Best Central Bucharest Hotels – Close to the Old Town (2025 Update)

When visiting Bucharest, I recommend booking your stay in a central area, close to the old town because that’s where all the main attractions are, as well as the best restaurants and entertainment.

Below is my personal list of the best cheap (but good quality) hotels you can find in Bucharest’s center. Each one has its strong points and can be considered a great pick. So just choose the one that seems to tick all your wishes.

I have more details in the article, but if you’re in a hurry, here are my top recommendations:

• Liad Hotel – best cheap hotel in Bucharest’s Old Town
• Novotel Bucharest – my top choice
• Continental Forum Hotel
• Relax Comfort Suites
• Hotel Duke
• Unique Boutique Hotel

Affiliate Disclosure: The links to the hotels are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you book using them, at no extra cost to you. That doesn’t influence my recommendations in any way.

If you have a bit more time to spare, read on to see why I consider these the best. You’ll also discover some extra tips I’ve collected over the years that will help you make the most of your stay in Romania’s capital.

1. Novotel Bucharest – My Top Choice

At a glance:

• Approx. distance to Old Town: A few minutes on foot.
• Why You’ll Like It: Modern 4-star amenities, near major attractions.
• Potential Downsides: Rooms can fill up fast, so book early.
• Check prices here.

Situated in a prime location, but still in a silent area, this hotel is just minutes away (on foot!) from most of the attractions in the city, including the old town, Cismigiu Park, the National Museum of Art, and much, much more.

This is also a 4-star hotel, meaning that you’re getting premium services and a large, beautiful room too, all at a great price. You simply can’t ignore it!

Click here to check prices at Novotel Hotel for your dates.

2. Liad Hotel – Best Budget Option

At a glance:

• Approx. distance to Old Town: Around a 7–10 minute walk.
• Why You’ll Like It: Recently renovated, clean rooms, and air conditioning in every room.
• Potential Downsides: Some rooms have slightly odd layouts.
• Check prices here.

The cheapest hotel on our list (unless others have some special deals), Hotel Liad has been recently renovated and upgraded and looks amazing with new furniture and equipment.

It’s located in a really good area, just a few minutes of walking away from the University Area and less than 10 minutes of walking away from the old town with all its pubs and restaurants and other things to see.

So you will probably spend very little time in the hotel anyway… And when you do, the bed will be comfortable, the room will be clean – and that’s all that matters. Save some money here and spend it on great experiences when exploring the city!

Some of the rooms have strange shapes and useless nooks, but they are well equipped – you get air conditioning in all rooms, you have a smart TV available and large bathrooms.

Check prices for your dates here.

Related: If you’re only spending a weekend in the city, check out my Bucharest weekend-break itinerary here.

3. Continental Forum Hotel

At a glance:

• Approx. distance to Palace of Parliament: Right across the street.
• Why You’ll Like It: Modern interior, easy walk to the city center.
• Potential downside: A bit pricier.
• My Tip: Opt for the optional breakfast – it’s fantastic!
• Check prices here.

Things are improving quickly in terms of looks with the Continental Forum Hotel situated near the Palace of Parliament. It’s actually right across the street from it, with many rooms offering a view of Bucharest’s Mammoth Building.

It was formerly an Ibis hotel that was purchased and modernized, looking even better than before.

When I stayed here last, I loved the colorful decor and comfortable beds. The staff is well trained and polite, helping the hotel with its vibe that mixes relaxed and sophisticated.

When you book, make sure to get breakfast too: it includes plenty of delicious food options, all of high quality, and good coffee. A great way to start the day!

As you can see in the photos above, the hotel is great. The place is sparkling clean (and quiet). A good choice for sure!

Check prices for your dates by clicking here.

4. Relax Comfort Suites Hotel

At a glance:

• Approx. distance to center: Minutes away from the Old Town.
• Why You’ll Like It: Modern design, comfortable beds, big bathrooms.
• Potential Downsides: Street-facing rooms can be louder.
• Check prices here.

Yes, this hotel sits on a busy street, which means you get some traffic noise if you keep the windows open. However, the convenience factor is huge. You’re seconds away from bars and restaurants, you’re in a great central area and the Old Town itself is minutes away.

The rooms look nice and are modern, with comfortable beds and all the amenities you need. Highly recommended both by myself and the reviewers on Booking.com.

You can book your stay at Relax Comfort Suites Hotel by clicking here

Food for thought: If you’re just passing through Bucharest, maybe you just want to be near the airport instead for convenience. If that sounds better, you can check out the best Bucharest hotels near the airport here.

5. Hotel Duke Romana

At a glance:

• Location Detail: Near the Piata Romana metro station
• Why You’ll Like It: Large rooms, a fair price, convenient for public transport
• Potential Downsides: Not as highly rated or centrally located as others
• Check prices here.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly alternatives, Hotel Duke Romana could be the one.

Although not as centrally located as the others – or at least not as close to the main attractions, Hotel Duke is situated really close to the Piata Romana metro station (still considered central), so you’ve got yourself covered at least when it comes to public transportation.

It is a modern hotel with large rooms and good furniture, a comfortable bed and everything’s clean around it. The place is pretty quiet too, so you’ll get to rest well after a full day of exploring the city.

It’s not the best rated hotel in Bucharest and not as centrally located, but it’s still minutes away from many of the things to see and the prices here are really good. So you have a solid option here if you’re on a budget.

Check out prices for your dates here.

6. Unique Boutique Hotel

Key Info

• Location Detail: Close to Romana Square, yet on a calmer street.
• Why You’ll Like It: Personalized service, smaller property.
• Insider Story: Recommended by my regular reader, Brian, who keeps coming back here since 2010.
• Check prices here.

This is a hotel recommended by one of this website’s regular readers, Brian. He swears by it and only stays here – and he’s been doing so since 2010 – so I am ready to take his word that it is indeed a really good hotel.

Located in a central location, near the Romana Square, it’s on a quiet street and has a charming owner who does her best for her guests to feel perfect there.

Brian says: “Believe me when I tell you this place is a hidden gem. Fantastic staff and operated by a fine owner. She always treats me like royalty when I come and she knows I’ve been staying there since 2010. Try it out one day!”

So you might as well give it a try – click here to check it out.

Why choose to stay close to the city center in Bucharest?

For short time visitors, the old town area is the best choice for accommodation, because you will be within walking distance to most attractions in Bucharest.

The Old Town is also the place where you will find tons of pubs and restaurants (some of the best in the city are there), so it makes sense to be in that area unless you particularly need to be in another part of the city for other purposes.

But even if you are, the city center is perfectly connected to all neighborhoods in Bucharest so it make sense to choose a stay there. It’s the best area you can be in, for sure!

Conclusion

That’s my roundup of the best hotels in central Bucharest for travelers who value both location and affordability.

These spots offer clean rooms, easy access to the main attractions – including the best restaurants and clubs – and offer a perfect taste of what life in Bucharest is really like. Plus, the price/quality ratio can’t be beaten, in my opinion.

I hope you’ll have a great stay and truly get to enjoy Bucharest. Don’t forget, if you need some pointers regarding the things to see once you get here, you can check out my article about the top 10 things to do in Bucharest. Enjoy your stay!