Best of Romania in 10 Days

Hotel pick-up and departure.

The first day of your tour starts with a road trip from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, the historical capital of Wallachia and one of the richest Romanian cities in terms of historical culture. Here, you will visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, erected between 1512 and 1517. The monastery is widely famous for the legend of Manole, one of the most important Romanian myths, which left a powerful mark on its people: “you can’t create something everlasting without sacrifice”. Nowadays the monastery is one of the most important historical monuments in Romania, and it is the final resting place for several members of the Royal House of Romania.

You will then drive on the spectacular Transfagarasan Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Transfagarasan passes through the Southern Carpathians via the tallest mountains in Romania, Fagaras, reaching heights of 2042 meters. This is the perfect opportunity to take some stunning photos of the surrounding areas.

The last destination for the day is the medieval city of Sibiu, with a rich history of more than 900 years. Sibiu is a superb destination throughout the whole year, but in the summer season it is home to the International Theatre Festival, and in the winter it is home to one of the most impressive Christmas Markets in Romania. After taking a walking tour through Sibiu’s Historical Center, we will head towards the hotel, where we will check-in for the night.

The second day of your tour of Romania will start early in the morning, and you will make your first stop in Hunedoara, where will take a tour of Corvin Castle, a castle with a particular charm. Also known as Hunyad Castle due to its main inhabitant, John Hunyadi, it is one of the largest castles in Romania.

Your next stop will be at Alba Iulia, the town which was home to one of the most important events in Romania’s History as the Union of Transylvania with Romania. We will visit Alba Carolina Fortress, built between 1715 and 1738 in the Vauban architectural style by more than 20,000 Romanian peasants.

Driving away from Alba Iulia you will reach Turda, a small village which is home to one of the coolest underground attractions in the world, according to Business Insider. Turda Salt Mine with its 13 underground floors, and a spectacular theme park is equipped with a Ferris wheel, mini-golf course, tennis court, and a lake.

At the end of the day, you will reach Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania and one of the largest student centers in Romania. After taking a walking tour through the Old City Center, you will have free time to explore the local cafes and bohemian restaurants near the hotel.

On your way to Bucovina, you will stop in Bistrita, a city located in the foothills of the Bargau Mountains, not far away from Pasul Tihuta which is the connecting road between Transylvania and Bucovina. This is the place where Bram Stoker’s character, Jonathan Haker, stayed before meeting Count Dracula.

After taking a short sightseeing tour of Bistrita and tasting some delicious products from a local bakery, you will depart from Transylvania towards Romania’s holy land. Your first stop in Bucovina will be at the Voronet Monastery, one of the 8 UNESCO Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. The monastery was built in 1488, and it is well known for its unique shade of blue, “Blue of Voronet”. In the evening you will reach the hotel and you will enjoy a traditional Romanian dinner.

For the first landmark of the day, you will drive north and stop at Moldovita Monastery, one of the oldest monastic settlements with a significant history. The Monastery was built between 1532 and 1537 and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 1993.

Your second objective is Sucevita Monastery. Built-in 1585, the legend says that all the materials used in its construction were brought by a woman using only a cart pulled by oxen, in order to redeem her sins.

In the evening you will reach Iasi, the second-largest city in Romania, and the birthplace of many Romanian personalities. After a short tour of this romantic and historical city, you will check-in at the hotel.

From Iasi, you will head to Targu Neamt for a tour of the Neamt Citadel, built during the reign of Peter I (1375-1391).

You will reach Piatra Neamt in the evening, where you will take a cable car ride before checking in at the hotel.

On the 6th day, you will leave for Transylvania, passing through the impressive Bicaz Gorges in order to reach your first landmark of the day, a lake renowned for its unusual color. The Red Lake formed in 1837, when a series of heavy storms caused Mt. Ucigasu to fracture, with part of it coming down and blocking several streams. The river deposits that formed there had a reddish color, so the name of The Red Lake was given to the water body by the locals.

Your next stop will be in Corund, one of the main pottery centers of Transylvania. Besides pottery, the locals also deal in woodworking and trade, and the clay used in pottery is extracted from a nearby stream.

Leaving Corund behind, you will reach Biertan, one of the famous UNESCO Villages with Fortified Churches of Transylvania. Saxon colonists settled here for the first time in the 13th century, mainly because of the rich soil that was perfect for winemaking.

Your last stop for the day is in Sighisoara, a city which is home to the last inhabited citadel in Europe. Sighisoara was built by Saxon colonists in the 12th century, and its unique features earned it a spot in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Your next stop will be in Viscri, a village that charmed the heart of Prince Charles through its simplicity and the way in which the locals preserved their traditions. Here, you will meet the women who are renowned throughout the region for their culinary skills. Viscri is one of Transylvania’s Villages with Fortified Churches, and before leaving you will visit the charming Viscri Church.

After a while, you will reach Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities located in the middle of Romania, where you will take a short walking tour.

Thirty minutes away from Brasov is Bran, a small village famous for Bran Castle. With a history of more than 6 centuries, Bran Castle became widely known as Dracula’s Castle, mainly due to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Here, you will help you discover the history of Vlad the Impaler and the connection between Vlad Tepes and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Your next stop is in Sinaia, where you will visit the first fully electrified castle in Europe. In its final form, Peles Castle stretches over a surface of 3200 sq. meters and it holds 160 rooms and over 30 bathrooms. The castle was home to one of the most important collections of paintings in Europe, and it is well-known for its large collection of over 4,000 European and Oriental weaponry.

At night, you will be back in Bucharest.

In the last day of your tour of Romania, you will discover Bucharest through a full-day city tour. Your first stop will be at the famed Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest building in the world. Also known as the People’s House, the building was part of a larger project created by Nicolae Ceausescu during his reign during the communist period of Romania. The building was designed to house all the organs of the state while also being a safe house able to withstand earthquakes and nuclear attacks. After touring the Palace of the Parliament you will head to Bucharest’s Old Town, where you will have free time for lunch. Your last destination is the Bucharest Village Museum. The museum was opened for the first time in 1936, and it stretches over a surface of 14 ha, being home to a total of 380 monuments, 60,000 traditional objects, and over 250,000 archived documents, all related to the traditional Romanian life.

You will be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.