I have been interested in spotting cars in Bucharest since I was little. Cars have always caught my attention, especially whenever I saw something unusual, expensive, rare or simply different from the normal traffic around the city. However, 2023 was the year when I started taking car spotting much more seriously and began spotting intensively.
Since then, I have spent much more time exploring Bucharest specifically to find interesting cars. Over time, I have learned that spotting here is not just about luck. Knowing where to go, what time to be there and which days are usually the most active can make a big difference.
Bucharest might not immediately come to mind when people think about European car-spotting cities, but the city has a surprisingly interesting car scene. You can find everything from modern supercars and luxury SUVs to rare limited editions, tuned cars, classics and cars that you would never expect to see in Romania.
This guide covers three of my recommended spotting areas in and around central Bucharest, plus one special automotive destination that every enthusiast visiting the city should know.
Location 1 - OSHO Restaurant /
Primăverii
Full location: OSHO Restaurant, Primăverii, Bucharest, Romania OSHO Restaurant in the Primaverii area is one of my favourite places to check for interesting cars in Bucharest.
Primăverii is known for its upscale residences and restaurants, and the area around OSHO can produce some very good spots. I usually check the cars parked around the restaurant and the surrounding streets, while also watching the traffic passing through the neighbourhood.
Best Days for Spotting
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are generally the days I would choose.
Friday and Saturday evenings can be especially good because the restaurant and the surrounding Primaverii area are busier.
Best Time
Late afternoon into the evening works best for me. A useful window is around
17:00-22:00, when people are arriving at restaurants and moving through the area.
Location 2 - Universitate / Grand Hotel Area
Full location: Piata Universitatii / Bulevardul Nicolae Balcescu, central Bucharest, Romania
Another location I like is the
Universitate area, particularly around the Grand Hotel and nearby underground parking. This is different from the OSHO / Primāverii area because spotting here is often focused on cars entering and leaving the hotel, the surrounding streets and especially the underground parking. Garages can be overlooked by new spotters: sometimes very little is visible from the street, while something extremely interesting may be parked underground.
Best Days for Spotting
Friday and Saturday are my main choices, with Sunday also worth checking. Events in central Bucharest can completely change how good the location is, so an otherwise quiet day can unexpectedly become excellent.
Best Time
I usually preter the afternoon and evening, roughly 16:00-21:00. This location can be unpredictable, so checking at the right moment can matter more than staying in one place for hours.
Location 3 - Nordului / Herăstru Area
Full location: Soseaua Nordului and the streets surrounding King Michael I (Herăstru) Park, Sector 1, Bucharest,
Romania
The Nordului-Herăstru area is another part of Bucharest worth checking, especially for expensive modern cars.
There are restaurants, nightlife venues, residences and businesses throughout this part of northern Bucharest. Rather than standing at one exact point, I recommend moving around the area and checking the streets around busy restaurants and venues while keeping an eye on passing traffic.
Best Days for Spotting
Friday and Saturday are the days I would prioritize, especially in good weather. Warm summer evenings can be particularly worthwhile because more people are out at restaurants and venues.
Best Time
Around 18:00-23:00 is a good window.
This is one location where staying later can pay off, as interesting cars may begin appearing once restaurants and nightlife get busier.
Special Automotive Destination - Tiriac Collection
Full location: Calea Bucurestilor 289, Otopeni, Ilfov, Romania
Besides street spotting, there is one automotive destination that I think every car enthusiast visiting Bucharest should know about: Tiriac Collection. It is located in Otopeni, close to Henri Coandă International Airport.
Tiriac Collection is a unique private automotive gallery in Romania. Its official website describes it as the country's first private collection of impressive cars and motorcycles open in this format, with vehicles spanning from 1899 to the present.
More than 300 cars are displayed from a total collection of approximately 400 vehicles.
Unlike the other locations in this guide, this is not street spotting. You visit knowing that you will see rare, historic and high-performance cars. The collection also states that it brings together all seven Rolls-Royce Phantom models from Series I through VIl in one collection.
When to Visit
Current regular public visiting hours are Thursday-Sunday, 10:00-19:00.
Because this is a gallery rather than a street-spotting location, you do not need to choose a time based on traffic.
Give yourself enough time to walk through the collection properly.
Seeing a car such as the Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta is exactly why I think Tiriac Collection deserves its own section in a Bucharest car guide. Even though seeing a car inside a collection is different from catching it on the street, it still gives enthusiasts the chance to see and photograph exceptional cars in person.
Official information: Tiriac Collection
- tiriaccollection.ro
My Spotting Photos
A selection of my own car spots from Bucharest.
Closing Tips
Car spotting in Bucharest can be very unpredictable, and that is part of what makes it interesting. You can spend hours without finding anything particularly special and then suddenly see a car you have been hoping to spot for months.
One of the biggest things I have learned since I started spotting intensively in 2023 is not to depend on only one location. If one area is quiet, move somewhere else and come back later. Weather also matters: warm, dry evenings are usually more comfortable for long sessions, while weekends and major events can bring unusual cars into the city.
I recommend bringing water, a power bank and comfortable shoes. A proper spotting session can involve much more walking than you initially expect.
Always respect the cars, their owners and private property. Do not block entrances, traffic or restricted areas just to get a photograph, and be especially respectful around hotels and garages.
Bucharest is still a city where you never completely know what you are going to find. That unpredictability is one of the main reasons I enjoy spotting here. I have been watching interesting cars in the city since I was little, but since 2023 car spotting has become something I take much more seriously.
Quick Checklist
- Phone or camera with enough storage
- Power bank
- Water or another drink
- Comfortable shoes
- Check weather and local events before leaving
- Respect private property and car owners
- Be ready to move between locations if one area is quiet