Romania
7 days
Services
6 nights' accommodation in selected 4-star hotels during the tour, including breakfast.
1x Traditional Dinner
1x lunch in Viscri
Arrival and departure transfer without assistance – sharing basis
Bus service to/from hotel from day 2 to day 6, and a guide according to language profile on these days.
City tax
Included admissions
Turda Saltmines
Biertan Fortified Church
Clock Tower Sighisoara
Viscri Fortified Church
Black Church Brasov
Bran Castle
Peles Castle
Sinaia Monastery
Palace of Parliament Bucharest
Evangelical Church Sibiu
Corvin Castle
Tour itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival in Bucharest
Flight to Bucharest. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 : Bucharest – Traditional Dinner – Sibiu
After breakfast, a city tour of Bucharest, including an exterior view of the Palace of the Parliament, built as a megalomaniacal project of the then dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. In the evening, a traditional Romanian meal will be served in a village near Sibiu. Overnight stay in Sibiu.
Day 3 : Sibiu – Corvin Castle – Alba Iulia – Cluj-Napoca
Sibiu, once one of the most important cities of the Transylvanian Saxon community, is among the best-preserved medieval cities in Romania. The city tour leads through an ensemble of towers, fortified passages, and baroque squares that vividly illustrates the city's eventful history, marked by Saxon colonization, Ottoman threat, and Habsburg rule.
Continue to Hunedoara, where Corvin Castle – also known as Hunyadi Castle – majestically overlooks the Zlaști River, dating back to the 15th century. The complex is considered one of the most important Gothic castles in Europe, combining imposing defensive towers with opulent state rooms such as the spacious Knights' Hall. A tour leads from the richly decorated council chamber to the depths of the torture chamber – a powerful journey through the power, splendor, and horrors of the Middle Ages.
The next stop is Alba Iulia, whose history stretches back to Roman times. Here rises the sprawling Habsburg citadel from the early 18th century – one of the largest and best-preserved fortresses in Romania, built in the Vauban style according to the plans of military architect Giovanni Morando Visconti. Continue to Cluj-Napoca, the vibrant metropolis of Transylvania. Overnight stay.
Day 4 : Cluj-Napoca – Turda Salt Mine – Biertan – Sighișoara
Just outside Cluj-Napoca lies the Turda salt mine – once one of the most important salt deposits of the Habsburg Empire, today a unique underground space of almost surreal dimensions. The mining chambers reach depths of up to 120 meters; the centuries-old tunnel walls glitter in the light, and the silence of the place stands in curious contrast to its eventful economic history.
This was followed by a visit to a village in the region, where an encounter with a Roma family provided insights into the daily life and culture of this often invisible community.
In the afternoon, continue to Biertan. The fortified church there, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, is one of the most impressive examples of Transylvanian Saxon architecture. Three concentric rings of walls protected the church from Ottoman raids for centuries; the Gothic choir and the elaborate locking system of the sacristy – with 19 bolts operated by a single key – testify to exceptional craftsmanship. Overnight stay in Sighișoara.
Day 5 : Sighișoara – Viscri – Brașov
Sighișoara is one of the most completely preserved medieval towns in Europe and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The Upper Town, with its 14th-century clock tower, hilltop church, defensive towers, and colorful townhouses, exudes an atmosphere that is almost indistinguishable between historical authenticity and picturesque scenery – it's no coincidence that the town is regularly used as a film set. Visitors can also see the birthplace of Vlad II Dracul, father of the Wallachian prince Vlad III, whose cruelties in the 15th century provided the inspiration for Bram Stoker's fictional character Count Dracula.
Continue your journey to the village of Viscri, whose fortified church is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village, where the Saxon architecture has been largely preserved, gained international renown through the efforts of King Charles III, who maintains a summer residence here. A traditional lunch in an old barn adds a personal and authentic touch to the visit.
Arrival in Brașov in the afternoon, one of the largest and most vibrant cities in Transylvania, with a visit to the well-preserved old town and the imposing Black Church – the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul. Overnight stay in Brașov.
Day 6 : Brașov – Bran Castle – Peleș Castle – Bucharest
The route first leads to Bran, where the castle of the same name sits high above the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. The complex was built in 1377 at the instigation of Brașov merchants to secure the important trade route and collect tolls. Over the centuries, it served as a royal summer residence and hunting lodge; its connection to Vlad III is scarcely documented historically – yet the name “Dracula’s Castle” still clings to Bran today, lending it a peculiar allure.
In the afternoon, we will visit Peleș Castle in Sinaia. This royal summer residence, built between 1873 and 1914 in the German Historicist style, is considered one of the most beautiful royal residences in Europe. With approximately 160 rooms, elaborate wood carvings, stained-glass windows, and one of the first central heating systems on the continent, the palace is an exceptional example of late 19th-century architecture. Nearby is the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery, which gave the town its name and provides a tranquil counterpoint to the castle's courtly splendor.
Return to Bucharest. Overnight stay.
Day 7 : Departure
Transfer to the airport, return flight.
