Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and get transferred to your hotel. Once you're settled in, there's a welcome dinner waiting before you turn in for the night.
- Start point
- Budapest, Hungary (Budapest Airport)
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Day 2
Budapest to Timisoara
Following breakfast, a panoramic city tour takes you through Budapest hitting Parliament, Castle District, Citadel, Andrássy Avenue, St. Stephen's Basilica, Opera House and Heroes' Square. From there, you'll head to Timisoara for another tour covering Union Square, fortress walls, Dome-church, and Huniade Castle. Dinner and overnight follow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Budapest including inside visit to House of Parliament
- Visit Castle District
- Visit Citadel
- Visit Andrássy Avenue
- Visit St. Stephen's Basilica
- Visit Opera House
- Visit Heroes' Square
- City tour of Timisoara including Union Square, fortress walls, Dome-church, Pillar of the Plague, Bastion, House with the Iron Tree, Statue of St. Mary and Huniade Castle
Landmarks House of Parliament Castle District Citadel Andrássy Avenue St. Stephen's Basilica Opera House Heroes' Square Union Square Huniade Castle - Day 3
Timisoara to Sibiu
After breakfast, the drive takes you to Sibiu, Romania's largest medieval city and 2007 European Capital of Culture. On the way, you'll stop at Hunedoara Castle, one of Europe's largest castles built on a rock above the Zlaști River. In Sibiu itself, you'll walk through the medieval center including Big and Little Squares, Liars' Bridge, City Hall Tower, and the Brukenthal Museum before dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Visit Hunedoara Castle
- Visit medieval Sibiu including Big Square
- Visit Little Square
- Visit Liars' Bridge
- Visit City Hall Tower
- Visit Brukenthal Museum
Landmarks Hunedoara Castle Brukenthal Museum Liars' Bridge - Day 4
Sibiu to Poiana Brasov
Starting after breakfast, you'll drive to Sighișoara, one of Romania's most beautiful medieval towns, and visit the 12th-century Saxon Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch comes at the famous Vlad Dracula restaurant in Bram Stoker's birthplace. Later in the afternoon, you'll see Bran village and Dracula Castle before heading to Poiana Brașov for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the famous restaurant «Vlad Dracula»)
Included Activities
- Visit Sighișoara Citadel
- Lunch in the famous restaurant Vlad Dracula
- Visit Bran village and Dracula Castle
Landmarks Sighișoara Citadel Bran Castle - Day 5
Poiana Brașov to Bucharest
After breakfast comes a city tour of Brașov including the Black Church. Then you'll head to Sinaia, known as the pearl of the Carpathian Mountains, to see Peles Castle, a summer residence of the Romanian royal family built in 1873 with rich collections of furniture, carpets, weapons, and armors. You'll arrive in Bucharest for dinner and overnight, staying for the next 2 nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Visit Black Church in Brașov
- Visit Peles Castle in Sinaia
Landmarks Black Church Peles Castle - Day 6
Bucharest
Following breakfast, a walking tour of Bucharest takes you past the Royal Palace, University's Library, City Hall, and other sights in this city called the little Paris for its similar architecture. You'll visit the interior of the Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own before dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Walking city tour of Bucharest including Royal Palace
- Visit University's Library
- Visit City Hall
- Interior visit of Palace of Parliament
Optional Activities
- Dinner with folklore show in Bucharest (supplement €25.00/person over the regular dinner already included)
Landmarks Royal Palace Palace of Parliament - Day 7
Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo
After breakfast, you'll head to Bulgaria by crossing the Danube River to reach Ruse, Bulgaria's main river port. A panoramic bus tour of Ruse comes first, then you'll travel to the Rusenski Lom River Valley to visit the Rock Churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO site with unique frescoes from the XII-XIV centuries. Later you'll continue to Veliko Tarnovo for a sightseeing tour covering the Asenevtsi monument, Tsarevets Fortress, Patriarchal church, and Emperor Baldwin's Tower before dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Ruse
- Visit Rock Churches of Ivanovo
- Sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo including Asenevtsi monument
- Visit Tsarevets Fortress
- Visit Patriarchal church
- Visit Emperor Baldwin's Tower
Landmarks Rock Churches of Ivanovo Tsarevets Fortress - Day 8
Veliko Tarnovo to Sofia
Starting after breakfast, you'll head to the Valley of Roses and Thracian Kings to visit the Kazanlak tomb replica, a UNESCO-listed site. Next is a family-run rose oil distillery in Tarnicheni village, operating since 1909, where you'll learn how famous Bulgarian rose oil is produced. From there, you'll continue to Sofia, Bulgaria's 8500-year-old capital. The tour covers Ancient Serdica, St. George rotunda church from the IV century, St. Nedelya square with 4 temples representing different religions, Alexander I square with the Royal Palace and National Theatre, Parliament, St. Sofia Church, and the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans. Dinner and overnight follow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Visit Kazanlak tomb replica
- Visit family-run rose oil distillery in Tarnicheni village
- Visit Ancient Serdica
- Visit St. George rotunda church
- Visit St. Nedelya square with 4 temples
- Visit Alexander I square
- Visit Royal Palace
- Visit National Theatre
- Visit Parliament
- Visit St. Sofia Church
- Visit Alexander Nevski Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Dinner in a typical Bulgarian folklore restaurant with entertainment program
Landmarks Kazanlak Tomb St. George Church St. Nedelya Square Alexander Nevski Cathedral - Day 9
Sofia to Plovdiv
After breakfast, you'll travel to the Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century and Bulgaria's biggest medieval spiritual center. This UNESCO World Heritage site sits in Bulgaria's highest mountain area and houses a rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, and approximately 15,000 old-printed books. Following a guided tour, you'll head to Plovdiv, the city of seven hills built in the IV century BC by King Philip of Macedonia. Plovdiv was the 2019 European Capital of Culture and remains Bulgaria's second-largest city. You'll explore the old town with its Antique theatre, Roman stadium, and luxurious Renaissance homes before dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Guided tour around Rila Monastery
- Visit old town of Plovdiv
- Visit Antique theatre in Plovdiv
- Visit Roman stadium in Plovdiv
Optional Activities
- Dinner with wine tasting (supplement €25.00/person over the regular dinner already included)
Landmarks Rila Monastery Moussala Peak Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis Roman Stadium - Day 10
Plovdiv to Istanbul
Following breakfast, you'll transfer to Istanbul, a city on two continents and the seat of Ottoman emperors. You'll explore Istanbul's most famous sights including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the fountain of Wilhelm II. Next comes the Grand Bazaar, a historically important marketplace famous for handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, and souvenirs. You'll check into your hotel, have dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with bread and mineral water)
Included Activities
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Hippodrome
- Visit Egyptian Obelisk
- Visit Serpentine Column from Delphi
- Visit fountain of Wilhelm II
- Visit Grand Bazaar
Optional Activities
- Turkish Night Tour with Belly Dance & Dinner in a local restaurant
Landmarks Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Hippodrome Egyptian Obelisk Serpentine Column Grand Bazaar - Day 11
Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight back home.
- End point
- Istanbul, Türkiye (Airport Istanbul)
- Meals
- Breakfast
