Palace of Parliament

The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is one of the most staggering buildings on Earth, the heaviest administrative building in the world and, by floor area, among the largest. Commissioned by the communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, it has over 1,100 rooms across 12 storeys (plus deep underground levels), built from Romanian marble, crystal, and vast quantities of gold, by tens of thousands of workers. Guided tours take you through a fraction of the grandiose halls, immense chandeliers, and balconies with sweeping views down the boulevard Ceaușescu modelled on the Champs-Élysées.

It's an overwhelming, sobering monument to dictatorial excess, built while Romanians endured shortages, and that uncomfortable history is part of what makes the visit so compelling. Tours are guided only and require ID; book ahead and bring your passport.

Don't miss

• The sheer scale, over 1,100 rooms and immense marble halls
• Vast crystal chandeliers and gold detailing
• The balcony view down the grand boulevard
• The story of its construction and Ceaușescu's fall
• Romanian-sourced marble, wood, and crystal throughout

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Palace of Parliament

Cheapest way inBucharest Highlights Walking Tour4.9★ · 710 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$22 per personSee dates →Most bookedLondon's Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights)4.9★ · 1,728 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$30 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleHighlights of Bucharest 4h private Tour5★ · 85 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$166 per personSee dates →

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How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Entry is by guided tour only and requires your passport/ID, book ahead.
• You see only a fraction of the building; even that takes over an hour.
• Arrive early for the airport-style security screening.
• The history is grim, built amid shortages under Ceaușescu, which adds weight to the visit.

A bit of history

Built from 1984 under Ceaușescu, who demolished a huge swathe of historic Bucharest to construct it, the palace was unfinished when the 1989 revolution toppled and executed him. It now houses Romania's parliament and conference facilities, a controversial symbol of the communist era.