Bucharest’s Old Town, often called Lipscani, is a compact neighbourhood of cobbled streets, ornate churches, weathered façades and busy bars. It’s one of the capital’s most atmospheric places to walk, with restored 19th-century buildings sitting alongside older fragments and the occasional conspicuously dilapidated doorway.
For centuries, this was the commercial heart of Bucharest. Lipscani takes its name from merchants who traded goods associated with Leipzig, and the surrounding streets still bear traces of the city’s trading past. Look for the ruins of Curtea Veche, the Old Princely Court associated with Vlad the Impaler, and the small Stavropoleos Monastery, an exquisite example of Romanian Brâncoveanu architecture. Nearby, Hanul lui Manuc preserves the arcaded courtyard of a 19th-century inn built for travelling merchants.
The neighbourhood changes character as the day goes on: mornings are good for admiring the architecture, while evenings bring a lively, international bar crowd. Visit on a weekday morning for quieter streets, wear comfortable shoes for the uneven cobbles, and explore the side streets before settling on a terrace; the busiest strips can be heavily geared towards tourists.