“Transylvania is the last corner of Europe where you see true sustainability and complete resilience. There’s so much we can learn from it before it’s too late.”

His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales

Duration

4 days

About

Day 1: Bucuresti – Sinaia – Brasov – Sighisoara

Departure from Bucharest to Sinaia which is a beautiful mountain resort in the Carpathians. In Sinaia, you’ll visit the oldest monastery in town. The religious complex consists of the old church, built at the end of the 17th century, and the new one built in the first years of the 20th century.

Further on, you will visit the Peles Castle, built by the first king of Romania in the second half of the 19th century, nowadays is the most visited castle in Romania, certainly a place you really should not miss. It is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, in fact in 2015 it was chosen as the most stunning castle in the world by Global Traveler USA, others at the top of the list being Prague Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

Departure from Sinaia to Brasov, also known as “Kronstadt” (its German name), meaning “City of the Crown.” You will be impressed by the more than 500-year-old local architecture, the great views that the surrounding mountain, the Black Church, emblematic of Brasov and the largest Gothic church in Eastern Europe, Saint Nicholas Church, the First Romanian School, the Rope Street (one of the narrowest streets in Europe) and Saint Catherine’s Gate.

Next, we head to the city of Sighisoara to visit its medieval citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasting one of the best-preserved medieval citadels and the only one still inhabited in Europe. The imposing Clock Tower is the major landmark of the citadel, thanks to the majestic view of the entire citadel from the top of the tower. Other points of interest would be the Covered Staircase, the Church on the Hill, the former birth house of Dracula, Vlad the Impaler which served as an inspiration for Bram Stoker novel „Count Dracula”.

Overnight in Sighisoara, at a 3* hotel with breakfast included.

Day 2: Sighisoara – Turda –Alba Iulia

We will leave behind Sighisoara, heading to the city of Turda to visit the salt mine.

Turda Salt Mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. It was dug during medieval times for salt exploitation, with the first documented reference of the mine dating all the way back to 1271.

The mine consists of an assembly of beautiful operating rooms and mine galleries, including The Iosif mine: famous for having a powerful sound echo, it can be visited through balconies carved in salt, Crivac room: where visitors can see a rudimentary installation used for lifting salt rocks on the surface originally installed here in 1864, Terezia mine: featuring halls of impressive measurements: 90 m height and 87 m in diameter, Rudolph mine: which marks the last place where salt was exploited in Turda, Gizela mine: that currently serves solely the work of health treatment. The underground gallery of the mine is a geological reserve, and tourists have no access to this area.

After the salt mine visit, you’ll set off to the city of Alba Iulia. It has a long history, dating back to the time of the Dacian tribe who built here the first fortress. The area was conquered by the Romans in 106 who built a fort known as Apulum. The present shape dates back to the first part of the 18th century when the Hapsburgs built one of the best Vauban citadels in this area.

Furthermore, Alba Iulia, lived some of the greatest events of the Romanian history, it is the place where the agreement was signed to unify Transylvania with Romania on 1st December 1918, that date became the National Day of Romania and four years later King Ferdinand and Queen Maria were crowned at the Orthodox Cathedral.

Overnight in Alba Iulia, at a 3* hotel with breakfast included.

Day 3: Alba Iulia – Hunedoara – Sibiu

Departure to the city of Hunedoara, to visit the Gothic masterpiece of Transylvania, one of the most impressive Gothic castles of Eastern and Central Europe, who was home to several movies and film festivals, Corvin Castle or Hunyadi castle. While visiting you’ll get to see: the castle interior with the Golden Chamber, The prison of the castle, where it is believed that Vlad the Impaler was kept, the knights’ hall, the interior courtyard, the Capistrano Tower, the Painted Tower, the Catholic Church.

After the castle visit, you’ll depart to Sibiu. Once in the city, we are going to have a walking tour in The Old Town Sibiu. The medieval citadel of Hermanstadt was also one of those seven German cities in Transylvania. During the walking tour you will discover the atmosphere of a medieval town by visiting the two town squares (Large and Small), and most importantly, ladies, test the faith of your beloved while standing beneath the Liars’ Bridge – without a doubt one of the most popular monuments in Sibiu.

Overnight in Sibiu, at a 3* hotel with breakfast included.

Day 4: Sibiu – Cozia – Bucharest

After breakfast, you’ll set off for the Cozia Monastery.

Built in 1388 as a typical Byzantine church, it shelters the tomb of the founder, Mircea the Elder, ruler of Wallachia between 1386 and 1418. Next, we will drive to the monastery of Curtea de Arges. Built between 1512 and 1517, the monastery was rebuilt later during the reign period of Carol I in 1886. This monastery impresses through its outstanding architecture. The exterior walls boast unique stone embroideries. Inside there are buried the founder, the ruler Neagoe Basarab and also the first two Romanian royal couples.

The tour ends in Bucharest.

What to Expect

• Private Tour - just you and the guide - from pick-up to drop-off
• Funny, Friendly, Local Guide: Feel welcome, relaxed, and able to enjoy the tour to its fullest. Ask your burning questions and learn from your knowledgeable guide.
• Admire Typical Transylvanian cities: the medieval city of Brasov – „the city of the Crown”, Sighisoara –one of the best-preserved medieval citadel in Europe and the only one still inhabited (UNESCO Heritage), and Sibiu – considered by Forbes as one most idyllic city to live.
• Visit Alba Iulia – Apulum or „The City Of Gold”, a precious symbol of Romania as almost 100 years ago, was where the Great Unification took place on the 1st of December.
• Visit impressive castles of Romania: Peles Royal Castle, the summer residence of the royal couple of Romania, also known as the pearl of the Carpathian. Corvin Castle, the Gothic masterpiece of Transylvania, one of the most impressive Gothic castles of Eastern and Central Europe, was home to several movies and film festivals.
• Visit Turda Salt Mine – one of the oldest salt mines in the world, an underground amusement park built deep inside the enormous mine. Business Insider placed the mine on top of their list of “coolest underground places in the world.

Know before you book

• The tour includes accommodation in 3-star hotels, a good standard within the Romanian hotel rating system. However, if you want, we can upgrade you to 4-star or 5-star hotels for an additional fee
• Peles Castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays from September to March. For the rest of the year, Peles Castle is closed only on Mondays. On these days, we will visit Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni.
• Please note that the visits' order during the trip can vary depending on the weather, traffic conditions, and the visiting program switch from summer to winter