In the heart of Bucharest, some buildings do more than exist — they remember and carry meaning. Hotel Cișmigiu has been one of the city’s quiet witnesses for over a century. From the Belle Epoque to the elections of 2025, its windows have watched a city transform and redefine. 

It has stood through wars, regimes, celebrations and transformations. In its chambers poets gathered, ideas sparked, businesses were built. From its windows, it has heard the chants of street protests or the cheers of joy when the Romanian football team scored its best game at the World Soccer Cup.  

And last night, another event took place at the Hotel Cișmigiu.

May 2025: A City’s Voice, a Country’s Choice

On the evening of May 19, 2025, Hotel Cișmigiu once again stood at the center of a moment destined for history books. 

Nicușor Dan, former mayor of Bucharest and civic reformer, was elected President of Romania after a dramatic and decisive vote. As the results of Romania’s presidential election were announced, the streets below Hotel Cișmigiu became a tide of light, voices and hope. Thousands gathered here, waving EU flags and chanting for what his election represented: a choice for pro-European values, integrity and civic spirit.

His campaign headquarters was right here, inside our hotel. One of the hotel’s balconies became a stage where the new President greeted the crowd gathered on the Regina Elisabeta Boulevard.

It was a moment that carried emotion, memory and meaning — the kind of moment this hotel knows well. From up above, we watched a moment that will be remembered for years. One guest wrote on Facebook:

“Mereu mi-a plăcut Hotel Cișmigiu! Aseară, l-am admirat ca niciodată! Dacă până acum era o legendă, aseară a devenit simbol!”

(“I’ve always loved Hotel Cișmigiu! But last night, I admired it like never before. If until now it was a legend, last night it became a symbol.”)

We couldn’t have said it better.

To stay at Hotel Cișmigiu is to be part of something larger. It is to walk the same halls as poets and presidents. It is a place where elegance meets authenticity, where every detail tells a story. Whether you’re in Bucharest for culture, for business, or simply to wander the city for its lesser known tourist attractions, Hotel Cișmigiu offers more than accommodation. It offers heritage, atmosphere, legacy and being part of Bucharest history.

How About Hotel History?

Opened in 1914, it began its story just before the world changed forever. Over the next century, it would bear witness to two world wars, a long communist era and the rebirth of democracy.

It began as the Palace Hotel, a beacon of French-inspired elegance in a modernizing Bucharest. Through the interwar period, it was a gathering place for writers, intellectuals and cosmopolitan guests. During communism, it served another role — as student housing.

In the early 2000s, Hotel Cișmigiu was carefully restored – its heritage was preserved, but its spaces were transformed to meet the needs of a new century. Today, it offers 4-star comfort in spacious modern apartments, in the neighbourhood of the Old Town Bucharest.

Its story reflects the larger part of Bucharest history: the optimism of the Belle Époque, the resilience through wars, the silence and resistance under communism, the rebirth of democracy, the embrace of Europe. It saw the city grow and grieve. It heard the silence of censorship and the murmur of revolution. It watched the boulevards change names, the trams modernize and the skyline climb.

An Invitation to Belong to Bucharest History

Whether you’re in Bucharest for a weekend citybreak or a business trip, Hotel Cișmigiu offers more than accommodation. It offers connection — to the past, to the city, and perhaps even to its future.

And every once in a while, it opens its windows to history in the making. 

Come, travel to Bucharest and discover a landmark of the city!