7 days Tour from Budapest to Bucharest

Enjoy a guided tour from Budapest to Bucharest with visits of Dracula’s Castle, Timisoara city, European Capital of Culture 2021, Bukovina’s UNESCO Painted monasteries and much more. You will have the comfort of a small group tour, modern transportation with a air-conditioned minivan and a professional driver/tour leader that will make this experience unforgettable.

This program is meant for organized groups or private groups. Please see the prices according to group size at ”Our Offer”. For a customized version of this tour or for private groups, please contact us!

Itinerary

Day 1 — Budapest – Timisoara (320km) HUNGARY+ROMANIA

Pick-up from your hotel / airport/river cruise

Visit Timisoara city with its complex history and throughout history, various nationalities have shared the city. The city has been part of the Kingdon of Hungary, under the Ottoman rule and for a long period of time, Timisoara was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In 1918 Timisoara, the population consisted of Germans, Hungarians, Romanians, and Serbians. Capital of the region of Banat, it has made giant strides forward. “Little Vienna” or “the city of flowers and parks” are two names for Timisoara that reflect two important aspects of the city: the architecture is very similar to Vienna and the numerous parks give the urban centre a pleasant, welcoming character.

Moreover, Timisoara which is one of the largest cites in Romania, will become a European Capital of Culture in 2021, which means this diversity will be celebrated further.

Timisoara can boast the largest centre of historic buildings in Romania. Because of the long Hapsburg nomination, but also thanks to its proximity to western Europe, it is also the most cosmopolitan city in Romania and an excellent example of cohabitation between peoples. It features Orthodox and Catholic churches and cathedrals, and restaurants and bars in which Romanian, Hungarian, German, Serbian and Italian are spoken. Over the last few years, thanks an excellent local policy, the city has attracted thousands for foreign business people, mostly Italians. The presence of many universities, theatres and museums give the city a vibrant cultural life.

Freedom Square (Piata Libertatii) is considered the heart of the city, the topographical centre. It is located at the crossroads of several old roads which preserve visible traces of the past, but are also the heart of the city’s night life. Union Square (Piata Unirii) is one on the most beautiful in Romania. It is entirely pedestrianised and features a large park surrounded by beautiful brightly coloured buildings in Baroque style with decorative elements around the cornices, windows and doors.

Overnight in a 3* hotel in Timisoara

Day 2 – Timisoara – The Corvin’s Castle – Alba Iulia – Sibiu (320 km)

Breakfast at the hotel .

After the breakfast we are leaving Timisoara and going to Corvin’s Castle

Corvin’s Castle

Also known as The Hunyad Castle, it is thought to be the place where Vlad Tepes was imprisoned before his depose in 1462. According to this belief, he was held hostage for seven years by John Hunyadi, Hungary’s then regent and military leader.

The castle is located near the cities of Deva and Hunedoara, within the historic region of Transylvania, in its south western side, belonging to the county of Hunedoara. Its foundation was laid out by John Hunyadi (Iancu de Hunedoara) in a Gothic architectural style which encompasses Renaissance elements. It is viewed as the most imposing and resplendent castle in Transylvania. John Hunyadi reinforced the monument to make it safer and stronger in the event of an attack or battle, however he also transformed it visually, modifying the decorative elements of the halls and guest rooms and the towers. The castle features towers which are tall and mighty, ideal for defensive tactics and strategies, inner yards and a drawbridge. The wall is double to prevent any possible damage during or in the event of an attack. Corvin’s Castle is an impressive tourist attraction, abundant in historic relevance and architectural pulchritude and it would be a pity to visit its sites and not delve into its mysteries, legends and offerings. Visit each room of the castle and analyse the outer and inner decorative elements and fortifications. A stunning castle of Transylvania and the most amazing Gothic-style castle of Romania.

Alba Iulia

Stroll in the old town along the wide, tree-lined streets of the Habsburg citadel, one of the most impressive in Europe, to discover the historical, cultural and architectural places of interest of Alba Iulia: the Roman Catholic Cathedral – the oldest and most valuable monument of architecture in Transylvania., the Batthyaneum Library, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Reunification, the Babilon Building – housing the National Museum of Unification, the Union Hall, the Apor Palace, the Princely Palace, and the University of Alba Iulia.

Sibiu

Visit he beautiful city of Sibiu, European Capital of Culture in 2007, its towers remind us of the medieval era in which several guilds of craftsmen produced the most varied products, from boots to ropes, from pond to wood, and where blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, cordials and weavers carried out their daily work without forgetting to defend their beautiful Transylvanian city. We will discover all three Sibiu Squares to know it in detail.

Overnight in a 3* hotel in Sibiu.

Day 3 – Sibiu – Sighisoara – Targu Mures – Vatra Dornei (325km)

Breakfast at the Hotel

Sighisoara (UNESCO)

Visit Sighisoara, with its imposing Clock Tower. This citadel is the best preserved in Europe and, extraordinary, it is still inhabited. Since 1999 the historic center of Sighisoara is a UNESCO heritage site. Here we will admire the church on the hill, reachable after a wooden staircase called the schoolchildren’s ladder. We will also see the statue of the famous Hungarian national poet Petofi Sandor, testifying to the fact that in Sighisoara the Magyar community was in the past numerically important. Next to the statue is the beautiful Catholic church, reserved for the Hungarian community, and the tower of the shoemakers. You can have lunch at the house where Vlad the Impaler was born (not included)

Targu Mures

Visit Targu Mures, a city in which the baroque style predominates. Targu Mures is dominated by the beautiful Palace of Culture, symbol of the locality, an extraordinary baroque palace. In this Transylvanian city, the Hungarian community is still numerous and the architects who have worked on the design of historic buildings are all Hungarians

Vatra Dornei

Vatra Dornei is a well known ski resort in the Carpathian Mountains. There are ski slopes nearby the city, attracting tourists in winter season. Vatra Dornei is surrounded by large forest areas, proper places for practicing alpine tourism. There are mineral water springs in the city limits and its surroundings, that helped the settlement to develop as a spa.

Overnight in a 3* hotel in Vatra Dornei .

Day 4 – Vatra Dornei – Voronet – Moldovita – Sucevita – Marginea – Piatra Neamt (300 km)

Visit UNESCO Painted Monasteries in Bukovina:

Voronet Monastery (UNESCO)

Visit the monastery of Voronet, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Carpathians, founded by the great prince Stephen the Great and characterized by a beautiful blue color, inimitable and unique in the world

Moldovita Monastery (UNESCO)

Visit to the Moldovita monastery, another famous religious monument, founded by Pietro Rares in the 16th century and whose interior and exterior frescoes enchant the visitor.

Sucevita Monastery (UNESCO)

The last of the painted monasteries that you will have the pleasure of admiring is the Sucevita monastery, founded by the Movila brothers in the seventeenth century. Like the previous two, too, it presents Gothic and Byzantine elements, which merge to form the fascinating Moldovan architectural style. The frescoes on the northern façade of this monastery have remained visible thanks to the protective walls that have never been demolished here.

Marginea Black Ceramics

We continue with a visit to the local artisans of Marginea, who perform excellent work with the famous black ceramic, here you will have the opportunity to enter the workshop to closely observe the various working phases of ceramic pots, but you can also buy items typical of Bucovina. At Marginea you can buy not only ceramic vases, but also beautiful painted eggs and decorated with the traditional Romanian technique.

Overnight in a 3* hotel in Piatra Neamt

Day 5 – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges – Covasna (230 km)

Piatra Neamt

Walking tour in Piatra Neamt, a famous ski resort that preserves a beautiful citadel founded at the time of Stephen the Great, in the fifteenth century and an 18th century synagogue. The city has a wonderful geographical position being surrounded by mountains that guard beautiful lush vegetation

Bicaz Canyon

We will head towards the Bicaz Gorges and then admire a breathtaking landscape. The Bicaz gorges are crossed by a road flanked by a stream and constitute a landscape of strong emotional impact with thrilling cliffs. Along the gorges there is a market with typical handicrafts and souvenirs that make the attraction even more lively.

Red Lake

Visit of the Red Lake, a natural barrier lake, which was formed following the landslide of a part of a mountain, in fact the trunks of the trees are still present in the lake and this gives a particularly evocative atmosphere. The place is interesting especially for the legends that were born and have spread in reference to the name of the lake. During the visit you will become aware of these legends.

Covasna town

Covasna is the most remarkable health resort of the County with the same name. For a while before the 20th century it was the centre of the historical “Orbai Seat”. There are several mineral water springs with different composition suitable for spas and drinking cures. Covasna has flourished as a health resort since 1880’s.

Overnight in Covasna Hotel 3*

Day 6 -Covasna – Brasov – Bran – Sinaia (180 km)

Brasov

Visit Brasov, a wonderful Transylvanian town, once entirely fortified, an important cultural, tourist and commercial center. Brasov impresses with its typically German architecture, where the Gothic, the Baroque and the Renaissance intersect to give life to an interesting and culturally very lively city. Visit the Schei district, interesting for the entrances into the city that were carried out in medieval times through the Caatherine’s and Schei Gate, quest last of the nineteenth century. In Brasov we will also visit the impressive Black Church, the largest evangelical Gothic church in Eastern Europe, with a 65 meter high bell tower and a length of 90 meters, the church houses the most beautiful nineteenth-century mechanical organ of Romania. We will then admire the palaces and houses of the historic center, recently restored, with the Council Square which now houses a beautiful museum, and the pedestrian Avenue of the Republic.

Bran (Dracula’s) Castle

Continue your journey to Bran with it’s famous Bran castle. Also called Dracula`s Castle, it is situated not far from Brasov (25 kilometres) at the entrance in the Bran – Rucar passage. The castle got its fame from Dracula`s legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola.. The first documents about the Bran Castle appeared in 1377. Along the history, the Castle had a strategic mission being the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of the King of Hungary Sigismund of Luxemburg, than under the Romanian voievodes Mircea cel Batran and Vlad Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov. In 1912 it was donated by the municipality of Brasov to the romanian royal family, in order to became their residence.

Overnight in a 3* hotel in Sinaia

Day 7 – Sinaia – Bucharest (130 km)

Peles Castle

Visit to the fabulous Peles Castle, the summer residence of the first king of Romania, the King Charles 1 of Hohenzollern, of German origins. The castle was beautifully designed by a Czech architect, and is famous for being one of the most modern castles in Europe at the time of its construction, between the 19th and 20th centuries. Each room is characterized by a unique style, different from the styles of the other rooms. We will also admire the Florentine room, where we will breathe a typically Italian and Renaissance atmosphere.

Bucharest

Arrival in Bucharest after mid-day

**** Drop-off to the airport/ City Tour / Overnight in Bucharest.