Things to do in Ploiești, Romania: the Clock Museum, the National Petroleum Museum, the Caragiale Museum, the Merchant's House and the Art Museum.
In short: Ploiești's best-known sights are its museums. The "Nicolae Simache" Clock Museum is unique among Romania's museums. The National Petroleum Museum, the "Ion Luca Caragiale" Museum and the Merchant's House are a few hundred metres from President Luxury Villa (Str. Maramureș 15). The distances below are straight-line distances, measured on OpenStreetMap.
"Nicolae Simache" Clock Museum (about 300 m)
The museum is at Str. Nicolae Simache 1. Professor Nicolae Simache founded it in 1963. It shows more than 400 years of timekeeping: sundials, hourglasses, pocket, table and travel clocks, and marine chronometers. The oldest pieces are two astronomical table clocks from 1544 and 1562.
It is closed on Mondays. Check the opening hours on the Prahova County History and Archaeology Museum website before you go.
"Ion Luca Caragiale" Museum (about 350 m)
A section of the Prahova County History and Archaeology Museum, at Str. Kutuzov 1.
The 18th–19th Century Merchant's House (about 400 m)
Also a section of the county history museum, at Str. Democrației 2.
National Petroleum Museum (about 600 m)
At Str. Dr. Bagdasar 8, dedicated to the history of the oil industry.
"Ion Ionescu-Quintus" Prahova County Art Museum
In the "Ghiță Ionescu" Palace, at Bulevardul Independenței 1.
More museums
- the "Nichita Stănescu" Memorial Museum, Str. Nichita Stănescu 1;
- the "Paul Constantinescu" Memorial Museum, Str. Toma Caragiu 10;
- the Prahova County Natural Sciences Museum.
Tips for a weekend
- The sections of the county history museum are closed on Mondays, so plan visits from Tuesday to Sunday.
- The museums also close on some public holidays. The list is on the museum website.
- To stay near the museums: President Luxury Villa. Check-in is from 14:00 to 24:00, and you can book online.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ploiești worth visiting?
Yes, if you like museums. The "Nicolae Simache" Clock Museum shows more than 400 years of timekeeping, and its oldest pieces date from 1544 and 1562.
Are Ploiești museums open on Mondays?
The sections of the Prahova County History and Archaeology Museum, including the Clock Museum, are closed on Mondays. Check the hours on the museum website.
What is near President Luxury Villa?
In a straight line, measured on OpenStreetMap: the Clock Museum is about 300 m away, the Caragiale Museum about 350 m, the Merchant's House about 400 m and the National Petroleum Museum about 600 m.