Discover the best attractions of Romania, including off-the-beaten-path places and contacts with the locals, in a trip including the transport, accommodation with breakfast for 11 nights, a traditional lunch, and the entrance tickets.
Day 1. Meet at your hotel in Bucharest. City tour: the Parliament Palace, Lipscani district, and the Village Museum. Optionally: Ceaușescu's Mansion. Overnight in Bucharest.
Day 2. Peleș Castle & gardens from Sinaia, and then, the city of Brașov with the Black Church. Overnight in Brașov.
Day 3. Visit Bran Castle and Prejmer fortified church. Optionally: the Liberty Bear Sanctuary. Overnight in Brasov.
Day 4. Făgăraș Castle and Cârța ruins. If open, make the Transfăgărășan road; if not, the Olt Defile, with the Cozia monastery and the Călimănești spa town. Overnight in Sibiu.
Day 5: Sibiu Old Town with its squares and merchant houses with “”the sleepy eye” dormers, Brukenthal Palace, Evangelical Cathedral, and the Liars Bridge. Optionally: Astra Village Museum. Overnight in Sibiu.
Day 6. Visit a Gypsy coppersmith, then the fortified church of Biertan, with the divorce/reconciliation room. Sighișoara Citadel: climb the school’s covered staircase and the astronomic clock tower. Visit Viscri, one of the best villages in Romania. Overnight in Sighișoara Citadel.
Day 7. Cross the dramatic Bicaz Gorges and visit Agapia Monastery (one of Europe's largest, with 300 nuns and an entire monastic village). Optionally: Piatra Neamț with the only wooden synagogue, built half underground. Overnight in Gura Humorului.
Day 8. Bucovina Monasteries: Voroneț, Moldovița, and Sucevița; Marginea black pottery workshop; and Vama painted egg museum. Optionally: Moldovița steam train. Overnight in Gura Humorului.
Day 9. Ciocănești, the painted village, Prislop Pass, then Maramureș. At Săcel, visit a devilish mask maker; in Botiza, a vegetal-dyed rug maker; and in Bârsana, a large wood carving workshop. See Bârsana convent. Optionally: Ieud old wooden church. Overnight at a farm in Maramureș.
Day 10. The water mills, whirlpools, and fruit brandy distilleries of Sârbi. Călinești old wooden church. Discover local life: the dowry tradition, the hay culture, the medieval-style farming and customs; visit Breb village, farmers, and crafts; and encounter more inhabitants. Traditional lunch included. Optionally: hike the Rooster's Crest, a natural reserve with great views. Overnight at a farm in Maramureș.
Day 11: The Memorial of the Victims of Communism and the Elie Wiesel Museum from Sighetu Marmației. In Săpânța, the “Merry Cemetery“ and the tallest wooden church in the world. Optionally: the Village Museums or the Synagogue from Sighetu. Overnight in Maramureș.
Day 12. On the way, see the trout farm of Mara and St. Stephen's Tower from Baia Mare. Arrival in Cluj-Napoca, at St. Michael Church and Unirii Square. Optionally: Turda salt mine.
End the tour in Cluj-Napoca at a hotel, which is not included in our package.