Best of Bucharest | Private Day Walking Tour

Linda B.United States

We couldn’t have asked for a more delightful, informative, and personalized day in Bucharest than the one we spent with Alina! She met us at our hotel and immediately made us feel welcome by surprising us with a gift of traditional Romanian treats. Alina included the sights we wanted to see but also customized the day around our interests. We went beyond the typical tourist stops and explored local neighborhoods, discovering colorful street art, hidden coffee shops, and everyday parts of Bucharest that we would never have found on our own. One of the highlights was Alina’s excellent explanation of Romania’s history before and after 1989. She helped us understand not only what happened during the communist era and the country’s transition afterward, but also the impact those events had on the Romanian people. Her knowledge and storytelling added so much depth to our experience. Alina was warm, personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in making our day special. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a guide who will take you beyond the standard sightseeing experience and help you better understand and appreciate Bucharest and its people.

Alina was among the best guides we've had through Tours by Locals. She was extremely informative about Romanian history and politics. We saw all the important sites in the Old Town and former Communist redevelopment sector. She gave us great recommendations for restaurants and what to do in our spare time. I highly recommend Alina.

What a glorious day with Alina! So much great information about architecture, history and politics. We have used Tours by Locals for years and Alina is one of the best. Besides spending time with us she also sent us information on restaurants, things to do on our own and movies to watch on the Romanian Revolution. Just book her you won’t be sorry!!!

We had two full days of touring with Alina and they were delightful. We walked and took the subway to explore well-sires and hidden neighborhoods, including bookstores and a large cemetery buried within which there is a small graveyard containing the French soldiers who died fighting in Romania in WWI. Alina worked to make sure we did not duplicate things we would be seeing on our Viking tour. On the first morning she spent time showing and marking for us on a map she then gave us the areas we would be visiting. We visited the Jewish synagogues and learned how each of the diverse areas of Romania acted with respect to its Jewish (and Roma) population during WWII. We learned what life was like under communist/socialist rule, and much more. Overall a great two days of exploration and learning. We highly recommend touring with Alina!

We had the most wonderful tour of Bucharest with Alina! If I could give her ten stars, I would. She is truly passionate about her city and shares its fascinating history with such enthusiasm and depth. From ancient times and the various empires, through the wars and the difficult communist era, all the way to the present day. We loved learning about the different architecture throughout the city. We came away with a deep appreciation for this beautiful city and the warmth of the Romanian people. Thank you, Alina, for making our trip so special. — Tom and Michele

Alina is easily one of the best guides I’ve had! She’s knowledgeable, well-prepared, thoughtful and an absolute pleasure to spend time with. After our day together, I felt like I had a solid grasp of Romania’s history, Bucharest’s surprising French influence, the communist past, and modern culture. Alina’s passion for her city is infectious. She was helpful even before the tour started, offering restaurant recommendations and more. Our walking tour included the Jewish quarter, and while the synagogues were closed for the Sabbath (which she had prepared me for), she still came armed with photos and stories that brought the history to life.And after the tour, she followed up by sending resources on the topics we’d discussed—she even introduced me to people who could help with genealogy research in Romania. If I could give Alina an 11/10, I would! I highly recommend booking a tour with her!