10 Day Romanian Jewels Tour History ,Culture, and Nature

Day 1 Bucharest – Curtea de Arges – Transfagarasan Road* – Sibiu

1. 1

   Curtea de Arges

   2 hours

   We will start this 10 days experience with a journey from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, the historical capital of Wallachia and one of the richest Romanian cities in terms of historical culture. Our first stop is the renowned Curtea de Arges Monastery, constructed between 1512 and 1517. The monastery is widely famous for the legend of Manole, one of the most important Romanian myths, which left a powerful mark on its people: “you can’t create something everlasting without sacrifice”. Today, the monastery is a prominent historical monument in Romania and serves as the final resting place for several members of the Royal House of Romania.

2. 2

   Transfagarasan Highway

   2 hours

   After we will drive on the spectacular Transfagarasan Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Transfagarasan passes through the Southern Carpathians via the tallest mountains in Romania, Fagaras, reaching heights of 2042 meters. This is the perfect opportunity to take some stunning photos of the surrounding areas.

3. 3

   Sibiu

   2 hours

   The last destination for the day is the medieval city of Sibiu, with a rich history of more than 900 years. Sibiu is a superb destination throughout the whole year, but in the summer season it is home to the International Theatre Festival, and in the winter it is home to one of the most impressive Christmas Markets in Romania. After taking a walking tour through Sibiu’s Historical Center, we will head towards the hotel.

Day 2 Sibiu – Hunedoara – Alba Iulia – Turda – Cluj

1. 1

   Hunedoara

   1 hour

   This day will start early in the morning, and we will make our first stop in Hunedoara, where will take a tour of Corvin Castle, a castle with a particular charm. Also known as Hunyad Castle due to its main inhabitant, John Hunyadi, it is one of the largest castles in Romania.

2. 2

   Alba Iulia

   2 hours

   Our next stop will be at Alba Iulia, the town which was home to one of the most important events in Romania’s History as the Union of Transylvania with Romania. We will visit Alba Carolina Fortress, built between 1715 and 1738 in the Vauban architectural style by more than 20,000 Romanian peasants.

3. 3

   Turda

   2 hours

   Driving away from Alba Iulia we will reach Turda, a small village which is home to one of the coolest underground attractions in the world, according to Business Insider. Turda Salt Mine with its 13 underground floors, and a spectacular theme park is equipped with a Ferris wheel, mini golf course, tennis court, and a lake.

4. 4

   Cluj-Napoca

   2 hours

   At the end of the day, we will reach Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania and one of the largest student centers in Romania. After taking a walking tour through the Old City Center, we will have free time to explore the local cafes and bohemian restaurants near the hotel.

Day 3 Cluj-Napoca – Bistrita –Voronet Monastery

1. 1

   Bistrita

   2 hours

   On our way to Bucovina, we will stop in Bistrita, a city located in the foothills of the Bargau Mountains, not far away from Pasul Tihuta which is the connecting road between Transylvania and Bucovina. This is the place where Bram Stoker’s character, Jonathan Haker, stayed before meeting Count Dracula.

2. 2

   Voronet

   4 hours

   After taking a short sightseeing tour of Bistrita and tasting some delicious products from a local bakery, we will depart from Transylvania towards Romania’s holy land. Our first stop in Bucovina will be at the Voronet Monastery, one of the 8 UNESCO Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. The monastery was built in 1488, and it is well known for its unique shade of blue, “Blue of Voronet”. In the evening we will reach the hotel and enjoy a traditional Romanian dinner.

Day 4 Voronet – Moldovita – Sucevita – Iasi

1. 1

   Moldovita Monastery

   2 hours

   For the first landmark of the day, we will drive north and stop at Moldovita Monastery, one of the oldest monastic settlements with a significant history. The Monastery was built between 1532 and 1537 and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 1993.

2. 2

   Sucevita Monastery

   2 hours

   After we will head towards Sucevita Monastery, built in 1585, the legend says that all the materials used in its construction were brought by a woman using only a cart pulled by oxen, in order to redeem her sins. Bucovina's Painted Monasteries are deemed by many true masterpieces of the Byzantine art. Their beautiful frescoes depict various biblical scenes as well as the life stories of several important religious figures. Decorated with beautiful ornaments and blending in perfectly with the surrounding landscape, they are unique throughout Europe

3. 3

   Iasi

   2 hours

   In the evening we will reach Iasi, the second largest city in Romania, and the birthplace of many Romanian personalities. After a short tour of this romantic and historical city, you will check in at the hotel.

Day 5 Iasi – Targu Neamt – Piatra Neamt

1. 1

   Iasi

   2 hours

   Before leaving for Piatra Neamt, we will take a tour of Iasi, with a first stop at the Palace of Culture. The Palace was built in a Neo-Gothic style between 1906 and 1925, and it is home to four of the biggest museums in Iasi.

2. 2

   2 hours

   We will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the most famous buildings in Iasi. The current Cathedral was built on top of two older churches, The White Church and Stratenia Church, in early 1833. Over the years, the Cathedral was severely deteriorated because of various factors such as harsh weather or bad terrain, but today the restoration project is close to coming to an end, and its beauty can be admired by tourists from all over the world.

3. 3

   Piatra Neamt

   2 hours

   Another important landmark of Iasi is the Three Hierarchs Church, which was built between 1637 and 1639. Our final stop in Iasi will be at the "Vasile Alecsandri" National Theatre, the first National Theatre in Romania. From Iasi, we will head to Targu Neamt for a tour of the Neamt Citadel, built during the reign of Peter I (1375-1391), and will reach Piatra Neamt in the evening, where we will take a cable car ride before checking in at the hotel.

Day 6 Piatra Neamt – Bicaz – Corund – Biertan – Sighisoara

1. 1

   1 hour

   After breakfast we will head towards Transylvania, passing through the impressive Bicaz Gorges in order to reach our first landmark of the day, a lake renowned for its unusual color. The Red Lake formed in 1837, when a series of heavy storms caused Mt. Ucigasu to fracture, with part of it coming down and blocking several streams. The river deposits that formed there had a reddish color, so the name of The Red Lake was given to the water body by the locals.

2. 2

   Corund

   1 hour

   Our next stop will be in Corund, one of the main pottery centers of Transylvania. Besides pottery, the locals also deal in woodworking and trade, and the clay used in pottery is extracted from a nearby stream

3. 3

   Biertan

   2 hours

   Leaving Corund behind, we will reach Biertan, one of the famous UNESCO Villages with Fortified Churches of Transylvania. Saxon colonists settled here for the first time in the 13th century, mainly because of the rich soil that was perfect for winemaking

4. 4

   Sighisoara

   2 hours

   Our last stop for the day is in Sighisoara, a city which is home to the last inhabited citadel in Europe. Sighisoara was built by Saxon colonists in the 12th century, and its unique features earned it a spot in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Day 7 Sighisoara – Viscri – Brasov

1. 1

   Sighisoara

   1 hour

   Today we will discover more of Transylvania and its people. In the first part of the day, we will explore Sighisoara, a city where each building has a story worth telling. While we head towards the Sighisoara Citadel, we will pass through the main gate and reach a true symbol of medieval life, the Clock Tower, which is home to Sighisoara’s History Museum. The basement of the Clock Tower is also home to a torture chamber, and the tower is beautifully decorated with numerous sculpted ornaments, as well as a clock on each side.

2. 2

   Viscri

   2 hours

   Our next stop will be in Viscri, a village that charmed the heart of Prince Charles through its simplicity and the way in which the locals preserved their traditions. Here, we will meet the women who are renowned throughout the region for their culinary skills. Viscri is one of Transylvania’s Villages with Fortified Churches, and before leaving we will visit the charming Viscri Church

3. 3

   Brasov

   3 hours

   After a while, we will reach Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities located in the middle of Romania, where we will take a short walking tour.

Day 8 Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucuresti

1. 1

   Brasov

   1 hour

   Our day starts with a city tour of Brasov, making our first stop in the Council Square, a place which was famous for its markets filled by traders of all nations. We will also take a tour of The Black Church, the main Gothic style monument in Romania and the largest Lutheran place of worship in the region.

2. 2

   Bran

   1 hour

   Thirty minutes away from Brasov is Bran, a small village famous for Bran Castle. With a history of more than 6 centuries, Bran Castle became widely known as Dracula’s Castle, mainly due to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Here, we will discover the history of Vlad the Impaler and the connection between Vlad Tepes and Bram Stoker’s Dracula

3. 3

   Sinaia

   2 hours

   Our next stop is in Sinaia, where we will visit the first fully electrified castle in Europe. In its final form, Peles Castle stretches over a surface of 3200 sq. meters and it holds 160 rooms and over 30 bathrooms. The castle was home to one of the most important collections of paintings in Europe, and it is well-known for its large collection of over 4,000 European and Oriental weaponry.

4. 4

   Bucharest

   2 hours

   At night, we will be back in Bucharest

Day 9 Bucharest City Tour

1. 1

   Bucharest

   5 hours

   In the last day of our tour of Romania, we will discover Bucharest through a full-day city tour. Our first stop will be at the famed Palace of the Parliament, the second largest building in the world. Also known as the People’s House, the building was part of a larger project created by Nicolae Ceausescu during his communist regime period of Romania. The building was designed to house all the organs of the state while also being a safe house able to withstand earthquakes and nuclear attacks. After touring the Palace of the Parliament we will head to Bucharest’s Old Town, where we will have some free time for lunch. Our last destination is the Bucharest Village Museum. The museum was opened for the first time in 1936, and it stretches over a surface of 14 ha, being home to a total of 380 monuments, 60,000 traditional objects, and over 250,000 archived documents, all related to the traditional Romanian life.

Day 10 Bucharest – Departure

1. 1

   Bucharest

   5 hours

   Today will be a free day to explore the city by your selves buy some souvenirs for your friends and family back home. Transfer to the Airport will mark the end of this amazing experience through history, culture, local culinary and adventures in Romania.
   *Please note that airport drop off free of charge is only possible on the last day of the tour (day 8th). If you wish to book an airport transfer different than this, please contact us for a quotation