Private Bucharest: Hidden Gems Tour
Bucharest, Romania
From USD 65.23
Office phone number: +40 722 629 540
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
Once called the Paris of the East, Bucharest is a smorgasbord of neo-classical architecture, Communist-era high rises, pretty churches, and fabulous public parks. Take this morning tour with a local to get yourself acquainted with this magnificent city and ensure you don’t miss out on its many hidden gems.
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Highlights
- Take a walk through the Batistei neighbourhood and admire its charming old church
- Visit the oldest house in town and absorb its intriguing secrets
- Stroll along Bucharest’s prettiest street and the old stomping ground of Romania’s most brilliant writer, Mircea Eliade
- Try a covrig, a delicious Romanian street food snack
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
On the stairs of the National Theatre in front of the main entrance.
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- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
University Square.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, covrig street snack.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
We will start the private tour with a gentle stroll to one of the most well-known mahalas (neighbourhoods) in the city, Batistei.
Mahalas usually rose up around a religious building and were inhabited by groups of people from the same ethnic, social, or religious groups. As the city grew, so did these areas, suffering through waves of modernisation, earthquakes, wars, and Nicolae Ceausescu's numerous demolition projects.
Batistei is still a vibrant and exciting neighbourhood to explore; we will visit the 18th-century stone church, listed as a historic monument by Romania’s Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, and hear stories about what it was like to live here before the Communist regime took over.
The Armenian neighbourhood houses one of the best preserved Orthodox churches in the city and that is where we will head next. Built in the early 20th century for the once burgeoning (now diminishing) Armenian population, the church is an exact replica of a cathedral in the Armenian city of Ecmiazin.
Next on the agenda is the city’s oldest home, a fascinating example of a traditional Wallachian peasant house with its high cellar and glass-covered veranda. Casa Melik, as it is known, hides a mass of secrets including a striking art collection. Legend has it that a series of underground tunnels connect the house with local masonic lodges.
Snack time! We will make a pit stop to try one of Romania’s favourite historic street food snacks, the covrig. It was originally thought that Greek merchants introduced covrigi, a salty snack similar to a pretzel, in the 19th century to encourage increased consumption of their wine, but it’s remarkable similarity to German pretzels, suggesting Romanians may have been eating these long before that.
Our next stop is one of the prettiest areas in Bucharest: Mantuleasa street. It was originally a mahala for rich merchants, and elegant architecture can be found here that combines neoclassical, Romanian, and modernist styles. This was also Mircea Eliade’s favourite part of the city. Here we will stop to learn more about the life and work of Romania’s most revered writer and philosopher, who was a professor at the University of Chicago until his death in 1986.
Your private tour ends with a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Ioanid block and Icoanei mahalla but be sure to ask your local guides for tips on where else to visit in beautiful Bucharest and where the best places to eat and drink can be found.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, covrig street snack.
Exclusions: 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 between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +40 722 629 540
Email address: info@bucharesturbanadventures.com
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