Discover the history of Communist Bucharest in a private tour

For history buffs and the curious, we invite you on a special private tour that unravels the mysteries of the communist period.

History buffs and the curious are invited on a special private tour that unravels the mysteries of the communist period. In this experience you will have the opportunity to observe the strong mark left by communism on the entire Eastern Bloc, even after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Even though 30 years have passed since the last dictator of Europe, Nicolae Ceausescu, was removed from power, the traces of communism in Bucharest are still visible all over the city. 

This tour of communist Bucharest will take you through the remnants of the glory days of Romanian communism. You will visit the neighbourhoods that were built for the working class, you will walk through the Revolutiei Square (Union Square and University Square), you will discover the grandeur of the Parliament Palace and you will take a tour of the Primaverii Palace, where the Ceausescu family lived their luxurious life.

Itinerary

The city tour starts at 10:00, after the guide will pick you up from your hotel or from a point in Bucharest. The first stop is at the metro. It was built since 1979. Spoiler alert: the metro stations have been painted in the common party colours: red, white and grey.

Bucharest is known as the "city of contrasts", especially for its different architectural styles that are strangely combined. Next, visit the Old Town. 

In the early years of communism, starting in the 1950s, the Old Centre of Bucharest survived and the party did not want to change it. Later, architecture was used as a propaganda weapon to make Romania identify itself with other communist countries, such as North Korea or China. 

Bucharest's architecture began to change, especially during Nicolae Ceausescu's reign, after he and his wife Elena visited North Korea and China in the early 1970s. The dictator, passionate about architecture but without any talent, mutilated the capital city. To build the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest lost historic buildings the size of Venice.

The next stop on the tour is the Palace of Parliament - the second largest and heaviest administrative building in the world. Originally named Casa Republicii, it is Ceausescu's most spectacular project. The architect who designed and built the palace was only 28 years old at the time, and some say the main reason she won the competition was because her design was the grandest.

However, the dictator never had the chance to see the finished palace or to speak from its balcony, and the only celebrity ever seen on the balcony was Michael Jackson, during his visit to Romania in 1996.

After visiting the Palace of Parliament, you will head to the Revolution Square, the place where Ceausescu and, with him, communism fell. The Communist Party gathered the factory workers in the Square for a rally for the party, but unfortunately for them, this is when the anti-communist revolution began.

The last landmark of the tour is the Primaverii Palace - Ceausescu's residence. This luxurious property was completed in 1965, the year he became the party's first secretary. After the fall of the communist regime, the Primaverii Palace was used as a residence for official delegations and presidents, and in 2016 it was turned into a museum.

The tour of Communist Bucharest will end after visiting Primaverii Palace, and your tour guide will transfer you back to your hotel or to the point from where you left.

We recommend you to read our blog article to discover the advantages of choosing an experience gift for your loved ones.

Experience details:

• Location: Bucharest
• Minimum number of people: 2
• Maximum number of people: 15
• Duration: 7 h
• Tour starts at 10:00
• The tour is done by walking
• You will receive an electronic voucher with your choice, as well as the possibility to add a personalized message if you choose to make it a gift

Important to know:

• Price for 2 people
• The experience is subject to availability (advance booking is required)
• Voucher validity: 12 months for 2 people