Transylvania & the Painted monasteries of Bucovina - Guaranteed Departures

Discover the most beautiful sides of Romania during a wonderful cultural journey to Transylvania and Bucovina. The journey starts in the capital city of Bucharest, Bucharest and continues on to Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and the European Gastronomy Region of 2019, to the medieval towns and fortified churches founded by German colonists, among the world-famous painted Orthodox monasteries of Bucovina, to Brasov and to the breathtaking castles Peles and Dracula. 
• Bucharest - the "Little Paris of the East"
• Sibiu - 2019 European Gastronomy Region 
• UNESCO Fortified Church of Biertan 
• Sighisoara - the hometown of Dracula 
• Voronet Monastery - the "Sistine Chapel of the East"
• UNESCO Fortified Church of Prejmer 
• The World famous Dracula Castle 

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Bucharest (approx.20 KM)

Pass By: Romania, Romania
„Welcome to Romania!“ greets you the local guide at the airport in Bucharest. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Meals included:
• Dinner: 3 course set menu dinner at the hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, centrally located in Bucharest

Day 2: Bucharest – Sibiu (approx.290 KM)

Pass By: Bucharest, Bucharest
In the morning, enjoy a city tour of Bucharest, known also as the ‘Paris of the east’, due to its boulevards and belle époque buildings. You will discover the highlights of the Romanian metropolis, such as the Arch of Triumph, the Victory Square, the Revolution Square and the Palace of Parliament, which is the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon in the USA. The Palace of the Parliament is also known as the House of People and its name was given by its mastermind, Communist ruler Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Stop At: Cozia Monastery, Calea lui Traian 816, Caciulata 245601 Romania
Cozia Monastery, built close to Călimănești, by Mircea the Elder, in 1388 and housing his tomb, is one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in Romania.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Sibiu, Sibiu, Sibiu County, Central Romania, Transylvania
The largest and weathiest walled citadel built in Transylvania in the 12th century by the German settlers, also known in German as Hermannstadt, Sibiu has a pedestrian-friendly area, with two accessible levels: The Upper Town and The Lower Town, connected through The Stairs Passage. Preserving until today its wonderful medieval atmosphere, Sibiu was listed by Forbes in its top 10 of the most idyllic places to live in the whole world, and was chosen as Europe’s Cultural Capital City in 2007, together with Luxembourg.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Big Square (Piata Mare), Piata Mare 1, Sibiu 550163 Romania
Beautifully comprising various UNESCO heritage sites, The Old Town is the the core of the city, the beating heart which exudes the medieval air Sibiu is famous for. The Upper Town, the area which used to be known as the wealthier part of Sibiu, given its status as commercial outlet, hosts the Roman-Catholic Church and the impressive, world famous Brukenthal Museum in The Great Square. The Council Tower, the top of which offers unforgettable views over the city, is the gateway that leads you from the Great Square to the Little Square, the traditional hotspot for the town's most sophisticated artists and craftsmen.

Pass By: Huet Square, Sibiu Romania
The third fortified square of the Old Town is the Huet Square, dominated by the Evangelical Cathedral. The Lower Town is the part of the city which used to be dedicated to manufacturing.

Stop At: Bridge of Lies, Piata Mica 1, Sibiu 550182 Romania
Idyllically reigning over the Stairs Passage and connecting the Upper Town to the Lower Town, the bridge was restored in 1859 and became the first iron bridge in Romania and the second in Europe.
Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: The Lower Town of Sibiu (Orasul de Jos), Strada Turnului, Sibiu 550197 Romania
Dating back to the 15th century, only 3 out of more than 50 towers have stood the test of time , though: The Harquebusiers' Tower, The Carpenters' Tower, and The Potters' Tower. The later Great Tower, dating back to 16th century, was the venue for Sibiu's first theatrical performance.

Meals included:
• Dinner: Traditional dinner with brandy and wine at the locals in the village of Sibiel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Sibiu

Day 3: Sibiu – Medias - Biertan – Sighisoara (approx.120 KM)

Stop At: Medias, Medias, Sibiu County, Central Romania, Transylvania
After breakfast, you head to Medias, where you will discover one of the best-preserved historical centers in Romania and you will visit the St. Margaret Church.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Biertan Fortified Church, Central Square, Biertan 557045 Romania
Medias, you will go to Biertan, known worldwide due to its Saxon fortified church, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage. Biertan Church is situated on a hill and its interior is in a classic late Gothic, with intricate stone-ribbed vaulting and having a splendid covered staircase. Biertan Fortified Church also stands out with its altarpiece, comprising no less than 28 panels; its remarkable sacristy door, with no fewer than nineteen locks, and a room where couples wanting to divorce were supposedly shut up together for two weeks (there's now a small museum here).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sighisoara, Sighisoara, Mures County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Sighisoara, the hidden gem of Transylvania and the medieval citadel, where Vlad the Impaler (count Dracula) took his firs steps. This delightful town still preserves the medieval atmosphere, its 14th century wall, towers and bastions. Enjoy a pleasant, guided walking tour inside the citadel, visit the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill and the Birth House of Dracula.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Sighisoara Clock Tower, Strada Turnului, Sighisoara 545400 Romania
The Clock Tower of Sighișoara is the main entry point to the citadel, opposite guarded by Tailors' Tower. With its 64 meters of height, the tower is visible from almost every corner of the city from Mures County, its purpose was to defend the main gate of the citadel and also served as the town hall until 1556. Now it's considered one of the most expressive clock tower in the entire Transylvania.

Stop At: Church on the Hill, Sighisoara Romania
The Church on the Hill is the most important monument of religious architecture in Sighisoara. Located at an altitude of 429 meters, on the Hilltop School, the church dominates by its massiveness the entire city and it is visible from all directions.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Dinner: 3 course-set menu dinner, at hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Sighisoara

Day 4: Sighisoara - Targu Mures – Bistrita – Bucovina (approx.300 KM)

Stop At: Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Mures County, Central Romania, Transylvania
In the morning explore the Old Town of Targu Mures with its famous Rose Square, the Palace of Culture and the Orthodox Cathedral. Situated in the city center of Târgu Mureș, the Palace of Culture hosts three important local institutions - the Mureș County Library, the Mureș County Museum, and also the State Philharmonic of Târgu Mureș. Also we should mention that the Palace of Culture was given 2 Michelin stars from the famous eponymous guide.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Bistrita, Bistrita, Bistrita-Nasaud County, Northwest Romania, Transylvania
Bistrita, where you will take a walking tour and then, cross the Carpathian Mountains and arrive in Bucovina.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: 3 course-set menu dinner, at hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Gura Humorului

Day 5: Tour of the Painted Monasteries – Piatra Neamt (approx. 220 KM)

Stop At: Moldovita Monastery, Vatra Moldovitei 727595 Romania
You will start your day with a visit at the Moldovita Monastery, where you will enjoy a guided tour made by a nun. The Moldovita Monastery was founded in the 16th century by Stephen the Great's illegitimate son, Petru Rares, during whose reign, the Turks compelled Moldavia to acknowledge Ottoman suzerainty and they obliged the people to pay tribute. Although the church was built on a Byzantine plan, the visitors can also observe the influence of other architectural styles, such as the Gothic windows and the Renaissance internal doors.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sucevita Monastery, Dn17a 169, Sucevita 727510 Romania
Sucevita Monastery, which is the last and grandest of the monastic complexes to be built in Bucovina and it is a monument dedicated to Ieremia Movila, Prince of Moldovia. Both the village church in Sucevita and the monastery church were founded in the 16th century, but the walls, tower and belfry were built in stages thereafter. Sucevita is famous worlwide for its frescoes painted by two brothers and for the original colours used - offset brilliant reds and blues with an undercoat of emerald green.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Manastirea Voronet, Strada Voronet 166, Voronet 725301 Romania
According to the famous Moldavian chronicler, Ion Neculce, the prince Stephen the Great founded the Voronet Monastery in order to fulfill a pledge to his confessor, the hermit Daniil who assured him that the building of this monastery would bring him the victory in a new campaign against the Turks. The Voronet Monastery is also known as “The Sistine Chapel of the East”. The exterior frescoes feature an intense shade of blue known worldwide as „Voronet Blue”.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: 3 course set menu dinner, at hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Piatra Neamt

Day 6: Piatra Neamt – Prejmer – Brasov (approx.230 KM)

Stop At: Bicaz Canyon, Dn12c, Lacu Rosu 535502 Romania
Nature presents its beauty in the Bicaz gorge. The breathtaking landscapes of the Carpathians will certainly enchant you. Photo stop at the Red Lake and then you continue your trip to Transylvania.


Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Peasant Fortified Church at Prejmer, East side of the Brasov Depression, Prejmer 507165 Romania
Prejmer, the largest fortified church in southeastern Europe, is one of the 25 UNESCO Heritage Sites in Romania and it dates back to the 13th century, when it was built, in a cross-shaped plan, by Teutonic knights. Later, the church was modified and new works were done and decorations in Cistercian style were added. According to historical records, in its 500 years of existence, the fortress was besieged 50 times, but only captured once.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Brasov, Brasov, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Brasov, also known as the Crown of Transylvania. The walking tour of the town starts at the Council Square, built by the Saxons and called Markplatz.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Black Church (Biserica Neagra), Curte Honterus Johannes nr. 2, Brasov 500025 Romania
One of the main highlights of Brasov is the Black Church, Romania’s leading gothic church and the largest one between Vienna and Istanbul. The Black Church also houses the second largest oriental rugs collection in the world .
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Dinner: 3-course set menu dinner, at hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Poiana Brasov

Day 7: Brasov – Bran – Sinaia - Bucharest (approx.200 KM)

Stop At: Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Str. General Traian Mosoiu nr. 24, Bran 507025 Romania
The Bran's Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle is hidden in the hilly forest of Bran and surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend. The castle was built by the German Saxons in the 14th century and it served as customs for many centuries between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1920, the castle became Royal Residence, offered as a gift by the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. Now worldwide known for being the place where Bram Stoker's fictional creation, Count Dracula is set.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Peles Castle, Str. Pelesului 2, Sinaia 106100 Romania
Considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe, The Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, set in the picturesque town of Sinaia. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.

Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Farewell dinner including Folklore show, at local restaurant in The Old Town of Bucharest
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* hotel, in Bucharest

Day 8: Bucharest – Airport (departure) (approx. 20 Km)

Pass By: Otopeni, Otopeni, Ilfov County, Southern Romania
Free time at leisure. Transfer to the airport.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.