Sample Itineraries / Itinerary Ideas
1. Bucharest and Southern Transylvania
Tour Itinerary: Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov - Sighisoara - Sibiu
Duration: 5 days
Best way of transportation: train or car
» Day 1: Bucharest
Explore Bucharest, the capital of Romania. In the evening enjoy
a concert by George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra or travel
to Valea Calugareasca, one of the top Romanian wine regions.
After wine tasting and dinner return to Bucharest.
» Day 2: Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov (103 miles/ 166 km)
Drive or take the train to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle.
Built in 1883, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German
Renaissance architecture. The smaller Pelisor Castle features a
unique collection of Viennese furniture and Tiffany glassware.
Continue straight to Brasov or from Predeal take a 25 miles
detour to the village of Bran to visit the 14th century Bran
(Dracula's) Castle then continue to Brasov. Overnight in
Brasov.
» Day 3: Brasov - Sighisoara (72 miles/ 116 km)
Sightseeing in Brasov. Highlights include: the Council Square,
the beautiful Saint Nicholas Church, Brasov Fortress, Franciscan
Monastery. Do not miss the Black Church whose name is
attributed to a fire set in 1689 by disgruntled invaders unable
to breach the city's walls. Ever since, the church and its red-tiled
roof have been ash-stained. For a panoramic view of Brasov and
the surrounding Carpathians Mountains take the cable car to
Postavarul Peak in Poiana Brasov.
» Day 4: Day-trip to Sibiu (110 miles/ 178 km)
Sightseeing in Sibiu. Highlights include: Craftsmen's Square,
Huet Square and Evangelical Church, Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith
Square, Great Square, Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Catholic
Church, City Hall Tower. Take an afternoon train/ drive back to
Sighisoara or continue to Brasov. Overnight in Sighisoara or in
Brasov.
» Day 5: Return to Bucharest (175 miles/ 282 km)
or continue
your journey to the Painted Monasteries in Bucovina.
2. Discover Walachia
Tour Itinerary: Bucharest - Targoviste - Curtea de Arges - Brasov -
Sinaia - Bucharest
Duration: 5 days
Best way of transportation: car
» Day 1: Bucharest
Explore Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Overnight in
Bucharest.
» Day 2: Bucharest - Targoviste - Curtea de Arges (118 miles/ 191 km)
Drive to Targoviste and visit the Princely Court (the authentic
Dracula's Castle). From Targoviste continue to Curtea de
Arges to visit the 16th century Curtea de Arges Monastery
(Manastirea Curtea de Arges) and the 14th century Princely
Court (Curtea Domneasca). Overnight in Curtea de Arges.
» Day 3: Curtea de Arges - Campulung - Bran - Brasov(81 miles/ 131 km)
From Curtea de Arges to Bran, drive over the Carpathian
Mountains (through Bran-Rucar Pass). Visit Bran (Dracula's)
Castle. Spend a night in a private farm and enjoy homemade
cheeses and grilled lamb pastrami or continue to Brasov (16
miles northeast).
» Day 4: Brasov
Stroll around Brasov's medieval section and learn about the city's
rich history. Overnight in Brasov.
» Day 5: Brasov - Sinaia - Bucharest (103 miles/ 166 km)
Return to Bucharest via Sinaia, where Peles Castle, former
summer residence of the Royal family, awaits. Wine enthusiasts
can stop in the town of Azuga for lunch and wine tasting at
Rhein Cellars.
3. Bucharest and the Painted Monasteries
Tour Itinerary: Bucharest - Suceava - Sighisoara - Brasov - Sinaia (detailed-map)
Duration: 5 days
Best way of transportation: car or train and car
» Day 1: Bucharest to Suceava (282 miles/ 455 km)
Travel from Bucharest to Suceava - by express train (6 hours) or by car.
Overnight in Suceava or in Gura Humorului.
There are also non-stop flights from Bucharest to Suceava and from Vienna (Austria) to Iasi (90 miles southeast of Suceava).
» Day 2: The Painted Monasteries (108 miles/ 175 km)
Visit the unique monasteries of Bucovina: Voronet, Sucevita,
Moldovita and Humor (car rental or tour/ transportation
arranged locally).
» Day 3: Return to Bucharest
Travel to Suceava or Iasi for your flight back to Bucharest or Vienna or continue to Bucharest on land, crossing Transylvania:
The Painted Monasteries – Sighisoara (182 miles/ 294 km)
Take the scenic route to Sighisoara via Bicaz Gorges. En route to
Sighisoara stop in Corund and visit the local pottery workshops.
Overnight in Sighisoara.
» Day 4: Sighisoara - Brasov (72 miles/ 116 km)
Sightseeing in Sighisoara, one of the best-preserved medieval
towns in Europe. Spend the day seeing the sights, such as the
Clock Tower, Church on the Hill, Scholars' Wooden Staircase,
Venetian House, Hermann Oberth Square. Travel to Brasov
(train or car). Overnight in Brasov.
» Day 5: Brasov to Bucharest (103 miles/ 166 km)
Take the train or drive to Bucharest. En route to Bucharest stop
in Sinaia to visit the Peles Castle.
4. Bucharest to Budapest (Hungary )
Tour Itinerary: Bucharest - Brasov - Sighisoara - Cluj - Oradea - Budapest
Duration: 5 days
Best way of transportation: car or train
» Day 1: Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov (103 miles/ 166 km)
Travel from Bucharest to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle.
Continue to Brasov and see its Gothic, Baroque and
Renaissance buildings, among other sights. Overnight in Brasov.
» Day 2: Brasov - Sighisoara (72 miles/ 116km)
Travel to Sighisoara; see one of Europe's best-preserved medieval
towns. Overnight in Sighisoara.
» Day 3: Sighisoara - Cluj-Napoca (100 miles/ 162 km)
Travel to Cluj-Napoca. Discover the city's architecture.
See paintings dating from the Middle Ages housed in the
18th-century Banffy Palace. Learn about the region at the
Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. Overnight in Cluj-
Napoca.
» Day 4: Cluj-Napoca - Oradea (95 miles/ 153 km)
Drive or take the train to Oradea, a city known for its Art
Nouveau architecture. Visit the "Church with Moon" and
Museum of the Cris Rivers, housed in a 1770 Baroque palace.
Overnight in Oradea.
» Day 5: Oradea to Budapest (Hungary) (155 miles/ 250 km)
Take the train to Budapest and explore the capital of Hungary
or discover the traditional villages of Maramures (please see
itinerary #9).
Starting from Cluj -Napoca:
5. Transylvania's 'Siebenburgen'
Tour Itinerary: Cluj - Sighisoara - Brasov - Sibiu - Cluj
(detailed-map)
Duration: 4 days
Best way of transportation: car or train
» Day 1: Cluj-Napoca - Sighisoara (100 miles/ 162 km)
In Cluj-Napoca, visit the Art Museum, housed in the 18th
century Banffy Palace, to view collections of weaponry and
Romanian paintings dating from the Middle Ages. Sightseeing:
Old Town's architecture, the Ethnographic Museum of
Transylvania, St Michael Cathedral, the Botanical Gardens.
Drive/ take the train to Sighisoara. Overnight in Sighisoara.
» Day 2: Sighisoara - Brasov (72 miles/ 116 km)
Discover Europe's best preserved medieval town. Spend the
morning seeing the sights, such as the Clock Tower, the Guild
Tower; Venetian House, Antler House, Scholar's Wooden
Staircase, Church on the Hill, Hermann Oberth Square. Have
lunch in the house where Vlad tepes (Dracula) was born. Travel
to Brasov. Overnight in Brasov.
» Day 3: Brasov - Sibiu (87 miles/ 141 km)
Explore Brasov's outstanding old town built by Saxons in 1400s.
Travel from Brasov to Sibiu (train, bus or car). Overnight in
Sibiu.
» Day 4: Sibiu - Alba lulia - Cluj-Napoca (104 miles/ 168 km)
Visit Sibiu's Bruckenthal Palace and its rich art collections.
Other attractions in Sibiu include Little Square (Craftsmen's
Square), Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith's Square, the Orthodox
Cathedral, several centuries- old churches and the City Hall
Tower. Visit the nearby traditional village of Sibiel. Return to
Cluj-Napoca.
Starting from Timisoara:
6. Western Romania 's Architecture
Tour Itinerary: Timisoara - Arad - Oradea - Timisoara
Duration: 3 days
Best way of transportation: car or train
» Day 1: Timisoara
A walking tour of Western Romania's largest city starts in
Union Square (Piata Unirii), a grand square built in Viennese
style flanked by colorful 18th and 19th century buildings. The
Freedom Square (Piata Libertatii) offers a great display of 19th
century architecture. The town's main gathering place is Victory
Square (Piata Victoriei), lined with cafes, bookstores and shops.
- Timisoara was the first European city to introduce horsedrawn
trams (in 1869) and electrical street lighting (in 1889)
- The Metropolitan Cathedral was built on a swamp and it has
5000 oak supports underneath it.
» Day 2: Timisoara - Arad - Oradea (102 miles/ 165 km)
Travel to centuries-old Arad to see some impressive turn-of-thecentury
buildings, such as the neoclassical City Hall (1876),
the Palace of Culture (1913) and the Red Church. Do not miss
the Roman Catholic Church, with its Baroque interior; and the
imposing Orthodox Cathedral. On Revolutiei Boulevard there
is an Art Gallery exhibiting furniture from the 17th century on.
Continue your journey to Oradea. Overnight in Oradea.
» Day 3: Oradea - Timisoara (102 miles/ 165 km)
Spend the day in Oradea, one of the most picturesque towns in
western Romania. Discover the city's "Sezzession" architecture.
Return to Timisoara or continue northeast to Maramures, one
of Romania's most unique, traditional, rural areas.
Starting from Iasi:
7. The Painted Monasteries
Tour Itinerary: Iasi - The Painted Monasteries - Iasi
Duration: 3 days
Best way of transportation: car
» Day 1: Iasi
Fly in from Bucharest or from Vienna or take the express train
from Bucharest to Iasi and rent a car. Drive to the centuriesold
Cotnari vineyards. Take a wine tasting tour and try some
of Romania's finest sweet white wines: Grasa de Cotnari,
Tamaioasa and Feteasca Alba. Enjoy dinner in a monastery
and a Byzantine vocal concert by students at the Theological
Institute of lasi. Overnight in lasi.
» Day 2: Iasi - The Painted Monasteries Area (Painted Monasteries Detail Map)
Drive northwest to Gura Humorului and discover the Painted
Monasteries of Bucovina. Visit the three best-preserved 15th
century monasteries: Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet, the
latter known as the "Sistine Chapel of the East." Overnight
at a hotel in Gura Humorului or in one of the many B&Bs
(Pensiune) in the nearby towns.
» Day 3: The Painted Monasteries Area - Iasi
Return to Iasi. Iasi is often overlooked by many visitors but the
city continues to be one of Romania's most important cultural
centres and home to the country's first university.
In 1565, Iasi became the capital of the historic province of
Moldova and for a short period of time, from 1859 until 1862,
the capital of Romania. Iasi is among the very few cities in the
world which have more than 100 Orthodox churches.
Starting from Budapest (Hungary ) or FROM VIENNA (AUSTRIA)
8. Hiking , Caving and Rural Life in Central Romania
Tour Itinerary: Budapest (Hungary) - Cluj - Campeni - Cluj - Oradea - Budapest
Duration: 4 days
Best way of transportation: car or train and car
» Day 1: Budapest - Cluj-Napoca (250 miles/ 403 km)
Leave Budapest in the morning, travel to Cluj. Approximate
travel time: one hour by plane, six hours by car or eight hours
by train. Overnight in Cluj.
» Day 2: Cluj-Napoca - Campeni (69 miles/ 111 km)
Rent a car in Cluj and take the scenic drive to Campeni, via
Lake Fantanele. Drive (2 hours) through great mountain
scenery and quaint villages. Sightseeing and hiking in the area
(Apuseni Mountains). Overnight in a bed and breakfast in
Campeni, Albac or any other village in the area.
» Day 3: Campeni - Scarisoara - Cluj-Napoca
(94 miles/ 151 km)
Explore Scarisoara Cave (elevation 3,950 feet), home to one of
the largest underground glaciers in Europe. Return to Cluj (2
hours by car) or travel to Oradea (3 hours by car) where you
will spend the night. You may also choose to spend a second
night in the Apuseni Mountains and prepare your next day visit
to the Bears' Cave (Pestera Ursilor).
» Day 4: Cluj-Napoca or Oradea - Budapest
(250 miles or 155 miles/ 403 km or 250 km)
Return from Cluj or from Oradea to Budapest or, if you chose
to extend your stay, explore the Bears' Cave.
Travel to Oradea (3 hours by car).
9. The traditional Villages of Maramures
Tour Itinerary: Budapest - Oradea - Satu Mare - Maramures villages
(detailed map)
Duration: 4 days
Best way of transportation: car or train and car
» Day 1: Budapest - Oradea - Satu Mare (238 miles/ 384 km)
Leave Budapest and travel to Oradea (4 hours by
train). Rent a car in Oradea or hire a local guide.
Travel northeast to Satu Mare. Overnight in Satu Mare.
Sightseeing in Satu Mare: the impressive Secession buildings in
the Great Square.
» Day 2: Satu Mare - Sapanta - Botiza (94 miles/ 151 km)
After breakfast travel east to the village of Sapanta. Sightseeing:
the Merry Cemetery. Continue 12 miles east to the town of
Sighetul Marmatiei. Discover Maramures' villages such as Vadul
Izei, Barsana and Botiza. In Barsana visit the workshop of
master wood-carver Toader Barsan, who represented Maramures
at the 2001 Smithsonian Festival in Washington, DC. Observe
rural life, the traditional costumes still worn by the villagers,
and the specific architecture. Overnight in a Maramures village
» Day 3: Botiza - Oradea (177 miles/ 285 km)
Sightseeing: some of the area's wooden churches: Poienile Izei
- famous for its representation of Hell on its main door, Ieud -
featuring the oldest church in the entire region, Bogdan Voda
and Surdesti – the tallest wooden church in the world (steeple
160 feet high). Ovenight in Oradea.
» Day 4: Oradea - Budapest (155 miles/ 250 km)
Take the train or drive from Oradea to Budapest.
This itinerary can be extended with one or two days to include
the Painted Monasteries in Bucovina.
10.The Danube Delta – Europe 's Everglades
A boat ride into the sunset, wine tasting at a monastery lost in time, a fishing trip with the locals and fresh caviar served on the banks of Lake Samova in the Danube Delta, one of Europe's last unspoiled and remote wildernesses.
Tour Itinerary: Bucharest - Tulcea - the Danube Delta
Duration: 4 days
Best way of transportation: train or car to Tulcea, then boat
» Day 1: Bucharest - Tulcea - the Danube Delta (195 miles)
Arrive in Bucharest. Transfer to Delta Nature Resort. The Delta
Nature Resort is an elegant and luxurious retreat, recognized
by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the Top 10 eco-resorts in
the world. Sunset boat trip along meandering channels of
the Danube Delta while sampling local wines from the Sarica
Niculitel vineyards, such as Aligote, Feteasca Regala and Pinot
Noir. Relaxed dinner at the hotel's restaurant, overlooking
Somova Lake.
» Day 2: the Danube Delta
After breakfast, head out, by boat, to Saon Monastery. Built
in 1846, this religious retreat is home to some 40 nuns who
run an organic farm on the banks of picturesque Lake Parcheş.
Lunch, prepared by the nuns from local organic products, at
the monastery. Return by boat to the hotel, via Delta channels
teaming with dozens of species of birds, including the largest
colony of white pelicans in Europe. Traditional Danube Delta
dinner: Caviar and fresh fish from the Danube River and nearby
Black Sea. On the menu will also be the delicious local salad,
Salata Dobrogeana, and Saramura, an entrée prepared from
broiled carp served with polenta and garlic sauce. A selection
of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Muscat Ottonel wines from
Murfatlar vineyards will be served to quench the thirst.
» Day 3: the Danube Delta
After breakfast, explore some of the main channels and lakes
of the Delta while fishing for carp, catfish, zander and perch.
Hear the call of an egret, spot a group of pelicans lifting
gracefully into the air or catch sight of other rare species, such
as the pygmy cormorant or the red-breasted goose. For lunch
sample the traditional fisherman's soup prepared fresh in one
of the villages en route. In the afternoon, visit the Danube
Delta Natural History Museum in Tulcea where you will learn
more about the Delta, the third most biodiverse in the world.
Overnight in Tulcea.
» Day 4: The Danube Delta - Tulcea - Bucharest (195 miles)
After breakfast, departure to Bucharest for your return flight or
continue your Romania Discovery Journey.
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