Bucharest Old Town tour with lunch and local guide

Old Town streets tour: food tasting and historic landmarks in the capital's merchant district

A three-hour private walking tour of Bucharest's Old Town with a local English-speaking guide, including a full traditional lunch at Caru cu Bere restaurant. You walk the narrow streets of Lipscani and pass the CEC Palace, Stavropoleos Monastery (dating to 1724), the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, and other landmarks that mark the city's commercial past. Pickup is included. The lunch menu offers a choice of fixed options with soup, salad, main course and dessert.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. CEC Palace5m
2. Stavropoleos Monastery15m
3. Lipscani10m
4. Macca-Villacrosse Passage10m

Explore Old Town and enjoy traditional lunch

• Walking tour in Historical Center
• Visit CEC Palace
• Browse popular book shop
• Lunch at Caru cu Bere restaurant
• See emblematic downtown building
• Visit Stavropoleos Monastery
• Walk along Lipscani street
• Explore Macca-Villacrosse Passage
• Visit orthodox church with paintings

The experience

The Old Town's streets were once the main commercial arteries of Bucharest, where merchants from across the world brought goods to sell to the city's elites. A local guide walks you through that history (the Post Office Palace, the Old Royal Court, Manucu's Inn, the CEC Palace, a 19th-century building that still anchors the downtown), and explains how these narrow passages became the cafes and restaurants that fill them now. The Macca-Villacrosse Passage, a "portal" to the 19th century, and Lipscani Street, vibrant with pubs and life, show you what survives of that merchant era.

Lunch happens at Caru cu Bere, a restaurant that has operated since 1879 and is known for serving local diners and travelers alike. You choose from a variety of fixed menus, each with soup, salad, a main course and dessert. Bottled water is included. The operator believes food is one of the best ways to connect with a new culture, so this is not a quick stop. It is built into the tour as the place where you actually taste what Bucharest eats.

The guide speaks English and is with you for the full three hours. Pickup from your hotel or a central meeting point is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Walking guided tour of the Old Town with a local English-speaking guide.
• a full traditional lunch at Caru cu Bere with a choice of fixed menus (soup, salad, main course, dessert).
• bottled water.
• hotel pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDepartures at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00

Book up to6h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Crafted Tours Romania

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand Bucharest through both its landmarks and its food culture in a single afternoon. The fixed three-hour schedule and the included lunch at a historic restaurant mean you are not assembling the day yourself. The guide and the meal are the structure.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Macca-Villacrosse Passage?

The Macca-Villacrosse Passage is a covered arcade that functions as a "portal" to 19th-century Bucharest. It is one of the stops on the walking tour and shows the architectural style of the merchant era.

Can I choose what I eat at lunch, or is the menu fixed?

The lunch menu is a fixed choice, meaning you select one of several set options that each include soup, salad, a main course and dessert. You are not ordering à la carte.

How old is Stavropoleos Monastery?

Stavropoleos Monastery dates to 1724 and is one of the oldest churches in Bucharest. It is an orthodox church with well-maintained interior paintings and is one of the landmarks you pass during the walking portion of the tour.

Is the guide included, or do I pay separately?

The local English-speaking guide is included in the tour price. Pickup from your accommodation is also included.