A city of 200,000, dynamic Ploiesti has an industrial history reflected in its gorgeous old town. Enjoy plazas rich in architectural beauty, intriguing industry museums and romantic night-time walks as you explore this old-world gem.
The city of Ploiesti dates back to the 16th century. Over the following centuries, it became a booming trading hub for its central location and handicrafts production industries.
This history has produced beautiful, quintessentially European squares like Toma Socolescu Plaza. Enjoy a morning pastry at a terrace café with a view of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist’s towering spire. Enter to see delicate frescoes on the cathedral walls. Stop at nearby Ploiesti Mall to browse fashionable boutiques.
Be sure to visit the Cultural Palace, a neo-classic monolith dominating the surrounding open space. The façade makes for great photos, while the interior houses Ploiesti’s Natural Sciences Museum and Ethnography Museum. Browse spacious galleries to see textiles, fossils and artifacts from regional Romanian farm life.
Take a visual journey through 19th- and 20th-century Romanian painting at the Art Museum of Ploiesti. Within neo-Baroque style interiors, browse richly textured works by renowned artists such as Nicolae Polcovnicul and Theodor Aman. See Oriental art objects, Moorish furniture and ancient smoking devices at the Hagi Prodan Museum.
Ploiesti was actually the site of one of the world’s first large oil refineries. Learn about this industrial history and the spread of oil as an indispensable modern fuel at the Oil Museum. Inspect 17th-century “Nuremberg Egg” watches at the Clock Museum. Browse the Ion Luca Caragiale Museum to see exhibits of the famed Romanian writer’s belongings.
Ploiesti is an hour’s taxi ride or train ride from Bucharest, Romania’s capital. Walk between Ploiesti's major attractions with ease.
Combine your urban experience with a stunning drive through the Carpathian Mountains and Wallachian hills surrounding Ploiesti. Explore rural landscapes dotted with fruit trees and stop by the Tismana and Horezu monasteries for an unforgettable experience.
