The “Little Paris” Museum represents one of the most charming places in the Old Town, a space that faithfully recreates the atmosphere of Bucharest at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The name of the museum is not accidental: during that period, the city was known as “Little Paris” due to its elegant architecture, French cultural influences and the refinement of the bourgeois class that dominated urban life.

A gateway to the Belle Époque and the charm of old Bucharest

Inside, the museum functions as a proper period house: rooms decorated with furniture specific to the era, rare objects collected over the years, paintings, porcelain tea sets, mirrors with ornate frames and numerous photographs capturing the faces and fashion of the time.

Everything is designed so that the visitor steps into a distant time, when Bucharest was experiencing a moment of accelerated modernization and was drawing massive inspiration from the art, fashion, culture and elegance of Paris.
 The atmosphere is so authentic that you have the impression you are in the house of a lawyer, doctor or merchant from 1900, in a salon where a reception or an afternoon dedicated to tea and cultural conversations was about to begin.

The exact address and how to reach the museum

The “Little Paris” Museum is located in the heart of the Old Town, on 41 Lipscani Street, one of the best-known pedestrian arteries of the historic area of the Capital. The building housing the museum is an old one, with architectural details specific to the 19th century, and access is through an interior staircase leading to the space dedicated to the permanent exhibition.

Being situated right in the middle of the historic center, the museum can be easily reached both on foot and by public transport. The Universitate and Unirii metro stations are a few minutes’ walk away, and the streets Lipscani, Smârdan, Șelari and Gabroveni create a network of lively alleys that quickly lead to the destination. 

The positioning of the museum turns it into an excellent stop for anyone exploring the city center and looking for a moment of cultural calm in the midst of urban bustle.

A building with history: the house of the Dalles family

The building in which the Little Paris Museum operates today used to belong, in the past, to one of the most influential and wealthy families in Bucharest — the Dalles family. This family of great real-estate owners in the Capital possessed numerous houses and shops in the central area, and the property on 41 Lipscani Street had been theirs.

The house reflected their social status, being an elegant bourgeois residence, with period architecture and details that reveal the times when Bucharest was nicknamed “Little Paris.” Later, after the original owners ended their life cycle, the building passed into other hands, gradually losing its initial function.

Only in contemporary times, through the initiative of the collector and photographer who founded the museum, was the space restored and transformed into a museum that recreates the elegant atmosphere of the old urban center. Thus, the Little Paris Museum is not just an exhibition of period objects, but also a revalorization of a building with real roots in the bourgeois history of Bucharest.

Visiting hours and days when it is open

The museum’s schedule may vary depending on the season and the events it hosts, but it is usually open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday, approximately between 11:00 and 19:00. On Monday and Tuesday the museum is generally closed, these days being dedicated to organization and maintenance of the space.

For special experiences — guided tours, group reservations, photo sessions or themed events — the museum provides a phone number and an official page through which you can confirm the schedule or availability. It is recommended to check before the visit, since certain occasional activities may change the standard timetable.

Ticket prices and types of access

The entrance ticket prices at the “Little Paris” Museum are accessible, designed so that anyone can step into the refined world of the Belle Époque. In general, the ticket for adults ranges between 20 and 35 lei, while for children, students and pensioners there are significant discounts, which can reduce the cost to between 10 and 20 lei.

Very young children may benefit from free admission, and for groups, guided tours, experiences with tea served in vintage porcelain or special events, different rates may be available. On occasions such as the Night of Museums, the museum sometimes offers symbolic-price or even free entry, but these situations are announced separately.

To avoid any confusion, a prior confirmation of prices is recommended, especially if you want to include additional experiences beyond the standard visit.

The exhibits you can discover inside

One of the museum’s greatest attractions is the extraordinary collection of authentic objects, restored or meticulously reconstructed, which recreate urban life in 1900. Visitors can explore several themed rooms, each with its own story and distinct atmosphere.
 In the museum you can find:
 • Period furniture: decorated sideboards, upholstered sofas, tea tables, French-style desks, beds with carved headboards;
 • Porcelain and silverware sets: tea services, trays, teapots, fine cups, plates with floral patterns and ornamental stands;
 • Paintings and engravings: works depicting portraits, interiors, urban scenes and details of elegant life in the Belle Époque;
 • Period photographs: a true photo cabinet, where rare images, stylized portraits, costumes and accessories of the era are displayed;
 • Personal objects: jewelry, pocket watches, fans, hand mirrors, jewelry boxes and toiletry objects;
 • Decorations and textiles: heavy drapes, chandeliers, oriental carpets, embroidered linens, all meant to recreate the interior of a prosperous bourgeois home.
 A room preferred by many visitors is the “French” salon, where the furniture, warm lighting and the arrangement of objects create a perfect scene for an aristocratic meeting. Likewise, the “oriental” salon introduces the exotic influences that entered Romanian style at the turn of the century, bringing a distinct charm to the space.

Why the experience is so special and what sets it apart from other museums

The visit to the “Little Paris” Museum is different from the classic museum experience. You do not walk among display cases and informational panels, but step into a living, “inhabited” apartment that seems prepared to receive guests. Everything is recreated so that you feel the atmosphere of that period: warm lighting, discreet fragrances, rich textiles and the sensation that you are in a real house.

For those passionate about the history of Bucharest, the experience is even more valuable. The museum not only displays objects, but tells the story of everyday bourgeois life: how meals were taken, how guests were received, how valuable items were kept, what elegance symbolized and how Parisian influence blended into local customs. It is, in a way, a lesson in urban anthropology, delivered in a warm and accessible setting.

Recommendations for a successful visit

To make the most of the experience, it is useful to keep in mind a few tips:

1.     Check the schedule before leaving, as the timetable may vary.

2.     Book a guided tour if you want a complete story about each object and about the evolution of the city during the Belle Époque.

3.     Reserve a tea experience if you want a memorable activity inspired by the salon culture of the last century.

4.     Choose comfortable footwear, as access to the upper floor requires climbing a staircase.

A journey through time you should not miss

The “Little Paris” Museum is one of the most atmospheric and surprising stops in central Bucharest. It is not just an exhibition space, but a lived story, a window into the era when Romania’s Capital was in full modernization and adopted the French charm in all aspects of urban life.

A visit here is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful journeys through time you can take in the middle of the city — a reunion with the elegance, refinement and romantic spirit of “Little Paris.”

We also recommend: Where does the name of Lipscani Street come from: the great street, merchants and Bucharest’s elite