Patriarchal Cathedral

Tours

You will experience a 3 hours walking tour which will guide you though Romania’s and Romanians life during the Communist regime. In the first stop, the Patriarchal Cathedral, you will not only learn about Religion during Communism, but also about the historical events that led to the beginning of Communist regime in this country! We will continue through a nearby neighbourhood where we will see the results of Nationalisation! Then we will have a great view over the famous House of People, currently the Parliament building. This is where I will offer you an insight about the construction of this symbol of Communism and megalomania of Romanian dictator: Nicolae Ceausescu. Going further on the streets of Bucharest, we will discover some of the buildings that were moved, in order to be saved from destruction. One of them being the beautiful Antim Monastery. Exploring the Communist years would not be so meaningful without also learning about people's experiences in the day to day life. After we have relaxed in a short break, we will have the chance to find out more about the well-being of people in front of an old Alimentara (Grocery Store). The last part of the tour will be a walk in a normal pace on Calea Victoriei Boulevard, one of the most beautiful streets in the city. Here we will also see some of the Communists symbols, including what used to be a center used by the Secret Police for torturing people. The tour will end in the Revolution Square, where you will be told the story about the end of the Communist regime, in 1989, and the beginning of Democracy. The entire story is meant to offer you a thorough understanding of how Communism impacted Romanian life and country, but also of how it still continues to have an important print in nowadays life.

Immerse into the middle of the Socialist Victory boulevard, the starting point of the tour and the last megalomaniac communist project. Discover the Chamber of Deputies Palace and how the society was shaped before communist ruling. Learn about Ceausescu's poor background and his rise to power. Ceausescu’s regime is considered to be the most oppressive communist regime in the Eastern Bloc, very similar to the Kim dynasty in North Korea, which made his rule in Romania like no other. Find out about the life in communism, from food rationing to the secret police. Last point will be the Revolution Square where a group of agitators plotted the end of Ceausescu's Regime.

Explore the history of Bucharest on this van tour of the city. Learn about the communist past of the city from your local guide. Find out about the ousting of the communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu.  Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from your accommodation in Bucharest. Sit back and relax on the way to the Palace of Parliament. Learn about the old communist regime and experience the opulence of this administrative building. Make your way to the National Village Museum where you can purchase tickets to see the open-air ethnographic museum. Have the chance to see an old wooded church and Romanian traditional houses that were made from earth, wood, and stone.  Continue to Victory Avenue to admire the grand Royal Palace and to view the old Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. Head to Revolution Square, to see where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. Learn about the great fortune and controversies that he left behind. Finally, drive to the 17th-century Patriarchal Cathedral and get a deeper understand of the Orthodox church in Romania. Return to your accommodation at the the end of your tour. 

Get to know the spirit of Bucharest on this guided evening tour of its most interesting streets. Start your tour by meeting your guide at Piata Constitutei (Constitution Square), where you can admire in all its splendor the world’s second largest building, the Palace of Parliament. Built by Ceausescu in the 1980s, this building is now the home of the Romanian Parliament.   After a short walk down the Union Boulevard, you’ll have the chance to admire one of the most spectacular Orthodox cathedrals on the top of Patriarchal Hill.   Then, cross the Dambovita River and enter the surreal world of the Victory Road, where the beauty and history of the most famous street in Bucharest will unveil itself. On this avenue, you'll see the National History Museum, the CEC Palace, Revolution Square, Atheneum, the previous House of Parliament, and 5-star hotels that will blow your mind. Your tour will end in Bucharest’s old town with a quick tour around the ruins of the ancient headquarters of the Wallachian royal families.

Embark on a 7-hour journey through Bucharest and share a "stop and visit" experience. See the city in one day with driver guide and get a complete glimpse about its people, history and urban development by sharing a ride through Bucharest. Including the backstreets. Pick up from your hotel in the morning. We will start our experience with the southern part, exploring the less known and not-so-touristy neighborhoods. Have you ever seen a natural delta in the middle of a European capital? You will now... Be prepared to hear the stories inside the most famous cemetery of the city and discover a hidden castle and mosque. We will not miss some of the most important religious landmarks of the city as the Patriarchy. A stop for lunch and refreshments will be made depending on where and when that finds us. Bucharest has a wide variety of restaurants you can chose from. Afternoon is reserved for touching the highlights of the central and northern area. Moving on to the main squares (Unirii square) and historic spots as we get closer to the recent times. We will be covering the entire central area, from the communist dystopian architecture of the 1980's to the belle epoque and modernism. See the parks and posh quarters, the ruins and the palaces, the Opera House and dictator's residence. Stop to visit and Revolution Square, and marvel at landmarks like the Royal Palace, now the National Art Gallery and the Athaeneum. Late afternoon will catch us at the unique Triumphal Arch before heading to the lively and colorful big market of Obor. You can even chose to stop and visit if there's something that catches your eye... We end with visiting the University Square and marvel at landmarks like the National Theater. How and why it was chosen as the capital city, when and where it was founded you will find out at the end of the day, in the Old City Center This is an ideal sketch of a tour. Depending on your hotel's location it can start from a different area but will be completing the same itinerary. It can be subjected to changes according to your interests, pace, holidays and weather conditions. At all times you will be in a safe environment as Bucharest does not have "no go" areas and very low crime rate. See the city in one day!

Why miss out on any of Bucharest's major attractions when you can see them all on this full-day tour? And to cap it all off, visit the monastery on the green island in Snagov Lake, where the tomb of Dracula/Vlad Tepes is located. Benefit from a customizable itinerary and private guide. 40 minutes outside of Bucharest on a verdant island is the final resting place of the legendary Dracula. Head there and explore the site while you hear about the history. Visit the National Village Museum and learn what it meant for Romanian villagers to have built a sustainable environment in their backyards. See the iconic Arch of Triumph. At the Palace of Parliament or People’s House, learn about the implications and consequences of the communist regime in Romania. Here you will have the chance to see the second-largest administrative building on the planet, after the Pentagon. Peruse the Romanian Athenaeum. On Victory Avenue, prepare to be amazed by the historical contradictions: on one side, the Royal Palace, and on the other, the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the Revolution Square, where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. See old Orthodox churches, enveloped in an aura of mystery, a music store, as well as casinos, bohemian restaurants, museums, theaters, tea shops, gift shops — where you can purchase some memorabilia —, and much more along the way. Go back in time at Revolution Square to the moment where the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted, leaving behind a great fortune and a suite of controversies. Your guide will shed some light on this important moment in history. Patriarchate Hill is a small hill in Bucharest and an important historic, cultural, architectural, religious, and touristic location. Visit Ceauşescu Mansion, once the private residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu and their children. End the tour with hotel drop-off.

If you are at the beginning of your journey in Bucharest, we invite you to take this short tour. With a private local guide, discover the story of Bucharest, its legends and everything that made the city as it is today. From medieval intrigues to unbelievable stories or long gone ballrooms you will be taken through some of the city's incredible stories. Since this is a private tour, you will have the chance to ask any questions or spend more times at the places that interest you the most, photo stops, following with recommendations for the rest of your visit.