Transylvania Express

Day 1 / Giurgiu or Oltenita – Curtea De Arges – Cozia – Sibiu
Departure from Giurgiu/Oltenita to the Monastery Curtea de Arges built by the ruler of Wallachia Neagoe Basarab in 1514. The tour continues with a visit at Cozia Monastery. This visit will be followed by lunch in a traditional Romanian restaurant. In the afternoon, we head to Sibiu, which was a German medieval citadel, with the first documentary attestation in 1191, and the old name Hermanstadt. Check-in at the hotel. Then, 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. After a walking tour in the old town, we will have a traditional dinner & accommodation. Overnight in Sibiu – Hotel Imparatul Romanilor 4* or similar (L, D)

Day 2 / Sibiu – Biertan – Sighisoara – Brasov
Breakfast at hotel. Departure towards the village Biertan & visit at the biggest fortified church in Transylvania; built between 1490 – 1524, the fortified church Biertan is proof of the important Heritage of the Transylvanian Saxons.
Then, we are traveling to the medieval citadel Sighisoara, having a documentary attestation dating back in 1280, and the old German name Schassburg, being in the present the only medieval citadel in Europe still populated (UNESCO heritage). A walking tour of the citadel & visit in The Clock Tower (for an interesting panoramic view) and the Weapon Museum, will be followed by a typical Transylvanian lunch. In the afternoon, we head to Brasov, another medieval citadel, with the first documentary attestation in 1235, and the old name Kronstadt (maybe the most important from all German medieval citadels in Transylvania). After a walking tour in the old town (the historical center of Brasov) will be a traditional dinner & accommodation. Overnight in Brasov – Casa Wagner 3* or similar (B, L, D)

Day 3 / Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest
After breakfast, visit in the Black Church, first built in 1383, the most important tourist objective in Brasov. 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. After this visit, enjoy a traditional lunch. After lunch, travel to Sinaia (the ”Pearl of the Carpathians”, visit of the Peles Castle, former residence of Romania’s Kings, followed by driving back to Bucharest – accommodation in Bucharest at hotel Berthelot 4* or similar (B, L)

Day 4 / Bucharest
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. Farewell dinner at Carul cu Bere or similar. Accommodation in Bucharest at hotel Berthelot or similar (B, D)

Day 5 / Bucharest – departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the “Henri Coanda” Airport Bucharest.

HOTELS (or similar):
BRASOV: CASA WAGNER / BELLA MUZICA or similar
SIBIU: IMPARATUL ROMANILOR or similar
BUCHAREST: BOUTIQUE MOXA / BERTHELOT or similar

INCLUDED :

• Transport by private car/minivan
• Private English-Speaking tour guide/driver
• Accommodation 4 nights in 3* & 4* hotels – all centrally located (Sibiu – 1 night, Brasov – 1 night, Bucharest – 2 nights)
• Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
• Entrance fees to monuments/sights included in the itinerary
• 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”