Take a trip of discovery of the whole of Romania, while journeying between two of Europe’s largest cities and the ones whose names are the most frequently confused with one another. Don’t miss any of its main attractions: traditional Maramures, the Byzantine-style painted churches of Bucovina, the multi-ethnic Transylvania and the asphalt jungle of Bucharest. (Ideal as a pre- or post-extension to a Danube cruise).
|
What’s included – A private tour – just for you and your family or friends; *Staying one night at the monastery is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance – however, it is usually not a problem to arrange, especially if requested early. What’s not included – International flights; |
This is our list of preferred hotels. The final list used for your tour will be based on availability.
This is one example of our Budapest-to-Bucharest tours. Depending on your schedule and preferences, we offer many variations, ranging from shorter to longer itineraries. The tour can also be realised in the OTHER DIRECTION.
Start your Romanian journey from Budapest, the capital of the neighboring country (Hungary). Make your way across the border and into the city of Timisoara, where the spark of the Romanian anti-communist revolution was ignited in 1989. Ease your transition into Romania, by absorbing the feel of the Habsburg looking palaces that border the central walk of the West-most major city in the country. Settled in the middle ages, it changed hands between Hungary, the Ottomans and the Austro-Hungarian empire, before becoming, in 1884, the first city with electrified street lighting in Europe, and its 2021 capital of culture.
Today, we change style and move on to the Gothic, by visiting Hunyadi castle, one of Europe’s largest and best examples of this architectural style. This 14th century giant was featured in various movies, television shows and video games over the past decade. Continue to Alba Iulia, the spiritual capital of modern Romania, where the 18th-century Vauban fortress tells the story of the country’s unification. Reach Sibiu in the afternoon. The streets of this German-looking town meet in the central squares, under the watchful “eyes” of the roof dormers. Despite its day-time tranquil feel, in the evening it becomes the host of numerous cultural events and festivals, especially since 2007, when it was the European capital of culture.
Start the day with a walking tour of Sibiu, exploring its grand squares, medieval walls, and the iconic Bridge of Lies. Then, embark on a thrilling drive along the Transfăgărășan Highway, hailed by Top Gear as one of the world’s best roads. Wind your way past alpine lakes, waterfalls, and craggy peaks. In the evening, arrive in Sighișoara, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval citadels and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the cobbled streets on a guided tour through the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler – Dracula.
Today’s route winds through the hills to the atmospheric Bethlen Castle ruins, a noble stronghold being slowly reclaimed by nature. Continue with an experiential visit to a local Roma (Gypsy) community, which will allow for cultural insight and candid exchange. For the afternoon activity, choose between a wine tasting in a 16th-century castle and an exploration of the spectacular salt mines in Turda. The evening will be spent in Cluj Napoca, a large central-European looking city and major university and technological center.
Travel into the heart of Maramureș, a land of wooden churches and timeless traditions, where families display their status in the comunity by building massive elaborate wooden gates, carved by hand. Their loom-woven rugs and blankets are still washed using centuries-old devices, that harvest the force of nearby rivers and streams. Visit one such authentic place (which is still used daily by the locals) where rugs are being washed, grains are being milled and moonshine is being distilled, all with the help of the Iza river. End the day with a hearty home-cooked dinner and a private folklore show in a local guesthouse in Vadu Izei.
Day entirely dedicated to the exploration of Maramureș. Begin in nearby Săpânța, where you can marvel at the vividly painted Merry Cemetery, then continue to the towering wooden church of Peri Monastery. Visit Sighet’s moving Memorial to the Victims of Communism and the unusual open market, where the fruits and vegetables are viying for space with products originating from Ukraine, only a couple of miles away. Sighet is also the birthplace of Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and author of the haunting “Night” — you may visit his memorial home. End your day with another home-cooked dinner in the same village.
Discover the graceful Bârsana monastery, its slender wooden spires rising towards the sky. After a beautiful chairlift ride, step into nature with an easy treck to the spectacular Horses’ Waterfall, Romania’s tallest. Later, stop to admire the painted houses of Ciocănești, uniquely adorned in a local tradition seen nowhere else in the country. In the afternoon, the journey takes you into Bukovina’s rolling hills to the luminous Voroneț Monastery, often called the “Sistine Chapel of the East.” Its celebrated frescoes — still radiant after five centuries — offer a serene and fitting close to a day that moves from living tradition to natural grandeur and finally to spiritual art.
Delve deeper into monastic Bucovina with visits to two more remarkable monasteries: Moldovița and Sucevița, UNESCO-listed for their intricate exterior frescoes. Don’t miss the delightful Painted Egg Museum, where the centuries-old tradition of egg-painting is being both preserved and beautifully displayed. Your day concludes at Văratec Monastery, a living spiritual community where you’ll dine with the nuns and sleep within the monastery walls. A unique opportunity to glimpse into the nuns’ way of life.
A day blending history, craftsmanship and dramatic landscapes begins at the imposing Neamț Fortress, standing guard over the valley for more than six centuries. From here, continue to the Popa Museum in Târpești, where traditional masks and folk art reveal the imagination of rural Romania. The route then winds through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges, sheer cliffs rising above the narrow mountain road, before the scenery softens into the Székely Land as you arrive in Miercurea Ciuc, a quiet Transylvanian town shaped by its Central European heritage.
Delve deeper into the Hungarian heritage of southeast Transylvania. Discover the quirky Ika Tower and Haszmann Pál ethnographical museum with its open-air collection of rural tools and agricultural machinery. Explore a functioning water mill that still grinds flour the old-fashioned way. Join a local family for a two-hour long hands-on bread-making workshop followed by a traditional Hungarian lunch. On route to Brașov, don’t miss the impressive Prejmer citadel, a UNESCO site, where each local family had their own refuge-room built into the defensive wall.
A day of legends and leisure begins with a visit to the iconic Bran Castle, famously linked to the Dracula myth, but historically tied to Queen Marie of Romania. Explore its ramparts and hidden passages before returning to Brașov. You may choose to have a relaxing afternoon or to visit the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, a heartwarming refuge for rescued brown bears set in a tranquil forest, outside town.
Journey south toward Bucharest, stopping at the fairy-tale Peleș Castle nestled in the mountains of Sinaia. One of the most spectacular castles on the continent, Peleș was the favorite project of the country’s first king, who devoted it 42 years of his life and a large part of his considerable fortune. With its ornate woodwork, secret passages, and royal legacy, it’s a tour highlight. Continue through the rolling countryside, towards the capital. Arrive in Bucharest and settle in for the capital’s vibrant mix of past and present.
Take in the capital’s layered identity on a guided city tour. See wide boulevards, Belle Époque architecture, and the Arch of Triumph, a proud symbol of Romanian unity. Enjoy an interior visit of the imposing Palace of the Parliament — the world’s heaviest building, and of the splendid Romanian Atheneum, the city’s beloved concert hall. Wrap up with a culinary stroll through the lively Obor Market.
Your tour concludes with a private transfer to the airport. Depending on your flight time, you may have a chance to enjoy one last stroll or coffee in Bucharest. We hope the memories of medieval towns, castle turrets, and heartfelt hospitality stay with you for years to come. La revedere! — until we meet again!
