A Tale of Bucharest

31/10/2024

Last day of October in the warm and cozy Bucharest🍂🍁

10/08/2024

Special August tour schedule is here!✨

3 Bucharest walking tours per day are waiting for you on 16 & 19 August.

Book your place on GetYourGuide or on our website: www.autumntales.ro👈

Book one of our tours and discover the stories of Bucharest. Guided walking tours of the Old Town and Calea Victoriei in Bucharest.

03/07/2024

The Palace of Parliament was built as a consequence of the devastating earthquake of 1977 and a visit done by Ceausescu to North Korea. Its construction started during Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime in the 1980s with the demolition of an area of approximately one fifth of Bucharest surface. The construction works were finished in 1996 and at the height of the works at the end of the communist regime, the construction team numbered over 100 000 workers and hundreds of architects.

It is today the largest administrative civil building and also the most expensive one in the world. Today it houses a number of institutions such as the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, the Legislative Council, the Constitutional Court of Romania as well as being a venue for various conferences and events.

The Palace of Parliament can be visited daily between 09:00 – 17:00 with a booking in advance. All tours are guided and last for approximately 1 hour.

If you want to find out more about Bucharest’s history and landmarks, you can join one of our Bucharest Walking Tours.

09/06/2024

Mita Biciclista in full bloom

30/03/2024

You can now also find us on GetYourGuide☺️

11/02/2024

“Ceauşescu Mansion” was for a quarter of a century (1965-1989) the private residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu and of their children, Nicu, Zoia, and Valentin.

Initially built as an official residence for Ceausescu’s predecessor during the 1960s, the mansion was expanded between 1970-1972 adding elements chosen by the Ceausescu couple.

If you are curious to see Romania’s former communist leader’s private residence with an indoor swimming pool, tropical garden, SPA with tanning facilities, own cinema and plenty of rooms for each of the family members, this is your choice of visit.

Visiting information:
☑️Opened from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10:00-17:00
☑️Price: 65 RON/person (~13 euro)
☑️ Tickets need to be bought online from the museums website, in advance, to make sure you have a spot on the tour (https://casaceausescu.ro/en/visiting-details/)
☑️ All tours are guided and start at a fixed time
☑️ Tips: try not to carry bulky items to avoid accidentally touching any items (including walls or doors)
❎ There are no facilities for people with reduced mobility, strollers, wheelchairs

04/02/2024

The Museum of Bucharest is housed in the Sutu Palace, a 19th century neo-gothic building.
Architects Konrad Schwink and Johann Veit designed the plans for thisunusual building for Bucharest of those times. The palace was finished in 1835. The interiors were heavily changed in 1862 by sculptor Karl Storck by adding the massive staircase and the mirror in the main hall.

The glory of the Sutu residence started in 1875 when it came into possesion of Grigore Sutu and his wife Irina. The couple were famous for hosting the first ball of the season during the New Year with selected members of society and for adding more to the glamour of the palace.

Finally, in 1959, the Museum of Bucharest opened in the palace. The museum can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday for a 10 lei entry ticket.

Finally, in 1959 the Museum of Bucharest opened in the palace. The museum can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday for a 13* lei entry ticket.
*Price might differ onsite vs. online

03/01/2024

Hello all and Happy New Year!🎆

We are back with a little tip on what to visit at a short distance from Bucharest.
The Mogosoaia Palace was built in 1702 by Constantin Brancoveanu, one of the most famous rulers of Wallachia, as a gift for one of his sons.

The palace is easily accessible from Bucharest either by public transport using public buses or the airport train from Gara de Nord to Mogosoaia station,hop off the train at the first stop. Following, there is a 20-minute pleasant walk through the park until you reach the palace's grounds.

Adress: Strada Valea Parcului, nr. 1, Mogosoaia, judetul Ilfov

📅Opening days & hours: from Tuesday to Sunday
1 May – 31 October: 10:00 – 18:00
1 November – 30 April: 09:00 – 17:00

Ticket price for the palace: 10-15 lei (2-3 euros) - the palace grounds can be visited free of charge.

18/12/2023

While looking for the last gifts for Christmas we stumbled upon this view in Carturesti Carusel in Bucharest.

17/12/2023

It was once said in Bucharest: “To be considered a writer, one must get the baptism of Capsa...”
While we will cover another time the history of this over 150 year old pastry shop and the building housing , we can’t go past their Christmas decorations.
Make sure you will stop by Capsa and taste one of their famous cakes while enjoying these festive times.

10/12/2023

Today, the Bucharest Christmas Market✨🎁🎄

09/12/2023

The Marmorosch Hotel in full glam - Orient Express inspired Christmas story 🚂✨

06/12/2023

🚴‍♀️Mița the Cyclist House ( Casa Mița Biciclista) Christmas Decorations 2023 vs. 2022

A building dated the beginning of the 20th century, constructed in a Beaux-Arts style and with Art Nouveau elements, this house's name is as interesting as the story of the person who owned it.

Mița the Cyclist ( Mița Biciclista in Romanian) was a famous socialite during the pre-war and interwar Bucharest. She is considered the first woman who rode a bicycle in Romania, who wore a swimsuit in public, and most famously, as a courtesan for several prominent figures in Romanian politics and not only. Rumours say she was the mistress of King Ferdinand of Romania, Leopold of Belgium, and even Manuel of Portugal.

Taking a step back, Mița Biciclista, by her real name Maria Mihaescu, was born around 1885 in Prahova County, not far from Bucharest. She was a single child of a laundrywoman, born out of wedlock and with an out-of-the-ordinary beauty. There are multiple versions of the story of how she became rich and had the means to attend private schools in France.

After returning to Romania, she broke the hearts of multiple famous personalities, from politicians to artists, including King Ferdinand, who is rumored to have gifted her this house. She had a luxurious lifestyle, dining only at the Athenee Palace, going to the same hair saloon, and owning luxurious cars.

Her nickname was given by a journalist, George Ranetti, supposedly after she refused his courtship. She scandalized public opinion by riding a bicycle in pants or bathing in a swimsuit in public. She eventually married an army general, but her lifestyle, combined with some mismanaged businesses and the rise of the communist regime, led to her finally living in poverty until she died at the end of the 1960s.

Even though it may contain the prejudices of a long-gone time towards a more free-spirited person, her story is worth sharing.

29/11/2023

🇷🇴Museum and Events on Friday December 1st - National Day of Romania

With the National Day of Romania coming soon, we are sharing a few tips about what can be visited in Bucharest - special events and some free entrances for museums.

1. Military Parade - Arch of Triumph
Free Entrance
Start time: 11:00

2. National Museum of History - Address: Calea Victoriei 12
Free Entrance
Open: 9:00 - 17:00, last entrance 16:15

3. National Museum of Art - Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53
Free Entrance
Open: 10:00 - 18:00 ( except the historical rooms of the royal palace which are closed)

4. Village Museum - Soseaua Kiseleff 28-30
Normal Entrance ( 30 lei for adults, 8 lei for students)
Events: St. Andrew Fair, Military Parade in historical uniforms ( 13:00 ), Caroling ( 13:45 - 15:00)

5. Special Night Tours at Art Safari - Str. Lipscani 18-20
When: 20:00-23:00
Entrance tickets on Art Safari website
+ exhibition of the oldest ie from Romania

Bonus 1: Let's not forget that the Christmas markets will be open🎁🎅

Bonus 2: If you wish to take a short trip to the mountains and enjoy the snow, the Peles Castle also has free entrance on December 1st.❄️

27/11/2023

We are officially launching our🎄 Bucharest Christmas Walking Tours 🎄starting December 4th.

Check out our website for more details and bookings (link in bio).

See you soon!

01/11/2023

The Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest is today the office of the President of Romania as well as home to the Cotroceni National Museum. A beautiful 19th century palace, surrounded by large gardens and picturesque neighborhood, the Cotroceni Palace is one of the wonderful Bucharest gems.

Many Romanian historical figures are linked to this palace and the surrounding neighborhood as well as historical events. This is the place where it was decided that Romania will join World War I and also where the peace treaty of 1918 was signed. It has been the summer residence for princes and kings as well as refuge in times of diseases, housed museums as well as a military hospital, gathered politicians as well as artists. Cotroceni, although most of the time far away from the center of Bucharest, has shared the same fate as Bucharest, with all its ups and downs.

The main story starts with a monastery and a connected house built in the 17th century, during Serban Cantacuzino, a Wallachian prince. The Cantacuzino family is claimed to be a descendant from one of the last Byzantine emperors who fled Constantinopole and settled into Wallachia. His successors used the Cotroceni residence mainly as a summer palace up until the 19th century when the first upgrades started to be done. It was used by King Carol I as a summer residence until the Peles Castle in Sinaia was finished. After that, in the 1890s, the new Palace was constructed to be a residence for the heirs to the Romanian throne - Ferdinand and Mary. Several other upgrades and changes were done in the following years adding more to the beauty of the building. Despite interventions during communist times, the Cotroceni Palace still stands as one of the wonderful buildings in Bucharest.

Visits can be done in the palace only during guided tours organised by the museum. Besides purchasing a ticket, all visitors must hold a valid ID and also expect a security scan.

30/10/2023

The National Museum of Arts of Romania in Bucharest is housed in a former royal setting - the Royal Palace in Bucharest.

The current building was finalized in 1937 based on the plans of architect Nicolae Nenciulescu to replace the formaer palace which was heavily damaged during a fire in 1926.

The story of the palace starts in the beginning of the 19th century when the Golescu family raised a mansion which in later years started to be used as a meeting place for various organisations and in the end, as a residence for the prince of Wallachia. Finally, in 1866 when Carol became the King of Romania, the mansion was turned into his official residence. Unimpressed by the current construction, Carol hired French architect Paul Gottereau ( whose works include also the CEC Palace) to extend the palace and turn it into a more suitable one for a king.

Gottereau's building was heavily damaged in 1926 when a fire broke and destroyed the first floor. Deciding the palace is not suitable for repairs, the royal family decided to demolish it and raise a new building and during the construction works resided at the Cotroceni Palace. The Palace didn't have a good time either in the Second World War when it was bombed and the King moved again in a new home. During communist times, after removing all marks of royalty, the palace was used as a venue for the Communist Party's gatherings and for some official state meetings, while also creating the National Museum of Art in it.

Today, the historical spaces ( Throne room, Grand staircase) have been partially restored to their original state and can be visited along with the expositions of the Romanian and European Galleries inside the museum.

For more about Bucharest, you can book one of our guided tours at the link in bio.

27/10/2023

Visiting Bucharest? 🧳
🗺️Explore it together with a local in the A Tale of Bucharest walking tours.