From Budapest via Transylvania

Description

FROM BUDAPEST VIA TRANSYLVANIA – 6 DAYS

Tour highlights:

• Visit old town Eger
• Enjoy Oradea sightseeing tour
• Bears Cave
• Stay chill inside Scarisoara Glacier
• Explore Dumesti Village natural wonders
• Discover the myths of Corvin Castle
• Alba Iulia
• See Sibiu Old Town the former capital of Transylvania
• Stroll around the impressive Biertan Fortified Church
• Walk on the cobbled streets of Sighisoara Medieval Citadel
• Discover the castle that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Bran Castle
• Enjoy a walking tour of Brasov Old Town
• Visit the beautiful Sinaia Mountain Resort and the former royal residence of Peles Castle
• Drive through the magnificent scenery of the Carpathian Mountains

Day 1: Budapest – Eger – Oradea

Morning drive from Budapest- to Eger, this charming Hungarian town famous for its wine’s caves. We can make a stop to the Valley of the Beautiful Women and try some of the best Hungarian wines. We will visit some of the attractions of this cosy small Hungarian town such as: Torok Kori Minaret, topped with a cross, Minorita Templom Cathedral typical for Baroque architecture and Dobo Square that offers everyone something, good food, shopping, sightseeing.

From Eger we will drive to the border of Romania and after crossing it, we will make a stop in Oradea city, one of the Art Nouveau cities of Europe.

After lunch we will take a walking tour of the most important attractions of this wonderful town. We will cross Black Hawk Palace Arcade, one of the most iconic buildings of Oradea, the impressive Union Square, the unique Moon Church, known for a distinct lunar mechanism on its tall tower and enjoy a nice walk along the main pedestrian street dotted with many boutique shops and art nouveau buildings.

Overnight in Oradea. 3*** hotel

Day 2: Oradea – Bears Cave – Scarisoara Glacier- Dumesti Village

Leaving Oradea in the morning we drive for one hour and half to reach Bears Cave, a unique place in Europe, thanks to the fossilized remains of long extinct cave bears as well as the stunning interiors.

The second important stop of the day is Scarisoara Glacier, where we will visit the biggest underground glacier in Romania. To enter this cave, we need to descend on a metal and wooden staircase for 48 meters.

Due to a special ventilation system, ice forms inside and does not disappear all year round. During the tour of Scarisoara Glacier you can admire a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other dripstone forms.

After lunch we will drive for two hours more to reach Salciua Village where we will stay overnight.

Overnight in Dumesti Village local guesthouse

Day 3: Dumesti Village –Corvin Castle- Alba Iulia – Sibiu

Dumesti Village is a very popular place among the photographers because in most of the mornings you can see how the whole valley is being flooded by fog; is worth to wake up early in the morning and watch the sunrise

After visiting the surroundings of Dumesti Village and serve the breakfast, we will depart towards Corvin Castle, one of the most impressive medieval constructions in Transylvania. It is great, gothic, breath-taking and it has so many stories and legends.

From Hunyadi Castle we will drive for one more hour to Alba Iulia Fortress. This is one of the best-preserved star shaped fortress of Eastern Europe. Is dating back 18^th century when Transylvania was controller by the Austro- Hungarian Empire. This fortress was built to stand a fight against the Ottoman Empire but also to celebrate the previous victories against it.

One more hour drive from Alba Iulia and we will reach the centre of Transylvania Region where Sibiu town is located and where we will stay overnight.

Overnight in Sibiu 3* hotel.

Day 4: Sibiu tour – Biertan Fortified Church – Sighisoara

In the morning we take a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu, visit the old surrounding defence walls and the remaining towers each belonging to a certain guild. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Brukenthal Palace assembled by Brukenthal baron, governor of Transylvania at the end of the 18th century. The Evangelical Cathedral was completed in its actual shape in 1520, but inside there is an exquisite fresco of the Crucifixion on the north wall of the choir dating from 1445. View the Passage of Stairs linking the Upper town to the Lower town, the 1859 Liar`s Bridge and the Byzantine style Orthodox Cathedral, a replica of St. Sophia in Constantinople.

Our next interesting stop is Biertan Fortified Church, UNESCO site and one of the first German settlements in Transylvania. This fortified church, surrounded by three rows of fortifications, was built by the German farmers of Transylvania and was used for nearly 300 years as the residence of the Transylvanian Archbishop. A room in the citadel was used for a long time as a reconciliation place for couples about to divorce (hear the full story on spot). The name “Biertan” was first attested in 1283. It had a township status.

Before noon, we arrive in Sighisoara.  Overnight in Sighisoara 3***.

Day 5: Sighisoara – Bran Castle – Easy hiking day near -Brasov town

In the morning we will walk on the cobbled streets of old town Sighisoara and discover the beautiful attractions of this medieval stronghold. Start your tour along the medieval street and visit the Clock Tower known as the Council Tower, built in the second half of the 14th century and expanded in the 16th century. Continue our tour with the Venetian House, built in the 16th century. Visit Dracula`s house where Vlad Tepes was born in 1431 and lived with his father until 1435 and enjoy a walk on the covered stairs to the Church on the Hill.

Two hours drive from Sighisoara and we reach Bran Castle, also known as ‘Dracula’s Castle`. Perched on top of high cliff and surrounded by mystery and legends, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers as well as to the myth created around Bram Stokers`s imaginary character.

In the afternoon we reach Brasov town and take walking tour of the most important attractions. We will have the chance to step inside the Black Church, one of the largest gothic churches in Transylvania. Continue your visit and see Catherine`s Gate erected in 1559, the only original gate that still survives since medieval times. Visit

Overnight in Brasov 3***

Day 6  

Brasov – Peles Castle – Bucharest arrival

Leaving Brasov in the morning, we drive to Peles Palace, located in Sinaia Mountain Resort, at the foothills of Carpathian Mountains. Once we reach Sinaia Mountain resort, we will visit the fairy-tale Peles Palace, strongly connected with the flourishing period of Romania royalty.

OPTIONAL: After visiting the stunning interiors of Peles Castle we will drive on the scenic road called Trans-Bucegi and reach the plateau of Bucegi Mountains from where we will walk for 3-4 hrs.

Depending on the arrival time in Bucharest we can take a panoramic tour of the best tourist attractions of Romania`s capital city.

In the afternoon we will reach Bucharest. End of tour services.