Highlights of Transylvania

Day 1 / Bucharest – arrival

Arrival at Bucharest airport and transfer from airport to your hotel. Overnight in Bucharest.

Day 2 / Bucharest – city tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Start your day with a private city tour of Bucharest including the Revolution Square, a guided tour of Palace of the Parliament – the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, Cotroceni Quarter for its representative architecture and the Village Museum – one of the world’s most interesting open-air museums with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Bucharest (B)

Day 3 / Bucharest – Sinaia – Bran – Brasov
After breakfast, start your Transylvania private tour with a scenic drive to Sinaia – one of the famous Carpathian Mountains towns. Visit the Peles Castle – former royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe.
Transfer to Bran, visiting the famous Bran Castle, considered to be Prince Vlad Dracul’s residence. In Bram Stoker’s famous vampire novel, “Dracula” the Bran Castle is described as Count Dracula’s residence, Stoker’s real inspiration being Vlad the Impaler, son of Vlad Dracul, the Walachian Prince. Built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia was later be turned into a royal residence under Queen Mary of Romania.
In the afternoon, arrival in Brasov and brief city tour, including the Council Square, the Black Church (Brasov’s landmark, over 500 years old, the largest Gothic church in South-East Europe, hosts an impressive 4,000 pipe organ built in 1839), Schei Quarter, the Rope Street, Brasov Synagogue and Catherine’s Gate – a fairy-looking medieval tower, part of the last preserved original city gates.
Check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy Brasov’s lovely pedestrian area with its many shops and outdoor cafes. Overnight in Brasov. (B)

Day 4 / Brasov – Harman – Viscri – Sighisoara
Breakfast at hotel. Continue your tour with a visit to one of the typical Transylvanian fortified churches: Harman, a Roman basilica with Gothic elements. The west tower, chapels and water moat still maintain this era today. Inside you can find paintings dated back to the 13th century.
Continue your tour with a visit to the Viscri fortified church – one of the best preserved fortified church in Transylvania – Prince Charles, who owns several houses in Viscri, says « Transylvania is in my blood ».
Arrive to Sighisoara, a World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12th century. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars’ Staircase, the Ducklings’ Square, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler and the Venetian House, the Tower with Clock (climb up for a great view), the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Visit a local arts & crafts exhibition. Sighisoara is the place where the famous Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace is today a restaurant and one of the main tourist attractions. Hotel check in. The remainder of the day is at leisure in the Upper Town. Overnight in Sighisoara.(B)

Day 5 / Sighisoara – Biertan – Sibiu – Sibiel
Breakfast at hotel. Departure towards the village Biertan & visit at the biggest fortified church in Transylvania, built between 1490 – 1524, is proof of the important Heritage of the Transylvanian Saxons.
In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the Old Town Sibiu with the Great and Lesser Squares and the surrounding defense walls and guild towers. View the Passage of Stairs linking the Upper Town to the Lower Town and the Liar’s Bridge. Hotel check in. Continue your tour of Romania with a visit to Sibiel, a typical Romanian village in the heart of Transylvania. Visit the local icon-on-glass museum (formerly a private collection) and learn about the technique. Then enjoy a home hosted dinner with a local family in their own home: an authentic cultural interchange. Overnight in Sibiu.(B)

Day 6 / Sibiu – Cozia – Curtea de Arges – Bucharest
Breakfast at hotel. Leaving Transylvania, make a short stop to the 14th century 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 by the ruler of Wallachia Neagoe Basarab in 1514. This monastery impresses through its outstanding architecture. The exterior walls boast unique stone embroideries. The tour ends in Bucharest with a transfer at your hotel. Overnight in Bucharest.(B)

Day 7 / Bucharest – departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the « Henri Coanda » Airport Bucharest.

INCLUDED :

• Transfer to/from Bucharest airport
• Accommodation 6 nights in 3* & 4* hotels – all centrally located (Bucharest – 2 nights, Brasov – 1 night, Sighisoara – 1 night, Sibiu – 1 night, Bucharest – 1 night)
• Private English-Speaking tour guide/driver
• Transport by private car/minivan
• Entrance fees to monuments/sights included in the itinerary
• Meals: 6 breakfasts and 1 hosted dinner in Sibiel
• 1 bottle of water/person/day

EXCLUDED :

International flight from Canada
Personal expenses
Beverages and other meals not mentioned above
Tips
Everything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “Included”