We bring you the opportunity to know Romania inside out. From Bukovina’s Painted Monasteries to Transylvania’s medieval castles, from the urban setting of Bucharest to the hinterlands of Transylvania, this tour will take you to some of the most spectacular sights the country has to offer while acquainting you with its history, cultures and traditions.
Day 01: Bucharest – Curtea de Arges – Transfagarasan* – Sibiu
The first day your tour starts with a road trip from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, the historical capital of Wallachia. Visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, built by Voivode Neagoe Basarab between 1512 and 1517. Today, the monastery is one of the most important historical monuments in Romania, and it is the final resting place for several members of the Romanian royal family.
Drive along the spectacular Transfagarasan Road, one of the most beautiful roads in Europe. The road enters the Southern Carpathians via the tallest mountain pass in Romania, the Fagaras Pass, reaching the height of 2042m. Take some stunning photos of the surrounding areas.
The last destination for the day is the medieval city of Sibiu, which has a rich history of more than 900 years. Sibiu is a superb destination throughout the year. In the summer season, it is home to the International Theatre Festival. While during the winter, this place is home to one of the most impressive Christmas markets in the whole of the country.
Taking a walking tour of Sibiu’s old town before heading for your hotel. Check in at your accommodation.
*The Transfagarasan route is only available between June and November.
Day 02: Sibiu – Hunedoara – Alba Iulia – Turda – Cluj
The second day of our Romanian tour starts early in the morning. Travel to Hunedoara and tour Corvin Castle, a monument with a particular charm. Also known as Hunyad Castle after its resident, John Hunyadi, it is one of the largest castles in Romania.
Our next stop is Alba Iulia, a town that was home to one of the most important events in Romania’s History, the union of Transylvania with Romania. Visit the Alba Carolina Fortress, built between 1715 and 1738 in the Vauban architectural style by more than 20,000 Romanian peasants.
Enjoy your drive from Alba Iulia to Turda, a small village which is home to one of the coolest underground attractions in the world (according to Business Insider): the Turda Salt Mine. At the end of its 13 underground floors, you will find a spectacular theme park equipped with a Ferris wheel, mini golf course, tennis court and a lake.
Reach Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania and one of the most popular study destinations in Romania, in the evening. Enjoy a walking tour of its old town and explore its bohemian restaurants and cafes.
Day 03: Cluj-Napoca – Bistrita – Voronet
On our way to Bukovina, we will stop in Bistrita, a city located in the foothills of the Bargau Mountains, not far away from Pasul Tihuta. This is the place where Bram Stoker’s character, Jonathan Haker, stayed before meeting Count Dracula. After taking a short sightseeing tour of Bistrita (you also have the option of tasting some delicious products from a local bakery) leave Transylvania for Bukovina.
Visit Voronet Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery was built by Stephen the Great in 1488 and it is well known for its unique shade of blue, which goes by the name of the ‘Blue of Voronet’. Check in at the hotel in the evening.
Day 04: Voronet – Moldovita – Sucevita – Iasi
Drive north until you reach Moldovita Monastery, one of the oldest monastic settlements in the country. The monastery was built between 1532 and 1537 and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
Visit yet another painted monastery, Sucevita. Built in 1585, legend says that all the materials used in its construction were brought by a woman, using only a cart pulled by oxen, who wanted to redeem herself of her sins.
Romania’s painted monasteries are deemed by many to be true masterpieces of the Byzantine art. Their beautiful frescoes depict various biblical scenes as well as the life stories of several important religious figures. Decorated with beautiful ornaments and blending in perfectly with the surrounding landscape, they are unique throughout Europe.
Reach Iasi, the largest city in Northern Romania, in the evening. This city is also the birthplace of several famous Romanian personalities. After a short tour of this romantic and historical city, check in at the hotel and prepare for dinner.
Day 05: Iasi – Targu Neamt – Piatra Neamt
Tour the city of Iasi, making your first stop at the Palace of Culture. Built in a Neo-Gothic style between 1906 and 1925, it is home to the Moldova National Museum Complex, which hosts an art museum as well as Moldavia’s History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia, and the Science and Technology Museum.
Take a trip to the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the most famous buildings in Iasi. The current Cathedral was built atop two older churches, The White Church and Stratenia Church, in 1833. Over the years, the cathedral deteriorated in the face of harsh weather conditions and lack of maintenance. But today, a restoration project is close to its end and the beauty of the cathedral is there again for everyone to enjoy. Another important landmark of Iasi is the Three Hierarchs Church, which was built by Voivode Vasile Lupu between 1637 and 1639.
Your final stop in Iasi will be the Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, the first national theatre in Romania. Travel to Targu Neamt next. Tour the Neamt Citadel, built during the reign of Peter I (1375-1391). Reach Piatra Neamt in the evening and enjoy a cable car ride before checking in at the hotel.
Day 06: Piatra Neamt – Bicaz – Corund – Biertan – Sighisoara
Head for Transylvania, passing through the impressive Bicaz Gorges to reach Red Lake, known for its unusual color. The lake formed in 1837 when a series of heavy storms caused Mt. Ucigasu to fracture, with part of it coming down and blocking several streams. The river deposits that formed there imparted their color to the water that pooled into a lake.
Stop in Corund next. This place is one of the most important pottery centers of Transylvania. Besides pottery, the locals also deal in woodworking and trades. Travel to Biertan, one of the famous UNESCO villages with fortified churches in Transylvania. The Saxons settled here for the first time in the 13th century, mainly because of its rich soil that was perfect for winemaking.
Visit Sighisoara, a city that is home to the last inhabited citadel in Europe. Built by Saxon colonists in the 12th century, Sighisoara’s unique features have earned it a spot in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day 07: Sighisoara – Viscri – Brasov
Start your day by exploring Sighisoara, a city where each building has a story worth telling. Visit the Sighisoara Citadel, passing through the main gate and by the Clock Tower, which is also home to Sighisoara’s history museum. The basement of the Clock Tower is also home to a torture chamber, and the tower is beautifully decorated with numerous sculpted ornaments as well as a clock on each side.
Drive to Viscri next. A village that charmed the heart of Prince Charles through its simplicity and the way in which the locals have managed to preserve their traditions, Viscri is also known for the culinary skills of its womenfolk. Additionally, it is one of Transylvania’s villages with fortified churches.
Explore the charming Viscri Church before heading for Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities located in the middle of Romania. Take a short walking tour of the city before checking in at the hotel.
Day 08: Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucuresti
Continue with your Brasov city tour. Visit Council Square, a place that was once famous for its markets filled with traders of all nations. Take a tour of the Black Church, a major Gothic-style monument in Romania and the largest Lutheran place of worship in the region.
Thirty minutes away from Brasov is Bran, a small village known as the location of Dracula’s Castle. With the history of more than 6 centuries, Bran Castle is also popularly known as Dracula’s Castle, after Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. Discover the history of Vlad the Impaler and the connection between Vlad Tepes and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Stop in Sinaia next and visit the first fully electrified castle in Europe. Peles Castle stretches over the surface of 3200sq. meters and has 160 rooms and over 30 bathrooms. The castle was home to one of the most important collections of paintings in Europe, and it is well known for its large collection of over 4,000 European and Oriental weaponry.
Reach Bucharest after the night falls. Enjoy some free time for yourself before going to bed.
Day 09: Bucharest city tour
This is your second-last day of the Romanian tour. Know more about the capital of Romania during a full-day city tour. Visit the famed Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest building in the world. Also known as the People’s House, the building was part of a larger project created by Nicolae Ceausescu during his reign.
The building was designed to house all the organs of the state while also acting as a safe house, able to withstand earthquakes and nuclear attacks. After touring the Palace of the Parliament, visit Bucharest’s Old Town where you can have your lunch.
Explore the Bucharest Village Museum. Opened for the first time in 1936, the museum stretches over a surface of 14ha and is home to 380 monuments, 60,000 traditional objects and over 250,000 archived documents, all related to the traditional Romanian life.
Day 10: Departure
Today, you will be transferred to the airport according to your flight departure schedule. We hope you had a wonderful stay in Romania.
| City | Night (s) | Hotel |
| Sib1iu | 01 | Hilton Sibiu |
| Cluj-Napoca | 01 | Grand Hotel Italia |
| Voronet | 01 | El Quatro |
| Iasi | 01 | Pleiada Boutique Hotel & Spa |
| Piatra Neamt | 01 | Central Plaza Hotel |
| Sighisoara | 01 | Fronius |
| Brasov | 01 | Chambers’n Charm Boutique |
| Bucharest | 02 | InterContinental Bucharest |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 09 Nights accommodation
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Entrance Fees to monuments as per program
– Local English-speaking guide
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.