Every souvenir shop in Bucharest seems to sell the same magnets and keychains. A hand-embroidered blouse, a plate painted in Horezu or a wooden spoon carved in a village workshop takes a little more looking. The good news is that the city has some excellent places for authentic Romanian souvenirs, from craft showrooms and boutiques to the shops inside its two great folk museums. If you’re wondering where to buy souvenirs in Bucharest that are actually made by hand, here is where to go and what to look for.
Where to buy souvenirs in Bucharest
The best handicraft shops in Bucharest work directly with craftspeople from across the country. Two of them are inside museums on Șoseaua Kiseleff, so you can combine shopping with a cultural visit. Others are in the city centre, on Calea Victoriei and in the Old Town (Centrul Vechi).
Învie Tradiția, Mihai Eminescu Street
Învie Tradiția (Bring Tradition Back to Life) is a showroom for traditional Romanian products, the kind of objects that have been part of Romanian homes for hundreds of years. It works with communities of folk craftspeople and stocks pieces from across the country.
Ceramics are a big part of the collection, especially the hand-painted pottery of Horezu and Corund: plates, bowls and the little piggy banks that make an easy gift. You’ll also find woodwork, leather goods, home decor, traditional clothing and religious objects. A food corner sells zacuscă, jams, pickles and pălincă, a strong fruit brandy. For gifts to take back home, ask about their ready-made gift boxes. The shop also sells online.
Address: Strada Mihai Eminescu 142, Bucharest (entrance on the left side of the building)
Nearby: Metropolis Theatre (Teatrul Metropolis)
The National Village Museum Shop
The National Village Museum (Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”) is an open-air museum of traditional houses, churches and windmills brought from villages all over Romania. Its souvenir shop is one of the best places in Bucharest for traditional crafts. It stocks ceramics, textiles, woven baskets, wooden objects, painted eggs, icons on wood and glass, folk masks, toys and traditional garments.
Plan to see the museum first. After an hour among the old village houses, the objects in the shop make a lot more sense.
Address: Șoseaua Kiseleff 28–30, Bucharest
Nearby: Arcul de Triumf (Triumphal Arch), King Michael I Park (Parcul Regele Mihai I)
The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant
The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român) holds one of the richest collections of Romanian folk heritage. Its shop sells traditional crafts, including blouses, wooden spoons, painted eggs and folk masks. The museum also hosts craft fairs where craftspeople come to sell their work in person. If your visit coincides with one, don’t miss it.
Address: Șoseaua Kiseleff 3, Bucharest
Nearby: Piața Victoriei, Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum (Muzeul Grigore Antipa)
Romartizana, Calea Victoriei
Romartizana is the folk art shop of UCECOM, Romania’s national association of craft cooperatives (Uniunea Națională a Cooperației Meșteșugărești). Its gallery on Calea Victoriei is a short walk from the Old Town.
The shelves cover almost every Romanian craft. There are traditional costumes and embroidered blouses (ii), ceramics, wooden objects, thick wool blankets (cergi), woven textiles, hand-woven and hand-knotted rugs, tapestries, icons painted on wood and on glass, wickerwork and dolls in folk costume. Many pieces come from regions with long craft traditions, so take your time comparing the patterns and colours from different parts of the country.
Address: Calea Victoriei 16–20, Bucharest
Nearby: Old Town (Centrul Vechi), CEC Palace (Palatul CEC)
Romanian Boutique, Old Town
Romanian Boutique is on Strada Bărăției, a quiet street on the edge of the Old Town. The shop has two small rooms filled with handmade textiles, ceramics, traditional clothing, embroidered blouses and artisan jewellery. Heritage pieces sit next to modern designs that give folk motifs a contemporary look.
It’s a good stop if you’re already walking around the Old Town and want something more personal than the usual tourist souvenirs.
Address: Strada Bărăției, Old Town, Bucharest
Nearby: Old Town (Centrul Vechi), Piața Universității
What to buy: the most authentic Romanian souvenirs
The traditional blouse, the ie, is the classic choice. Its embroidery is recognised by UNESCO, and every region has its own patterns. Horezu pottery, with its brown and cream glazes and rooster motifs, is another favourite and travels well if packed carefully. Carved wooden spoons, painted Easter eggs and icons on glass are light and easy to fit in a suitcase. Wool blankets (cergi) and small woven rugs are for those with a bit more room. For something to share at home, a jar of zacuscă or a bottle of pălincă always goes down well.
Why buy handmade in Bucharest
Every handmade souvenir helps keep a craft alive. Behind a painted plate or an embroidered blouse there is usually a family workshop, often in a village where the skill has been passed down for generations. Buying from shops that work with these craftspeople means you take home a real piece of Romania, and the people who made it benefit too.
FAQ
What are the best souvenirs to buy in Romania?
The most authentic Romanian souvenirs are the embroidered blouse (ie), Horezu and Corund pottery, carved wooden spoons, painted eggs, icons on glass and traditional wool textiles. Food gifts like zacuscă and pălincă are also popular.
Where can I buy a traditional Romanian blouse in Bucharest?
Învie Tradiția, the shops at the National Village Museum and the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Romartizana on Calea Victoriei and Romanian Boutique in the Old Town all sell traditional clothing and blouses.
Where can I find handmade souvenirs in Bucharest’s Old Town?
Romanian Boutique on Strada Bărăției is a good choice in the Old Town. Romartizana, on Calea Victoriei, is a short walk away
