7 days
Duration
Bucharest, Transylvania
Regions
Cultural Tour, Private Tour
Tour Type
- Accommodation
- Attractions
- Fortified Churches
- Holiday in Transylvania
- Holiday to Romania
- Medieval Castles
- Medieval Cities
- Medieval Fortresses
- Private Tour
- Saxon Villages
- Tours in Romania
- Tours in Transylvania
- Traditional Food
- Traditional Villages
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
THE MOST COMPLETE SEVEN-DAY TRANSYLVANIA PRIVATE TOUR INCLUDING CASTLES, SAXON TOWNS, SAXON VILLAGES AND FORTIFIED CHURCHES
The Medieval Transylvania Tour will take you on an unforgettable journey across a place of strong multicultural heritage and rich history while you will be taken to the age of courage, strength and glory. The focus is on the medieval attractions of this historical region, from famous landmarks to splendid monuments. On this 7-day tour you will explore the most important cities of Transylvania, the stunning Peles and Bran Castles. The itinerary will take you back in time revealing you the hidden villages of the Saxons, the untouched Castles and Fortresses and the Fortified Cities of Transylvania. You will experience the delightful cuisine in a Saxon home and sleep in memorable locations right in the heart of the medieval villages and towns. Book this Medieval Transylvania Tour for the best experience in Romania and for taking your holiday to the next level!
The tour can be personalised according to your time and points of interest.
Itinerary: Bucharest Tour – Peles and Bran Castles – Brasov Walking Tour – Prejmer Fortified Church – Historic Center of Sighisoara – Saxon Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania – Exclusive Gypsy Home Visit – Sibiu Walking Tour – Corvin Castle – Cozia Monastery – Bucharest
| DEPARTURE/RETURN | Bucharest |
| TRANSPORTATION | Fully insured sedan/minivan with climate control |
| TOURIST GUIDE | Certified English-Speaker Tourist Guide (speakers of other languages at request) |
| 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one on the Tentative List | Historic Center of Sighisoara Biertan Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Saschiz Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Viscri Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Prejmer Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Historic Centre of Sibiu and its Ensemble of Squares (Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites) |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS AND UNIQUE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
- Benefit of complete flexibility of having the tour tailored on your requirements, in terms of the route, the duration and the features of the tour;
- No more than two days in the same location;
- Enhance your experience through our choices of tours to match your particular interests and traveling style;
- Visit through our exclusively designed tours and cultural connections in Transylvania no less than 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites;
- Enjoy the exceptional knowledge and expertise of Romania’s top rated licensed tourist guide with excellent reviews;
- Take the unique chance of meeting Gypsies in their own community in Transylvania and discover their particular culture and see what good skills they have at crafts;
- Enjoy traditional Transylvanian delight specialities, authentic local dining in our traditional home in Transylvania at lunch and dinner;
- Meet local people in traditional market;
- Discover the daily life, self-sufficiency and sustainability in the remote Saxon villages of Transylvania;
- Meet & interact with locals in the home hosted experience and local market on our authentic cultural connections;
- Enjoy 6 nights of accommodation at full of character, centrally located buildings, as well as two local home in Transylvania;
- Meet local artists such as an icon glass painter, a blacksmith and a brick maker in their workshops and learn about the traditional arts & crafts;
- Make the most of your tour experience through our exclusively designed tours with all admissions included and not just only guided walks;
- Discover the capital city of Bucharest, on a comprehensive city tour including the guided tour in the Palace of the Parliament and in the former private residence of the Ceausescu family.
| DEPARTURE/RETURN | Bucharest (it can be changed at your request) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| TRANSPORTATION | Fully insured sedan/minivan with climate control | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| TOURIST GUIDE | Certified English-Speaker Tourist Guide (speakers of other languages at request) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INCLUDED |
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| NOT INCLUDED |
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1
Day 1: Bucharest Arrival
At your arrival to Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest you will be greeted by your certified English-speaking tourist guide. You will be transfer to your 4* hotel located in the city center with a short orientation tour. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.
***Optional: You can choose a traditional Romanian Welcome Dinner with Folklore Show
***Optional: You can choose a traditional Romanian Welcome Dinner with Folklore Show
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Day 2: Bucharest City Tour with Parliament Palace and Ceausescu Residence & 80s Apartment – Olt River Valley – Cozia Monastery – Sibiu
After the breakfast in the hotel, we will start the Medieval Transylvania tour with the visit of capital city of Romania. The day starts with the visit the world’s largest, heaviest and most expensive administrative building, the Palace of Parliament. Between the two communist landmarks, we will have a panoramic tour of the city with Victory Square and Avenue, Royal Palace and Revolution Square and a short stop at the Romanian Athenaeum. Next, we will attend a visit to the former residence of Ceausescu family, the last communist leader of the Socialist Republic of Romania. In contradistinction with the Ceausescu former residence we will have an incursion back in time, in the communist time, where you will have the opportunity to experience life in the 80’s with the help of authentic decor and furniture, working appliances and household accessories, local drinks and homemade snacks and historical and archive footage.
The tour continues with a short stop at the 14th century Cozia Monastery built by King Mircea the Elder featuring a superb late 17th century Last Judgment fresco. Drive along the Olt River Valley crossing the mountains into Transylvania. After reaching Sibiu, brief orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Accommodation in a 4* hotel in the center of Sibiu.
Dinner on your own. A suggestion is Crama Sibiul Vechi, the best cellar – restaurant in town or La Taifas restaurant.
The tour continues with a short stop at the 14th century Cozia Monastery built by King Mircea the Elder featuring a superb late 17th century Last Judgment fresco. Drive along the Olt River Valley crossing the mountains into Transylvania. After reaching Sibiu, brief orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Accommodation in a 4* hotel in the center of Sibiu.
Dinner on your own. A suggestion is Crama Sibiul Vechi, the best cellar – restaurant in town or La Taifas restaurant.
3
Day 3: Sibiu Walking Tour – Corvin Castle – Icon Glass Workshop – Home Hosted Dinner in Sibiel
After the breakfast in the hotel, you will have a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu (Hermannstadt), the formerly chief city of the Transylvanian Saxons. The Great and Lesser Squares are the landmarks of the Old Town with the many merchant houses featuring the Sibiu eyes. View the old surrounding defence walls and the remaining towers belonging to the merchant guilds. Next is the Evangelical Cathedral completed in its actual shape in 1520. The next visit to improve the cultural connection is the colourful fruit and vegetable market in the town’s open-air market. Before noon, depart to Hunedoara, to Corvin Castle, one of the largest and most well preserved medieval castles of Europe, home to the mighty Corvin/Hunyadi royal family. After the visit to this Gothic-Renaissance castle, the next stop will be the village Sibiel where we will have a visit to a local icon glass artist in his workshop. Accommodation is in a private house in a Sibiel village. The dinner and the traditional home-made plum brandy is included so that the people will faster get deeper into the local culture.
4
Day 4: Medias City Tour – Exclusive Gypsy Home Visit – Saxon Village of Biertan with the Fortified Church – Sighisoara Walking Tour
After the organic breakfast, we will depart to Medias, the XIII century Saxon fortified city in Transylvania. Here you will have a brief stop to see the fortified St. Margaret Evangelical Church and the Trumpeters’ Tower. After the short walking tour, you have the chance to visit a Gypsy home, on this exclusive home visit you will have the unique opportunity to learn about this less known yet controversial ethnic group, about its culture, identity and lifestyle. After the home visit, you will go to the fortified church of Biertan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a visit of the former seat of the Lutheran Bishops of Transylvania. With its three belts of fortification, this is the most impressive fortified church in Transylvania.
In the afternoon we will arrive in Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Before starting the walking tour your tourist guide will have an informal talk with you on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula, what is truth and what is fiction. In Sighisoara the German settlers built the city in the late part of the 12th century. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel, the Scholars’ Staircase, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler, and the Tower with Clock. Sighisoara is the place where Vlad the Impaler father had a house.
Accommodation in the Upper Town of Sighisoara.
***Optional: Transylvanian wine tasting in a 500-year old cellar in Sighisoara
In the afternoon we will arrive in Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Before starting the walking tour your tourist guide will have an informal talk with you on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula, what is truth and what is fiction. In Sighisoara the German settlers built the city in the late part of the 12th century. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel, the Scholars’ Staircase, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler, and the Tower with Clock. Sighisoara is the place where Vlad the Impaler father had a house.
Accommodation in the Upper Town of Sighisoara.
***Optional: Transylvanian wine tasting in a 500-year old cellar in Sighisoara
5
Day 5: Saxon Village of Saschiz & Bunesti & Viscri with the Fortified Churches – Exclusive Viscri Village Tour & Traditional Lunch and Dinner
After the breakfast, the journey continues south to Viscri with a stop in Saschiz Village (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) with the imposing clock tower and the fortified church, which is the most important landmark of the village. The Late-Gothic fortified church from Saschiz is one of the strongest constructions of this type from Transylvania, widely considered one of Transylvania’s most beautiful medieval monuments, this is the main tourist attraction of the village. On the route, enjoy an exclusive tasting of organic Transylvanian “like Grandma used to make” jams.
The last stop for today is in Viscri village, the traditional Saxon village, one of the oldest in all of Transylvania. It is famous for the traditional houses that the Prince Charles bought, restored and converted into guesthouses for tourists. We will serve a traditional lunch, before visiting the Fortified Church, that unlike many of the other fortified churches, this one was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists 100 years later. Here you will meet a traditional blacksmith in his workshop and he will show you how is working in a traditional blacksmith workshop, after the visit at blacksmith we will visit a traditional brick makers too, all this things in an exclusive traditional tour in a horse cart.
You will spend the night in a traditional Saxon home and enjoy a dinner, prepared by your host from local ingredients.
The last stop for today is in Viscri village, the traditional Saxon village, one of the oldest in all of Transylvania. It is famous for the traditional houses that the Prince Charles bought, restored and converted into guesthouses for tourists. We will serve a traditional lunch, before visiting the Fortified Church, that unlike many of the other fortified churches, this one was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists 100 years later. Here you will meet a traditional blacksmith in his workshop and he will show you how is working in a traditional blacksmith workshop, after the visit at blacksmith we will visit a traditional brick makers too, all this things in an exclusive traditional tour in a horse cart.
You will spend the night in a traditional Saxon home and enjoy a dinner, prepared by your host from local ingredients.
6
Day 6: Prejmer Fortified Church – Bran Castle – Brasov Walking Tour
After the organic breakfast, we continue our journey to Brasov where we visit the last UNESCO World Heritage Site of our Medieval Transylvania tour, in Prejmer village, where you will visit Prejmer Fortified Church, the largest fortified church in South Eastern Europe.
Later, it is time for Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. This medieval structure was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. After the visit, you will have time for buying souvenirs and have an exclusive natural cheese sampling.
Remain of the day is spent in Brasov, another of the important Saxon cities with a rich heritage and one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. The tour will reveal the Old Town with the magnificent Black Church – largest Gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe and featuring a collection of over one hundred Muslim prayer rugs, Council Square, Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter with the First School in Romanian language and the narrow Rope Street. Hotel check-in in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.
Later, it is time for Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. This medieval structure was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. After the visit, you will have time for buying souvenirs and have an exclusive natural cheese sampling.
Remain of the day is spent in Brasov, another of the important Saxon cities with a rich heritage and one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. The tour will reveal the Old Town with the magnificent Black Church – largest Gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe and featuring a collection of over one hundred Muslim prayer rugs, Council Square, Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter with the First School in Romanian language and the narrow Rope Street. Hotel check-in in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.
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Day 7: Peles Castle – Bucharest Airport
fter the breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through Predeal, Romania’s highest town. Named after St. Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai, Sinaia became the unofficial capital of the Kingdom of Romania towards the end of the 19th century. The orientation tour of the resort includes a view of the famous Casino building, with its architecture inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Then take a guided tour of the Peles Castle, the royal residence of King Carol I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. Once the famous Orient Express train use to regularly call here and it still does once a year on its way from Paris to Constantinople.
After the visit drive to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight or to your hotel.
***Optional: Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper (requires two extra days)
***Optional: You can choose a Bucharest City Tour (requires one extra day)
NOTE: The tour is further customizable.
After the visit drive to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight or to your hotel.
***Optional: Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper (requires two extra days)
***Optional: You can choose a Bucharest City Tour (requires one extra day)
NOTE: The tour is further customizable.
Traditional Romanian welcome dinner with Folklore Show
In the evening, you can opt to serve a traditional dinner at a local restaurant with an idyllic view, situated on the lakeshore in Bucharest’s most famous park, the Herastrau or Michael I Park. Here, you will enjoy a three-course meal dinner with wine included, and you will get a chance to discover the traditional Romanian folklore costumes while enjoying the dances of the local performers. The entire show displays authentic Romanian traditions and customs, from the sewn details on the white outfits of the dancers to the delighting music played by the local artists.
Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper
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Extra Day 1: Bucharest – Constanta Walking Tour – Histria Fortress – Tulcea
Begin your extension tour of the Black Sea and Danube Delta with an early morning departure to the Black Sea Coast, to Constanta – the largest seaport on the Black Sea, established in the 4th century BC as a Greek colony. The drive from Bucharest will take approximately three hours, crossing the Danube into the region of Dobrogea and driving along the famous Danube-Black Sea Canal. The city tour of Constanta will take you to the Secession style Casino and the Genoese Lighthouse. In the National Museum of Archaeology, we will see the fabulous Glykon Serpent and the wonderfully restored Roman Mosaic – one of the largest in this part of Europe. In the afternoon drive to Mamaia – Romania’s largest sea resort, established by King Carol I of Romania in the second half of the 19th century and then continue north to the ruins of the ancient town of Histria. In the early evening we will arrive to Tulcea located right at the entrance in the Danube Delta. Hotel check in. Dinner on your own.
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Extra Day 2: Danube Delta Private Cruise with Lunch – Bucharest Airport
After the early breakfast, you will explore, in your private boat the youngest territory in the world, the Danube Delta started to form just 10,000 years ago and is still in the process of formation. On your exclusively cruise you will have the chance to admire the Danube scenic beauty and wildlife – it is known as the birdwatchers paradise, so simply relax while browsing through the narrow channels. A fauna specialist tour guide and skipper, who knows all the channels, will lead your tour. A great opportunity for you to watch birds and to admire nature. The Delta cuisine is certain to provide an interesting lunch experience, the lunch will be served on the ship.
After the tour we will drive back to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight.
After the tour we will drive back to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight.
Tour Reviews
In seven days we were treated to a 900 mile tour of Transylvania. Our guide, Dan was very professional; he took very good care of us. His English, which he used to impart a wealth of knowledge, was excellent and even my husband who has trouble with accents, could understand him. We got off road into small villages and saw beautiful baroque and neoclassical buildings in cities. We learned about religion and politics and the life of the people. We stayed in comfortable hotels and ate in restaurants where residents ate. All in all we were very satisfied.
We had a wonderful visit to Romania. Alex was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guided. I would recommend anyone traveling to Romania in general to get in touch with Holiday to Romania.
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