Transylvanian Castles to Adriatic Shores - 8 Days

Welcome to Bucharest. On arrival, we’ll transfer you to your hotel, where you’ll have time to settle in, and we’ll share details about the start of your tour.

At 3.00 pm – after lunch – we take a panoramic tour of the city, including the historic quarter and the impressive Palace of the Parliament. After the tour, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. Dinner is included. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We leave Bucharest for Transylvania, crossing the Carpathian Mountains through forested landscapes. In Sinaia we take a gentle walk through the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor Castles. We then continue to Bran to visit the 14th–century Bran Fortress – often known as Dracula’s Castle – with tickets included. You’ll have time for lunch before we travel on to Sighisoara, a picturesque walled medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening we enjoy a special dinner at Count Dracula’s restaurant, located in the house where Vlad the Impaler was born.

We leave Sighisoara this morning and travel through Transylvania, a region dotted with fortified churches built in areas historically inhabited by people of German origin. We visit the UNESCO listed fortified church at Biertan – entry included – before continuing to Sibiu, an important economic and cultural centre that once served as the capital of Transylvania. Here you can wander the lively narrow streets and squares and find lunch at your own pace.

In the afternoon we head to Hunedoara to visit its impressive castle – entry included – often considered the most beautiful in Romania. We then continue to Timisoara, where you’ll have time to explore the city’s elegant central squares.

We depart Timisoara and cross into Serbia, travelling around three hours to Belgrade, a lively capital at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava. On arrival we take a panoramic tour, covering the city centre and the parliament, and we stroll through Kalemegdan Fortress. We also visit the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito’s Mausoleum is located. The afternoon is free – you can continue exploring the centre, visit a museum or find a spot for a late lunch at your own pace.

We set off towards Vojvodina, pausing in Sremska Mitrovica – a historic city on the Sava River that was once among the most important in the Roman Empire and the capital of the province of Pannonia. Entrance to the Imperial Palace of Sirmium is included, offering insight into this era. We then continue towards Bosnia, stopping en route for lunch. Our journey crosses the Republic of Srpska – the Serbian Republic of Bosnia – through beautiful landscapes to Sarajevo. We arrive in the late afternoon, when you can explore the historic centre at your own pace – you can wander the Ottoman market, known for its distinctive architecture and traditional shops. Dinner is included.

In the morning, we take a guided tour of Sarajevo – a city noted for its long tradition of religious coexistence. In the Ottoman-influenced old town we see mosques, churches and synagogues, including a more than 500-year-old mosque and a beautiful fountain. After the visit, we continue through scenic landscapes to Mostar to discover its historic centre and the iconic stone bridge that links the Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities. You will have free time for lunch and to explore at your own pace. We then continue into Croatia – border formalities may be lengthy – arriving in Dubrovnik at the end of the day. Dinner is included.

In the morning we take a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide, pausing at a viewpoint for wide city and coast views. We visit the Franciscan Monastery – home to one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe – and the Assumption Cathedral, with entry included, then board the boat to Lokrum for the short 15 minute crossing to the island, known for the ruins of an eleventh century Benedictine monastery and as a Game of Thrones filming location. Afterwards you have free time to explore at your own pace before we return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is included. Note – on some departures accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik. From November to March there is no boat service to Lokrum, so we will not visit the island during these months.

After breakfast in Dubrovnik, our journey comes to an end – we hope you leave with lasting memories.