The tour will start in Revolution Square with a small communist snack to get us into the mood. Here, between landmarks of the 2 most contradictory regimes in Romania: monarchy & communism, in front of the balcony where he had his last speech, we get to talk about Ceausescu’s secret escape plan and the famous secret tunnels underneath of the city, designed to this purpose.
We will then move to what is arguably one of the strangest looking buildings in Bucharest: the former headquarters of Direction 5, the infamous division of Securitate that did Ceausescu’s bidding, a perfect opportunity to learn about how the collaborators and informants worked, how espionage was brought in everyday life. We will take this opportunity to understand what was the inspiration for the Securitate in the techniques and strategies they used.
Romania’s spy ring connections in WW2 may only be revealed in the very location where they operated: former Spy Hub of Eastern Europe and one of the most elegant hotels of Bucharest : Athenee Palace / Hilton were we will talk about Romania’s spy ring connections during WW2.
We will follow the trail to headquarters of Romania’s former Allies and reveal to you:
- Who set up the most famous British resistance unit?
- Who is the most famous Romanian spy during communism who managed to strike a tough blow to NATO in the ‘60’s.
The most famous Romanian spy stories!
It is time for a break in one of the beautiful hidden gardens of Bucharest: a good opportunity to dive into surveillance techniques. After all, what better place to spy on people that in the quiet alleys of a park. The stories will be completed by much deserved refreshments and a small surprise!
We will wrap up our experience by discovering the connection between Bucharest and the most famous espionage agency in the world: the infamous Central Intelligence Agency and America’s interests in Romania during & after WW2.
Finally, you cannot have a spy tour without a proper covert meeting in a bar. And what better choice than a former safe house used by the communist counter-intelligence, now a hip bistro serving craft beers and urban food in a very Cold-War atmosphere. We will have lunch in a former spy unit where we will conclude our day of code breaking, spy trivia, and top secret information with a traditional Romanian platter and a refreshing beer.
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, Street snack, 1 refreshment, 1 surprise souvenir, 1 draft beer, traditional Romanian platter
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping from the market, 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: Children of all ages are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
Notes
This is a 4 hour walking tour. Should you need any further assistance or special requirements, please let us know in advance at hello@nullinterestingtimes.ro and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Local contact
Office phone number: +40 722 629 540
Email address: info@nullbucharesturbanadventures.com
