Day 1

Bors customs - Oradea - Cluj-Napoca

Meet and greet the group in Oradea, transfer to Cluj-Napoca, former capital of Transylvania, today one of Romania’s most vibrant and dinamic cities.

Cluj-Napoca city tour with the visit of St Michael’s Gothic church, the Benedictine Monastery, the Museum Square, the Union Square.

The capital of Transylvania in the medieval times, Cluj-Napoca is today a vibrant city, sharing both traditional and progressive events; definitely worth visiting for its excellent cultural activities, wonderful historical legacy, fine dining, and great atmosphere.

Welcome dinner and accommodation Cluj-Napoca

Day 2

Cluj-Napoca - Bistrita - Campulung Moldovenesc - Voronet - Humor - Suceava

Leaving Cluj-Napoca, passing through Bistrita (one of the main seven Saxon citadels in Transylvania) on the way to Campulung Moldovenesc, in the Bukovina region; visit of the Wood Art Museum, a true encyclopedia of the universe of peasant life.

The tour continues with the sightseeing of the beautiful Bukovina region.

In the afternoon - visit of the Voronet monastery, famous for its stunning and well preserved XV^th-XVI ^th century vivid blue exterior frescoes, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Orient, and the monastery of Humor, one of the first painted Moldavian & Bukovina monasteries in the XV^th century, small but shining bright among Bukovina’s treasures; both part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Dinner and accommodation in Suceava

Day 3

Suceava - Marginea - Moldovita - Putna - Suceava

Transfer to Marginea, a small village preserving a unique and beautiful tradition of producing black ceramics, craftsmanship dating from the XV^th century, visit of a traditional black pottery workshop.

Second stop - Moldovita monastery; visit of the church with frescoes depicting Biblical scenes both on the outside and on the inside. Dating back to the XV^th century, the monastery consists of a fortified quadrangular enclosure with towers, thick walls and large gates. As one of the nuns once said, Moldovita frescoes are a true "holy scriptures in color".

In the afternoon, visit of the imposing Putna monastery, built of massive stone blocks, and twelve buttresses which support the walls. 

Putna is an important cultural, religious and artistic center established in medieval Moldavia. The monastery was built by Stefan the Great, after he conquered the Kilia citadel, as a mean to give thanks to God.

Dinner and accommodation in Suceava

Day 4

Suceava - Piatra Neamt - Brasov

We leave the region of Bukovina, crossing Moldavia to arrive at dusk in southern Transylvania, Barsa plateau.

Along the way, we pass through scenic villages and see beautiful small churches, country houses and local crops.

From Suceava transfer to Piatra Neamt, a “green urban island” near the mountains; pass through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges, a narrow path carved into the sheer rocks, one of Romania’s most spectacular roads.

On the route visit of the Neamt fortress, a XIV^th century important medieval monument, built during Stefan the Great's reign.

Transfer from Moldavia to Brasov, Transylvania; short city tour with the visit of the City Council Square, the Black Church (Brasov's landmark, over 500 years old, the largest Gothic church in SE Europe, hosts one of the greatest pipe organs in Europe), Ecaterina's gate, a fairy-looking medieval  tower, part of the last preserved original city gates. 

Brasov (Kronstadt in German, “Crown City”), surrounded on three sides by the mountains, was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian (Romanian ancestors) site.

It is a remarkable city which hosts Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance architecture, as well as other historical attractions. The marks of the Saxon heritage, are well preserved mainly in the Old Town.

Dinner and accommodation in Brasov/Poiana Brasov

Day 5

Brasov - Sinaia - Bran - Brasov

Transfer to Sinaia mountain resort, the ”Pearl of the  Carpathians”, visit of Peles Castle, former residence of Romania's Kings. Built by King Carol I of Romania, as his summer residence, Peles castle shelters an important collection of works of art, rare furnitures and valuable paintings.

Lunch and wine tasting (sparkling wines produced using the traditional method) in the "Rhein Azuga" wine cellars, the former supplier of the Romanian Royal Court. 

In the afternoon - visit of the Bran Castle, known as the Vlad Dracul/Dracula’s Castle. The medieval stronghold perched on rocks high above the valley was built in the XIV^th century, in order to protect the peasants and landowners at the border between the two historical provinces: Walachia and Transylvania.

Traditional dinner and accommodation in Brasov/Poiana Brasov

Day 6

Brasov - Sighisoara - Biertan - Sibiu

Transfer to Sighisoara, small fortified city in the heart of Transylvania, visit of the well preserved fortified site: the Stag House, the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Venetian House, the Covered Stairs.

Sighisoara (Schässburg in German) is one of the most visited cities in Transylvania, and offers an outstanding testimony of the local Saxons culture. The best preserved medieval citadel in Romania, Sighisoara offers a genuine feeling of a medieval fortress, one special feature is that its houses have been permanently inhabited.

The next stop will impress you - Biertan, former see of the Evangelic bishops for 300 years; visit of the fortified church, symbol of the Saxon spirit in Transylvania.

En route to Sibiu.

Dinner and accommodation in Sibiu

Day 7

Sibiu & surroundings

Along with Luxembourg, Sibiu was designated European Capital of Culture in 2007, primarily due to the multiculturalism that defines it. Tour of the medieval centre of Sibiu, one of Romania’s most charming cities: the Large Square with Brukenthal Palace, Haller House, the Catholic Church and the Council Tower - symbol of the city; the Small Square with Luxembourg House, the Liar's Bridge, the House of Arts; Huet Square with the Evangelical Church; the Fortress street, the Orthodox Cathedral.

Visit of Cisnadie (Heltau in German, 10 km far from Sibiu), with the Saxon fortified church St Walpurga (XIII^th century), and then Cisnadioara (Michelsberg in German), with the Romanesque Church, representative monument for the Roman architecture in Transylvania, the oldest in Romania (!260).

In the afernoon, get acquainted with the traditional folk architecture and popular techniques exposed in the picturesque open air "ASTRA" Museum, located in the forest of Dumbrava Sibiu.

Dinner and accommodation in Sibiu

*Optional: dinner with traditional menu and folk show in a rural pension, in Sibiel (22 km from Sibiu) - Glass Icons Museum unique in Europe, over 700 exhibits

Day 8

Sibiu - Sebes - Hunedoara - Arad

From Sibiu en route to Hunedoara, a town famous for two main attractions: it once contained Romania's largest steel work factories, and the Corvin Castle was nearby. 

Visit Corvin Castle (Hunyad Castle), the most important Gothic style secular building in Transylvania. Even though the castle is built in Gothic style, it has also Baroque and Renaissance influences, and was the place where Vlad Dracul (commonly known as Dracula, courtesy of Bram Stoker's novel) was held prisoner for seven years.

The Corvin Castle, a legacy of the Transylvanian Hunyadi dynasty, was included in the "10 most fascinating castles and palaces" list.

In the afternoon, visit of the centre of Arad: the Orthodox Cathedral, the Administrative Palace, the National Theatre, Cenad Palace. Part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I, Arad is a charming city, set on the Mures riverbanks, preserving a majestic atmosphere through its imposing architectural monuments.

Farewell dinner and accommodation in Arad

Day 9

Transfer to the Romanian-Hungarian border, Nadlac.

Goodbye Romania !