Athénée Palace

Bucharest


Just to the north of the National Art Museum is the Athénée Palace, so evocatively captured in its postrevolutionary, prostitute-teeming state by Robert Kaplan in his book Balkan Ghosts. Designed to outdo Paris in 1918, the hotel later served as a hotbed for Romania's KGB, the Securitate. Now the Hilton group has thoroughly cleaned it up – and priced its rooms to the stratosphere.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bucharest attractions

1. Romanian Athenaeum

0.07 MILES

The exquisite Athenaeum is the majestic heart of Romania’s classical-music tradition. Scenes from Romanian history are featured on the interior fresco…

2. National Art Museum

0.12 MILES

Housed in the 19th-century Royal Palace, this massive, multipart museum – all signed in English – houses two permanent galleries: one for National Art and…

3. Theodor Aman Museum

0.13 MILES

This is the lovingly restored residence and studio of 19th-century Romanian painter Theodor Aman. Aman's skill was in small, finely rendered oil paintings…

4. Rebirth Memorial

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This striking memorial, respected and reviled in equal measure, marks the dramatic events of 1989, when many people died in this area for their opposition…

5. Creţulescu Church

0.21 MILES

The modest Creţulescu Church stands in repose near the far larger and more dramatic Royal Palace. Look for the original paintings near the door to the…

7. Art Collection Museum

0.32 MILES

A grab bag of several dozen private collections, particularly strong on folk and religious art and Romanian painting from the 19th and early 20th…

8. Cişmigiu Garden

0.38 MILES

West of Calea Victoriei is the locally beloved Cişmigiu Garden, with shady walks, a lake, cafes and a ridiculous number of benches on which to sit and…