Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll land at Ferenc Liszt International Airport where your driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel. After you check in, the rest of the day is yours to explore Budapest at whatever pace works for you. The city looks particularly nice once the sun sets, so if you're not too worn out from traveling, consider heading to the Jewish Quarter for dinner and drinks to get a feel for the local scene.
Optional Activities
- Explore Budapest at night
- Dinner in the Jewish Quarter
- Evening drinks and nightlife
- Day 2
Budapest
Following breakfast, your guide will pick you up and you'll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to see Budapest's main sights. You'll pass Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge, and the Castle District in Buda, then drive by Elisabeth Bridge and stop at Central Market Hall. From there you'll see the Hungarian National Museum, the Great Synagogue, and City Park which has thermal baths and a zoo. At Heroes' Square you'll get out to look at the sculptures, then drive down Andrássy Avenue past the Opera House and St. Stephen's Basilica toward Parliament. You'll skip the ticket lines and go inside with an audio guide to see the Assembly Hall, Central Hall, and view the Holy Crown of Hungary. You can head back to your hotel whenever you're ready.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Budapest's main attractions
- Visit to Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge, and Buda's Castle District
- Stop at Central Market Hall
- Drive past Hungarian National Museum, Great Synagogue, and City Park
- Visit to Heroes' Square
- Tour along Andrássy Avenue
- Guided tour of Hungarian Parliament Building with audio guide - entrance included
- Explore Parliament's Assembly Hall and Central Hall
- View of the Holy Crown of Hungary
Optional Activities
- Thermal bath experience at City Park
- Zoo visit at City Park
- Theme park visit at City Park
Landmarks/POIs Chain Bridge Margaret Bridge Buda Castle District Elisabeth Bridge Central Market Hall Hungarian National Museum Great Synagogue City Park Heroes' Square Andrássy Avenue Hungarian State Opera House St. Stephen's Basilica Hungarian Parliament Building - Day 3
Budapest to Timisoara
After breakfast your hotel picks you up and drives you to Arad, a lively Transylvanian town right across the border. You'll walk around to see the neoclassical State Theatre, the red-brick Neo-Gothic Red Church, the Roman Catholic Church, City Hall Palace, and the Palace of Culture. Lunch at a local spot is available if you want it. The afternoon takes you to Timisoara, another busy city known for architecture mixing Turkish and Austro-Hungarian influences. The city was Europe's Cultural Capital back in 2019.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Arad's architectural landmarks
- View of Arad State Theatre (neoclassical)
- View of Red Church (neo-Gothic)
- View of Roman Catholic Church in Arad
- View of City Hall Palace in Arad
- View of Palace of Culture in Arad
- Travel to Timisoara
Optional Activities
- Lunch at a restaurant in Arad
Landmarks/POIs Arad State Theatre Red Church Roman Catholic Church of Arad City Hall Palace of Arad Palace of Culture of Arad - Day 4
Timisoara to Sibiu
Morning starts at Corvin Castle, one of Europe's largest Gothic fortresses with quite a bit of history and local legends attached to it. After that you'll head to Alba Iulia, a historically important city where you can walk the Old Town and learn about Romania's 1918 unification treaty signed there. By afternoon you reach Sibiu, which has a charming Old Town and cultural significance. A local guide takes you through Sibiu's streets and explains how it became European Capital of Culture in 2007.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Corvin Castle
- Exploration of Alba Iulia Old Town
- Guided walking tour of Sibiu
- Tour of Sibiu's historical landmarks
Landmarks/POIs Corvin Castle Alba Iulia Old Town Sibiu Old Town - Day 5
Sibiu to Brasov
You'll start in Sighisoara, the medieval village where Vlad Dracula was born in 1431. A guide leads you through the ancient landmarks and medieval streets. During the afternoon you travel to Brasov, one of Romania's favorite cities. You'll spend time on foot in the Old Town looking at medieval gates and the Black Church, one of the largest churches in Eastern Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Sighisoara
- Exploration of Sighisoara's ancient landmarks
- Walking tour of Sighisoara's medieval streets
- Walking tour of Brasov Old Town
- View of medieval city gates in Brasov
- Visit to the Black Church
Landmarks/POIs Sighisoara Black Church Brasov Old Town - Day 6
Brasov to Bucharest
After you eat breakfast, you'll visit Bran Castle, known as Dracula's Castle. You'll explore the 14th-century fortress and learn about Vlad Dracula's history there. Later you'll travel to Sinaia to see Peles Castle, a beautifully kept 19th-century royal palace. From there you continue to Bucharest for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Bran Castle
- Exploration of Bran Castle (14th-century fortress)
- Historical tour of Vlad Dracula at Bran Castle
- Visit to Peles Castle
- Tour of Peles Castle (19th-century royal residence)
Landmarks/POIs Bran Castle Peles Castle - Day 7
Bucharest
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then join a guide for a tour of Bucharest's highlights. On the route you'll see Revolution Square, the Romanian Atheneum, and the Old Town area. You'll stop at Manuc's Inn and the Old Princely Court. Once the guided portion ends, you have the rest of the day to relax and think back on what you've seen before another night in Bucharest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bucharest
- Visit to Revolution Square
- Visit to Romanian Atheneum
- Exploration of Old Town
- Visit to Manuc's Inn
- Visit to Old Princely Court
Landmarks/POIs Revolution Square Romanian Atheneum Bucharest Old Town Manuc's Inn Old Princely Court - Day 8
Bucharest
After breakfast you'll get a transfer to the airport based on your flight time. Your tour finishes as you leave Bucharest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
