1989 Revolution

The Real Tour of Communism will take you through all of the major aspects regarding the life under communist rule in Romania which lasted officially from 1948 to 1989. The Communism era was marked by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu who ruled Romania for most of this period (1965-1989). We will discover the landmarks of the Communist era to understand how the city's architecture was influenced and changed for ever. But also the former locations of the Secret Police where Romanians were interrogated and tortured too. The tour ends in the Revolution Square where Nicolae Ceausescu had his last speech on Dec 21st 1989 few days before he was executed together with his wife.

Get an insider's view of Bucharest with a tour led by a local guide. Stroll through more than 500 years of Romanian history, from Vlad the Impaler, to the Monarchy, to communism and the revolution in 1989. On this tour you will get a good mix of iconic and hidden landmarks. You will be amazed by the immense Palace of the Parliament and the longest synchronized fountains in the world. You will discover stories hidden inside the palaces of „Little Paris”. And it’s all spiced up with local tips on spending the rest of the day in authentic places.

In this 3-hour walking tour about communism, you'll discover the major landmarks and events of the communist period of history in Bucharest: the violent beginnings of the communist regime, the nationalization and forced demolition of thousands of houses, the Palace of the Parliament, the Ceausescu family and the anti-communist revolution of 1989.

You will discover the story of the rise to power of the Romanian communist party and the unparalleled cult of personality of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, standing in front of his iconic balcony. You will learn how Ceausescu’s craving for applause led to his overturn in the most violent anti-communist revolution of 1989. On a tour full of contrasts you will learn about day-to-day life during communism, the economy, the propaganda, the relationship with religion, the fear of the secret police. You will go off the beaten path and take advantage of Bucharest's great public transportation to get to the Memorial Cemetery of the Heroes of 1989 and a unique Monument for the leaders of the communist party. You will also explore the Civic Center and the exterior of the Palace of Parliament and learn about the achievements of architects, but also the sacrifices for the local community, demolitions and saving of churches during the 1980s. You will finish the walk near Parliament and the old town.

Enjoy a 3 hour, information rich, private tour of Bucharest centre concentrating on the recent history of this great city, including the Palace of Parliament, Unirii Square and fountains, the former Communist Party headquarters, and Revolution Square, where the famous revolution of Christmas 1989 began. Hear my own story, of life under under Nicolae Ceausescu, how I was sworn in allegiance to the great leader and his tyrannical wife, as one of Romania's 'Pioneers', taught to load and fire an AK-74 assault rifle, (while at high school), and lived only a few miles from the heart of the uprising in Revolution Square…

This tour provides a fascinating insight into the major events of the 20th century in our country. Travel back through time and discover the most important sites that witnessed our turbulent modern past. Listen to the stories about struggle for independence and freedom, great suffering and sacrifice, courage and pain, hope and crushed dreams. Learn how the life was under the yoke of communist dictatorship and how thorny was the path towards democracy. Visit Národní třída and Wenceslas Square, the main places of the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and many, many more – all this with a knowledgeable local guide!

Step into the shadows of history and uncover Bucharest’s communist past—towering monuments, hidden scars, and a revolution that changed everything. This private walking tour takes you beyond the city’s colorful present, tracing 45 years of Communism, from WWII to 1989. Walk through a city of contrasts, where Belle Époque palaces stand beside the stark structures of the former Communist Civic Center. Explore key landmarks like the Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square, and University Square before standing in the shadow of the colossal Palace of Parliament—the world’s second-largest administrative building. Unlike generic city tours, this immersive experience is designed for travelers who want to see Bucharest beyond the postcards. No rush, no crowds—just a fascinating journey through the city's past and present, at your pace. Go back in time and discover the realities of life behind the Iron Curtain. Under Stalin’s shadow, life wasn’t black or white. Nor grey. Just red. Soviet red.

Embark on a journey through Romania's tumultuous past with our interactive self-guided tour exploring the events and significant places that marked the 1989 Revolution in Bucharest. Learn about the sacrifices made, the transition to democracy, and the ongoing quest for justice. Witness history as it comes alive in this insightful experience: Solve puzzles, explore the city, and find hidden gems at your own pace. Try a new type of experience with your smartphone, the perfect mix between a walking tour, sightseeing, and a scavenger hunt.

Timisoara's Revolution Tour is a special walking tour that takes us through the events that happened in Timisoara in December 1989. The Romanian Revolution started in Timisoara an continued to spread in the whole country. We'll get to how and where it all started and walk in the footsteps of the revolutionaries that fought against the communist regime in order for us to live a free, democratic life today.

The only tour in Bucharest that includes outside walking at the main communist landmarks and inside the Museum of Communism in Bucharest, where you will have a communist snack that was very popular in the 80s. During a 3 hours walking tour you will find out all the details related to communism as a doctrine and how it shaped the life of people by slowly stripping them of pride, individuality, religion and cultural identity. We will also visit important communist landmarks and you can observe, with the help of old pictures, how communism managed to change completely the aspect and architecture of Bucharest. You can see, touch and even take pictures with communist relics, you get the chance to taste an original communist snack or drink a communist coffee.

The tour will start in the morning with pick-up from your centrally located hotel and will take you to the most interesting sights of Bucharest. Option to upgrade on the day to include entrance to the Parliament Palace and The Village Museum.

Join this small-group trip through Bucharest to learn about the “great accomplishments of the golden era” and to hear the story of people who built it. You will see the first communist building in Bucharest, the Revolution Square with the balcony where the dictator gave his last speech in December 1989, the ambitious “House of People”* and the former residence of the presidential couple.

Spend the day in Romania and get a taste for a different culture on this private day trip. Visit the historic city of Timișoara, one of Romania’s biggest cities, built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress. Hear stories about the 1989 revolution against the Communist regime and take your time to explore on your own and find a nice spot for lunch.

Discover Bucharest , the city that has everything.The capital of modern Romania , Bucharest is by far the country’s largest city, boasting with rich history, fascinating architecture, a vivid street life, lush green parks, and a large number of excellent restaurants. Go on this tour for a 1.5 hours night drive through the city center and allow yourself to discover the most interesting sites and to hear the story of "little Paris".

A tour for those who would like to learn about communism and its fall with somebody who has really experienced it. I was born in Prague and spent my childhood and youth under communist regime. Some of my family members became victims of communist repressive policy. Then, in November 1989 I became one of participants of so called Velvet revolution – an event which put the end to communism in Czechoslovakia. Just a few months later I started to work at the presidential office of Mr.Vaclav Havel – famous dissident and playwright. As you can see I have a lot to tell you about. This tour is not just a tour to me – it´s a story of my life. During our walking tour we will visit places which are connected to the protests organised in November 1989- National Avenue, National theatre, Wenceslas square, Monument of St.Wenceslas, Lucerna Palace, headquarters of State Secret Police and some more. I will share with you my personal memories from those times. Yours Jana Neubergova

Communism has been here for more than 40 years. Bucharest is full of “souvenirs” from that period: from the most ambitious projects to abandoned areas, sometimes actual mentalities and even bullet holes. We invite you to explore every aspect of life during this period and understand their influence in today’s city. On this tour you will get to know Nicolae Ceausescu's real life story and imagine his socialist dream in the Union Square. You will be impressed by the Palace of the Parliament. You will find out what the files of the secret police Securitate sounded like right in front of the secret police headquarters. You will discover myths and facts about the 1989 uprising right in the Revolution Square. We will get sad with stories on the violent 1989 revolution, we will get amused by the jokes about Ceausescu, and in the end you will decide how you really feel about the Romanian version of communism.

We begin with the visit of Victory Square, known also by the name of Opera Square and continue with the Orthodox Cathedral, the Bastion, the Liberty Square, the Old City Hall, The Synagogue, the Union Square, the Catholic Cathedral, the Serbian-orthodox Church, the President`s Palace, statue of the Holy Trinity and more. Timisoara has a mixture of cultures, religions and civilization, take your time to discover the first European city that used the horse-drawn trams (1869) and electrical street lighting (1889) and the first Romanian city that reacted at the Revolution in 1989 against the Communist regime.

In December 1989 the communist Romania could be considered as a mental-hospital where the lunatics were running the asylum and the “internees” were punished for their sanity. How did we get to have one of the most symbolic dictatorship regimes in the modern history? What and who are to be blamed for this tragic condition? And not the last, how did courageous people stood-up and repudiated the evil leaders?   The Grand Tour of Communist Ages is trying to provide answers to these complex questions, and not only.

Did you know that Romania is the world’s 12th largest wine producer with over 2000 years of viticulture tradition? Enjoy a private and informative wine tasting session at the first wine bar reopened in Bucharest after the 1989 revolution! Treat yourself with 4 different varieties of Romanian wines along with a plate of traditional cheese and dry sausages. Your private guide will help you discover the distinctive flavor of Dealu Mare’s famous vineyards and tell you about the wine making process so that you may understand the secrets behind the perfect taste. To put everything into context, the guide will also share stories about the struggles of the winemakers during the soviet occupation era, the confiscation of vineyards and how the industry managed to rejuvenate itself after the chaos of the 1989 revolution and the fall of communism!

Is history your passion, would you like to get to know all the details? – The Timisoara Grand Tour is the perfect choice for you. About 3 hours is the duration of this tour, where you will then discover the squares and main attractions which are included in the Mini Tour, but also other areas of the old town. Like, for example, St. Mary’s Square, where the Romanian Revolution began in December 1989, the synagogue, the military hospital, and much more. You will learn the stories of the most important personalities of the city, and you will learn why Timisoara is also known as the city of premieres and roses. Let yourself be carried away by the history of the city where Hungarians, Turks, Austrians, Romanians and other minorities have contributed.