Start time: 3 p.m. (local time)

Meeting point: In front of the National Theatre

You’ll encounter stories of death, the darker sides of human nature, and even a touch of the supernatural—but that’s not really the main focus.
We’re not about cheap thrills; those are better left to blockbuster movies. What we want to share is a deeper look into the dramatic and often heartbreaking history of the land we now know as Romania.

This experience will take you through both time and place: from the scars of World War II, through the oppressive communist years, the Revolution of 1989, and into today’s living memory. Along the way, we’ll also explore the serene yet haunting Bellu Cemetery, and uncover the legends and beliefs that have shaped local culture.

Here’s just a taste of what’s ahead:

• Discover Romanian folklore, burial customs, and eerie creatures (yes, vampires make an appearance).

• Stand in the square where the anti-communist protests of the 1990s were brutally suppressed, and where demonstrations for justice continue even now.

• Explore Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest’s equivalent of Père Lachaise, a resting place filled with stunning funerary art and the stories of Romania’s most prominent figures.

• Hear the chilling tale of Ion Rîmaru—Bucharest’s own “Jack the Ripper”—and learn about the city’s shadowy underworld during the interwar period.

• Trace the violent history of the communist regime, and visit the very place where the 1989 Revolution began, ending Ceaușescu’s dictatorship.

The journey starts at Piața Romană, in front of the KFC, where we’ll hop on the metro and head to Bellu Cemetery. Declared a historical monument and part of the European Cemeteries Route, Bellu holds countless works of funerary art, stories of romance, tragedy, and mystery, and an atmosphere that blends beauty with unease. You’ll also hear about medieval torture, burial rites, superstitions, and mythical beings from Romanian folklore—from the infamous vampires to the lesser-known strigoi.

Once we leave the quiet of the cemetery, we’ll return to the heart of the city: Piața Universității (University Square), a symbolic and emotional center of Bucharest. This is where young protesters once clashed violently with miners during the 1990s, and where citizens still gather today to raise their voices in protest.

As we continue into the old city, we’ll wander through narrow passageways that once sheltered clandestine activities—including prostitution—before unraveling the story of Ion Rîmaru, the so-called “Vampire of Bucharest,” who terrorized the city in the early 1970s.