Classic Romania Tour

Upon arrival, your tour guide will pick you up from the airport and your city tour of Bucharest will begin.

The first landmark of your tour is the most distinctive building in the city that dates back to the communist period, the Palace of the Parliament. Also known as the House of the People, the impressive edifice entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. As you step inside its imposing marble rooms, your travel guide will share with you the grim details hidden behind the shining facade.

Visit Bucharest’s Old Town, which is home to several architectural gems and representative buildings of different periods. This area is also Bucharest’s nightlife hotspot. In case you enjoy partying, this is a must-visit place.

Before leaving for the medieval land of Transylvania, you will stop at one of Romania's most important religious landmarks, the Curtea de Arges Monastery. Curtea de Arges served as the final resting place of all the kings of Romania, and its construction led to the birth of one of the most famous Romanian legends, the legend of Meșterul Manole.

Take a road trip through the Olt Valley and admire the stunning, unspoiled landscapes of the region before reaching the Cozia Monastery, a religious edifice that reflects medieval art and architecture. However, in case you are traveling in the summer, this trip will be replaced by a road trip to Trasnfăgărășan.

Your last destination of the day is Sibiu, a city that was named the 2007 European Capital of Culture. Your city tour will start in the main square of Sibiu, from where you will head to the Brukenthal Museum and the Roman Catholic Cathedral before visiting Huet Square with its Evangelical Church.

Afterwards, cross the Bridge of Lies, the most famous bridge in Romania.

Your experience continues with a trip to Sibiel, a quaint, Transylvanian village widely considered to be one of the most authentic and well-preserved rural areas in Europe. Walk down its cobblestone streets, meet the locals dressed in traditional, hand-made clothes and taste palinka, a popular local drink.

Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the village and its surrounding areas. Take a short trip to Alba Iulia. Visit the largest fortress in Romania there. The fortress is surrounded by 12km-long walls and is built in the shape of a star. This fortress was successively a Roman fort, a fortress during the Middle Ages and later a Vauban-style citadel with bastions.

Our next destination is the Turda Salt Mine, a huge subterranean cave carved through a salt mine and turned into an underground theme park with huge galleries that open into halls, one of them 118 meters tall, and a lake at the bottom. The sights inside the mine are otherworldly, attracting artists in search of spectacular views.

The journey continues with the largest city in Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, also known as the city of arts.

Devote the first half of the day to a city tour of Cluj-Napoca. The St Michael’s Gothic Cathedral overlooking the city’s central square comes first on our list of attractions for the day, followed by Banffy Palace, the former mayor’s hall, and the Mirror Street.

Head to Maramureș, in the northwestern region of Romania, an open-air museum worth exploring. Cut off from the rest of the world for centuries, the dwellers of this region managed to overcome hardship by following two simple rules: live your life to the full and cherish, above all, the richness of the soul.

The people in the area are considered to be the most hospitable Romanians and their traditional wooden houses are a living part of their history. Visit Breb, one of the best preserved traditional villages in Maramures, and explore the local way of living.

Not far from Sighet is our final destination of the day, Săpînţa, the world’s only community with a merry cemetery. The wooden crosses painted in bright colors display witty, humorous quatrains inspired by the lives of those who are no longer with us.

Enjoy a traditional Romanian dinner and folklore show.

Visit two ancient wooden churches that are listed as UNESCO's world heritage sites on the fifth day of your Romania tour: Poienile Izei (Iza Meadows) and Barsana, the latter being one of the largest Orthodox architectural ensembles in Romania.

Attend a workshop by a local artisan and learn how woodcarving remains the chief craft of the local community, which has preserved and perfected the skill for generations. You have the option of buying unique, hand-made souvenirs after the workshop.

Enjoy the opportunity to taste the local products in one of the most picturesque and well-preserved regions of Romania. The locals still use produce from their gardens to make delicious dishes.

Travel to Targu Mures in the evening.

Explore Biertan, the largest fortified church in Transylvania that was built by the Saxons in the sixteenth century and is currently listed as a UNESCO monument. From Biertan, our Romania Tour continues to Copsa Mare, a unique, unspoiled Saxon village where you can get the glimpse of the traditional way of living.

Visit Sighișoara, the area that has the only inhabited medieval fortress included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Walk up the winding, cobblestone streets lined with historic buildings to reach the Clock Tower, a symbol of the city. Climb up its stairs to reach a spot from where to admire the breathtaking views of the city.

The Clock Tower also has a museum of medieval weapons and a torture chamber. After visiting the tower, head for the Church on the Hill and climb its three-hundred wooden steps all the way to the top.

Travel to Saschiz, a small settlement structured around centuries-old churches. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside, be seduced by the archaic rhythm of life and uniqueness of the place.

Explore Viscri, the place made famous by Prince Charles, who restored one of its traditional houses and where he returns every year in May. Admire the architecture of its houses and visit a small church surrounded by thick walls and a tower.

Reach Brasov before dusk. A city founded by the Teutonic Knights, Brasov is located in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

Take a walking tour of Brașov. Explore its narrow streets, visit the beautiful Council Square and the the Black Church, a Gothic cathedral.

Explore the famous Bran Castle. Discover the legend of Dracula while touring the castle. Bran is one of the world’s spookiest medieval castles and is more commonly known as Dracula’s Castle. It was built in the 13th century, set strategically atop a 60-meter cliff, towering over the most important access routes entering the medieval Transylvania.

Head to Azuga for a wine-tasting session. Learn about the traditional art of producing sparkling wine and witness the 19th-century techniques that are still in use in this part of the world.

Discover a small but eye-catching mountain resort in Sinaia that rose to fame mostly thanks to the royal family who chose Sinaia as their royal residence in the 20th century. Visit the Orthodox Monastery before moving on to Peleș Castle, a splendid Gothic-style castle built by the first king of Romania, Carol the First of Hohenzollern. Tour the castle and learn more about the life of the Romanian royal family.

Head back to Bucharest. Reach there by the evening.

Have breakfast and check out from your hotel. The airport transfer will take place according to your schedule. Your Classic Romania Tour has finally come to an end.