Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
Arrive in Bucharest whenever you'd like. There's time to check out Old Town or visit the National Museum of Romanian History or Military Museum if you get in early. Meet your tour leader at 6pm at the hotel for a welcome briefing, and there's an optional group dinner if you're interested.
Optional Activities
- Explore Bucharest's Old Town
- Visit National Museum of Romanian History
- Visit Military Museum
- Visit Folk Art Museum
- Dinner with tour group
Landmarks/POIs Old Town, Bucharest National Museum of Romanian History Military Museum Folk Art Museum - Day 2
Bucharest
This morning you'll take a guided tour through Bucharest to see how the city mixes old turn-of-the-century elegance with communist architecture. You'll visit the Romanian Atheneum, walk by the Royal Palace and Parliament building exteriors, and explore the Village Museum with its old wooden churches and traditional peasant homes. The afternoon is yours to wander through the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bucharest city centre
- Visit Romanian Atheneum
- View Royal Palace of Bucharest exterior
- View Palace of Parliament exterior
- Visit Village Museum with old wooden churches, windmills and peasant dwellings
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Palace of Parliament interior
Landmarks/POIs Romanian Atheneum Royal Palace of Bucharest Palace of Parliament Village Museum - Day 3
Bucharest to Moieciu
Head into Transylvania's countryside toward Sinaia where you'll see Pelisor Palace, an Art Deco and Art Nouveau building that looks like it belongs in Bavaria. From there, you'll drive to Bran Castle sitting on a mountain. Later you'll stay in a small local guesthouse in Moieciu and have a home-cooked Romanian dinner with hearty stewed beef, fresh bread, and local red wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Home-cooked Romanian meal featuring stewed beef, freshly baked bread, pearl barley, cabbage, roasted root vegetables and sour cream)
Included Activities
- Visit Pelisor Palace
- Visit Bran Castle
Landmarks/POIs Pelisor Palace Bran Castle - Day 4
Moieciu to Sibiu
This morning you'll drive to Brasov and walk its cobbled streets to see the 15th-century Gothic cathedral in City Square and narrow Rope Street where the Black Church stands. After lunch, you'll continue to Sibiu, a 12th-century walled city where you can wander past historic sites like Liar's Bridge. There's free time to explore or visit museums and local restaurants on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov city centre
- View Black Church in Brasov
- Guided tour of Sibiu city centre
- Visit Liar's Bridge in Sibiu
Optional Activities
- Visit Brasov museums or First Romanian School
- Visit Saint Nicolas Church in Scheii district, Brasov
- Visit Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu
Landmarks/POIs Black Church Brasov City Square Rope Street (Stringul Cordelului), Brasov Sibiu City Centre Liar's Bridge Brukenthal National Museum Piata Mica (Small Square), Sibiu - Day 5
Sibiu to Orsova
You'll visit Gothic Corvin Castle with its red-roofed turrets and see the legendary 30-metre deep well inside. Then you'll drive to Orsova on the Danube River to see the massive King Decebalus rock relief carved into the gorge. There's an optional boat trip if you want to get a closer look at the monument.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Corvin Castle
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on Iron Gates Gorge to view King Decebalus monument (approximately 1 hour)
Landmarks/POIs Corvin Castle King Decebalus Rock Relief Iron Gates Gorge - Day 6
Orsova to Belgrade
Today you'll leave Romania and cross into Serbia. First stop is the ancient Roman city of Viminacium, which was an important military fort from the 1st to 6th century. You'll see 4th-century tomb frescoes and one of the Balkans' largest amphitheatres. Then you'll continue to Belgrade, Serbia's capital where the Sava and Danube Rivers meet.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Viminacium archaeological site with local guide
Landmarks/POIs Viminacium Yugoslav Army Headquarters ruins - Day 7
Belgrade to Novi Sad to Belgrade
You'll drive to Novi Sad, Serbia's relaxed second city on the Danube's banks. After a walking tour, you'll visit Petrovaradin Fortress and explore its 16 kilometres of underground hallways leading to dungeons. Later you'll head back to Belgrade for an afternoon walking tour that covers the city's history from ancient times through recent conflicts, starting at Belgrade Fortress and Kalmegdan Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Novi Sad
- Visit Petrovaradin Fortress
- Walking tour of Belgrade city centre
- Visit Belgrade Fortress
- Visit Kalmegdan Park
Landmarks/POIs Petrovaradin Fortress Liberty Square Belgrade Fortress Kalmegdan Park Knez Mihailova Street Main Square, Belgrade - Day 8
Belgrade to Nis
This morning you'll drive to Devil's Town to see over 200 distinctive red stone formations shaped by erosion from mineral-rich acidic waters. After a picnic lunch, you'll continue to Nis where you'll visit Bubanj Memorial Park and explore the old citadel, Tito's Memorial, and the Skull Tower. This evening you'll try Bulgarian food for the first time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Bulgarian cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Devil's Town rock formations
- Visit Bubanj Memorial Park
- Walking tour of Nis
- View Tito's Memorial
- Visit Ottoman Citadel in Nis
- Visit Skull Tower
Optional Activities
- Explore Nis city further
Landmarks/POIs Devil's Town Bubanj Memorial Park Ottoman Citadel, Nis Tito's Memorial Skull Tower - Day 9
Nis to Sofia
You'll stop briefly at Cegar Hill and Latin Church before heading to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital. Once there, you'll take the metro to see the Monument to the Soviet Army, known for being repeatedly painted over with pop art. Then you'll walk back to the city centre, stopping at interesting landmarks like the Palace of Culture, Independence Square, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Latin Church at Cegar Hill
- Metro visit to Monument to the Soviet Army
- Walking tour of Sofia city centre
- Visit Palace of Culture
- Visit Independence Square
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Cegar Hill Latin Church Monument to the Soviet Army Palace of Culture Independence Square Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Day 10
Sofia
This morning you'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Rila Monastery with its colorful frescoed interior and distinctive striped brickwork. You'll tour the impressive church and museum housing frescoes, icons, and religious pieces. The afternoon is free back in Sofia to check out the Archaeological Museum, Museum of Socialist Art, or the ancient ruins of Serdica.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery
- Visit Rila Monastery History Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery Ethnographic Museum
- Visit Rila Monastery Hrelyu Tower
- Visit Rila Monastery Kitchen
- Visit Rila Monastery Icons Museum
- Visit Archaeological Museum in Sofia
- Visit Museum of Socialist Art
- Visit ancient ruins of Serdica
Landmarks/POIs Rila Monastery Archaeological Museum, Sofia Museum of Socialist Art Serdica Roman Ruins - Day 11
Sofia to Kazanlak
You'll drive to Plovdiv, an ancient city built on seven hills, and see the well-preserved Roman Theatre of Philipoppol from the outside (interior access depends on whether performances are happening). After lunch in Plovdiv, you'll head to Kazanlak in the Rose Valley and visit a reproduction of the Thracian Tomb with impressive funeral feast murals. You'll check into your hotel in Kazanlak that evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Plovdiv Roman Theatre of Philipoppol (exterior)
- Visit Kazanlak Thracian Tomb reproduction with local guide
Optional Activities
- Visit Plovdiv Roman Theatre of Philipoppol interior (if no performances)
- Visit Rose Museum
Landmarks/POIs Roman Theatre of Philipoppol Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak Rose Valley Rose Museum - Day 12
Kazanlak to Veliko Tarnovo
This morning you'll drive deep into the mountains to Shipka Memorial Church, a striking structure honoring Russian soldiers from the Russo-Turkish War. Next you'll visit Etar Open Air Museum with about 50 historic buildings showing Bulgarian customs and crafts, including an 18th-century watermill. Then you'll head to medieval Veliko Tarnovo to climb up to the Tsarevets Fortress ruins and browse the handicraft market Samovodska Charshiya.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Shipka Memorial Church
- Visit Etar Open Air Museum
- Walk up to Tsarevets Fortress
- View Tsarevets Fortress ruins
- Visit Samovodska Charshiya handicraft market
Landmarks/POIs Shipka Memorial Church Bulgarka Nature Park Etar Open Air Museum Tsarevets Fortress Samovodska Charshiya - Day 13
Veliko Tarnovo to Balchik
You'll drive to Varna on the Black Sea coast. A walking tour covers the city centre with views of the ancient Roman Baths of Odessos and the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral. There's an optional visit to the Archaeological Museum where you can see 6,000-year-old Thracian jewelry or the Sea Garden. In the afternoon you'll drive to Balchik and stay in rooms within the old villas of Queen Marie of Romania's Black Sea Summer Palace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Varna city centre
- View Roman Baths of Odessos
- View Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Visit Archaeological Museum to see Thracian gold jewellery
- Visit Sea Garden
Landmarks/POIs Roman Baths of Odessos Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral Archaeological Museum, Varna Sea Garden, Varna - Day 14
Balchik
You'll visit Kaliakra Fortress perched on a rocky peninsula with waves crashing below. There's an easy 1.5-hour coastal cliff walk with sea views and a coffee break at a terrace. If you're interested, there's an optional swim at Boiata Beach. After returning to Balchik, you'll explore Balchik Palace and Queen Marie's botanical gardens with over 2,000 plant varieties, then have free time to relax on the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kaliakra Fortress
- Coastal cliff walk (approximately 1.5 hours)
Optional Activities
- Swim at Boiata Beach
- Visit Balchik Palace and botanical gardens
Landmarks/POIs Kaliakra Fortress Boiata Beach Balchik Palace - Day 15
Balchik to Bucharest
You'll leave Bulgaria and drive back into Romania toward Bucharest. There's a lunch stop along the way, and you'll arrive around 3:30pm. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to walk through Old Town or visit the National Museum of Romanian History, Military Museum, or Folk Art Museum. There's also an optional tour of the Palace of Parliament interior if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Bucharest Old Town
- Visit National Museum of Romanian History
- Visit Military Museum
- Visit Folk Art Museum
- Visit Palace of Parliament interior
Landmarks/POIs Old Town, Bucharest National Museum of Romanian History Military Museum Folk Art Museum Palace of Parliament - Day 16
Bucharest
The tour ends after breakfast. You can depart Bucharest whenever you want. The hotel has luggage storage available if your flight leaves later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
