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Bohemian Bucharest Food, Markets and Mahallas

Tour Snapshot

has been leading guests on varied and engaging corporate events for the last 11 years.

Mixing the sights of the city centre with the taste of the countryside, this tour takes you on a historical, architectural and culinary adventure through the many facets (and tastes) of Bucharest! Journey deep into the various neighbourhoods of La Belle Époque period, while sampling traditional food made with ingredients sourced from local farmers.

If this sounds good, then wait ’till you see the real deal. Until then, here are some highlights of this paticular tour:

  • explore the neighborhoods and flavors of Bucharest, from the old historical city center to the culturally diverse mahallas
  • experience traditional Romanian food, including the best local cheeses, the beloved street snack mici, and a doughnut that can only be found in this part of the country
  • sample local beers, from craft/microbrews to mainstream brands, and brave a shot of homemade Romanian brandy
  • hop aboard a tram and ride through the city alongside locals
  • browse through the biggest and liveliest market in Bucharest
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Language

English

Starting time

10:00

Duration

5 hours

Meeting place

in front of National Theater of Bucharest

Group size

1 – 12

Distance

5.5 km

The Tour in Detail

Your Bucharest tour begins in Piața Universității (The University Square), considered the heart of the city, geographically and culturally. Immediately after the Romanian Revolution, this was the scene of bloody clashes between miners and anti-communist students. Absorb all that sociopolitical history before starting down Strada Batiștei (Batistei Steet), where you can see the former site of the United States Embassy, a grandiose 19th century palace, right across the street from a sophisticated Art Deco building that used to host a Soviet Union Cultural Exchange Centre. The entire area is famed for its diverse architecture, from richly ornated Eclectic buildings, to the national Neo-Romanian style, to Mediterranean and Ottoman influences, to the sleek simplicity of Art Deco and Modernism.

We’ll also visit the Armenian neighborhood, formerly inhabited by wealthy Armenian merchants, many of whom served as ‘middlemen’ for the Ottomans. This neighborhood also includes the oldest house in Bucharest, dating from the 17th century. After this taste of old city, we will jump back to the present for a quintessential contemporary experience of Bucharest: the local public transport.

Taking a short ride on a tram down the historical Moșilor Street, you’ll enter Communist Bucharest, with its regimented blocks and housing projects, heading for the famous Obor Market. Before reaching the market, we will stop at a local restaurant for an introduction into Romanian cusine. You will be sampling traditional Romanian entrées (‘’gustări’’) including: 4 Romanian spreads, local cheese and ham, plus local brandy and beer.

We will then explore the largest and most famous traditional farmers’ market in Bucharest, Obor, where you can find every kind of item or service you can imagine and more! On to the fruit and vegetable section, to delight in the riot of colors and textures, and taste fresh local products. Probably the most famous Romanian food is called mici (which translates as ‘little’): a kind of skinless sausage served with mustard, bread and cold beer. Every Romanian has an opinion about where the best ones can be found, but the stall in Obor Market, which has been running for 50 years, is definitely one of the best. But you will get to try them and see for yourself! Finally, because a gastronomic adventure would not be complete without a dessert, we’ll grab a sweet Wallachian doughnut, served piping hot, before sending you happily on your way.

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Additional Information

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food and drink samples, including a ‘peasant platter’ (local cheese and meats, plus seasonal vegetables and homemade bread), street snack, 2 mici (includes mustard and bread), a platter of local cheeses, 1 Wallachian doughnut, 3 beers, and a shot of palinca.

Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping from the market, tips/gratuities for your guide.

Child Policy: Children of all ages are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking.

Additional: We reserve the right to make changes to the route or the locations included in the tour in order to ensure the safety and quality of your experience.

Dietary Notes

If you have specific dietary needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerant or others, please let us know in advance and we will find a solution. Please note that mici are made out of a mix of beef and pork, and we don’t yet have replacement options for them, but we hope you will enjoy the rest of the products offered on the tour. Also, please notify us in advance whether you have any allergies or sensitivities. You can do so in the “Additional Information” box at checkout.
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