Explore Transylvania in winter on this 6-day private tour from Bucharest, available January to March. Visit Peleș and Bran castles and the old towns of Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu, hike to traditional Carpathian villages and take the cable car to Bâlea Lake on the famous Transfăgărășan road.

Discover Transylvania in winter on a 6-day tour from Bucharest, available from January to March. The route combines Peleș Castle, the old towns of Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu, Bran Castle, a hike through the mountain villages of the Piatra Craiului (King’s Stone) Massif and a cable car ride to Bâlea Lake, home of the Ice Hotel.
The tour is designed for travelers who want to see Romania’s best-known winter landscapes together with its medieval towns and castles, with guided visits, an easy-to-moderate hike in the Carpathian foothills and a day in the snow of the Făgăraș Mountains.
Your winter tour of Transylvania starts with a pick-up from Bucharest airport, your hotel or another location in the city.
Depending on your arrival time, the first day includes either a panoramic tour of Bucharest of up to 3 hours or a longer tour with a visit to the Palace of Parliament or the former residence of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
During the tour you will see the main sights of the city that was called “the Paris of the East” in the 19th century.
Accommodation in Bucharest at Berthelot Hotel 4*.
You leave Bucharest at 08:00 and head toward the Southern Carpathians and Transylvania.
The first major stop is Peleș Castle, surrounded by mountains and dense forest. It is one of the best-preserved palaces in Eastern Europe and closely connected with the reign of King Carol I, one of the most prosperous periods in Romania’s history.
Your guide will take you through the state apartments of Peleș Castle: the Reception Hall, the Armoury, the King’s Study, the Library, the Music Room, the Florentine Room, the Dining Room and the Theatre Hall.
The route continues through the Prahova Valley and across the mountains to Brașov. A walking tour of the old town includes a visit to the Black Church, followed by free time for lunch.
The day ends in Bran village, one of the best bases for winter hiking in the area.
Accommodation in a Bran Village.
Today is dedicated to a hike through the villages at the foot of the Piatra Craiului (King’s Stone) Massif, in the Carpathian Mountains.
These remote villages still keep the simple way of life of local shepherds and farmers, with winter landscapes that offer many opportunities for photos. The hike is suitable for both experienced hikers and beginners, as long as you have proper hiking boots.
The hike can last up to 6 hours, depending on the weather and your pace.
Nearby, you can choose to visit the bear sanctuary close to Zărnești.
Accommodation in Bran Village.
In the morning you drive to Bran Castle, the medieval stronghold most often associated with the Dracula legend. Your guide will tell you the real stories of the castle and its role in the history of Transylvania.
The next stop is Sighișoara, one of the most visited towns in Transylvania because of its well-preserved medieval citadel.
The walking tour includes the Clock Tower, the Covered Stairway, the Church on the Hill and the house traditionally considered the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula.
Accommodation in Sighișoara at Hotel Sighișoara or Casa Wagner 3*.
You leave Sighișoara in the morning and drive to the cable car station that climbs to Bâlea Lake, a glacial lake at 2,030 m in the Făgăraș Mountains.
At Bâlea Lake you can visit the Ice Hotel, see the rooms where the bravest guests spend the night, or simply enjoy a hot drink in the middle of the snowy mountain landscape.
After the excursion, you continue to Sibiu, another of Transylvania’s medieval towns.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
In the morning, you take a walking tour of Sibiu, the former capital of Transylvania, visiting the main sights of the old town.
The drive back to Bucharest takes up to 5 hours. On the way, you can stop at Cozia Monastery or for lunch.
The winter tour of Transylvania ends in Bucharest. Accommodation for the last night is not included.
This 6-day tour from Bucharest is designed for travelers who want to see Transylvania between January and March, when the mountains are covered in snow and the old towns are quieter.
The route combines royal heritage at Peleș Castle, medieval history in Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu, the Dracula legend at Bran, rural life in the villages of the Piatra Craiului Massif and a winter mountain experience at Bâlea Lake and the Ice Hotel.
It is a good option for visitors interested in castles, medieval towns, winter hiking and snowy Carpathian landscapes. The full route covers about 1,250 km.
If you are planning a winter trip to Romania between January and March, this 6-day itinerary brings together castles, medieval towns, a mountain hike and the Ice Hotel in one route from Bucharest.
Contact us for availability, full tour details and more information about this winter tour of Transylvania.
Travelling in November or December? See our 6-Day Christmas Markets Tour of Transylvania.
You can also visit Transylvania from Budapest, or, if you prefer a single day in the mountains, see our hiking day in the Ciucaș Mountains.



























































EXCELLENT
Based on 107 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Glosdude RVerified
Excellent tour around Romania visiting Transylvania and the painted monasteries in Bucovina I had a great time on a private tour during November, which was booked at extremely short notice. Ion did an amazing job putting together the tour within 24 hours, and we started the trip only a couple of days after enquiring which was amazing! His communication was really fast, clear and helpful, and our driver/guide Florin was great - both ensured we had a wonderful time in Romania. The choice of accommodation was brilliant, varying from modern hotels to centuries-old period properties. I would thoroughly recommend contacting Romania Tour Store for anyone looking to travel in Romania with a friendly, reliable and trustworthy local company.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Romy16205Verified
What an amazing trip! From beginning to end, Ion was absolutely fantastic. We spent 11 days with him traveling Bulgaria and Romania, and I have to say—he covered every single detail. He was incredibly accommodating, taking into account our preferences, offering helpful suggestions, and always finding the best dining spots.Before the trip even began, Ion was efficient and thorough, providing us with several itinerary options to ensure we could visit all the places we were interested in. Believe me when I say, my husband is a very difficult traveler—but Ion made everything so easy and fun that, by the end, they were like best friends!We had a passport mishap, leaving them behind in Bulgaria, and as soon as we arrived in Romania and realized, Ion immediately jumped into action. He contacted the hotel and made sure the issue was resolved quickly and smoothly.One of the highlights of the trip was being welcomed into Ion and his wife’s home, where they prepared a delicious homemade meal for us. It was a fantastic evening, full of authenticity and warmth—we truly felt like family.Ion also helped us find the best hotels for our stay and coordinated the entire trip from start to finish. At every attraction we visited, he was knowledgeable and provided detailed explanations, adding so much value to the experience.I highly recommend Romania Tour Store if you're planning a trip to Romania and Bulgaria. And if you’re not already planning to visit these two beautiful countries—please reconsider! They’re full of charm, culture, and unforgettable experiences.Thank you, Ion and Romania Tour Store, for making this one of our best vacations ever.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Adrian HVerified
It very nice tour, we started 08:00 in Sibiu and drove towards Sarmizegetusa, afterwards there was a lot of interesting information about Dacia. Afterwards we went towards Hunedoara to visit the very beautiful castle there. Finally to Alba Iulia to see the citadel (star), including the churches and the history behind it. Also very interesting the story of Hunyadi. Highly recommended, the guide was very nice and everything was relaxed. VGPosted on Tripadvisor![]()
Tammy CVerified
IMPRESSIVE TRIP in ROMANIA with PASSIONATED Guide Excellent services provided with Ion’s passion!His outgoing personality brought laughing and fun to the group. His knowledge and presentation of each visiting places were impressive and full of historical information.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Lalit JhaVerified
Fantastic and simply the best! Ion Dima/the guide is the best one till date I cam across in Europe as I explored most of the countries in Europe.Ion Dima of Romania Tour Store is very knowledgeable guy and simply the best! He designed our itinerary to suit our interest, weather and available time. He is very friendly to kids and adult as well. He has highest level of patient and at the same time he is professional.I would say if someone want to explore Romania then Ion is the best guy and you can believe him for any and everything.He has suggested the Hotels and Restaurants during our tours which was the best as per our budget and interest. During the complete tour he was as our family member and friend.Salut and thank you Ion for everything!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Mary AVerified
Tour with Ion Ion was terrific, a very kind guy, and he was very patient with us; he took us to incredible places. He changed the plan for us because it was Christmas's second day, and most of the tourist places were closed, so he suggested places for us, and we had so much fun together.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Ardelean MVerified
Excellent tour guide Ion Dima is an excellent tour guide. Well organised and ready to help his group in any situation. I recommend him 100%.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
JIT_12Verified
Ion Dima...a great tour guide! This review is very tardy due to the situation in the world from January 2020 until now. I was so fortunate to have found Ion Dima during my planning of a visit to Romania which was during the summer of 2019.( I had to enter 12/21 in the description since that was the oldest date available.) I had several days to fill in with a visit to important points of interest in Romania before I joined a group in Bucharest. The group and I were heading into Moldova, Transnistria, and Ukraine. We were only doing the Danube Delta down on the Black Sea and I didn't want to miss seeing something of Romania. Well, Ion designed a terrific tour for me that was very complete! He speaks perfect English and was very considerate and great fun to be around. I highly reccommend arranging a tour with Ion...he's the best!!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
DollyBirdScotlandVerified
Bespoke service We are just back from an extended tour of Romania with Romania Tour Stores. It's a bespoke travel company which specialises in private tours for culture vultures. From Bucharest's Belle Epoq architecture we travelled to the cultural centre of Iasi, the painted monasteries of Moldavia, and through the fortified Saxon churches and towns of Transylvania. Finally, we arrived in the stunning city of Brasov in the Carpathians where the Austro-Hungarian influence sits on the edge of Wallachia and Byzantium. Grand hotels and traditional wooden cabins. Each day felt like being in a different age or country. A superbly organised tour of this fascinating country. We are planning a return visit next year.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more