Hidden Gems Architecture and Hidden Streets of Bucharest Tour

Welcome to a 3 hour walking tour exploration of Bucharest: architecture, picturesque streets and great stories
Visit places only 10% of ‘Bucharestians’ know about

Romantic neighborhoods full of history and charm ready to be explored

Off the proverbial beaten path

People’s Palace, Arc de Triumph , Village Museum, Calea Victoriei, Old Town. They’re all fine and dandy but that’s not what Bucharest is about and it’s not what we are about, here at Interesting Times Bureau.

If you really want to see a completely different city venture into the old neighborhoods. Accompanied by our professional guides you will discover the history, the architecture and charm of places most locals don’t even know exist.

To top it all off, we’ve also included some leisure time in Bucharest’s most beautiful summer gardens and teahouses, in true balcanic style.

THE SITES

• quaint neighborhoods full of history
• landmark or strange buildings
• belle....

Hidden Gems Architecture and Hidden Streets of Bucharest Tour

Welcome to a 3 hour walking tour exploration of Bucharest: architecture, picturesque streets and great stories
Visit places only 10% of ‘Bucharestians’ know about

Romantic neighborhoods full of history and charm ready to be explored

Off the proverbial beaten path

People’s Palace, Arc de Triumph , Village Museum, Calea Victoriei, Old Town. They’re all fine and dandy but that’s not what Bucharest is about and it’s not what we are about, here at Interesting Times Bureau.

If you really want to see a completely different city venture into the old neighborhoods. Accompanied by our professional guides you will discover the history, the architecture and charm of places most locals don’t even know exist.

To top it all off, we’ve also included some leisure time in Bucharest’s most beautiful summer gardens and teahouses, in true balcanic style.

THE SITES

• quaint neighborhoods full of history
• landmark or strange buildings
• belle époque and modernist architecture
• the most romantic hang out places available in the city
• the oldest house in Bucharest
• art galleries and trendy local shops.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The evolution of Bucharest is one of the best instances of the ambiguous relationship existing between the Romanian lands and the Ottoman Empire. Although it was not an Ottoman town, it shared many aspects with towns in the Ottoman area of influence.

One of these shared aspects was the division by Mahallas. Mahallas were small quarters of the town which arose around a religious building and which were often inhabited by a homogeneous community of people belonging to the same ethnic, social or religious groups.

As the town grew, mahallas fused with each other giving birth to wider neighborhoods that suffered through waves of modernization and demolitions (in communist times). This was the fate of places like Armeneasca, Mantuleasa, Old Jewish Quarter, Batistei.

But not all places are created equal. Some were purpose build by the powers that be for their acolytes and auxiliary personnel. This was the case of Cotroceni, Domenii or Primaverii. One gets a sense of order and of rules and regulations in these places. Which makes them more interesting in a city where there’s so little of them.


Three hours - Romantic Bucharest
Half-day tour, right through the heart of Bucharest, with several stops at beautiful tea-houses and summer gardens for chats and refreshments.

The tour is meant as an introduction into the beautiful and historic city center. We will cover: the Jewish Quarter; Mantuleasa Area; the Armenian Quarter ; Batistei Quarter

PLEASE NOTE: Since a lot of the buildings are still official institutions or embassies, it is possible to be told by the guards not to take any photos of that particular location. If you do, you do it at your own risk.