Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History
About Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History
The museum is named after the zoologist Grigore Antipa, who ran it for 51 years, from 1893 until his death in 1944. Bucharest's natural history collection had begun in 1834 and moved several times, until Antipa persuaded the government to put up a building made for it, on a 23,000 m² plot at the end of Kiseleff Road. The works were led by the engineer Mihail Rocco, and the façade, with a sculpted pediment and a bronze eagle on top, was designed by the architect Grigore Cerchez. The building, finished in 1906, is a historic monument, and the museum was inaugurated in the presence of King Carol I on 24 May 1908.
The holdings pass 2 million pieces: zoological, palaeontological, mineral and rock collections, plus ethnography. After consolidation work and a renovation of almost three years, the museum reopened on 17 September 2011, with redesigned display cases, touch screens and texts in Romanian and English. In 2025 it also received the "Antipa Acoustic" project, with the sounds of the ecosystems shown in the dioramas, listened to through a web application.
What you can see
The permanent exhibition is spread over three levels. The basement holds "The Biodiversity of Romania", from the Danube Delta and the marine environment to the Pontic, steppe, continental and alpine bioregions, with a section on the species that have disappeared from the country's fauna. The ground floor has the world's ecosystems, in dioramas by region (Africa, Antarctica, Australia, the Americas and others), some of which date from 1907 and are among the first of their kind in the world. On floor 1 are the fossil hall, the insect hall, minerals and rocks, the evolution of the human species, ethnography and human anatomy.
In the middle of the central hall stands the skeleton of Deinotherium gigantissimum, found by Grigore Ștefănescu and brought here in 1911, with its tusks curving down like hooks. In the garden in front of the building there are also outdoor temporary exhibitions, and through the year the museum hosts temporary photography and living-nature exhibitions.
Good to know
The museum is closed on Mondays. The winter hours were not published on the official website at the time of writing, so after 31 October look at antipa.ro before you come. Tickets are bought online or at the desk, and it gets crowded at weekends and in school holidays.
Information verified on 9 October 2026.
- The Deinotherium gigantissimum skeleton in the central hall, brought here in 1911.
- The 1907 dioramas, among the first of their kind in the world, with savanna, desert, tundra and prairie.
- The fossil hall and the insect hall on floor 1.
- The "Biodiversity of Romania" section in the basement, with the Danube Delta and the country's bioregions.
- The façade with a sculpted pediment from 1906, by the architect Grigore Cerchez.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is at the end of Kiseleff Road, next to Victoriei Square, ~15 minutes from Unirii Square, depending on traffic. Coming from outside the city, from Ploiești you arrive in ~1 hour on the DN1 and A3, and from Brașov in ~2.5 hours.
Public transport: metro, lines M1 and M2, Piața Victoriei station (a few minutes on foot); tram 1, 10, 24, 34, 45, 46; bus 182, 300, 783, 784.
- Where to park
The museum has no car park of its own. Around it there is paid on-street parking, on Kiseleff Road and around Victoriei Square, harder to find at weekends. By metro it is simpler.
- Fees & discounts
Full ticket 32 lei, seniors 16 lei, pupils and students 8 lei, and the same for holders of Euro 26, ISIC or IYTC cards and of the European youth card (75% off the full price). Adult subscription 400 lei (20 entries, valid for one year), seniors 200 lei. Free entry for pre-schoolers, children up to 18 in the holidays, people with disabilities and their companions, Euro 26 card holders on the 26th of each month and pensioners on 1 October, plus other categories listed on the museum's website. Guided visit for groups of up to 20 people, only Tuesday–Friday, booked at least 7 days ahead: 200 lei in Romanian, 400 lei in English. The professional photography fee is 1,200 lei/hour and the filming fee 2,400 lei/hour. Tickets are also sold online, at antipa.bilet.ro.
- Rules
Entry is with a valid ticket, kept for the whole visit. Do not touch the pieces in the display cases and dioramas, and respect the safety markings. Photography without flash for personal use is usual in museums, but confirm the rules at the desk; professional photography and filming need written consent and a fee. Large backpacks and heavy coats are usually left in the cloakroom, if it is open.
- Facilities
souvenir shop · toilets · rest areas on the levels · multimedia room · audio and the "Antipa Acoustic" app · interior map on the website · inclusion programme for visitors with special needs
Frequently asked questions about Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History
How much is a ticket to Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History?
A ticket to Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History costs 32 lei (pupils 8 lei, seniors 16 lei). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History?
Opening hours at Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 – 20:00. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History take?
A visit to Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History takes about 1½ – 2 hours (estimate, three levels).
Can you visit Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History with kids?
Yes, Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History is suitable for children (dioramas and skeletons).
Where can I park at Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History?
There is paid parking at Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History (paid on-street). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History?
Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History is located at Șoseaua Kiseleff 1, București. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History?
The best season for Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History: All year round (all year; closed on Mondays).
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