Lonely Planet Experiences Private Bucharest Communist History Tour
Bucharest, Romania
From USD 61.58
Office phone number: +40 722 629 540
Lonely Planet Experiences Private Bucharest Communist History Tour
Bucharest, Romania
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Bucharest in the 21st century is a great city to live in, with a trendy food and drink scene, hipster neighbourhoods, and impressive architecture that rivals the likes of Paris and Berlin. Yet in the late 1980s, Bucharest was a place of despair, in the grips of a mass uprising. Take a private tour with a local to find out what life was like here behind the iron curtain. See for yourself the impact that various occupiers have had over the years and re-live the emotion of the revolution and the fall of an egotistical dictator.
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Add another dimension to your Bucharest stay by getting unique insight into what life was like here under Communist rule
- Admire grand palaces and belle époque architecture alongside soviet-style tower blocks and modern skyscrapers
- Visit the hidden mausoleum where the first Communist leaders were buried
- Take in the city skyline from a surprising location that survived the demolitions of Bucharest
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
In Revolution Square in front of the Carol I statue. (It’s the only horse statue in the square.)
View on Google Maps.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
Unirii Square.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, covrig street snack, tickets for public transport.
Exclusions: Transportation to and from the meeting point, additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Your private afternoon tour starts at the infamous Revolution Square, with its many landmarks that tell the story of the city's turbulent past. There is much to be explored in this square, including the former Royal Palace (now the National Museum of Art), the Athenaeum, and the University of Bucharest Library. We'll head towards the Archives, a building that still bears the bullet holes of the 1989 revolution.
We will continue our walk through the Old Town to see firsthand the effects of the nationalization process led by the Communist regime over the beautiful turn of the century architecture of Bucharest.
Over to Constitution Square next, where we will see a stunning example of larger-than-life communist ideals at the Palace of the Parliament. The world's second biggest administrative building after the Pentagon is quite overwhelming. Ceausescu ordered the destruction of historic neighbourhoods and the invaluable heritage of destroyed churches in order to construct this colossal, controversial complex, which he ironically named The People's House (Casa Poporului).
A quick stop for refreshments will give you an opportunity to try Romania's favorite street food snack, a covrig, similar to a pretzel but arguably even more delicious!
We will then venture behind the megalomaniac structures surrounding the Palace of the Parliament and find remnants of the former city. We'll also visit some of the famous moved churches of Bucharest (amazingly, entire historic churches were moved to avoid destruction under Communism). For a change of scenery, we will climb Patriarchy Hill to experience firsthand the massive changes the city underwent during the 70s and 80s.
We then hop on the tram and ride to one of the communist neighborhoods of the city, erected to house the thousands of people relocated from the country to the capital to work on massive construction sites. See examples of true socialist architecture and feel how day to day life was unfolding for the average inhabitant of Bucharest during that time.
Brace yourselves for a surprising turn into a green oasis of the city. Hidden among the concrete, find Carol Park and the former burial site of the first communist leaders.
Cross the street to see the Heroes of the Revolution memorial and cemetery, and finish the tour with tales of the 1989 revolution that ended the Communist regime in Romania.
Your private tour ends back at Unirii Square. Before you go, make sure to ask your local guide for tips on where to eat, drink, and shop in this hidden gem of a European capital city.
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, covrig street snack, tickets for public transport.
Exclusions: Transportation to and from the meeting point, additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Children over the age of 6 will be charged the adult price. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6 with you. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page. For children above that age, please count them as an adult.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +40 722 629 540
Email address: info@bucharesturbanadventures.com
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