Airport Pick-up - Bucharest City Tour & Accommodation

Palace of Parliament - Constructed by Communist Party leader Nicolae Ceausescu, the immense Parliament Palace ranks as the second largest administrative building globally, following the Pentagon. Its interior boasts opulent features such as crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows, and plush carpets.

Muzeul National al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” - Village Museum - Established by royal decree in 1936, this captivating open-air museum, the largest in Europe, spans approximately 30 acres along Lake Herastrau in Herastrau Park. It showcases a collection of 50 buildings that illustrate the history and design of Romania’s rural architecture.

Old Town - Walking tour of Bucharest’s Historical Center - The city’s unique charm is best experienced in the Lipscani area, a maze of streets between Calea Victoriei, Blvd. Bratianu, Blvd. Regina Elisabeta, and the Dambovita River. Once a glamorous residential area, the old city center is gradually transforming into an upscale neighborhood.

Bucharest - Sinaia Monastery - Peles Castle - Brasov Tour & Accommodation

Manastirea Sinaia - Explore the Orthodox Monastery of Sinaia, also known as the Cathedral of the Bucegi Mountains. As the first structure in the current mountain resort area, it is a significant Romanian religious site and architectural monument from the late 17th century.

Peles Castle - Situated in Sinaia (44 km from Brasov), it is regarded by many as one of Europe’s most beautiful castles. Nestled in the natural backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains, the castle is a masterpiece of German Renaissance architecture.

Brasov Historical Center - Brasov Tour: Surrounded by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains and adorned with gothic, baroque, and renaissance architecture, along with numerous historical attractions, Brasov is one of Romania’s most visited destinations. Tour highlights include the Black Church, Citadel of Brasov, Ecaterina’s Gate, White Tower, Black Tower, Council Square, City Hall, and Palace of Justice.

Brasov - Bran Castle - Rasnov Fortress - Brasov Free Time & Accommodation

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) - Explore one of Romania’s most renowned landmarks, a medieval fortress dating back to the 14th century. The Dracula legend, inspired by the life of Vlad Tepes/Vlad the Impaler (1431-1476), a ruler celebrated by Romanians for resisting the Ottoman Empire, is associated with this site. Known for his fierce opposition to the Turks, Vlad organized the state and enforced laws by executing and impaling those he deemed enemies.

Rasnov Citadel: Garden and Panoramic View - Located approximately halfway between Brasov and Bran, the town of Rasnov was established around 1225 by German Teutonic Knights. Rasnov’s impressive fortress, built in the 14th century, served to protect the people of Rasnov and nearby villages from frequent invasions. During wartime, residents would gather their cattle and seek refuge within the fortress.

Brasov - Biertan (UNESCO) - Sighisoara Tour (UNESCO) & Accommodation

Biertan Fortified Church - The architectural ensemble in Biertan captivates with its harmonious positioning, aesthetic and historical significance, and the original elements preserved from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, which led to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After visiting the church, stroll through the village to experience a journey back in time.

Sighisoara - Established by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighisoara is an exemplary small, fortified medieval town that played a crucial strategic and commercial role on the fringes of central Europe for centuries. Tour highlights include the Clock Tower & History Museum, The Church on the Hill, House of Dracula, The pupils’ roofed stairways, and Central Square.

Sighisoara - Bicaz Gorges - Red Lake - Bucovina: Voronet Monastery (UNESCO) & Accommodation

Bicaz Gorge - Hasmas Mountain National Park - In the morning, travel through the Bicaz Gorges to cross from Transylvania to Bucovina. This road is among Romania’s most breathtaking and dramatic. The gorge ascends steeply for three miles, cutting through sheer 1,000-foot limestone cliffs as it winds through the mountains. *The tour guide will make a photo stop.

Red Lake - The Red Lake, a natural dam lake, is located at the foot of the Hasmasu Mare Mountains, near the town of Gheorgheni. It is Romania’s largest natural mountain lake, named for the reddish alluvia (iron oxides and iron hydroxides) deposited by the Red Creek. During Ceausescu’s era, these two wonders were must-visit destinations for those vacationing in the mountains. The lake’s dark and ominous appearance, with stumps protruding from the water, evokes the idea of a submerged civilization meeting its fate just years before. Enjoy lunch with a lake view, take a walk around, and perhaps feed the ducklings on the lake.

Manastirea Voronet - Among Romania’s most picturesque treasures are the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (in northeastern Romania). Their painted exterior walls are adorned with elaborate 15th and 16th-century frescoes depicting saints and prophets, scenes from Jesus’ life, and images of angels, demons, heaven, and hell. In the afternoon, visit the most famous of these painted monasteries: Voronet, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the East’ (UNESCO). Voronet’s most striking feature is a Last Judgment fresco painted on the exterior façade. The blue paint, which has miraculously never faded, is renowned worldwide as ‘Voronet blue.’

Humor Monastery - Sucevita Monastery - Moldovita Monastery - Marginea Village & Pottery Workshops - Painted Eggs Museum

Humor Monastery - Visit the Humor Painted Monastery - a UNESCO site.

Sucevita Monastery - Visit the Sucevita Painted Monastery - a UNESCO site.

Ceramica neagra Marginea - Village of Marginea and Regional Pottery of Bucovina. Marginea Ceramics is a well-known brand. Historians trace the origins of pottery in Marginea to 1500. The village is famous for its black pottery, and local artisans continue to produce it, offering visitors the chance to purchase a piece as a regional souvenir.

Moldovita Monastery - Visit the Moldovita Painted Monastery - a UNESCO site.

Letitia Orsivschi’s Egg Museum - The Painted Eggs Museum houses Romania’s largest collection of painted eggs and is one of Europe’s most significant. Located near the painted monasteries, the museum is an essential place to explore the traditions of painted egg craftsmanship. In the workshop, Professor Letitia, the museum’s owner and creator of painted eggs, will explain the meanings of Bucovina symbols. The museum’s collection includes over 3,000 eggs, gathered by Letitia over 12 years of participation in national and international exhibitions, as well as Bucovina eggs crafted by the artist herself. The collection features rare eggs, such as those of emu, rhea, tinamu, turtle, crocodile, flamingo, and very small eggs, like those of partridge, sparrow, dove, and also pheasant, peacock, quail, duck, goose, turkey, and ostrich.

Bucovina - Wooden Churches of Maramures (UNESCO) - Accommodation in Viseu de Sus

Wooden Churches of Maramures - Begin the delightful and scenic journey towards the Maramures region in the morning. Maramures is often considered the heart and soul of rural Romania. With its charming countryside of small villages, rolling hills, pastures, and meadows filled with wildflowers, Maramures embodies the essence of rural life. Visitors to Maramures have a unique opportunity to step back in time and witness simpler times and lifestyles. Maramures is a small and distinctive location in the geographical heart of Europe that has carefully preserved the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of a medieval peasant past. The region stands as a testament to tradition, a romantic era of simplicity, pride, and moral values that many can only read about or hear from grandparents. Little has changed over the centuries. Families remain in the same villages as their ancestors. Traditional skills and crafts are passed down through generations. Traditional hand-woven clothing remains practical. The church continues to be the village’s soul. Neighbors know one another and continue to lend a helping hand. Life in Maramures is like a mystery. Visitors drive through mountain passes and descend into valleys where the mystery of rural traditions unfolds before their eyes.

Barsana Monastery - Discover monastic life in Romania’s most traditional area. Visit Barsana Monastery and its remarkable two-level wooden church.

Wooden Church In Rozavlea - Visit the Rozavlea Wooden Church - a UNESCO site.

Mocanita Steam Train Ride - Merry Cemetery - Peri Monastery (UNESCO) - Accommodation in Sighetu Marmatiei

Merry Cemetery - The spiritual philosophy of the people of Maramures is perhaps most evident in Sapanta. The town’s ancestors viewed death as a beginning, not an end, and this belief is reflected in the carvings of the unique Merry Cemetery. Blue wooden crosses feature carved scenes and humorous verses that capture essential elements - both virtues and flaws - of the deceased’s life. Even without translation, visitors can appreciate the craftsmanship of sculptor Stan Ion Patras, who began carving these epitaphs in 1935, and his successors. Patras’ house in the village is now an intriguing museum. Sapanta is also home to several wooden gates and one of the region’s tallest wooden churches.

Sapanta-Peri Monastery - This site features one of Maramures’ most iconic churches - the tallest wooden church in the world. Located near Sapanta Village, within a dendrology park, this monastic settlement dates back to the 14th century. Currently, the monastery hosts eight nuns and is part of the UNESCO Patrimony.

Maramures - Cluj Napoca Walking Tour - Sibiu Walking Tour

Cluj-Napoca - Cluj-Napoca City Tour - This western city in Transylvania traces its roots to the Dacian settlement of Napuca in the 2nd century A.D. The main square, adorned with 18th and 19th-century buildings and home to numerous shops and restaurants, is dominated by the 15th-century St. Michael’s Church, a prime example of gothic architecture in Romania. Tour highlights include Union Square, St. Michael’s Church, Opera House, Historical Center, and the Orthodox Cathedral Dormition of the Theotokos.

Sibiu - Sibiu’s Old Town retains the grandeur of its past when wealthy and influential guilds controlled regional trade. Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it exudes a distinctly Germanic atmosphere. Sections of the medieval wall still protect the historic area, where narrow streets wind past steep-roofed 17th-century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into expansive, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square. Tour highlights include the Evangelical Church, The Bridge of Lies, Historical Center, Brukenthal Museum, The Stairs Passage, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and antique & souvenir shops.

Sibiu - Curtea de Arges Tour - Bucharest

Curtea de Arges - Curtea de Arges is a city on the right bank of the Arges River, where it flows through a valley in the lower Carpathians. The name, meaning “The Court upon Arges,” refers to the town’s former status as the capital of Wallachia. Take a walking tour of the town, visiting the Princely Church and Old Court ruins, the Episcopal Church, and the unique Olari Church, a painted church from Moldavia located on Wallachian grounds.

Goodbye Romania! Transfer to Bucharest Airport.

Otopeni - Pick-up from your hotel lobby and transfer to Bucharest Airport.

• Full tour assistance
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Round-trip airport transfer
• Included breakfast
• Licensed English-speaking guide & driver

• Food and drinks
• Souvenirs
• Gratuities

Experience the true essence of Romania on this 11-day customized tour. Travel back in history when you visit one of the globally renowned painted monasteries in Bucovina, take a journey to the historic mountain-top fortress of Sighisoara, and soak up the allure of ancient folklore-infused villages throughout Transylvania and Maramures. You will discover Romania’s plethora of architectural gems and immerse yourself in its thriving, vibrant arts culture.

• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
• Please note that hotels may be subject to change depending on availability, in this case a similar hotel will be provided.

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.