• The Romanian Athenaeum - Bucharest, once known as the Little Paris, is a city that could have achieved much more if not for the communist era.

Experience this firsthand on a private walking tour, characterized by striking visual contrasts. Visit two areas that perfectly illustrate these contrasts: the beautifully restored Old Town with its Belle Époque charm and the former Communist Civic Center. This tour is not just a visual journey; it narrates the story of 45 years of communism, offering insights beyond the city’s vibrant present.

The tour begins in front of the Romanian Athenaeum, a symbol of Bucharest before the communist era. Here, learn about the tragic and brutal onset of communism (end of WW2), Stalin’s influence and the subjugation of Eastern Europe, the genocide by the KGB’s Secret Police, the Siberian deportation of farmers who resisted “donating” their lands to the state, and the suppression of culture, private property, and free press.

• Revolution Square - The second major stop is at Revolution Square, where Ceausescu, the last European dictator, delivered his final speech. Discover more about the drastic changes Romania underwent after Soviet occupation, the country’s first communist leader, and the initial phase of Ceausescu’s rule.
• University’s Square - The third major stop is at University Square, the site of the most violent events of the 1989 revolution. In this segment, learn about the latter part of Ceausescu’s rule, when he lost control and made regrettable decisions that led to public rebellion. Understand the revolution’s dual nature: the people’s protest against Ceausescu and the underlying schemes.
• Old Town - The fourth chapter focuses on the restored Old Town, now smaller than before communism. Be enchanted by the stunning architecture of old palaces, Byzantine churches, bohemian cafes, and 19th-century houses. These historical gems had to be rebuilt or restored to conceal bullet marks and scars that remain even after nearly three decades since communism’s fall.
• Constitution Square - The fifth and final major stop is at the core of the former Communist Civic Center, in front of Constitution Square. This is the location of the Palace of Parliament, the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon. The intriguing story behind it will captivate you, but no spoilers here. Just a few facts: it has 7 underground floors, atomic bunkers, and a network of roads beneath it.

After admiring the Palace’s exterior, the tour concludes, and your guide will escort you back to the Old Town area.

• Private Walking Tour
• Professional Licensed Tour Guide
• Free Hotel Pickup

• Refreshments

Discover Bucharest and the remnants of the Communist Era: imposing buildings and lingering wounds. Travel back in time with a private walking tour of Bucharest, exploring 45 years of Communism and seeing beyond the city’s vibrant present. Witness the stark contrasts between the beautifully restored Old Town, with its 19th-century Belle Époque charm, and the vast, grey former Communist Civic Center.

During the tour, you’ll pass by landmarks such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square, University Square, and Old Town. The tour culminates in front of the Palace of Parliament, the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon. To enhance your experience, we’ll bring along old photographs: see how the streets once looked, how people dressed, worked, and lived. What was life like behind Stalin’s “Iron Curtain”? It wasn’t black or white. Nor grey. Just red. Soviet red…

• A moderate amount of walking is involved, up to 3 Km in total (less than 2 miles)
• Slow paced walking tour with several stops for photos, rest or refreshments

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.