Day 1: Budapest - Oradea
Arrive in Budapest, Hungary & drive to Romania’s border where you will meet your guide as you drive to the bustling city of Oradea. After checking into the hotel, you can explore the city on your own. Walk along the banks of the Crisul Repede River, admire the city’s classical architecture, or find a local market where you can shop & taste Romanian cuisine.
Day 2: Oradea – Tihuta
After breakfast, begin your journey to Tihuta. Along the way, you will drive through the breathtaking West Carpathian Mountains & stop in Cluj-Napoca to see St. Michael’s Church, the second largest in the country, as well as the neighboring statue of King Mathias Corvinus. Upon arrival in Tihuta, you will check in to Hotel Dracula & enjoy an evening learning about the history behind the tale.
Day 3: Tihuta – Poiana Brasov
Drive to Sighisoara where you will learn about Vlad the Impaler, the brutal leader who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula character. Before lunch in the city of Dracula’s birth, visit historical sites like the Old Clock Tower & the Mountain Church. You will spend the evening in Poiana Brasov where you can enjoy some free time.
Day 4: Poiana – Brasov
In the morning, visit Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s castle) tucked away on the side of Transylvanian mountains. This regal palace dates to the early 1200s & is a national Romanian monument. Afterward, tour the Black Church, the largest gothic building in Eastern Europe. It was named “The Black Church” after the interior was destroyed by a great fire in the late 1600s. You can still see the damages caused by the fire today. Enjoy a festive dinner at the Robber Cottage & take the remainder of the evening to rest or walk around the city.
Day 5: Brasov - Sibiu
Begin the day traveling through the northern part of the South Carpathian Mountains, making a short stop in Fagaras where you can visit an ancient fortress, which houses medieval torture equipment. You will arrive in Sibiu around noon & begin a walking tour of the city’s Brekuntal Museum & multiple churches. The evening will be spent at a local farm in Sibiel where you can enjoy a classic Romanian dinner & a tour of the glass icon museum.
Day 6: Sibiu - Arad
Your last full day in Romania will start with a short visit to local farms in Cristian. Then, you will travel through Sebes to the city of Alba Iulia where you can learn about the history of Transylvania & see a few key sites like the Catholic & Reunion Cathedrals. Arrive in Arad midafternoon & enjoy the evening exploring the city on your own.
Day 7: Arad- Budapest
After breakfast, begin your journey back to the Romanian border near Nadlag where you will say farewell to your guide. Arrive in Budapest to begin your journey home.
