King Mihai I Park, widely known by its former name Herăstrău Park, is Bucharest’s largest and most popular green space, spread across roughly 187 hectares on the northern edge of the city around Lake Herăstrău, with the lake itself covering about 74 hectares. Renamed in 2011 to honor Romania’s last king, it remains the city’s primary spot for lakeside recreation.
Activities include boat and hydro-bicycle rentals on the lake, a small aquarium, cycling paths, an adventure park, and playgrounds for children. The park is also home to the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, an open-air museum displaying traditional Romanian houses and rural architecture gathered from across the country.
Entry to the park is free and it stays open around the clock, with its most elegant entrance bordering Piața Charles de Gaulle near the Aviatorilor metro station. Spring and autumn bring the best scenery, with flowering trees in April-May and colorful foliage in September-October.
