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Bucharest Guided Tours

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Bucharest Guided Tours

Bucharest Guided Tours offer a professional, qualified tours of this beautiful and historic city Free hotel meeting is included with all our tours.

Welcome to Bucharest Guided Tours .com

Your first stop for a friendly and professional, guided walking tour of this wonderful city. I am Claire, head guide at Bucharest Guided Tours and registered tour guide in the city of my birth. I, or one of my colleagues, will be delighted to show you around this beautiful city. As the European Union's newest member, Romania's capital city offers a host of r

ich and historic landmarks to discover, dating back to Roman times and with many changes through the 'cold war' era there are interesting finds on every corner. Bucharest Guided Tours offer a professional, qualified, private tour, to open up the beautiful cityof Bucharest to you,
in more detail than you can get
in an hour from the seat of a bus.. Visit historic landmarks and ancient churches and let us explain the interesting and often diverse history of this fascinating city. My city tour lasts over the period of 2 hours 30 min, meeting at your hotel, or the clock in Constitution Square - (Parliament buildings) and will enthral sightseers of every age. Our popular Bucharest Mini Tour takes 60-80 mins, concentrating on the most interesting areas of the city centre, including Revolution Square and Romanian Athenaeum. Bucharest Guided Tours also offer Full Day Professional Tour Guide Hire (9 am to 5 pm). We will organise your perfect day out in Bucharest, including entry to the famous Parliament buildings, museums or parks. If you wish to book with me or find out more about this friendly and professional service, please contact me at [email protected], by
using our online form, or call - 004 0742 600 164. I look forward to hearing from you.. Call (004) 0742 600 164 for more info, or visit www.bucharestguidedtours.com

21/07/2025

Domnița Bălașa Church - Bucharest.
(Lady Bălașa Church)

Domnița Bălașa (Lady Bălașa) Church is an orthodox church situated on Strada Sfinții Apostoli nr. 60, ector 5, Bucharest, located behind the apartment blocks, to to the west of Unirii Square.

The name of the church comes from the first church built on this site, in 1745, by the Lady Bălașa, who was the sixth daughter of ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu (1654 – 1714, ruler of Wallachia between the years 1688 – 1714) and of Lady Ma**ca Brâncoveanu (1661 – 1729).

The original church was weakened by a strong earthquake in 1838, requiring it to be demolished and rebuilt in 1842.

Later damaged by the flooding of the Dâmbovița River in 1871, the church was again demolished.

The church that we see today was built over 4 years, from 1881 to 1885, during the reign of king Carol the 1st and Queen Elisabeth in Byzantine style (a cross-shaped plan with a polygonal apse of the altar), with Gothic elements built to the design of architect Alexandru Orăscu, assisted by Carol Benesch together with Friedrich Hartman and approved by the French architect André Lecomte du Noüy.

The church was damaged by the earthquake in 1947 and then again in 1977 with extensive restoration work being carried out after both quakes.

Over time the church was rebuilt and renovated but has successfully retained its authentic charm.

Inside the church, in a niche, there is the tomb of Lady Bălașa (1693-1752) loccated on the right hand side.
The monument of Lady Bălașa is called "Sadness" and is the work of sculptor Ion Georgescu, made in 1884 in white marble decorated with rosettes, a small sarcophagus is mounted, also carved, with rows of denticles, coats of arms, lily flowers and laurels, above which an angel stands guard.

On the left or the north side, in a niche, we have the grave of Lady Zoe Brâncoveanu (1805 – 1892) who was the first wife of the ruler of Wallachia – Gheorghe Bibescu (between the years January 1843 to June 1848).
The lady died in Bucharest in 1892 and the family decided to bury her in her ancestor’s church. The statue was realized by the French sculptor Jules Roulleau in marble of Carrara in 1895.
It depicts Zoe Brâncoveanu held by an angel, with a woman and child at her feet.

The interior painting was done by two Viennese artists in Renaissance style.

The monument of Lady Bălașa ,in the park of the church, was sculpted by Karl Stork in 1881.
On the base of the pedestal, under the coat of arms , is written “Domnița Bălașa, daughter of Constantin Basarab Brâncoveanu, ruler of Țara Românească (Wallachia) founded this settlement in the year 1751.”

Today the beautiful Lady Bălașa church is part of the orthodox Christian faith in Bucharest, hosting masses, weddings and baptisms on a daily basis.

10/03/2025

Galleries Lafyette - Victoria Shop and Grand Hotel Lafyette Bucharest.

Galleries Lafyette / Victoria Shop

The Victoria shop is a historical building in Bucharest, situated on Victoria Avenue, (Calea Victoriei) nr 17.

It was inaugurated in 1928, designed in the Art Deco style, after the plans of the architect Herman Clejan (1886-1955).

Named after the world famous Lafayette Galleries, built in Paris in 1912, the Romanian department store featured 5 levels, selling the latest goods and fashions direct from Paris.

It was the first luxurious, modern, universal department store in Romania and was equipped with an elevator taking customers between floors featuring decorative columns and marble floors.

An advertisement in 1937 described the Galleries Lafayette as "the only Western department store in the country".

The advert also informed visitors that the store had "more than 70 departments, where one can find clothing, furs, jewellery, perfumes and toiletries, fine men's haberdashery, sports goods, carpets, linoleum, linen, silks, all bearing the stamp of Parisian refinement and good taste".

After political change in 1948, the now renamed Victoria shop continued to supply quality clothing for men, women and children, household appliances, ornaments, household items and various imported goods.

Today Victoria shop continues to be a popular department store in the original building, now officially recognized as having special historical and architectural interest.

Grand Hotel Lafyette / Hotel De France.

Situated next to the Lafayette Shop (Victoria Shop) is the Bucharest Financial Plaza built in the early 1990s.
Previously this was the site of the Grand Hotel Lafayette (also known as Hotel de France) which was built in 1881.

It was affected by both the earthquakes of 1940 and 1977.
After the 1977 quake the hotel was demolished due to severe structural damage.

The lot remained vacant until the Financial Plaza was built.

11/02/2025

The Palace Hall Bucharest - Sala Palatului.

Arc of time - 1960 to Present day.

Located in the centre of Bucharest, (Revolution Square), behind the Royal Palace on Victoriei Avenue (Calea Victoriei), the Palace Hall is an architecturally modern edifice built between 1959 and 1960, during the first communist leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej who ruled for 17 years during 1948 – 1965.

The Palace Hall was built to be a centre of cultural institution, being the host of many national communist party congresses, national music concerts, film screenings, and various public events.

The building opened with initial seating capacity of 3150 and was constructed by a team composed of the architects and engineers (for acoustic, electrical and lighting installations) that Romania had at that time.

In 1982, the second leader of Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu (in office 1965 to 1989) requested the modification of the hall, increasing the capacity to over 4000 seats, ending up with 4,060, arranged in an amphitheatre style with a maximum elevation of 12 m.

The stage has a total span of 28 metres and a width of 15 metres.

Today, the Palace hall is still very much in use, being a popular centre hosting many national and international concerts, art festivals and performances of many kinds, business conferences, cultural events and party congresses.

With its heavy construction and lavish marble, this building was definitely built to last!

04/11/2024

The Palace Of Justice - Bucharest .

One of the jewels of Bucharest, the Palace of Justice is situated on Splaiul Independenței nr.5, facing the Dâmbovița River.

It was built in French Renaissance style between the years 1890 – 1895, to the plans of the French architect Albert Ballu (1849 – 1939), who had also designed the City Hall in Paris, and the Romanian architect Ion Mincu (1852 – 1912).

The foundation stone was laid in 1890, the ceremony taking place in the presence of King Carol I of Romania (1866-1914), who laid the first brick and built a scroll into the foundation to mark the grand moment.

The imposing "Hall of Lost Steps" inside the building, also called the "Hall of the Clock", occupies a quarter of the almost 13,000 square meters area, which is the building's ground surface.
The name "Hall of the Clock" comes from the fact that a clock was mounted in this space to measure the "course of processes".

The main façade of the building above the main entrance is dominated by six allegorical statues, built of faceted stone and decorated with six pillars.

As you look from left to right, the statues, symbolise "Attention", "Vigor", "Law", "Justice", "Eloquence" and " Truth", housed in six specially created niches, sculpted by Carol Storck and Frederic Storck.

Two other statues, flanking the clock on the roof, stand for Strength and Prudence.

Between 1948 and 1990, the Palace of Justice was the seat of the Bucharest Municipal Court.

Affected by the earthquakes of 1940, 1977, 1986 and 1990 the Palace of Justice went through several consolidation works.

A truly magnificent building situated in the centre of Bucharest.

04/08/2024

The Royal Palace, Bucharest.

The Royal Palace, (Palatul Regal), is located on Calea Victoriei nr 49 – 53, in Palace Square (renamed Revolution Square after the events of December 1989) and was built according to the plans of the French architect Paul Gottereau, between the years 1882-1885 in neoclassical style.

The Royal Palace is a monumental building in Bucharest and symbolizes the center of monarchical power in Romania and represents the main royal residence in Bucharest.

The Royal Palace experienced its flourishing period during the reign of King Carol I (Karl Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen – the first king of Romania from 1866 to his death in 1914) and Queen Elizabeth, and was later used for residence and ceremonies by King Ferdinand Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (the second king of Romania from 1914 to 1927) and Queen Maria, King Charles II (the third king of Romania from 1930 to 1940) and the forth, King Michael.

In 1926, the Royal Palace in Bucharest was affected by a large fire, which completely burned the Throne Room, the Staircase, the Hall of Honor and the Royal Dining Room.
The royal palace was then totally rebuilt, between the years 1935-1937, according to the plans of architect Nicolae Nenciulescu.

After the aerial bombing in August 1944 it was again renovated.

The building, in the shape of a letter U, is composed of three bodies - the "Kretzulescu Body" – near Kretzulescu Church, the "Central Body" with a courtyard facing Calea Victoriei and the "Ştirbey Body" towards the Athenee Palace hotel (today Intercontinental Athenee Palace hotel).
Since 1953, the Palace houses the National Art Museum of Romania.

In 1965, the body of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (the first Communist leader – the first secretary general of the Communist Party of the Romanian Peoples Republic between the years 1948 until his death in March 1965), was deposited in the central body of the Palace, in the Throne Hall for last respects.

During the Revolution of 1989, the Palace was set on fire, putting the works of art housed in the building in danger.
Restoration followed and the palace and art galleries were again reopened.

In August 2016, the coffin of Anne, King Michael's spouse, was laid in the Throne Hall for two days, before her burial in Curtea de Argeș, with thousands of Romanians paying homages and last respects .[8][9] Also in December 2017, the funeral of king Michael took place beginning at the Royal Palace.

Today the Palace is open to the public where you can experience its beautiful and ornate interior decoration and spectacular marble staircases. The palace also hosts multitudes of art exhibitions and related events throughout the year.

13/05/2024

The National Romanian Opera House Bucharest.

The Romanian Opera house is situated on Bulevardul Mihail Kogălniceanu, nr. 70-72, in Bucharest and was built in 1953, to the plans of the Romanian architect Octav Doicescu (1902 – 1981), under the name of the Opera and Ballet Theater.

It was inaugurated in January 1954, opening with a performance of The Queen of Spades, an opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Although the existence of a Romanian artistic troupe of lyrical theater, under the name “Compania Opera Română”, became known as early as 1885, the establishment of the Romanian Opera, as an independent institution was realised in 1921.

To celebrate the event a premier was held with a performance of the opera Lohengrin under the baton to Romanian composer and conductor George Enescu.

Performances were held in various locations in Bucharest until 1954 when the new Opera building was completed.

Over the last 70 years the Romanian National Opera has been the venue for many famous performances from both the world of Ballet and Opera, including the Royal Ballet from London, Bolshoi Ballet from Moscow and the Miami Atlanta Ballet, including famous names in Ballet, such as Irinel Liciu, Valentina Massini, Sergiu Ștefanschi, Elena Dacian and Ioan Tugearu.

Famous operatic performers include.. David Ohanesian. Maria Slătinaru Nistor, Ludovic Spiess and Eugenia Moldoveanu.

The facade of the building has a portico with three monumental arches, decorated with the statues of four muses, and three grand access doors, which allow entry into the sumptuous hall which is on two levels.

The performance hall is shaped like a horseshoe. The hall has a capacity of 952 seats; the stage is 24 m wide, 20 m deep, 30m and features a beautiful gilded crystal chandelier.

On the facade of the building, instead of two smaller arches, which originally framed the three large ones, two bas-reliefs were mounted, the left depicting an opera scene (sculptors Zoe Băicoianu and Boris Caragea), and on the right hand side, ballerinas in flight (sculptor Ion Vlad).

Situated outside the front of the Opera house is the bust of the Romanian composer and conductor Gheorghe Stephănescu (1843 – 1925), the founder of the Romanian Opera.

In the park in front of the building is the statue of the great Romanian composer and conductor George Enescu (1881-1955), a bronze sculpture by Romanian sculptor Ion Jalea (1887 – 1983).

06/04/2024

Bloc Adriatica Trieste and Bloc Agricola Fonciera, Bucharest centre.

Just beside the Dâmbovița River ,at the end of Victoria Avenue in United Nations Square we can admire two of the nicest buildings in Bucharest, built between the years 1926 – 1929 by two Romanian architects.

These two palaces of insurance companies are Adriatica-Trieste, also called the Romanian Building, on the left and Agricola-Fonciera on the right, when facing north.

Around the year 1930 Romania had a long tradition in the field of insurance.

On the top of each building there is a beautiful architectural terrace with ornamental columns adorning a belvedere ( viewing point).

The Insurance companies had the headquarters and offices on the first level / floor of the buildings, with nice large apartments above.

Since 1948 the former offices of insurance companies are not in use, with the apartments above remaining occupied by private tenants.

Bloc Adriatica Trieste.

The insurance company Adriatica – Trieste, also called Romanian Building, is situated at 2 Victoria Avenue and was built to the plans of the Romanian architect Paul Smărăndescu (1881 – 1945) in the Beaux-Arts architectural style and features a long belvedere (viewpoint), giving a spectacular panorama of the city.

Bloc Agricola-Fonciera.

The palace of Insurance Society Agricola-Fonciera unfolds with two symmetrical wings and is situated on the corner of two streets - Splaiul Independenței and Nicolae Tonitza peinter Street, sector 3.
The building was built after the plans of the Romanian architect – Petre Antonescu (1873 – 1965) in Beaux-Arts architectural style.

Caryatids -

The main entrance of Agricola-Fonciera insurance company has a door featuring ornate ironwork and is guarded by two ladies – caryatids, which support a balcony, inspired by Greek antiquity.

Pediment -

Below the belvedere of the Agricola Fonciera building we can admire a decorated pediment which represents a farmer and a shepherd.

08/03/2024

Medicine College Bucharest - The "Carol Davila" University of Medicine.

The Palace of the Faculty of Medicine, located on the Boulevard of the Sanitary Heroes, number 8, in Cotroceni district, was built in the French neoclassical style, after the plans of Swiss architect Louis Pierre Blanc and inaugurated in 1903.

The "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest is the oldest school of medical education institute in Romania.

It bears the name of the prestigious Romanian doctor Carol Davila – known as the father of higher and secondary medical education, military and civilian in Romania.

In 1860 he was promoted to the rank of general.

Davila realised that in order to change something in the Romanian health system, he needed well-trained doctors, and so he laid the foundations of the first Romanian medical school establishing the National School of Medicine and Pharmacy in 1857.

The construction was an important step forward in the evolution of Romanian medical education.

The statue of Carol Davila.

The statue of Doctor Carol Davila, in front of the main entrance, is two meters tall, on a black granite pedestal of three and a half meters, is the work of Carol Storck, constructed in the workshops of the School of Arts and Crafts in Bucharest.

The statue was unveiled on the day the palace was inaugurated, in 1903.

Carol Davila was born in 1828 in Parma, Italy and died in 1884 in Bucharest, Romania. His real name was Carlo Antonio Francesco d'Avila, in French, Charles D'Avila, became Carol Davila in Romanian language.

He attended the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, graduating in February 1853. In the year of his graduation Barbu Știrbei, (then ruler of Wallachia) made a request for doctors at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris to send a graduate to organize the Romanian health system.

He arrived in Bucharest – then capital of the Principality of Wallachia – on March 1853, at not even 25 years old, after receiving his doctorate in Paris.

He was supposed to stay in Wallachia for only 3 years, but he stayed for the rest of his life.

Over time he built a robust medical system which he successfully implemented in both military and civilian life.

He reorganized the military hospital into wards, improved the medical care given to patients, founded a school of paramedics and in 1856 a secondary school of surgery, which would later become the National School of Medicine and in parallel, created the pharmaceutical and veterinary education system.

Davila continued his work during three different reigns: Barbu Știrbei (ruler of Wallachia in June 1849 - 29 October 1853 and 5 October 1854 - 25 June 1856), Alexandru Ioan Cuza (the first ruler of United Principality of Wallachia and Moldavia – Little Romania, ruled between 1859 – 1866) and of Carol the 1st (real name – Karl Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen – king of Little Romania between 1866-1914.

He didn't need any further introduction. The king Carol the 1st writes to his wife, Elizabeth: "Davila is everywhere you need him."

There was only one word written on his business card: Davila.

His students were sent to the great faculties in Europe: Paris, Rome, Berlin and Vienna, and returned doctors in medicine, becoming professors of the faculty in Bucharest.

Pediment.

The pediment represents an allegorical composition made by an anonymous artist. The magnificent design shows a young, crowned woman sitting majestically on a throne, showing a text from the open book she holds on her knees, symbolizing the science of medicine.

To her left, a young woman leaning with her left hand on the main character carefully follows the indicated text.

On the right, another young woman is holding a skull.

The allegorical young ladies have expressive faces, serene and harmonious, richly dressed.

In the edges of triangular pediment, at each side, two busts of children close the composition.

Grave of Carol Davila, Sector 5, Bucharest.

The grave of Doctor Carol Davila and his wife Ana Davila is located in a small park named Carol Davila, at the intersection of Ana Davila Street and Nicolae Paulescu Street, Sector 5, Bucharest.

The monument was built in 1903 and was decorated with a rectangular marble plaque with the bust of Davila, (which no longer exists), created by the artists Mayer and Wilhelm Stuttgart.

Over the years, many generations of doctors, pharmacists, dentists and, more recently, nurses and midwives with higher education have left the benches of this educational institution with a wealth of knowledge and skills appreciated throughout the country and throughout the world.

10/02/2024

Featurette on Palatul Universității, The University of Bucharest.

The University of Bucharest was built on the site of the former Saint Sava Monastery, initially constructed in 1688 by Șerban Cantacuzino, (the ruler of Wallachia between the years 1678 – 1688).

Later, in 1694, Constantin Brâncoveanu, (ruler of Wallachia between 1688–1714) repurposed the building and it became the Princely Academy of Bucharest.

Located on Boulevard Regina Elisabeta nr. 4 – 12, University Square, The University of Bucharest is a higher state education institution founded by a decree by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1864, shortly after the unification made in 1859 of the United Principalities – Wallachia and Moldavia.

As a symbol of the union of two principalities, Cuza founded two universities – one in 1860 in Iași – the capital of Moldavia and the other in 1864 in Bucharest – the capital of Wallachia.

The University of Bucharest features a monumental edifice, built in three distinct stages over time: the first stage by the architect Alexandru Orăscu between the years 1857-1869, the second stage by architect Ghika-Budești in the years 1912-1926 and the third stage between 1966 -1972.

In 1857 the palace of the University was built according to the design of western universities, with the plans drawn up by Romanian architect Alexandru Orăscu, (born 1817 in Bucharest – died in 1894 in Bucharest) in neo classic style.
The University was inaugurated in 1869.

Front Facia -

During the aerial bombings of World War Two, the original ornate triangular pediment, complete with an eagle on top, designed by Karl Storck, was destroyed along with the central part of the building. The original pediment contained a bas relief depicting the goddess Minerva, goddess of wisdom and protector of the arts, alongside allegorical figures representing the arts and sciences.

Later, after the war years, central body was rebuilt without the previous decoration, in a style similar to the rest of the building.

On the front side of the university to the right hand side, above the Doric columns, we can admire four statues designed by the sculptor Emil Wilhelm Becker in 1929, who modelled the statues on his daughter, Else.
He came from a native German family, born in 1881 in Bucharest and died in 1952. Under the four statues there are four symbols: a bee, a bird, a book, and a snake which symbolises Justice, Philosophy, Science and Art.

Rear Facia

The rear wing of the building was extended by the architect Nicolae Ghica-Budeşti (born in Iași 1869 – died in Bucharest 1943), in the neo classic style between the years 1912 – 1926.

The pediment on the rear side of the building depicts the Goddess Athena (Greek mythology) or Minerva (Roman mythology), Goddess of wisdom and protector of the arts, holding the flame of wisdom. She is surrounded by eight allegorical female characters symbolizing the scientific and classical disciplines.

Today the University of Bucharest is one of the top universities in the world with over 32000 students across 19 faculties, offering studies in the Sciences, Languages, Mathematics, Business and Administration, Psychology, Political Science and Religious Studies.

The university conducts research in many areas of science including Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences.

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