Bucharest National Opera
About Bucharest National Opera
The Bucharest National Opera is one of the country's four national opera houses. The company began in 1885 as the Compania Opera Română, led by the composer George Stephănescu, and has been an independent institution since 1921; its first production then was “Lohengrin”, conducted by George Enescu.
The present building, a listed historic monument, was designed by the architect Octav Doicescu and built in 1953 for the World Youth Congress and the World Festival of Youth and Students. It was inaugurated on 9 January 1954 with Tchaikovsky's “The Queen of Spades”. The façade has a portico of three large arches, decorated with statues of four muses, and the horseshoe-shaped auditorium has 952 seats. The stage measures 24 m wide, 20 m deep and 30 m high.
What you can see
The exterior is seen from the park in front of the building, where the statue of George Enescu, by Ion Jalea, and the bust of the founder of the Romanian Opera, George Stephănescu, stand. On the façade, on either side of the portico, are two bas-reliefs: an opera scene and a flight of dancers. The interior is seen at a performance: the main foyer, on two levels, with the ticket office to the left and the invitations office to the right of the central entrance, then the main hall, with its crystal chandelier. The café areas in the building operate only while a performance or event is on.
Good to know
The building has no daily visiting hours: you go in with a ticket to a performance. A smart casual dress code applies at performances, and the hall cannot be entered once the performance has begun; latecomers take their seats at the first interval.
Information verified on 26 October 2026.
- The façade with its portico of three large arches and the statues of the four muses, seen from the park in front.
- The statue of George Enescu, by Ion Jalea, and the bust of George Stephănescu, in the park in front of the entrance.
- The bas-reliefs on the façade, with an opera scene and a flight of dancers.
- The main foyer, on two levels, with the ticket office and the invitations office on either side of the entrance.
- The horseshoe-shaped auditorium, with 952 seats and a large crystal chandelier.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, ~3 km from Gara de Nord (~6 min) and ~18 km from Henri Coandă Airport (~30 min, depending on traffic). The institution's car park is entered from the boulevard.
Public transport: the nearest metro station is Eroilor, ~400 m away. On Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, at the Facultatea de Drept stop, lines 61, 69, 91, 122, 137, 138 and 163 stop.
- Where to park
The institution has a car park off Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, open at any hour. For spectators coming to performances or events, access is free, subject to availability; for others the fee is 15 lei per day, paid at the barrier.
- Fees & discounts
Entry to the building is with a ticket to a performance, and the price differs by show and seat category. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online, at tickets.operanb.ro, and cannot be reserved in advance. A ticket is exchanged or refunded only in exceptional cases, for example when a performance is postponed or cancelled. Students of relevant universities can attend any performance, subject to availability, with a student card validated for the current year. People with disabilities can get seats at performances, subject to availability, with the card issued by the Opera.
- Rules
A smart casual dress code applies at performances. Performances start at the time on the ticket, and for those in the main hall arriving about an hour early is recommended; latecomers enter the hall at the first interval. Children under 6 are not admitted, apart from children's shows, where the minimum age is 4, and children always come with an adult. Everyone takes the seat shown on the ticket, and the ticket is kept until leaving the building.
- Facilities
ticket office · online tickets · cloakroom · café (during performances only) · souvenir shop in the foyer · access ramps into the hall for people with mobility disabilities · car park
Frequently asked questions about Bucharest National Opera
- How long does a visit to Bucharest National Opera take?
- A visit to Bucharest National Opera takes about 2½ – 3 hours (a performance, with interval).
- Can you visit Bucharest National Opera with kids?
- Yes, Bucharest National Opera is suitable for children (from age 6; children's shows from 4).
- Where can I park at Bucharest National Opera?
- There is free parking at Bucharest National Opera (audience; otherwise 15 lei/day). The institution has a car park off Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, open at any hour. For spectators coming to performances or events, access is free, subject to availability; for others the fee is 15 lei per day, paid at the barrier.
- How do I get to Bucharest National Opera?
- Bucharest National Opera is located at Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard no. 70-72, București. By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, ~3 km from Gara de Nord (~6 min) and ~18 km from Henri Coandă Airport (~30 min, depending on traffic). The institution's car park is entered from the boulevard. Public transport: the nearest metro station is Eroilor, ~400 m away. On Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard, at the Facultatea de Drept stop, lines 61, 69, 91, 122, 137, 138 and 163 stop.
- When is the best time to visit Bucharest National Opera?
- The best season for Bucharest National Opera: All year round (all year, by calendar).
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