I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
About I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
The National Theatre in Bucharest is based in the building on Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard, on Piața Universității, opposite the University. The theatre previously had another building, destroyed by a bombing in August 1944; the present one was designed by Horia Maicu, Romeo Belea and Nicolae Cucu and opened in December 1973, with its halls brought into use one after another until 1976. After a fire in 1978, a remodelling demanded by Nicolae Ceaușescu followed, which changed its appearance. The rehabilitation carried out between 2010 and 2014, led by Romeo Belea, brought the building back to its original form, and the theatre reopened in 2014.
The white-walled block with its projecting roof dominates the square. The main hall, “Ion Caramitru”, has 940 seats, and the building also holds six more performance spaces, among them Studio, Atelier, Pictura, Media and Mica, plus an open-air amphitheatre of about 300 seats on the roof.
What you can see
The exterior is seen from the square and from the park in front of the building. The interior is seen at a performance: the broad foyer, with the spiral staircase and the large crystal chandeliers, then the main hall, with its tiered balconies and red seats. The theatre also runs guided tours of about 45 minutes through the stages, backstage areas, the set and costume workshops and the actors' dressing rooms; the meeting point is the foyer in front of the ticket office. The TNB Museum has separate visits, with an exhibition on Queen Marie at the theatre. The building has no daily visiting hours, like a museum.
Good to know
The tours and museum visits appear in the calendar on tnb.ro, and places are limited, so the ticket is bought beforehand, at the ticket office or online. Online tickets are sold through bilet.ro, with a 4.90% fee on top of the theatre's price. Groups wanting the museum book by email at muzeu@tnb.ro.
Information verified on 25 October 2026.
- The foyer of the main hall, with the spiral staircase and the large crystal chandelier, seen at any performance.
- The main hall, “Ion Caramitru”, with 940 seats and tiered balconies, in red.
- The guided tour through the stages, backstage, workshops and the actors' dressing rooms, on the days in the calendar.
- The white building with its projecting roof, seen from Piața Universității, with the terrace laid out on the roof.
- The TNB Museum and the exhibition on Queen Marie at the theatre, at the visits in the calendar.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Piața Universității, ~4 km from Gara de Nord and ~18 km from Henri Coandă Airport. Traffic in the area is heavy; the theatre has a car park in front, entered from Batiștei street.
Public transport: the simplest is the metro on line M2, to Universitate station (Teatrul Național exit). Buses 122, 137, 311 and 381 and the express 100 also run to Piața Universității, and trolleybuses 61, 66, 69, 70, 85 and 90 stop at Teatrul Național.
- Where to park
The theatre has a free car park for spectators, in front of the building, with about 100 spaces; it is entered from Batiștei street, and places are limited, especially on performance evenings. The alternative is the metro, a few steps away.
- Fees & discounts
The guided tour costs 25 lei per person; groups of at least 15 get 50% off, and pupils and students 75%. Performances have different tariffs, by hall and show; for performances, pupils and students get 75% off, pensioners and war veterans 50%, and groups of at least 15 people at the same performance 50%. People with disabilities can get up to two free tickets per performance (one for a companion), with a free-entry card. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online; reservations at the ticket office are held for 48 hours, for at most 8 seats.
- Rules
At performances the hall's rules apply: phones off, arrive before the start, no filming or photographing during the show. On the tours, participation is limited to the places available, and groups wanting the museum book by email at muzeu@tnb.ro. The tours are in Romanian, and there is a tour in English on request.
- Facilities
ticket office · online tickets · foyers · guided tours · museum · rooftop terrace · car park
Frequently asked questions about I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
- How much is a ticket to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest?
- A ticket to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest costs 25 lei (guided tour; shows separate). The guided tour costs 25 lei per person; groups of at least 15 get 50% off, and pupils and students 75%. Performances have different tariffs, by hall and show; for performances, pupils and students get 75% off, pensioners and war veterans 50%, and groups of at least 15 people at the same performance 50%. People with disabilities can get up to two free tickets per performance (one for a companion), with a free-entry card. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online; reservations at the ticket office are held for 48 hours, for at most 8 seats.
- How long does a visit to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest take?
- A visit to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest takes about 2 – 2½ hours (a show; tour ~45 min).
- Where can I park at I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest?
- There is free parking at I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest (in front, ~100 spaces). The theatre has a free car park for spectators, in front of the building, with about 100 spaces; it is entered from Batiștei street, and places are limited, especially on performance evenings. The alternative is the metro, a few steps away.
- How do I get to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest?
- I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest is located at Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard no. 2, București. By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Piața Universității, ~4 km from Gara de Nord and ~18 km from Henri Coandă Airport. Traffic in the area is heavy; the theatre has a car park in front, entered from Batiștei street. Public transport: the simplest is the metro on line M2, to Universitate station (Teatrul Național exit). Buses 122, 137, 311 and 381 and the express 100 also run to Piața Universității, and trolleybuses 61, 66, 69, 70, 85 and 90 stop at Teatrul Național.
- When is the best time to visit I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest?
- The best season for I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest: All year round (all year, by calendar).
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest, sorted by distance.
0 km from I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
1 km from I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
1 km from I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest
