Things to do in

Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum

Discover Bucharest, a charming city full of contrasts. Admire impressive 17th-century churches, well-preserved traditional houses, and imposing French style palaces alongside communist era buildings and glass office towers. Get picked up at your accommodation in central Bucharest, then head to the Parliament Palace. There, take a tour inside the second-largest building in the world and the seat of the Romanian Parliament in the post-communist years. Next, move on to the Village Museum (Muzeul National al Satului "Dimitrie Gusti"), an open-air museum situated on the shore of the scenic Herastrau Lake. Explore a micro-universe of the traditional Romanian village with houses representing all regions of Romania. From there, head to Bucharest Old Town for a walking tour, the former quarter where the merchants and craftsmen lived and worked that is now the entertainment center of Bucharest. Wander along the quaint, narrow cobblestone streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and pubs. Then, it's time for some panoramic sightseeing. Pass by Victory Avenue, one of the oldest streets in Bucharest that features majestic palaces, art museums, former residences of the aristocracy, and old churches. Then, see Revolution Square, the place where Nicolae Ceausescu held his last speech and where the protests that ultimately led to the fall of communism took place in December 1989. After, move on to discover Mogosoaia Palace, the former residence of Wallachian princes in the 18th century that combines Byzantine-Ottoman elements with Baroque and western Renaissance architectural styles. Finally, visit Snagov Monastery, the final resting place of another Wallachian prince, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. Admire this monument of medieval art before returning to your accommodation.

Discover the highlights of Bucharest on an amazing half-day guided tour and marvel at the monuments of the historical city center. After meeting your guide at the local partner's centrally located office, travel to the open-air Village Museum and learn more about traditional village life in Romania as you explore the interesting reconstructions of various buildings through the ages and regions of the country. Get an amazing view of the monumental Palace of the Parliament on Constitution Square. Look at the imposing façade of the largest, heaviest and most expensive administrative building in the world. See where Communism was brought to an end in December 1989 on Revolution Square, stroll around the neighborhood to see the elegant university buildings and much more.

The tour will start in the morning at your hotel and following a 4-hour itinerary will show the participants the most interesting sights of Bucharest downtown with entrance to the Parliament Palace (optional) and The Village Museum (optional). The tour includes transport by modern 8 seat minibus, guide services in English, pick-up from the hotel and does not include the entrance fees at the Parliament Palace and the Village Museum. The itinerary depends on your hotel’s location, but it will include: Free Press Square (Piata Presei Libere) – The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf) – Victoriei Square (Piata Victoriei) – Calea Victoriei – Revolution Square (Romanian Atheneum, Revolution’s Memorial) – The Palace of Parliament (Palatul Parlamentului) – Union Square (Piata Unirii) – University Square (Piata Universitatii) – Romana Square (Piata Romana) – Victoriei Square – Charles de Gaulle Square (Piata Charles de Gaulle) – The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului).

The tour starts at the hotel where you’ll meet your travel guide, who will introduce you to the city’s history. First stop will be the People’s House, the largest building in Europe and second worldwide, currently hosting the Romanian Parliament – your visit includes a full tour of the huge marble halls and a rooftop view where you’ll have the opportunity to admire the city from the Parliament’s terrace. Lunch will be served in a 200 year-old traditional Romanian restaurant. In the second part of the day, delve into the city’s historical center, a place brimming with life and history. Afterwards, your next stop will be the Village Museum, a genuine time portal to the realm of traditional medieval villages built in a unique architectural style.

Bucharest is a city that wears its history proudly, if not painfully, on its sleeve. The city is a vibrant and noisy place, filled with stunning architecture, plenty of smiles, and someone at a cafe always happy to tell you their story of where they were in 1989. Today, we will experience the best Bucharest has to offer, and learn a bit of its history, while enjoying marvelous architecture and grand boulevards. We begin at Revolution Square, home to the 1989 revolution that brought Ceausescu's regime to a close. Here we can see the Royal buildings, Libraries and Statues that make up this grand and central area of Bucharest. From here we walk down Victoriei Avenue towards the heart of Bucharest's bustling commercial quarters. We will pass the Princely Court and Church in the old quarters, as well as the Palace of Justice, with its imposing columns reminding us that the state was once all powerful. Eventually after a nice stroll, we arrive at Unirii Square, the gigantic transportation hub of Bucharest. Here we can see the Palace of Parliament, which we can stop and visit, should you choose. If there it’s not possible to visit the palace, we can instead visit the Spring Palace/Ceausescu's residence. We move on to the Metropolitan Church, where we can again look at the lovely iconography of these Orthodox churches. Walking back towards the University, we will pass Bucharest's own Arch de Triumph, and have the option to stop at the Village Museum. All together, our walk will introduce you to the highlights of this city, while explaining to you their importance in history. Romanians proudly walk these streets along side you, and by the end of our day together, hopefully you will feel a bit closer to their incredible story.

You will start in the morning from your hotel and head north-west toward Pitesti and soon you will enter the Olt River Valley. One of the most beautiful river valleys in Romania has in it's beginning an architectural and historical monument: the Cozia Monastery, built in 1388 by Mircea the Elder, the Grandfather of Vlad the Impaler.  Next stop will be Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007 along with the city of Luxembourg, when Romania joined European Union. Sibiu was also voted as Europe's 8th most idyllic place to live by Forbes. With its Large Square, Small Square and Huet Square was the largest fortified city of Transylvania in medieval times. You will take a walking tour discovering why the city is so famous and admire beautiful landmarks like the Brukenthal Palace, Jesuit Church, Old City Hall tower, Evangelical Church and Liars Bridge - the first iron cast bridge in the country.  Because your guide wants to show you the real life in the area, and especially in the countryside, your next stop of the day will be made in the village of Sibiel where locals teamed up and restored most of the houses here. In the same place you can find the largest glass icons museum in Transylvania which you have the pleasure to visit and hear more about how this tradition started in the area. You will follow the Olt River Valley back to Bucharest.

Discover the wonders of Bucharest, also called the “Little Paris of the East”, together with your professional guide and a group of travelers on this 4-hour tour. Your panoramic city tour includes stops and history lessons at important sites and places only locals know, as well as the city highlights. The first highlight will be Revolution Square, where you’ll get an explanation of the communist system of Romania before 1989, and find out how the country moved to democracy in Europe’s bloodiest revolution.   Your second main destination will be Constitution Square, where Romania’s Parliament is located. Also known as the “House of the People”, this is the second largest civilian building in the world, and the largest in Europe. Learn more about the project that changed the face of the capital in the 1980s. Complete your visit of Romania’s capital by taking a tour of one of the most impressive open-air ethnographic museums in the world. Have an encounter with an authentic Romanian village, rich in artifacts from the 17th to the 20th century before ending your tour.

Start your day in the morning and discover together with your professional guide the wonders of Bucharest, also called little Paris of the East. The panoramic city tour includes stops and history lessons at three very important sites: Revolution Square, Constitution Square and equally impressive Military Academy. Discover the history of the Romanians from the time of the Roman Empire, Middle Ages and Vlad the Impaler and walk your way through Monarchy and the dark Communist times of recent history. Next on the agenda is a visit to Ceausescu's mad dream - The Parliament Palace. Discover the second largest building in the world - formerly known as the People's Palace. Take a tour inside together with a professional English speaking guide from the Parliament in order to get a full taste of Ceausescu's heritage. After the visit you will take a walking tour through the Old City and find out more about the man that founded Bucharest - Vlad the Impaler aka Dracula that established his royal court here in the 15th century. Next see the open air Village Museum, which will provide you with a unique experience and will give you a glimpse in the life of the Romanian peasants from more than 100 years ago. This museum is particularly impressive because all the houses were taken from their original locations and rebuilt here in Bucharest almost once century ago.

Enjoy private transportation and a licensed guide to the best of Bucharest's landmarks. Be picked up from your hotel and visit the Palace of Parliament or People’s House, the Bucharest National Village Museum, Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue), Revolution Square, and Old City Centre. See the Palace of Parliament, the world's second-largest administrative building. Learn how dangerous and damaging a totalitarian regime like communism can be for a nation. Be prepared to feel small seeing the pointless opulence and megalomania “the sleep of reason” can create. Visit the National Village Museum to see an embodiment of Romanian traditions. Understand what it meant for Romanian villagers to have built an ecological and sustainable environment in their backyard. Also get a glimpse into their simple and modest lifestyle, in social and spiritual harmony with their surroundings. Enter the world of the traditional Romanian houses made of wood, adobe, stone, and other materials, from all parts of the country. Be introduced to national symbols such as the mill and the wooden church. Learn how these treasures of spirituality and civilization have kept the people united for thousands of years. Then, follow your guide to Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue). Be fascinated by the contradictions of history—on one side, you have the Royal Palace and on the other, the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the Revolution Square, where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. Marvel at old orthodox churches, enveloped in an aura of mystery. Also pass through a music store with a large selection of music, casinos, bohemian restaurants, museums, theatres, tea shops, retail stores and gift shops with souvenirs. Next, see the National History Museum and the Romanian Athenaeum, another Romanian architectural landmark, and the CEC Palace. Take a trip back in time to the moment where dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted, leaving behind the secrets of a great fortune and controversies about the state security service. Reach the Senate Palace and find yourself in front of the building that used to house the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. This also served as the starting point of the Revolution of December 1989, a major historical event that marked the removal of Ceausescu from power.

Start your day and discover together with your professional guide the wonders of Bucharest, also called The Little Paris of the East. Your panoramic city tour includes stops and history lessons at very important sites and places only locals know. See the Revolution Square - where you will enjoy a unique lecture about the communist system of Romania before 1989 and find out how the change to democracy was done when Romania had the bloodiest revolution in Europe during that period. Proceed to the Constitution Square where the Romania's Parliament is located, also known as House of the People, second largest building in the world and learn more about the project that changed the face of our capital in the 1980's. Take a visit to the place where religion comes to life in Bucharest - The Patriarchal Palace & Church dating back to the 17th Century. Complete your visit of Romania's Capital with taking a tour in one of the most impressive open air ethnographic museums in the world where you can have an encounter with an authentic Romanian village rich in monuments and artifacts from the 17th to the 20th Century.