Romania Revealed - 10 Days

Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiu. We begin our journey with a drive from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, the former capital of Wallachia and a city rich in history. Here we visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, built between 1512 and 1517 and famous for the legend of Master Manole, a powerful Romanian myth symbolising sacrifice in creation. The monastery is also the resting place of several members of Romania’s Royal House.

From here we travel along the spectacular Transfagarasan Highway, one of the most scenic roads in the world, winding through the Fagaras Mountains and reaching heights of over 2,000 metres – a perfect spot for breathtaking photos. Our final destination is Sibiu, a medieval city with more than 900 years of history. After a walking tour of its charming Old Town, we check in at our hotel.

Please note: We recommend you arrive in Bucharest the day before your tour starts.

Please also note: During the winter months (approximately November to May/June) the Transfăgărășan Highway is closed due to weather conditions. During the closure period, we use the Olt Valley route to reach Sibiu, including a visit to the Cozia Monastery.

Sibiu - Hunedoara - Alba Iulia - Turda - Cluj-Napoca. After breakfast, we set out for Hunedoara to tour Corvin Castle, one of the largest and most impressive castles in Romania, once home to John Hunyadi. We then continue to Alba Iulia, a city of great historical importance as the site of the Union of Transylvania with Romania. Here we explore Alba Carolina Fortress, built in the Vauban style by thousands of Romanian peasants in the early 18th century.

Our next stop is Turda, where we visit the remarkable Turda Salt Mine – ranked among the world’s most unique underground attractions, complete with a Ferris wheel, mini golf and even a boating lake. We end the day in Cluj-Napoca, the cultural heart of Transylvania and a lively student centre. After a walking tour of the Old Town, you have free time to enjoy the cafés and restaurants.

Cluj-Napoca - Bistrita - Voronet. This morning we travel towards Bucovina, stopping first in Bistrita, a charming town near the Tihuta Pass, famously mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. After a short tour and a stop at a local bakery, we continue into Bucovina. Our first visit is Voronet Monastery, built in 1488 and renowned for its vivid frescoes and its unique ‘Voronet Blue’. In the evening we enjoy a traditional Romanian dinner.

Voronet - Moldovita - Sucevita - Iasi. Today we explore more of Bucovina’s painted monasteries. We first visit Moldovita Monastery, built in the 16th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then continue to Sucevita Monastery, whose construction is surrounded by legend – said to be built with materials carried by one woman in penance for her sins.

The monasteries of Bucovina are masterpieces of Byzantine art, blending beautifully with the surrounding landscape. Later we drive to Iasi, Romania’s second largest city, where we take a short evening tour before checking into our hotel.

Iasi - Targu Neamt - Piatra Neamt. After breakfast we enjoy a more in-depth tour of Iasi. Highlights include the Neo-Gothic Palace of Culture, home to several major museums, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, built in 1833 and recently restored to its former glory. We also visit the 17th-century Three Hierarchs Church and Romania’s first National Theatre, the “Vasile Alecsandri”.

We then travel to Targu Neamt to visit the medieval Neamt Citadel before reaching Piatra Neamt in the evening. Here we take a scenic cable car ride before checking in at our hotel.

Piatra Neamt - Bicaz - Corund - Biertan - Sighisoara. This morning we drive through the dramatic Bicaz Gorges and stop at the Red Lake, formed in 1837 after a landslide. We continue to Corund, known for its traditional pottery and crafts, before reaching Biertan, a Saxon village with a fortified church listed by UNESCO.

Our day ends in Sighisoara, home to Europe’s last inhabited medieval citadel and another UNESCO site.

Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov. We begin the day exploring Sighisoara’s citadel, including the iconic Clock Tower, now housing the town’s History Museum. From here we travel to Viscri, a village that has preserved its traditions so well that it won the admiration of King Charles III. We visit its fortified church and meet locals renowned for their culinary and craft skills.

In the afternoon we arrive in Brasov, one of Romania’s most picturesque cities, for a short walking tour.

Brasov - Bran - Sinaia - Bucharest. After breakfast we continue our tour of Brasov, visiting Council Square and the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania. A short drive takes us to Bran, where we explore Bran Castle, often associated with Bram Stoker’s Dracula and steeped in legends of Vlad the Impaler.

Our final stop is Sinaia, where we visit Peles Castle, a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture and the first fully electrified castle in Europe. In the evening we return to Bucharest.

Today we discover Romania’s capital. We start with the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world, constructed during the communist era. We then explore Bucharest’s Old Town, where you will have free time for lunch.

In the afternoon we visit the open-air Village Museum, which showcases traditional Romanian life with hundreds of historic houses, monuments and artefacts.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.