We Love —
- Discover the charming medieval towns, historic fortified fortresses and the famous Dracula's Castle on this 7-night tour through Transylvania.
- Begin your journey in the capital where you can visit the Triumphal Arch, the Stavropoleus Church and the Romanian Athenaum.
- Next, make your way through incredible landscapes, choosing to stop at the Zarnesti Bear Sanctuary or possibly hike to the foot of the Piatra Craiului Mountains.
- Finally, you have a choice to stay in carefully selected 3* or 4* hotels all along your trip, with a lovely breakfast included every morning.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Take off on a 7-night/8-day tour through the main cities of Romania. From Bucharest, take the wheel of your rental car and discover the fortified city of Brasov, the Bran Castle, the citadel of Sighişoara or the city of Sibiu.
From the capital to the mysterious Transylvania, passing through the Bran valley, this tour promises many surprises.
Your itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest
Day 2: Bucharest
Day 3: Drive to Transylvania
Day 4: Bran, the castle of Dracula
Day 5: Saxon towns and villages
Day 6: Sibiu
Day 7: Return to Bucharest
Day 8: End of the trip
Your Itinerary In Detail —
Day 1: Arrive in Bucharest
Itinerary: international flight to Bucharest
Sightseeing: a first glimpse of the city of Bucharest
Arrive to the Bucharest Airport and transfer to the hotel, by taxi, at your expense (approx. 12 EUR)
Also known as the "Little Paris of the 30s", Bucharest will amaze you with its architecture, but also by the variety of shops and small shady streets that have kept their original charm.
DAY 2 : BUCHAREST
Visit: the old centre of Bucharest
Meals: breakfast
Continuation of the visits in Bucharest in the morning.
The must-sees are: the Triumphal Arch, which commemorates Romania's victory in the First World War. The Stavropoleus Church, a jewel of architecture, built by a monk of Greek origin at the request of the Greek merchants of Bucharest, the Romanian Athenaeum, symbol of the national culture, the former Royal Palace, residence of Charles II, the Palace of the Parliament (nicknamed Ceausescu's palace) which is located in the Civic Centre and the Victoria Palace (where the Romanian government is located).
The Village Museum, spread over 35 hectares, presents houses from all the regions of Romania that have been rebuilt in a large space next to the Herastrau lake, in the homonymous park.
Day 3: On the road to Transylvania
Itinerary: Bucharest - Predeal - Prejmer - Brasov (200 km/ 3h30)
Visits: the peasant fortress of Prejmer, the old centre of Brasov
Meals: breakfast
Pick up of the rental car at the hotel in Bucharest in the morning and depart for Transylvania.
The peasant fortress of Prejmer was built by the knights of the Teutonic Order from the 13th to the 16th century, in the process of colonising the region. The fortified church that can be admired here was modelled after the churches of Jerusalem, as well as styled after the Gothic churches of the Rhine banks. It is one of the best preserved churches in Eastern Europe and contains the oldest altarpiece in Transylvania. Around the Gothic church there is a thick defensive wall with very special functions. The fortress was meant to shelter the population of the village in case of a prolonged siege. Every family in the village had a wine cellar, handed down from generation to generation.
The town of Brasov - "Kronstadt" according to the Saxon settlers - was surrounded by fortifications: walls, defensive towers, bastions, drawbridges.
We suggest visiting the Black Church, the narrow street of the string and the Council Square. The Black Church in Brasov is the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, with an impressive collection of carpets and an original Bucholz organ.
DAY 4: BRAN, DRACULA'S CASTLE
Itinerary: Brasov - Zarnesti - Bran - Rasnov - Brasov (60 km/ 1h)
Visits: Bran Castle, the Saxon fortress of Rasnov, the Bear Sanctuary or an easy hike to the foot of the Piatra Craiului Mountains from Zarnesti
Meals: breakfast
Bran Castle is one of the most visited monuments in Romania, haloed by the legend of Dracula. The castle was built by the municipality of Brasov between 1377-1382 to replace an old fortress from the earlier 13th century. After the Great Union of 1918, the Castle was offered by the Council of Brasov to Queen Maria of Romania, as a thank you for her contribution to the Union. It was later transformed into a beautiful summer residence for the Queen. The view of the surrounding valley from the rocky hills are charming and worth a visit!
The bear sanctuary in Zarnesti is a place of peace where brown bears, but also other species such as wolves, could be rescued from circuses and cages, to spend the rest of their life well protected. The sanctuary is located in the county of Brasov and is run by an NGO. Today, there are almost a hundred bears that live on 27 hectares of enclosed sanctuary.
Located above the village of Rasnov, the Saxon fortress was built in the 14th century to protect the village's population from possible attackers, particularly the Tatars. Built on a rocky peak 150 m high, it dominates the passage between Wallachia and Transylvania. The view of the mountains is superb. The interior is organised like a small village. Thus, it includes 30 houses, a school and a chapel. The fortress now houses a small museum.
Day 5: Saxon Cities and Villages
Itinerary: Brasov - Sighişoara - Biertan - Sibiu (250 km/ 4h)
Visits: the citadel of Sighişoara, the fortified church of Biertan
Meals: breakfast
Sighişoara (Schässburg in German / Segesvar in Hungarian) is an imposing city whose fortified part is situated on top of a hill overlooking the valley of the Great Tarnava. The medieval city, founded by German settlers in the 12th century and rebuilt from the 13th century onwards after the devastating passage of the Tatars, is well-preserved and still inhabited. Sighisoara belongs to what the Germans called SIEBENBURGEN (the 7 fortified cities - this is also the name that the Germans used for Transylvania)
Biertan is one of the most important Saxon fortresses in Transylvania. The late Gothic church is protected by a triple wall. The treasure chamber of the church is very interesting because of its door, which has an extensive and interesting locking system (22 locks in total). This mechanism was awarded the prize for ingenuity at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Since 1993, the church has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage monuments.
DAY 6: SIBIU
Visits: the city of Sibiu, the Astra Museum
Meals: breakfast
Sibiu, one of the largest cities in Transylvania, was founded in the 12th century by Saxon settlers in the region (Hermannstadt). The city still retains its medieval atmosphere. On the Great Square (Piata Mare), the centre of the city since the 16th century, stands the Council Tower, one of the symbols of the city. The nearby building was used as a meeting place for the City Council. We continue with the Small Square (Piata Mica) and Huet Square, the place where the first ring of fortifications was built. In the Evangelical Church is the grave of Vlad Tepes' son - Dracula, Mihnea the Evil, murdered in the churchyard in March 1510.
The ASTRA Open Air Ethnographic Museum, the largest open air museum in Europe. It is set in the middle of a beautiful landscape, with cool forests and sunny glades surrounding a beautiful lake. The museum offers in its 6 sections a complex demonstration of traditional pre-industrial technology, a wide range of rural tools and techniques (wooden presses, stills etc). It also houses many traditional houses of the region.
DAY 7: RETURN TO BUCAREST
Itinerary: Sibiu - Transfagarasan* - Curtea de Arges - Sinaia Pitesti - Bucharest (350 km/ 6h)
Sightseeing: Lake Balea and the Fagaras Mountains, Curtea de Arges Monastery
Meals: breakfast
Lake Balea is a glacial lake located at 2,040 m above sea level in the Fagaras Mountains, the highest mountains in the South Carpathians in Romania.
Curtea de Arges, founded in the 14th century, was one of the capitals of Wallachia and where you find the ruins of the Princely Court. The main church is that of the Monastery, built at the beginning of the 16th century by the voivode Neagoe Basarab.
Return of the rental car to the hotel in Bucharest in the evening.
*Note: in October, the Transfagarasan road may be closed at any time due to weather conditions. In this case, the return to Bucharest will be via the Olt Valley.
DAY 8 : END OF THE TRIP
Meals: breakfast
You will have free time to do any last shopping or visits before your return.
Transfer to the airport for the return flight, by taxi, at your expense.
Your Hotels —
Just for you:
- Air-conditioned car rental from day 3 to 7 (with accident insurance included)
- GPS with itinerary and visits pre-loaded
- Travel guide (road map, detailed day-by-day route book, practical information)
- 24-hour phone assistance throughout the tour
3 and 4* Hotels, hand-picked just for you!
We have carefully selected quality and centrally located hotels just for you. You can choose between 3* or 4* hotels.
Your 3* hotels during your stay:
- Bucarest 3* - Hotel Michelangelo or similar
- Brasov 3* - Hotel Kolping or similar
- Sibiu 3* - Hotel Vila Sibiu or similar
Your 4* hotels during your stay:
- Bucarest 4* - Hotel Atrium Ateneu or similar
- Brasov 4* - Hotel Belvedere or similar
- Sibiu 4* - Hotel Continental or similar
Your Board Basis
This offer is based on a Bed and Breakfast stay.
Your Optional Excursions —
Bucharest City Tour - Day 2
Visit the old centre of Bucharest with an English or French guide and learn the history, see the monuments and find out where else to visit after your tour thanks to the information given by your guide.
Your Journey —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers:
It may be possible to add return transfers at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee (flight inclusive offers only - subject to availability). For inbound transfer arrangements please confirm with your transfer provider when you arrive. Alternatively, please check with the reception of your accommodation. If you still require assistance, please call the transfer provider directly.
Your Destination —
How about flying to Romania to witness its breathtaking landscapes?
Let yourself be charmed by the green valleys of Transylvania and the sumptuous monasteries of Bukovina. You will discover picturesque towns where many mysteries are hidden and waiting to be uncovered. Embark on a colourful journey starting in Bucharest and making your way through Transylvania with a stop at the famous Bran Castle.
Are you ready for the adventure?
