Cărturești Carusel, the Carousel of Light, opened in 2015 in a restored nineteenth-century building at Lipscani 55, in the heart of the Old Town. The building began life as a bank and later went through decades of neglect before Cărturești, a Romanian bookshop chain, brought it back to life. Inside, white columns and curving balconies rise through several floors around a bright central atrium, creating one of the most photographed interiors in Bucharest. The shelves hold books in Romanian and English, music, stationery, design objects and gifts, and there is a bistro at the top. It is free to enter, open late, and as good a place for a quiet hour as for buying a well-made souvenir.
How to visit: go first thing in the morning or on a weekday evening, when the atrium is calmer and the light is softer. Climb to the upper floors for the classic view down the spiral, then come back down slowly through the sections. Be considerate with photos: it is a working shop, and staff prefer you not to block the stairs.
What to buy: there is a good choice of English-language books about Romania, its history and its writers, along with children’s books, prints, stationery and locally designed gifts, which make better souvenirs than most of what is sold on the street outside.
Around it: Cărturești Carusel sits a few minutes’ walk from Stavropoleos Monastery and the Old Princely Court ruins, so it fits naturally into an Old Town walk. Visit on a rainy afternoon and finish with a coffee in the bistro.
What to expect
The experience
A browse through a multi-level bookshop built around a white spiralling atrium, with a bistro at the top.
Best time
Opening time or a weekday evening, when it is quietest.
How long
Thirty minutes to an hour.
Tips
Head to the top floor for the view down, keep the stairs clear for photos, and look for English books on Romania.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Book lovers, photographers and rainy afternoons.
- Families
- Free, central and with a children’s section; keep little ones close on the stairs.
- Couples
- Browse together, then share coffee in the bistro.
- Pair with
- Bucharest Old Town, National Museum of Art and Romanian Athenaeum.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Is Cărturești Carusel free to visit?+
Yes, it is a shop, so entry is free; you only pay for what you buy.
Where is it?+
At Lipscani 55, in the Old Town, a few minutes from Stavropoleos Monastery.
When did it open?+
In 2015, in a restored nineteenth-century building.
Can I take photographs?+
Generally yes, discreetly and without blocking the stairs or other shoppers.
Does it sell English books?+
Yes, including a good selection on Romanian history, literature and travel.
