Day 1: Bucharest to Sinaia — Peles Castle
Morning departure from Bucharest, traveling through the scenic Prahova Valley to the mountain resort town of Sinaia, known as the Pearl of the Carpathians. Visit Peles Castle, Romania’s most spectacular royal residence — a neo-Renaissance fairy-tale palace built by King Carol I in 1883. Explore the 160 rooms featuring German, Italian, Turkish, and Moorish interior designs, the Hall of Honor with its retractable glass ceiling, the 4,000-piece armory collection, and the first movie theater in Romania. Afternoon visit to Sinaia Monastery before continuing to Brasov. Evening walk through the medieval Council Square (Piata Sfatului) with dinner at a traditional Romanian restaurant.
Day 2: Bran Castle & Brasov Old Town
Morning drive to Bran Castle, dramatically perched on a 200-foot rock at the entrance to the Rucar-Bran Pass. Explore the narrow winding staircases, secret passages, the Gothic furnishings, and the open-air museum of traditional Romanian village buildings at the base of the castle. Learn about the connection between Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the historical Vlad the Impaler. Return to Brasov for the afternoon to explore the Black Church — the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, built between 1385 and 1477, named for its smoke-blackened walls after the Great Fire of 1689. Walk the narrow Rope Street (Strada Sforii) and browse the artisan shops in the Council Square.
Day 3: Sighisoara — Vlad the Impaler’s Birthplace
Journey to Sighisoara, a perfectly preserved 12th-century Saxon citadel and UNESCO World Heritage site. Climb the 175-step covered Scholars’ Stairs to the Church on the Hill with its magnificent 15th-century frescoes. Visit the Clock Tower Museum with its complex 17th-century mechanism and figurines. Stand before the house where Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler / Dracula) was born in 1431, now a restaurant. Walk the complete circuit of the citadel walls with their nine surviving towers. Free afternoon to explore the medieval alleyways and craft shops where coppersmiths and artists still practice their trades. Overnight in Sighisoara.
Day 4: Viscri Saxon Village & Sibiu Departure
Morning visit to Viscri, a UNESCO World Heritage Saxon village famously championed by King Charles III. Tour the 12th-century fortified church, admire the traditional Saxon houses painted in pastel blues and greens, and meet a local artisan. After a village lunch, drive to Sibiu. Explore the European Capital of Culture 2007: cross the Liars’ Bridge (which creaks when you tell a lie), wander the Grand Square and Little Square, and look up at the distinctive eyes of Sibiu — attic dormer windows that seem to watch your every step. Visit the Brukenthal Palace, Romania’s oldest museum. Afternoon transfer to Bucharest for departure. End of tour.
