A festive journey through Bucharest: lights, markets and winter magic

As December settles in, Bucharest begins to glow. Streets shimmer with golden lights, the scent of mulled wine drifts through the air and festive music echoes softly between historic buildings. Whether you’re discovering the city for the first time or returning for another winter romance, this is the season when Bucharest feels particularly alive: warmer, brighter and full of small, joyful surprises.

From twinkling Christmas markets and ice-skating under fairy lights, the city invites you to explore at your own pace. And at the end of the evening, a gentle return to the refined warmth of Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest feels like the perfect closing chapter to your winter tale. Let the lights guide you.

Christmas markets glowing across the city

The festive season in Bucharest begins, quite rightly, at its Christmas markets, where lights flicker, music drifts through the air and the scent of mulled wine signals that winter has truly arrived.

Set against the Palace of the Parliament, the Bucharest Christmas Market at Piața Constituției welcomes visitors with rows of wooden chalets offer handcrafted decorations, traditional sweets and warming winter dishes. Santa’s House and festive rides delight younger visitors, while adults linger over hot drinks beneath the glow of the towering Christmas tree and the rhythm of seasonal concerts.

Right in the city centre, Bucharest Downtown Christmas Market at University Square brings Christmas into the heart of Bucharest. Just a two-minute stroll from Corinthia Bucharest, the market becomes a natural stop on an evening walk or a relaxed post-dinner wander. Expect street food aromas, sparkling decorations, seasonal cocktails and the unmistakable buzz of the capital in celebration mode.  

For something more lyrical, Bucharest Opera Christmas Market – Esplanade of the National Opera of Bucharest feels like Christmas with a cultural overture. Classical music floats through the air while visitors browse chalet stalls, enjoy festive treats and admire a central Christmas tree that anchors the square in quiet elegance. Weekend performances from beloved artists and the Romanian National Opera transform each visit into a moment of theatre under the stars.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, more lights appear across the city. From the much-loved West Side Christmas Market in Drumul Taberei to the relocated Piața Alba Iulia Market, from family fun in Parcul Lumea Copiilor to storybook charm at the Comic Opera for Children’s Garden, and northwards to ‘Christmas of the North’ at Romexpo, Bucharest celebrates December everywhere. Different in spirit yet united in atmosphere, each market adds a verse to the same winter song: this is a city that truly comes alive in December.

Winter on ice: skating and sparkle

Few things feel more festive than gliding across ice beneath winter lights.

Romantic, nostalgic and beautifully set inside Bucharest’s oldest park, the Cișmigiu Park ice rink is a winter classic. Soft music plays overhead while lights shimmer across the frozen surface. Skates can be rented on site and the atmosphere - especially after dark - feels wonderfully cinematic.

Other pop-up rinks around the city, particularly those connected to larger Christmas markets, offer further options for skaters of all ages and abilities.

Cosy corners: cafés, restaurants and winter comfort

After wandering under the lights, warmth is best found indoors; and in December, Bucharest’s cafés and restaurants dress just as beautifully as the grand avenues outside. Twinkling windows, glowing garlands and charming festive details turn small neighbourhood favourites into irresistible winter hideaways.

Mara Mura invites guests to slow down over something sweet or steaming, wrapped in a setting that feels both rustic and festive. Mayfair 39 on Victoriei Avenue shines with seasonal décor and refined indulgence, drawing in passers-by with as much style as substance. For heartier fare, Buongiorno Italian Victoriei and Bocca di Lupo serve warmth in generous portions - where long tables, candle-soft light and winter flavours create evenings that linger well beyond the last course.

These are not just places to eat or drink; they become part of the city’s winter scenery itself, perfect for pausing, photographing and flavour-hopping your way through the season.

Three festive routes through the city

The market-hop evening

Start at Piața Constituției, wander through University Square and finish near Old Town for dinner and drinks under glowing lights.

The elegant winter night

Walk past decorated hotels, stop at a café for something sweet, visit a gallery or historic building and finish somewhere warm and refined.

The cosy city escape

Skate at Cișmigiu, sip mulled wine at a smaller market, then retreat indoors for comfort food and warmth.

Dressed for December: the city in its finest attire

Bucharest’s buildings tell stories all year round, but in winter, they feel especially enchanting.

Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest

This season, Corinthia Bucharest embraces Christmas as a story rather than a spectacle. The season unfolds as A Victorian Christmas: Past, Present and Future, a narrative shaped through taste, style and moments of wonder. In the grandeur of Boulevard 73, the past whispers through candlelight and enduring flavours. At Heritage Bar, the present glows with warmth and lively conversation. At Sass’ Restaurant and Lounge, the future sparkles with music, rhythm and celebration. Each setting reveals a new chapter in a tale that bridges time and imagination.

Whether you are passing through for a brief pause or returning after an evening in the city, our hotel offers an elegant moment of calm amid the seasonal sparkle outside.

InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest 

This year, the iconic hotel embraces an enchanted woodland theme, filling its interiors with twinkling lights, winter scenes and festive menus. Afternoon teas, Christmas brunches and seasonal experiences make it well worth stepping inside for a warm and elegant pause.

The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection

A masterclass in elegance, The Marmorosch transforms itself into a glamorous winter retreat with white décor, glittering ornaments and timeless Christmas romance. It is festive in all the right ways - theatrical, luxurious and utterly charming.

Casa Mita Biciclista

One of Bucharest’s most photographed houses often charms passers-by with seasonal décor and storytelling windows, standing like a delicate jewel along the boulevard.

Florăria Iris

Winter blooms here with theatrical flair. Known for transforming flowers into art, Florăria Iris embraces the season with lavish arrangements, festive installations and window displays that are impossible to ignore.

Palatul Știrbey & TOFF Galleries

Freshly revived and increasingly vibrant, the Știrbey Palace district is fast becoming a cultural corner worth exploring, particularly in winter, when lights and galleries combine for a refined city walk steeped in contrast and creativity.