Day 1
Upon arrival you will be greeted at the airport by the driver that will transfer you to the hotel in the center of Bucharest. Depending on the time of arrival you can have dinner and relax, or start exploring Bucharest. A good way to do it is with the hop-on, hop-off bus which takes you around to the most interesting places and has an audio guide.

Day 2
First  visit the House of Parliament, the largest administrative building for civilian use in the world. It is also the heaviest and the most expensive to build (total cost estimated at $4 billion), and it is as impressive on the inside as it is from an outwards glance. It was built during Ceausescu’s communist regime to bring together the central apparatus, and was meant to be a symbol of the prosperity and well-being of the country under the regime.Next up you will visit the Gold Thesaurus at the National History Museum. Romania has a long history of gold mining, as its gold reserves raised the interest of the Roman Empire to conquer this territory. Afterwards, you can choose between visiting the Arts, Natural History or Peasant Museum or enjoy one of the many parks Bucharest has.The old town also known as Lipscani area is great to walk around and there many options for going out and eating. 

Day 3
In the morning you pick up you rent a car and start your trip to Transylvania. As you travel from the plains towards the mountains through rural highways blanketed in thick forests, you will understand why it is named Transylvania, coming from Latin, meaning “beyond the forest”. You will arrive in Sibiu, a charming medieval town which was the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and nowadays is an important cultural hub in Romania, with great theater, jazz, classical music and many other cultural festival and events throughout the year. In Sibiu you will visit the open air Village Museum set in the forest on the shore of a lake, where you will discover the traditional rural architecture and traditional occupations which are still practiced in many places. In the evening you can have a walking tour of the old town with its defensive walls and towers, historic buildings and eye-catching central squares.

Day 4
Visit Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, the most imposing Gothic castle in the whole of Transylvania. Built in the 15th century, this is a picture-perfect castle, complete with an encircling river, huge entrance bridge, and tall observation and defensive towers. It has a knights’ hall, a torture room and quite a few legends to tell.Another highlight is Alba Iulia, the largest fortress in Transylvania, having a Vauban-style star shape. Alba Iulia has a special historical importance for Romanians, as it was here in 1918 that Transylvania was united with the rest of Romania to form the current territory. Here you will visit the Union Hall and Unification Cathedral, along with one of the oldest Catholic churches in Romania, and some majestic baroque entrance gates. Given the history, a medieval restaurant set in a real defensive tower seems like an appropriate lunch setting, enjoy it! 

Day 5
Another very beautiful village is Biertan, which you will visit on this day. Sighisoara is a medieval citadel built on a hilltop, where you can climb the clock tower hosting a small history museum and which offers a great view of the town. You will also enjoy rambling through the narrow cobbled streets, passing by historic buildings and defensive towers.Your next stop will be Viscri, the favorite village of HRH Prince Charles of Wales, who was captivated by its quaint look, architecture and the people who lived here centuries ago. Here you can visit thefortified church, dating back to the 12th century, and observe localspracticing centuries old occupations like brick making, blacksmithing, charcoal making, and shepherding. All 3 sites you will visit today are UNESCO World Heritage sites which hold very special historical value, not only to Romania but worldwide. 

Day 6
As you drive away from Viscri you will see a grand fortress overlooking the region. This is the Rupea fortress, which was recently renovated and open to public, so go ahead and step in. There are two more towns built by the German-Saxons worth visiting. The first is Prejmer, home to the largest fortified church in Transylvania. The second is Brasov, having a privileged location between mountain, along with a historic center, defensive walls and towers, the famous Black Church and the Romanian and German quarters. If you are up for a hike you can go up on the nearby Tampa Mountain for a great panorama of the town and surrounding area. Alternatively you can go by cable car. 

Day 7
Nothing about Dracula so far? Well, it’s time! You will finally arrive at Bran Castle which is usually associated with the fictitious Dracula character. You will see this medieval castle and find out firsthand if the legend has some merit or not. Near Bran there is another castle, Rasnov. Built by villagers in the 15th century it was used to escape attacks from invaders, and in recent years has been the setting for many blockbuster films, including Cold Mountain. 

Day8
You will finish your tour of Transylvania in style, with your last stop at Peles Castle in Sinaia. This will introduce you to the royal atmosphere, with its splendor, lavish decorations, 170 rooms uniquely decorated in Florentine, Turkish, Moorish, French, and Imperial styles, fine art collections and fine furniture. The castle is placed in a fairy-tale like setting at the edge of the forest, with a marvelous mountain backdrop. Next to Peles castle there is the smaller Pelisor castle with its breathtaking Art Nouveau style. You will cross the mountains and forests once again, this time to the South, leaving Transylvania behind and heading back to Bucharest from where you initially started. Alas, it will then be time to farewell Romania, and begin planning your next visit!

PRICE: 550.-EUR / per person in double room /