Bucharest’s Parliament Palace skip-the-line guided tour
Activities

Bucharest’s Parliament Palace skip-the-line guided tour

4.4/5
Excellent
Based on 15 reviews
from
£17.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: 1 hour
Why you’ll love this…
  • There’s no waiting in line, as you take a guided tour of Europe’s largest building
  • You’ll learn why Parliament Palace is a symbol of Romania’s communist past and democratic present
  • It’s a warren of magnificent halls, intricately decorated interiors and Neoclassical design
  • There’s a museum inside that’s dedicated to the controversial building of the palace
  • Your expert guide will share little-known details to bring this incredible building to life
What to expect

Gaze up at it and you’ll be immediately struck by the sheer size of Bucharest’s Parliament Palace. It ranks in the top three largest and heaviest buildings in the world, covering the equivalent of 51 football pitches. On this guided tour you’ll skip to the front of the line and discover more than just its bricks and mortar, it’s a live history lesson on Romania’s transition from dictatorship to democracy.

The building is now used to house Romania’s Parliament, as well as several museums, one of which will tell you all about the controversial construction of the opulent building. In the early 1980s, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romania’s communist dictator, began the 12-year build, displacing over 40,000 residents in the process. He never saw it completed though, after he was overthrown in the 1989 revolution – since then the building has been known as the People’s House.

As your guide expertly weaves you through the labyrinth of Neoclassical designed rooms inside, they’ll share stories about the making of the palace, like the fact that Ceaușescu demanded that all the materials be sourced from Romania as a point of national pride. That’s why, as you tour the grand staircase, which looks like something out of a fairytale, you’ll hear that it’s made of Transylvanian marble. Or, as you look at the five-tonne chandelier in the Union Hall, you’ll learn that it’s made of Murano-style Romanian crystal. You’ll find out about everything from the grand ballroom to the underground nuclear bunker and finish this tour on the second floor, looking out over the Fountains' Boulevard from the Dictator's Balcony.

Read more
What's included
  • check Guided tour
  • check Entrance ticket
  • check Skip-the-line ticket
Where

Senatul României, Calea 13 Septembrie, Bucharest, Romania

Meeting point:
You'll meet a tour representative at the gate of the senate at Senatul României, Calea 13 Septembrie, Bucharest. Please be there 15 minutes before the start of your tour. They'll tell you about the history of the building before escorting you to the security check, where you'll meet your guide for the rest of the tour.
What to remember

Know in advance:

  • This tour only operates with a minimum of 10 guests due to Parlimentary regulations. If the reservation is not made five days ahead or if the group does not reach 10 people, the tour will be cancelled and you'll be offered the chance to change the date or take a full refund
  • Please arrive at the Senate gate 15 minutes before the tour starts to meet a tour representative and go through a security check
  • This tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility as you'll climb about 200 steps and there is no lift available

Remember to bring:

  • Your passport or ID card
Read more
Provider
Eastern European Experience
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Excellent

4.4/5

Based on 15 reviews from verified customers

47%
47%
7%
0%
0%

Review categories

Staff

4.6/5

Value for money

4.2/5

Safety

4.6/5

Service

4.6/5

  • Paul Blau

    From United States of America - July 2025

    Travelled as a couple

     

    35 - 44 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

  • Tess

    From Sweden - May 2025

    Travelled with family

     

    25 - 34 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Ingen kö. Kom med på guidningen av gruppen innan oss för vi va tidiga. bra guide. Bra engelska

  • Anonymous

    From United States of America - May 2025

    Great

    Overall rated

    4/5

  • P.Lieder

    From Germany - September 2024

    Travelled with family

     

    35 - 44 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    4/5

    Bitte den Plan aktualisieren. Dieser ist verkehrt. Eingang ist am Senat und nicht am Gate!

  • Anonymous

    From United States of America - July 2024

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Gentilissimi eravamo in ritardo di 5 minuti ma ci hanno aspettato. La guida preparatissima e simpatica e la visita molto interessante

  • Anonymous

    From United States of America - June 2024

    Great

    Overall rated

    4/5

    Lady was very informative and loads of stairs but it's beautiful inside

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