Life Under Communism - Small Group Guided Tour in Sofia
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover the intriguing history of Bulgaria under communist rule from 1945 to 1990 on this small group guided tour. Explore a hidden park featuring authentic monuments from the communist era, while learning about daily life, economic organization, and restrictions faced by citizens. Delve into topics like media control, educational structures, and the oppressive measures of the regime. Visit the 'Vaska Emanuilova' Gallery, home to significant sculptures from this period, with free entry included. The tour wraps up near a traditional restaurant reflecting communist style, perfect for a lunch stop. - Small group tour exploring Bulgaria's communist history - Visit a park with preserved monuments and limited walking distance - Free entry to the 'Vaska Emanuilova' Gallery featuring propaganda art - Option for lunch at a restaurant decorated in traditional communist style
Inclusions
What's included
- Visit to the gallery of 'Vaska Emanuilova'
- Information about life during the communist period in Bulgaria
- Guided tour in a park, with preserved authentic monuments from the communist time
What's not
- Gratuities /tips/ to the guide - recommended in the end of the tour
Itinerary
Walk through a park near the city center, a hidden gem with authentic monuments from the communist era. Discover how the economy was organized, how people could buy a car, and why it was not allowed to celebrate Christmas. Learn about the common student brigades, when scholars and students had to work free for the state during the summers. Learn about the control of the media, the propaganda, and the forced manifestations. Learn about the travel restrictions and the so-called ‘citizenship’. And finally, learn about the secret services and the oppressive measure of the regime. Next, visit the 'Vaska Emanuilova Gallery', home to works by one of the most prominent sculptors of the communist period. She was designing many of the propaganda monuments for the regime, including the famous ‘Soviet Army’ sculpture. End your tour near a traditional communist-style restaurant, where you can choose to enjoy a meal and reflect on the stories you’ve heard.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
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- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The meeting point for the tour is in front of the embassy of Slovakia - please be there 10 minutes before the starting time. The guide will hold a sign 'communist tour'.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 10 travellers
- Operated by
- Hola Bulgaria
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Sofia
- Its from-price is 82% below the median of the 611 experiences we list in Sofia.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 254 of 611.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, lies below Vitosha mountain, mixing Roman ruins, golden-domed churches, mineral springs and a busy café culture.
Sofia sits in a high basin at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and its centre layers Roman Serdica, Orthodox Bulgaria and the Ottoman and Soviet eras. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in the early twentieth century, is the city's best-known building. Close by are the fourth-century rotunda of St George, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the remains of Roman streets that show through glass in the metro stations.
Top-ranked sights in Sofia: Rila Monastery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theatre.
Special offers in Sofia
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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