The National Village Museum, Bucharest – The Ultimate Guide

The National Village Museum, Bucharest

Bucharest is a modern city with a turbulent history. There is so much to discover and learn on a trip to Bucharest. One of the best places we visited was the National Village Museum. Here, we were able to imagine life as a Romanian villager in times gone by.

Visitors can walk through relocated and reconstructed houses, farms, churches and even dancehalls as if they have travelled back in time! Buildings from different regions of Romania have been meticulously moved piece by piece to the outdoor exhibition in Bucharest to be preserved for future generations. The National Village Museum first opened in 1936 and has been welcoming visitors ever since!

Where is The National Village Museum?

The National Village Museum is located in Bucharest, just near the Arcul de Triumf and King Mihai I Park. Check it out on the map HERE.

How to Get There

So, you have a city break to Bucharest planned, how do you get to the National Village Museum? On this particular visit, we were staying near the North Train Station (Gara de Nord) and so just walked for about 30 mins.

However, if you are travelling from the city centre, there are a few options. For the least amount of walking, take the tram to “Institutul Agronomic” or the #783 bus. These run every 10 minutes or so and pass through the old town and by the athenaeum.

If you would rather take the Metro, jump on the M2 line from Universitate to Aviatorilor. The trains leave every 8 minutes and the journey only takes 7 minutes. You also get a bonus 20 minute walk through the beautiful park at the end.

Walking the whole way from the old town will take just over an hour. You can also book a taxi to get you there in about 20 minutes. But beware, Bucharest traffic is notorious and traffic jams are pretty much constant during the day.

What to See at the National Village Museum

You have arrived! Now, what is there to see at the National Village Museum? There are several different entrances to the open air museum. So, depending on where you begin, your route might vary.

At each entrance you will find a map of the park. The park is broken up into different regions of Romania and different time periods. You will also find a museum shop and people selling traditional wares in small stalls near the main entrance.

We would certainly recommend walking around the whole place. However,  we have also put together some of the highlights from our visit to the National Village Museum.

The Wooden Church

There are several, beautiful wooden churches around the park. However, this one from 1773 stood out to us due to its striking architecture and prominent location.

The Farm

This particular spot seemed to have the most authentic feel to it. Walking through the old steadings, passed the stacks of hay and knocking on the thick, wooden door we could genuinely imagine how Romanian villages might have looked one hundred years ago. We were there early so the only other noise was the tweeting birds so the whole experience was quite relaxing.

The Half Buried House

These half buried houses where designed to provide warmth in the harsh winters and coolness in the hot summers. Being submerged, they also were well camouflaged from any Ottoman invasions of the area. This was a highlight as neither of us had seen anything like this before!

The Wooden Windmills

Dating back to the 19th Century, these windmills were used for grinding grains. Although the examples in the museum are from the 1800s, this process was used from the 16th century onwards.

The Old Fishery by the Danube Delta

We loved this 1929 fishery because of its location on the beautiful Danube Delta. This is one of the largest deltas in Europe and is home to over 9,581 different species!

The Village Dancehall

This village dancehall from 1928 just seemed like a really fun place! With a quirky green and yellow paint job and jovial carved wood, this would have been the place to be if you were a villager in the early 1900s.

The Merry-go-round

We stumbled upon this merry-go-round on the way out and very nearly missed it as it was well hidden behind the thick trees. However, what we did find was a slightly creepy looking, old carousel. We loved the expressions on the horses faces and the odd little pictures around the top of the ride.

Where to Eat at The National Village Museum

If you get peckish on your visit to the National Village Museum, make a pit stop at “La Bariera” inn. Located in the centre of the park, this traditional eatery offers traditional Romanian village cuisine and is well worth trying.

When to Visit

Our advice would be to avoid peak times, where possible. We visited on a hot Saturday morning at the end of May and often had the place to ourselves. It certainly gets busier when the schools are off in July and August.

Because it is open air, winter months are a lot quieter. This is a good time to avoid the crowds, but you might have to fight the weather instead. Open times may also vary.

The spring and autumn months are the best times to visit as the weather is great and there are far fewer visitors to the city.

It is recommended to go early on in the day. Get there for opening if you can (see times further down).  This way, you will have plenty of time and you will arrive before most other visitors.

Wandering around the quaint wooden huts in peace and quiet certainly makes the experience seem far more authentic.

How Long Will it Take to Visit?

We spent about 3 hours wandering through the different regions of Romania exploring their history and heritage. If you have less time, you could probably whizz round a bit quicker.

However, including travel time from the city centre, we would recommend half a day to get the most out of your visit.

What is the Entrance Fee to The National Village Museum?

An adult ticket is 30Lei – approximately €6.15 – with kid’s tickets costing only 8Lei (€1.6). It is also possible to book guided tours from 200Lei. However, these must be booked in advance.

What are the Opening Times for the National Village Museum?

The main entrance is open every day from 09:00-19:00. The smaller entrances often close earlier and open later. Last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closure. We would definitely recommend arriving as early as possible.

What to Pack for Your Trip

We have put together a convenient, basic packing list for your trip to the National Village Museum.

• Comfortable shoes as the path is mostly gravel or grass
• Backpack/small bag for supplies
• Snacks for the journey
• Refillable water bottle
• Weather appropriate clothing such as windbreaker, hat and fleece if visiting in cold weather
• Sunscreen and sunglasses if visiting in the heat
• Map or downloaded GPS or map app on your phone for travel there and back
• Phone
• Decent camera with plenty of space for pictures

Where to go next

Ready for another Balkan adventure? Maybe you need some time to relax after a busy trip… Pay a visit to the awesome spa and water park Therme Bucharest.  There is plenty more to discover in beautiful Romania.

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Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited the National Village Museum or Bucharest? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!

The National Village Museum, Bucharest