Tour Overview
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Romania — Transylvania, the land beyond the forest |
| Route | Bucharest → Sinaia (Peles Castle) → Brasov (Black Church) → Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) → Sighisoara (Dracula’s birthplace) → Sibiu (Saxon heritage) → Bucharest |
| Tour Type | Private Tour, 4-star hotels, English-speaking guide, private vehicle |
| Best Season | May–October: castles and citadels fully operational. October is particularly atmospheric for Halloween-themed Dracula tours. Winter: snow-covered Transylvania is magical but some mountain passes may close |
| Price | From US$1,199 per person (twin-sharing, includes accommodation, daily breakfast, private guide-driver, entrance fees, airport transfers) |
Day 1: Bucharest → Sinaia → Brasov
- Depart Bucharest for the Carpathians. Stop at Sinaia — “the Pearl of the Carpathians” — named after Mount Sinai by a Romanian nobleman who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Visit Peles Castle — one of Europe’s most beautiful royal palaces, a fairy-tale Neo-Renaissance castle built by King Carol I between 1873 and 1914. It was Europe’s first castle with electricity (its own power plant) and central heating. The 160 rooms feature German, Italian, French, Turkish, and Moorish styles — the Moorish Salon in particular is stunning, with mother-of-pearl inlaid walls. The armory houses 4,000+ weapons, including a complete 16th-century Ottoman soldier’s armor
- Visit Sinaia Monastery (1695) — a working Orthodox monastery whose old church (Biserica Veche) features original 17th-century frescoes. The monastery gave the town its name and remains a spiritual center
- Continue to Brasov for the evening
Overnight at 4-star hotel in Brasov.
Day 2: Brasov — Crown City of Transylvania
- Morning exploration of Brasov (see Tour 1 for full description): Council Square, Black Church, Rope Street — one of Europe’s narrowest streets
- Optional cable car to Tampa Mountain (960m) for panoramic views — the “BRASOV” sign (like Hollywood) is visible from across the city
- Afternoon: Bran Castle — “Dracula’s Castle” (see Tour 1 for full description). October visits are especially atmospheric — the castle hosts a Halloween party that draws visitors from around the world
Overnight at hotel in Brasov.
Day 3: Saxon Villages → Sighisoara
- Drive through the Saxon heartland: Viscri and Saschiz fortified churches (UNESCO), horse-drawn carts, village blacksmith workshop (see Tour 1)
- Arrive Sighisoara (UNESCO) — Vlad Dracula’s birthplace. Walking tour: Clock Tower, Covered Staircase, Dracula’s Birthplace, and the Saxon cemetery with views over the Tarnava Mare Valley
Overnight at 4-star hotel in Sighisoara.
Day 4: Sighisoara → Sibiu
- Morning at leisure in Sighisoara. Afternoon drive to Sibiu — European Capital of Culture 2007. Walking tour: Great Square, Brukenthal Palace, Bridge of Lies, Evangelical Cathedral, and the “eyes of Sibiu” (see Tour 1)
- Evening: traditional Romanian dinner in a Sibiu cellar restaurant — sarmale (cabbage rolls), mamaliga cu branza si smantana (polenta with cheese and sour cream), and a glass of tuica (Romania’s national spirit — plum brandy, typically 40-50% alcohol, often homemade by families in the countryside)
Overnight at hotel in Sibiu.
Day 5: Sibiu → Transfagarasan → Bucharest
- Drive the Transfagarasan Highway (summer months) or Olt Valley. Stop at Balea Lake — a glacial lake at 2,034m surrounded by the Fagaras peaks
- Visit Curtea de Arges Monastery (1517) — one of Romania’s most beautiful Orthodox monasteries, with its distinctive twisted stone work (a unique architectural style). The legend: the master builder, Manole, was ordered to be entombed in the walls to ensure no more beautiful church could ever be built — a Romanian version of the “walled-up wife” folk motif found across the Balkans
- Arrive Bucharest. Farewell dinner in the Old Town
Overnight at hotel in Bucharest.
Day 6: Depart Bucharest
- Morning transfer to OTP Airport. La revedere!
Inclusions
- 5 nights 4-star hotels
- Daily breakfast + 1 farewell dinner
- Private English-speaking guide-driver & vehicle
- Airport transfers
- All entrance fees (Peles Castle, Bran Castle, Sighisoara Clock Tower, Sibiu Cathedral, Curtea de Arges)
