Under cover of a yellow glass ceiling, you’ll find the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, also referred to as King Valley by locals. This popular indoor spot is a not-so-secret passageway in Bucharest’s Old Town, frequented by tourists. Many cafes and restaurants have indoor and outdoor seating so you can dine and drink while watching people walk through the Passage. It was called the Jewelry Passage thanks to its previous presence of large jewelry shops.
The newer nickname “King Valley” derives from the Egyptian cafe Valley of the Kings, the first hookah bar inside the Passage. One side of the Passage is known as Macca, while the other side is Villacrosse. You can access both sides through either street entrance. Many Bucharest walking tours include this as a stop on the itinerary, though it’s easy to access while strolling through Old Town independently. Merchants include a Chinese restaurant, a hookah bar, multiple cafes, and a clothing store.
Entering the Macca-Villacrosse Passage is free.
The pathway is flat and large enough to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, though you may experience some crowd congestion.
Most of the inner passage seating is reserved for patrons of the cafes and restaurants.
Anyone visiting Old Town can easily access the Macca-Villacrosse Passage from either Calea Victoriei, directly across from the police station or Strada Eugeniu Carada, directly across from the National Bank. There are multiple public transit stops surrounding the compact, pedestrian-friendly Old Town. Visitors not staying in Old Town would likely find the United Nations Market or University Square transit stops most convenient.
The Macca-Villacrosse Passage, already in the crowded Old Town, sees plenty of tourist presence throughout the day. Crowds usually taper in the early morning and late evening hours. If you’re planning on dining at a restaurant, making reservations is wise. If you’d like to window shop or grab a drink, allow a little extra time if visiting in the heart of the afternoon or evening.
While there may no longer be a high presence of jewelry stores in the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, its centuries-old history can still be felt in its French design. Like many buildings and structures in Bucharest, the Passage was built to resemble those in Paris. Consider a walking tour that showcases all of Bucharest’s French-influenced sites.
