Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum
About Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum
The museum was founded in 1909 by Professor Dimitrie Leonida (1883–1965), an engineer, on the model of the Technical Museum in Munich, which he had visited during his studies at Charlottenburg. The first pieces were gathered together with the pupils of the School of Electricians and Mechanics he had founded: the cylinder of the steam engine from Assan's Mill, the Brush dynamos of the country's first power stations and the electrical installation of the National Theatre. From 1928 the museum was housed in a pavilion in Carol I Park, and since 1935 it has been in the present building, put up in 1934 to plans by the architect Traianescu and the engineer P. Ganea. Leonida donated the collection to the state in 1951, and its present title as a national museum dates from 2004.
The collections number over 40,000 objects, grouped by field: mechanics, electricity, mining and oil, power engineering, telecommunications, hydraulics, navigation, aviation, cars and motorcycles, calculating machines. The museum also has a technical library donated by Leonida and a photo archive of over 10,000 images.
What you can see
The best-known piece is Aurel Perșu's aerodynamic car, built in 1923, with its wheels enclosed within the line of the bodywork. Alongside it are the salt extraction installation from Praid (1737), the individual flying device known as the "Flying Backpack" (1958), the engine of the IAR-81 aircraft, a 17th-century dugout canoe and a stand devoted to Gogu Constantinescu's sonics. The historic wing reopened in 2026 adds, on two levels, eight new sections: aviation, hydraulics, printing and calculating machines, navigation, telecommunications, telephony and lighting. Here you can see, among other things, the Romanian CIFA 102 and Dacic computers, two 19th-century water mills brought from Ciuperceni and Dubova, and engineer Leonida's office. Information about the exhibits is also shown on tablets, adapted by age group, and the electricity section has interactive installations.
Good to know
The historic wing was closed to the public from 1985, after the roof collapsed, and reopened on 28 March 2026, after a modernisation carried out on the initiative of the Electrica Group and the Electrica Foundation. The entrance to the museum is through Carol I Park. Photography is charged separately, with a fee per device (phones included).
Information verified on 25 October 2026.
- Aurel Perșu's aerodynamic car of 1923, with its wheels included in the line of the bodywork.
- The salt extraction installation from Praid, in use from 1737, one of the oldest pieces in the collection.
- The "Flying Backpack", the individual flying device made and patented in 1958 by Justin Capră and Ion Munteanu.
- The Romanian CIFA 102 and Dacic computers, in the new calculating machines sections of the historic wing.
- Engineer Dimitrie Leonida's office, kept in the historic wing reopened in 2026.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is in Carol I Park, in Sector 4, with its address on Candiano Popescu Street; the entrance is through the park, following the signs to the building. From Gara de Nord railway station it is ~5 km (~10 minutes without traffic), and from Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni) ~20 km, ~30 minutes depending on traffic.
Public transport: by metro (line M2) get off at Tineretului, ~15 minutes' walk through the park, or at Eroii Revoluției, from where it is another ~10 minutes' walk along Calea Șerban Vodă.
- Fees & discounts
Adult ticket 25 lei, pensioners 15 lei, children over 5, pupils and students 7 lei; children under 5 enter free. Tickets can be bought online. Guided tour for groups of up to 20 people: 150 lei. Photography costs 15 lei per device (mobile phones included). Commercial photography and filming have separate hourly rates.
- Rules
Photography is allowed for a fee per device, without flash. Large bags and rucksacks are left in the cloakroom. Exhibits may not be touched, and quiet is kept in the halls. Smoking and pets are not allowed, and food and drink are consumed only in the designated areas. Children under 14 enter accompanied by an adult.
- Facilities
cloakroom · online tickets · guided tours for groups · educational programmes for schools
Frequently asked questions about Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum
- How much is a ticket to Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum?
- A ticket to Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum costs 25 lei (pensioners 15 lei, pupils 7 lei). Adult ticket 25 lei, pensioners 15 lei, children over 5, pupils and students 7 lei; children under 5 enter free. Tickets can be bought online. Guided tour for groups of up to 20 people: 150 lei. Photography costs 15 lei per device (mobile phones included). Commercial photography and filming have separate hourly rates.
- What are the opening hours of Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum?
- Opening hours at Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum: Monday–Tuesday closed, Wednesday–Sunday 10:00 – 18:00. Wednesday–Sunday; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Summer hours (April–October): 10:00–18:00, last entry at 17:00. Winter hours (November–March): 9:30–17:00, last entry at 16:30.
- How long does a visit to Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum take?
- A visit to Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum takes about 1½ – 2 hours (estimate).
- Can you visit Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum with kids?
- Yes, Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum is suitable for children (under 5 free).
- How do I get to Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum?
- Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum is located at Strada Candiano Popescu 2 (intrarea prin Parcul Carol I), București. By car: the museum is in Carol I Park, in Sector 4, with its address on Candiano Popescu Street; the entrance is through the park, following the signs to the building. From Gara de Nord railway station it is ~5 km (~10 minutes without traffic), and from Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni) ~20 km, ~30 minutes depending on traffic. Public transport: by metro (line M2) get off at Tineretului, ~15 minutes' walk through the park, or at Eroii Revoluției, from where it is another ~10 minutes' walk along Calea Șerban Vodă.
- When is the best time to visit Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum?
- The best season for Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum: All year round (open all year).
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