Join us on this tour and see for yourself all the ways in which communism has left its mark on Bucharest: from dormitory neighborhoods, to demolitions of historical areas, to entire churches moved on rail tracks, to the most important sites of recent history, such as the Palace of the People (Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac dream) and the square where the anti-communist Revolution started.
Bucharest Communist History Walking Tour
Tour Snapshot
Romania’s communist past has shaped the life of its citizens and the aspect of its cities.
If this sounds good, then wait ’till you see the real deal. Until then, here are some highlights of this paticular tour:
The Tour in Detail
The tour begins at Piața Revoluției (The Revolution Square), where you can see both the former building of the Royal Palace (the seat of Romania’s last king) and the former building of the Central Committee, the Communist Party’s leading organization. This is also where the Revolution in 1989 started, as Ceaușescu flying away in a helicopter from the roof of the Central Committee building is the last Bucharest saw of him.
The next stop is Piața 22 Decembrie (22nd December Square), the site of anticommunist protests in the 90s, and of bloody clashed between students and miners. It remains, to this day, a place for protests, free expression and holding our government accountable.
From here, we will continue to the historical old center, where you will be able to witness the effects of communist administrative measures on built heritage, and find out about everyday life during communism: food and electricity shortages, the black market, censorship and media control, the all-pervasive fear of Securitate (Romania’s KGB), anti-communist dissidents and communist prisons.
On through what survives of an old neighborhood demolished in order to build apartments for communist leaders, to a church that was put on rail tracks and moved by a couple of meters, out of the way of Ceaușescu’s mad urban planning. The tour ends at Piața Constituției (The Constitution Square), where you will have a chance to admire Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac dream, The House of People (currently the Parliament building), the second-largest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon.
Additional Information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, a traditionally Romanian snack.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping from the market, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Child Policy: Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour. Children over the age of 6 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
