Guided tour

Bucharest: Communism and History Guided City Walking Tour

4.9 / 5

24 reviews

Activity provider: I TRAVEL IN ROMANIA
Guided tour

Bucharest: Communism and History Guided City Walking Tour

Activity provider: I TRAVEL IN ROMANIA

From US$ 20.50 per person

Experience the history of Bucharest on a guided city walking tour and discover what life was like during the communist regime. Visit highlights, such as Revolution Square and the House of the People.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
Spanish, English

Experience

Highlights
  • See and learn about the famous House of People - Parliament (outside visit)
  • Learn about everyday chalenges in Romanians’ life
  • Learn about the influence of the Secret Police
  • Learn about the biggest destruction of a European city during peace time
  • Get a full picture on the days of the Revolution
Full description
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.
Includes
  • This is a 3 hours guided walking tour on the streets of Bucharest, going through the story of Communism in Romania.
  • We will go through all the major changes Communism brought to the country and to the city, including but not limited to: dictatorship, nationalisation, Secret Police, demolitions, etc.
  • We will see around 15 objectives, each of them marking a specific moment in the Communist regime timeline.
  • You will receive a Communist type of snack.
  • Please note the House of People (Parliament) we will only see from outside.
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off is not included for this tour.
  • What you choose to consume during the break (in a Coffee Shop), it will be on your own expense
Not suitable for
  • People with back problems
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

We will meet near the red brick Bell Tower of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The closest metro station is Piata Unirii (Union Square). To get to the meeting place you will need to climb the hill that goes to the Cathedral from Union Square.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes

Know before you go

  • This tour will take place rain or shine. Still, if the weather conditions make it impossible for the tour to happen or can pose risks for both the guide and the guests (heavy rain, blizzard, extreme wind, extreme heat), we will need to cancel and offer full refund or reschedule for a different day.
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 24 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    4.8/5

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This was an amazing tour! Highly recommend it. It is a great way to know the city and also to understand Romanians’ life today, based on history. Andreea answered all questions and used very useful pictures during the tour, to accompany the storyline. This tour really was the highlight of my trip!

March 28, 2023

Very fascinating tour to give you an insight into the trauma and changes that Romania and it’s people went through during the communist era. Our tour guide, Mihai presented the history in very good English as we started our walk from the current headquarters of the Orthodox Church and walked along various historical landmarks where it all happened. Finally we ended the three hour tour at Revolution square where Mihai went through the tense and poignant moments of the final days of the revolution. The tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Bucharest and we highly recommend anyone visiting this fascinating city not to miss this opportunity.

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March 28, 2023

Incredible experience, Andreea was amazing! Having a tour guide that grew up during the fall of communism gave us an unforgettable insight into the history of communism in Romania. Clearly very knowledgable about what she was talking about and was able to convey that information in a clear, concise and sometimes funny way! The personal stories you hear on a tour like this from someone that has lived through the real history can teach you more than you could imagine. A must do…

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March 28, 2023

Product ID: 436013