in Europe. Did you know that it's the size of 4 football fields?

We'll finish the guided tour on the balcony , with magnificent panoramic views of Piața Constituției . Finally, on the way to the exit we'll walk through corridors housing paintings by Romanian artists .

After an hour-long tour inside the building, we'll say our goodbyes and put an end to the tour. See you next time!

More Information

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English–speaking guide

Admission to the Palace of Parliament

Not included

Food and drinks

When to book?

You can book up until 4 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Transylvanian Wonders Show more

Corporate name: SC Transylvanian Wonders SRL

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point.

Bulevardul Natiunile Unite 4

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More currencies, 1-hour skip-the-line guided tour of palace of parliament in bucharest.

• Instant confirmation
• Mobile ticket

Visit Europe's biggest building and a cherished local landmark, the Palace of the Parliament.

Enjoy dedicated skip-the-line access into Europe's biggest building.

Follow your expert guide around, who will impart intriguing knowledge about this landmark.

Delve into history and politics, learning about historical figures that played a role in shaping Romania.

Walk past large halls, opulent decorations, and fascinating interiors.

This building has almost 500 chandeliers, 1400 mirrors and lights, and 35 million cubic feet of marble.

Don't forget to head up to the 2nd level for terrific views of Fountains Avenue!

Did You Know? The building has 8 underground levels, one of which is a nuclear bunker that is linked to the main state institutions by 20 kilometers of catacombs.

Skip-the-line access to Palace of Parliament

English or Spanish-speaking guide

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Ratings & Reviews

Your experience.

Enjoy this comprehensive guided tour through Bucharest's Palace of the Parliament, one of Europe's most impressive buildings. Your informative local guide will walk alongside you, sharing intriguing facts and intel about Romania's Parliament. Walk past large halls, opulent decorations, and fascinating interiors, as you gain a deeper understanding of Romania's history and politics. A name you'll hear often will be "Nicolae Ceausescu", who played a role in shaping Romania. On the ground floor, you'll pick up facts and figures about the palace itself. On the first level, you'll see the main meeting rooms and the Ballroom, learning about its maddening architecture. The 2nd level holds the balcony that offers great views over Fountains Avenue. All in all, a great, detailed tour of Europe's largest building that shouldn't be missed when in the city!

Know Before You Go

Important information.

Please note : A passport or valid ID card is necessary to enter the Palace of Parliament. Driver's license is NOT accepted regardless of the country coming from. If you are not in possession of one of the two mentioned documents, your tour will be automatically canceled.

You need to arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the tour starts.

This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Photography is allowed (no flash and tripods).

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID to your tour guide. EU visitors must bring identification documents such as passports or non-driving license IDs, while non-EU visitors are required to bring their passports. Students must show valid student IDs as well.

Please arrive 30 minutes before the start time of your tour to avoid delays.

If you have purchased reduced-price tickets, please carry your valid photo ID proof for verification. Students must show their valid student IDs.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at the Transylvania Wonders office at Gemenii Center.

Address: Bulevardul Națiunile Unite 4, Bloc 107/A, Sector 5, Bucharest, 030167, Romania.

Get Directions to the Meeting Point.

Getting There

The closest bus stop is Piata Natiunile Unite, a 3-minute walk to the meeting point.

Bus #104, #123, #385, and more to get you here.

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Visit to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

20/12/2021 by Roobens 1 Comment

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The palace of the Parliament is a must see when you go to Bucharest . It’s the world’s second largest administrative building, after the Pentagon. It’s also the most expensive administrative building and the heaviest building in the world. And honestly, when you visit it, you understand why the palace of the parliament holds all this records! I was really looking forward to my visit to the palace of the parliament in Bucharest!

Table of Contents

History of the palace of the parliament

The palace of the Parliament was originally called People’s House. The construction of the Palace began in 1984, on the initiative of Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian dictator . His dream was to live in a tremendous palace (to show off), and to gather in this palace the presidency of the republic, the great national assembly, the council of ministers, and the supreme court. He didn’t have the opportunity to fulfill his dream, he was executed in 1989 not long before the end of the building.

But still, because of this palace, a lot of people worked really hard. About 600 architects and 20000 laborers worked on it, 40000 people were evicted and rehoused, whole villages were also working on the project… After Nicolae Ceausescu’s death, the governement decided to finish the palace, since it was already too advanced, a lot of resources had been used, and a lot of money had been spent.

Visiti to the People’s House

So it’s now possible to visit the palace of the parliament, and to see the opulence in which Ceausescu wanted to live. They propose visits in Romanian, English, French and Italian. I took the one in English, they propose them on a regular basis (at least one every hour), and I had to wait almost two hours for the one in French. Moreover I didn’t want to be the only person with the french guide… There are three types of tickets :

• The standard tour for 35 lei (7 euros)
• The standard tour + palace and terrace for 45 lei (9 euros)
• The full tour (standard + palace and terrace + underground) for 55 lei (11 euros)

FYI, it’s also possible to buy a skip-the-line ticket. Click here to buy it .

No pictures with your camera

Honestly, from what I could see, you get to see everything just with the standard tour ticket so it’s useless to take the full tour. Keep money in your pockets 🙂 Little detail I have to tell you, if you want to take pictures in the palace of the parliament with your camera, you have to pay an extra 30 lei (6 euros). But with your phone, it’s free. I saw people taking pictures with their cameras, although they didn’t pay to do it. Actually, they don’t really pay attention, but I suggest you not to do it, who knows…

ID is mandatory

It’s not possible to visit the palace of the parliament if you don’t bring your ID. So don’t forget to bring your passport. After paying, the reception takes all the passports. You’ll get it back before leaving. Then everybody goes through a security gate, just like the ones in airports. They don’t play! And then the visit starts.

Palace of the Parliament stats

The palace of the parliament, it’s a living area of 350000 meters square! It measures 270 by 240 meters, with a height of 86 meters. It has more than 1100 rooms, on 12 different floors. 140 of those rooms are actually offices. Almost all the materials used in the construction of the palace of the parliament come from Romania (cristal for the chandeliers, silk for the curtains…). The cost of the palace is unknown, but it’s been estimated at 4 billion US dollars.

During the 1990s, Donald Trump was interested in this palace, and he wanted to buy it. The idea was to buy it, and turn it into the biggest casino in the world. But he declined when he was told that he could get the palace for 4 billion US dollars. Seeing how big this palace is, I totally understand the price! At the end of the visit, our guide told us we only covered 5% of the palace! You have to see it with your own eyes! If you spend some time in the country, check out this list of places to visit in Romania !

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The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest: History, facts and tours

I will never forget the odor when I entered the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest . To this day, I can’t decide if it was just bad air or if somebody failed to boil cabbage properly. Somehow, this smell inside the Palace of the Parliament can still trigger a set of impressions from my visit. It was actually this building that made me want to visit Bucharest. Therefore, taking a tour through the Palace was a high priority when I visited Romania’s capital.

The so-called Casa Poporului , or The People’s House, is an impressive building lots of records are associated with it. In this article, I’m going to present to you my impressions of the tour, lots of facts, photos, plus a video. If you’d like to book a tour, make sure to check the section at the bottom of this post, where I link to the best tours to the Palace of the Parliament.

So, let’s start.

Table of Contents

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An introduction to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

The Palace of the Parliament is the heaviest building in the world . It actually weighs 4,098,500,000 kilos, and it is supposedly sinking a few millimeters per year. It is located in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, and its construction lasted 13 years: it started in 1984 and finished in 1997. The idea of constructing such a massive building belonged to Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian Communist Party’s general secretary. Ceausescu was executed in December 1989 during the Romanian Revolution, which was an era of political turmoil for the country. That said, Ceausescu never saw the building he envisioned.

The architect that supervised the construction of the Parliamentary Palace was Anca Petrescu. She wasn’t, of course, alone in this task. She actually had 700 architects with her. The number of workers is equally impressive: more than 21,000 people worked on the project. Nicolae Ceausescu wanted to prove that he could build it using Romanian materials and local workers exclusively. It was a house for the people, after all. Those 21,000 workers worked in three shifts, 24 hours per day. That said, for these 13 years, people were working on the project non-stop.

Today, the building houses the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the two sections of the Parliament of Romania. In addition, several museums are hosted in the building, among them the Museum for Contemporary Art of Romania . But of course, these things occupy just a tiny percentage of its use. The Palace of the Parliament has more than 1,000 rooms . There are also offices operating in the building, and its number is calculated to be 440. The Palace itself occupies an area of 365,000 square meters.

Known also as the House of the Republic, Ceaușescu’s dream building is also the world’s largest civilian building with an administrative function. It’s also the second biggest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. In the early ’90s, Rupert Merdoch tried to buy it for 3 billion dollars. However, the Romanian State didn’t accept his offer. To this day, the Palace of the Parliament is also the most expensive administrative building in the world.

Taking a tour of the Palace of the Parliament

Everyone can visit the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest. However, walking through its interior is only possible with a guide. You can either sign up for a tour in the Palace directly from the website of the Parliamentary Palace or find a tour online. The day I visited the Palace, I was lucky enough to arrive on time for an English guided tour. However, as I figured out, not every tour is in English. Therefore, cross-check if the tour you’re about to take is in English.

As an alternative, you can pre-book an English-speaking tour online. There are actually a few certified guides offering them. You can book a tour here and also here . Make sure to arrive fifteen minutes in advance : it’s obligatory to go through a security check. Bring also your passport with you; otherwise, you won’t be allowed to enter.

It honestly feels like being in an airport. And the truth is that maybe you are: you’re about to land in a different era.

What you’ll see in the Parliamentary Palace tour

As I wrote earlier, this is the biggest administrative building in the world. You will probably need days to tour all around it. Even the people working there haven’t seen the whole building. The visitors taking the Parliamentary Palace tour will only have access to 5% of the building. You will walk approximately 1,5 kilometers , and you will visit a couple of rooms. If you add the so-called Underground option to your tour, you’ll also see some rooms in the basement. For the latter addition, make sure you are fit enough to take the stairs. You should calculate approximately 300 stairs in total -but not in one strike, of course.

According to online information, the tour lasts about two hours. This is probably an exaggeration, though: the tour I took lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. I think that the two-hour timeframe considers things like unforeseen delays or a group that might ask lots of questions.

How much does the tour of the Palace of the Parliament cost?

As of 2021, the tour costs 45 lei. That’s approximately 9-10 euros/dollars . If you book one of the various tours that you can find online, expect a few extra euros since you’re also paying for the guide. By booking online, though, you reserve a place, so you’re sure that you won’t miss it. I’ll add the two best tours at the bottom of this post.

There is no extra charge for shooting photos. I double-checked that because I wanted to shoot both photos and videos. I had my Ricoh with me as well as the DJI Osmo Pocket . During the tour, I also saw people carrying large DSLRs. That said, you don’t have to worry about your bulky DSLR. Have it with you because the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is a great attraction and you want to remember everything about it.

What to expect from the tour to Parliamentary Palace

The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. They will always ask you if you have any questions, and they are happy to answer them. They will also provide lots of information, but it’ll be hard to remember every detail unless you write everything down or record it. The only downside of the tour for me was that it felt pretty short. In one hour and fifteen minutes, it’s hard to digest what you see. Plus, if you (like me) would like to shoot photos and videos, you’ll have to sacrifice some of the info for finding and composing your images.

The day I took the tour, I counted approximately 35 people in the group. In some of the rooms, you won’t walk inside; therefore, everybody will stand in front of the door. That said, if you’d like to take some decent photos, you’ll have to wait until the group moves on to the next room. Of course, you’ll then lose some info.

Overall, I’m happy that I had the Parliamentary Palace tour . It offers a memorable experience because, in this building, modern history was written. Apart from that, the scale of the building itself is breathtaking. If you are into history or simply interested in such things, this is one of the must things to do in Bucharest.

20 quick facts about the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

Before presenting even more photos (and a video) from the tour, I’d like to add some quick facts about the building. Plus, I got some info from our tour guide that might not be available anywhere else online.

• You can access the Palace of the Parliament only from the side of Izvor Park. Since the building is enormous, don’t lose time searching for the entrance. Walk straight to Izvor Park and cross the street.
• The English-speaking tours usually start early in the afternoon. Mine began at 14:00, some of the online ones start at 15:00.
• The tour will last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes . I think that the two hours that you’ll see online is probably an exaggeration.
• You can take photos everywhere in the interior but not at the security check . So keep your cameras and smartphones down.
• Before starting the tour, you will be given a badge. You’ll have to return it when exiting, so if you are into such memorabilia, make sure to take a photo.
• Don’t forget your passport ! Without it, you can’t enter the Palace of the Parliament. Remember that this is an administrative building and people want to know who’s attending.
• One of the paintings that you will see presents the back of a woman. This is supposedly Ceausescu’s wife, Elena. Her back is naked, and rumor says the painter didn’t want to use her as a model because he found her ugly. Some other stories say that Elena was, in fact, running the State, not Nicolae.
• When you are accessing the first floor, you will see huge curtains hanging in front of the windows. They are dark red in color, sixteen meters high, and they weigh 200 kilos each.
• Sabin Balasa was one of the most famous artists in Romania. One of his most known paintings is in the Palace of the Parliament. Its name is “ Apotheosis ,” and it’s from 1984.
• Along the long corridors of the Palace, you’ll also see traditional Romanian costumes . Some of them are more than 100 years old.
• The Palace of the Parliament is not far away from the city center. You can easily access it on foot .
• There are days that international conferences and other events take place in the Palace. However, even on the busiest days, only 65% of the building is in use .
• Nicolae Ceausescu dreamed of having a theater in the building. And indeed, there is one, but it was never used as such. The reason? Well, there was not enough reason for backstage. By the way, the chandelier in that room weighs 3,000 kilos.
• Since Romania has major earthquakes from time to time, there are visible damages on some walls.
• The Palace also has eight underground levels , and the very last one is a nuclear bunker. The walls are 1,5 meters thick, and radiation cannot penetrate them.
• According to the official website, in the standard tour, you’ll visit the following rooms: The Press Gallery, The Gallery of Honour, The “Nicolae Iorga”  Hall, The “Nicolae Bălcescu” Hall, The “Nicolae Titulescu” Hall, The “Drepturilor Omului” Hall, The C4 Hall, The “I.I.C. Brătianu” Hall, The “Take Ionescu” Hall, The “Unirii” Hall, The “Al. I. Cuza” Hall, The Gallery of Honour, The Press Gallery, The “C. A. Rosetti” Hall. Taking the extended tour will grant you access to some underground areas as well.
• The tour is, unfortunately, not accessible to people with mobility disabilities.
• Most of the materials were produced in Romania . Among them: 1,000,000 cubic meters of marble and 550,000 tons of cement.
• The palace’s location was not an empty space before: 20 churches were destroyed, 8 were moved, and 10,000 homes had to be demolished. The State evicted more than 57,000 families.
• Before the Revolution of 1989, the Parliamentary Palace was a symbol of Socialism. After 1989 it became a symbol of Democracy because it hosts several public institutes.

A short video from the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

So, here you can see a 6-minute video from the Palace. I tried to include as much footage as possible. Moreover, I preferred not to add any music and let you hear what the tour guide had to say.

Opening times of the Palace of the Parliament

The Palace is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m .

More photos from the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

So, in this section, you can see some extra pictures from the tour.

Book your tour for the Palace of the Parliament

Here you can find four selected tours for the Parliamentary Palace . All of them will book tickets for you; therefore, you won’t have to queue. There’s, of course, a guide to help you navigate through the building, and they will provide lots of info. The tours are in English. You have the following options:

• Palace of the Parliament skip-the-line tour . This one is exactly what its name says: you’ll skip the line and take the tour without waiting in the queue. You can book this tour here .
• Parliamentary palace tour with Pickup . This option offers a plus: the tour guides will pick you up from your hotel in Bucharest. The Palace’s ticket is included in the price. Check this tour here .
• Private Bucharest full-day tour with entrance fees . That’s probably the most comprehensive Bucharest tour you’ll find online. The guides will pick you up from your accommodation, and you’ll have a full day tour in the city. A visit to the Parliamentary Palace is, of course, part of the price. Book the full-day tour here .
• Communist tour . As its name betrays, this is a tour dealing with the communist past of the city. It’s a private full-day tour around Bucharest, including, of course, the Palace of the Parliament. If you have a thing for modern history, then this one is for you. Book the Communist tour here .

So, that was it with my article about the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest. Please let me know if you have already visited the Palace and your thoughts about it.

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Last Updated on November 23, 2021 by George Pavlopoulos

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Free Tour: Old Town & the Parliament

Overview of the tour in Bucharest

The best sights of Bucharest in one tour. Learn about the two “bad guys” of Romania—Dracula and Ceausescu. Were they heroes or just cruel leaders? The tour will take you from the Palace of Parliament, the heaviest building on earth, across Dambovita, our main river, and through the famous cobble streets of the Old Town. Our tourists say that the tour is one of the best they took in their lives. This is because it is not only history, but also legends of the city, anecdotes, food recommendations and explanations, understanding the Romanian culture. Plus, our guides are all local Romanians that respect and love this city of contrasts.

This activity includes:

• Lupa Capitolina
• Palace of the Deposits and Consignments
• Stavropoleos Monastery Church
• Colțea Hospital
• Macca - Vilacrosse Passage
• Biserica Sfântul Anton
• National Bank of Romania
• Restaurant Hanu' lui Manuc
• Palace of Parliament
• A secret passage for shisha lovers
• Medieval relics and the full story of Dracula

Meeting point

Biserica Coltei

The guide will wait for you in front of Coltei Church or next to it. The place is close to University Square and exactly next to Coltea Hospital. Look for the guide with a bag marked Bucharest by Foot or a purple umbrella.

Things to note

Due to covid situation, we are able to honour only reservations that come at least 16 hours before the starting time of the tour.

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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Parliament Palace Tour – Bucharest Main Attractions Guided

Any of your trips to Bucharest shouldn’t miss the must-seen Palace Of The Parliament (People’s House) built by Ceausescu

In a few hours, on a Bucharest City Tour that includes the Palace of Parliament, you will learn how dangerous and damaging it can be for a nation to let a totalitarian regime like communism to take over. In front of one of the biggest constructions in the world, you will feel small seeing what pointless opulence and megalomania “the sleep of reason” can create.

Imagine you are trying to take a selfie in front of the building – it will prove quite difficult, because you are essentially trying to capture the second largest administrative building on the planet, after the Pentagon. It is also considered the heaviest building in the world.

You are most likely not going to be able to get too close to the Pentagon, due to the distance and restrictions. However, the People’s House built by Ceausescu is one of the Top 10 Must-See Places in Bucharest, whether you are on a one-day tour, a two-day tour or on any other kind of trip to Romania.

Every day, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, you can encounter great actors, international figures, celebrities and athletes who never miss this kind of tourist attraction when they come to Romania, either for work or on vacation.

Catherine Lalumiere, General Secretary of the European Council, once said that the People’s House is „a megalomaniac palace, but also a Romanian masterpiece”, while the famous actor Steven Seagal was so taken with it that he later returned to Romania with his family.

The impressive construction has many more surprises in store, one of them being the grand crystal chandelier in the entrance hall, which weighs a “mere” 3 tons, along with the 4-meter tall solid oak door.

You will also find out about the ghosts that roam the halls at night, ripping sigils or triggering the security systems, providing you with plenty of stories to share with your friends.

And since a picture is worth a thousand words, we recommend opting for a standard tour of the Palace of Parliament, which includes a visit to the basement and the terrace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Bucharest. An interesting piece of information: Ceausescu had planned to redesign the city of Bucharest after the model of Phenian, a city in North Korea.

Visiting the People’s House/Palace of Parliament will leave you with so much more than beautiful memories or the image of a unique piece of architecture. It is a spiritual and cultural experience, whereby you get in touch with an important part of Romanian and world history, and you come to a better understanding of the last few decades in the history of Eastern Europe.

In the words of A. N. Stern: “The dialogue between client and architect is about as intimate as any conversation you can have, because when you’re talking about building a house, you’re talking about dreams.” The People’s House in Bucharest was a dream of a golden age, which is a story worth passing down to your grandchildren.

The visit will take approximately 1 hour.

Parliament Palace Tour Bucharest Main Attractions Guided

Frequently asked questions    –    the price does include    –    the price does not include, related posts.

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The Parliament Palace from Bucharest: Ceausescu’s Final Dream

Home » Attractions » History & Culture » Landmarks » The Parliament Palace from Bucharest: Ceausescu’s Final Dream

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Discover our Communist Bucharest Tour . 

The Parliament Palace from Bucharest is one of the most important communist-built monuments in the entire world. The gigantic and controversial concrete dream of one of the most dreaded communist dictators – Nicolae Ceausescu – the Parliament Palace is a World Record construction with over 1,000 rooms and a must-see for all those interested in the history of communism, the regime that changed the history of the world.

The Palace of the Parliament

Ceausescu’s megalomaniac vision was based on destruction

Located on Arsenalului Hill, very close to the central Unirii Square, the Palace of the Parliament or the House of the People is one of the highlights of Ceausescu’s megalomaniac vision of how the capital was to transform if his dictatorship would have lasted. The capital was supposed to be an example of the new society Ceausescu wanted to build, the devastating earthquake from 1977 giving him the perfect excuse to systematize the city.

His plans involved destroying the Old Town as its presence was a vivid reminder of a historical time the regime wanted to erase from the collective memory. Overall, one-fourth of the historical center was destroyed and no doubt the process would have continued if the regime would have lasted beyond 1989.

The first step in the remake of Bucharest was to build a monumental construction – the House of the People, known back then as the House of the Republic – even with the price of substantial shortages for the entire population. The construction works started in 1984, in a decade when Nicolae Ceausescu decided to pay all the country’s debt to the International Monetary Fund even if that meant rationalizing food, heating, electricity, and the penury of basic goods.

But the harsh daily life of most Romanians was not about to stop Ceausescu’s cult of personality from finding new ways of expression. The communist dictator was among many superlatives also ‘the first architect of the country’.

Massive relocations and demolished neighborhoods disfigured Bucharest

Tens of thousands of people were relocated and entire neighborhoods from Bucharest, including the stylish Uranus, were destroyed as well as hundreds of years old monuments to make room for the Parliament Palace and the new Civic Center. Among the demolished churches and monasteries were also the 18th-century Monastery of Vacaresti and the 17th-century Saint Spiridon Church.

Despite the political risks involved, eight churches were saved from a similar faith with the help of civil engineer Eugen Iordachescu. He designed and implemented a procedure through which the churches were moved even 300 meters away from their original place, hidden completely after the tall blocks of the communist Civic Center.

Mihai Voda Church

Making their presence as less visible as possible was the only chance of survival. Some of the churches were moved in only a couple of hours at -20 or -25 degrees. The heaviest part moved weighed 9,000 tonnes and was part of Antim Monastery.

World Records and key facts about the Parliament Palace

With its 365,000 square meters surface, the Palace of the Parliament is the second-largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The construction also has the third biggest volume (2,550,000 cubic meters) after the Rocket Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral in Florida and the pyramid of Quetzalcoatl in Mexico.

Interior detail, the Palace of the Parliament

The building is 86 meters tall above ground level and has a depth of 14 meters, it’s 270 meters long and 245 meters wide. The quantity of raw materials used is impressive: 1 million cubic meters of marble, 900,000 cubic meters of the finest woods, 700,000 tons of steel, 3,500 tons of crystal for 2,800 chandeliers, 100 kg of gold, 3,500 meters of leather, and 220,000 square meters of carpets. The results are spectacular as the decorations, no matter how big and elaborate, are hand-carved and personalized according to the theme and purpose of the room.

At least 700 architects worked on the construction site together with 20,000 workers. Work took place in three shifts, 24 hours, every day of the week, for seven years. The magnitude of the work effort was unparalleled, possible only in a communist country. All the materials, as well as the workforce, were brought only from Romania.

One of the thousands of chandeliers of the Parliament

Photo credits Antony Stanley

It is hard to estimate the total costs of the palace as the state was the sole owner of the resources used for the construction, and the communist regime was anything but transparent with its bills.

Famous urban legends

The Parliament Palace from Bucharest is the main protagonist of many urban myths, from the ghosts of the dead workers to the secret subway line that connected the building to the airport. If it’s certain that the construction site had its share of fatal work accidents, the existence of the subway line is hard to prove.

What’s almost sure is that two underground water channels were executed to allow Ceausescu to escape in case of a revolution. Two anti-nuclear shelters were also built in the underground. However, it’s not likely that this part of the Parliament Palace will be open for visits anytime soon.

The Parliament Palace today

Ceausescu didn’t live enough to see his final dream come true. The Parliament Palace from Bucharest was only 70% finished in December 1989 when he was rapidly executed after the uprising street protests that started the Revolution. In 1994, this oversized symbol of communism became the headquarters of a key democratic institution, the Parliament, in an ironical twist of history.

While in the early 90s some angry voices supported extreme actions like demolishing the monument because it was such a major symbol of communism, the former House of the Republic survived. It is today one of the top attractions in Bucharest and one of the key representations of a regime that completely changed Romania.

Book your visit and enjoy one of the best things to do in Bucharest .

Where to stay in Bucharest

If you prefer a central hotel, our recommendations are Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest , Mansion Boutique Hotel , Grand Boutique Hotel , Grand Hotel Continental,   Epoque Hotel , Cismigiu Hotel , all splendid buildings from the glory days of Bucharest.

Booking an apartment is also a popular and more budget-friendly option in Bucharest. While there are hundreds of choices, we can help narrow down your list to the best. Our suggestions are Vila Cotroceni Boutique Apartments , University Central by Orchid Garden , Bucharest Residence , Diana’s Flat Bucharest , Cismigiu Orchid Garden , Studio Old Town , Elysium .

If hostels are your thing, try Umbrella Hostel located in a 1920s building, Podstel Bucharest close to the beautiful Carol Park or First Hostel Bucharest .

Travel tips

You can visit the Parliament every day from 9 am to 4 pm.

Be sure to bring your passport or national ID with you for the security check.

It’s best to book your visit in advance. For more details, check  cic.cdep.ro

Visit also Ceausescu’s Mansion .

TAKE ME THERE

Communist bucharest tour, communist romania tour, historical bucharest tour, related posts, banffy castle: from medieval times to electric music, peles castle: royal legacy and romania’s finest castle, the romanian atheneum: the iconic image of bucharest’s past glory, leave a reply cancel reply.

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Location: Izvor 2-4, Bucharest

Nearby attractions: the Old Town, Carol Park

Access: Subway station Izvor or bus line 385

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