Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest

   • Meet our driver at the airport.
   • Transfer to the Bucharest Hotel.

   Overnight in a 4-star hotel, central location.

2. Day 2: Exploring Bucharest and Journey to Sibiu

   • At 9.00 AM, meet our tour guide at your hotel in Bucharest.
   • Panoramic tour of the city with the main sights: Triumph Arch, Victoriei Palace, Victoriei Avenue, Athenaeum, Royal Palace, Parliament Palace, University Square, etc.
   • Start an approximately 4-hour drive to the Sibiu area.
   • On the route, stop for a quick lunch to try "mititei," a very popular Romanian meal known for picnics or quick stops on long drives. They are minced meat rolls with a recipe dating back to the 19th century. Stop in one of the most famous places to have this meal – Dealul Negru.
   • A short stop at Cozia Monastery, 14th century.
   • Stay overnight in a small mountain village called Sibiel, known for rural and responsible tourism and inhabited for centuries by Romanian shepherds. Experience Transylvanian rural life and food.
   • Enjoy a Shepherd’s Dinner-style meal (3 courses) featuring polenta, cheese, mutton meat, dessert, water, plum brandy, and local beer/wine.

   Accommodation in a local guest house.

   Meals included: lunch, dinner.

3. Day 3: Rural Transylvanian Experience

   • In the morning, enjoy a tasty breakfast served at the guest house.
   • The first visit of the day will be at the Icons Museum in Sibiel, which preserves a large collection of icons painted on glass, reflecting an old and special tradition in Romania.
   • Drive to discover the beautiful mountain area with charming villages spread along the hills and valleys, offering great views over the Carpathian mountains and the green hills of Transylvania. Sheep and cow farming, as well as cheese production, are traditional activities in these areas.
   • At noon, arrive and visit Corvin’s Castle in Hunedoara, the largest medieval castle in Romania, impressive with its Gothic architecture, massive walls, and towers.
   • For lunch, try the traditional "viral" sausages, a recipe passed down for more than 300 years, made with sheep and pork meat.
   • In the afternoon, return to Sibiel village for a horse-driven wagon ride through the village and its surroundings, offering insight into the village's architecture and way of life. Visit a local household to observe domestic activities, domestic animals, vegetable gardens, etc.
   • Participate in a short cooking class to learn how to cook a traditional Romanian dish. Alternatively, enjoy an afternoon in the garden or have a local drink.
   • In the evening, indulge in a homemade traditional Transylvanian dinner (3 courses) made with locally produced ingredients, typical of meals served by local families in the area. Plum brandy, berries, liqueurs, and local wine will be served during dinner.

   Accommodation in the same rural guest house.

   Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

4. Day 4: Sibiu to Sighisoara via Saxon Villages

   • Breakfast: Say farewell to our host and drive to the central part of Transylvania, rich in Saxon (German) heritage, where many towns and villages were built by Saxon settlers starting from the 12th century. These areas preserve old architecture, traditions, and customs, and our food tour in Romania will unveil this beautiful and peaceful region, delighting you with local cuisine influenced by Saxon (German) gastronomy.

   • Morning: Enjoy a walking tour of Sibiu's Old Town, one of the oldest and largest medieval towns in Transylvania. It still retains its old charm and architecture. Highlights include the Big Square, Little Square, Evangelical Cathedral, Orthodox Cathedral, Liar’s Bridge, towers, and fortifications. Stop to taste a pastry popular in the town being visited.

   • Drive along a scenic route passing over the spectacular green rolling hills of Transylvania, observing cosy Saxon villages, old churches, and fortresses. Transylvania is renowned for its defensive system from the southeast, consisting of fortified towns, fortresses, and unique Saxon fortified churches, protecting local communities. Almost every village in this area has a type of fortification, making the tour a journey back in history.

   • Continue to Sighisoara, the pearl of Transylvania, dating back to the 13th century and the best-preserved medieval town in Romania. Explore the old town on a walking tour, including the Clock Tower, Church on the Hill, House of Dracula (birthplace of Vlad Dracula), Tinsmith's Tower, Tailor’s Tower, etc.

   • Lunch at Casa Vlad Dracul, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), featuring a main course and the traditional dessert "papanas," dumplings with cheese, sour cream, and jam.

   • At the end of the walk, visit a small family cellar to taste some brandy and liqueurs.

   • End the day in Viscri village, one of the most famous and charming old villages in Transylvania, where time seems to have stopped. Check in to a local guest house and enjoy leisure time before dinner.

   Dinner: A Typical Transylvanian Saxon Dinner (3 courses) served at the guest house, including water, plum brandy, and wine.

   Meals included breakfast, lunch, dinner, pastry tasting, brandies, and liqueur tasting.

5. Day 5: Viscri, Bran Castle, Arrival in Brasov

   • Breakfast. In the morning, we will explore the Viscri village, local craftsmen, the fortified church, and the small ethnographic museum. Then, we will start to drive on the route to the Brasov area.
   • The famous Bran castle is the next on our visiting list. It is an impressive castle, a former border point, built in the 14th century. It became famous due to the legend of Dracula.
   • After the castle visit, we will have 1 hour of free time to have lunch at your leisure or/and to have a look at the souvenir market.
   • End the day in Brasov, a very important fortified town and trade center back in the Middle Ages.
   • Check-in at Bella Muzica Hotel*** or similar, located in the heart of the old town.
   • In the afternoon, we will explore Brasov’s Old Town, walking to the most important sights: Council Square, Black Church, Weaver’s Bastion, Ecaterina’s Gate, Rope’s Street, St Nicholas Cathedral and the Museum of the First Romanian School and printshop.
   • The evening at your leisure. This time, you can choose one of the many restaurants in the center with a large variety of food choices.

   Meals included: Breakfast,

   Accommodation in a 3 stars hotel located in the Old Town

6. Day 6: Prejmer, Szekely County, Bicaz Lake

   • Breakfast in the hotel followed by check-out. As a sweet surprise, we will gift you a sample of Grandma's style cookies, homemade and following old recipes, difficult to find in standard cake shops. Enjoy them along the route.

   • Continue our heritage and food tour in Romania with a visit to Prejmer Fortified Church (UNESCO site), a unique example of a defensive and religious structure.

   • Drive north to Szekely Counties, a region with a strong Hungarian influence. Stop at a local cheese producer to learn about artisanal cheese production and taste some local cheeses.

   • Lunch will be served in a restaurant along the route featuring Transylvanian Hungarian specialities. Before the meal, enjoy the famous palinka and a local beer.

   • Depart Transylvania and head towards Moldova & Bucovina, the Eastern part of Romania, crossing the Eastern Carpathian mountains on a scenic route. Stop at Red Lake to learn about its creation and enjoy a Hungarian speciality dessert, "kurtos kalacs."

   • Continue the route through Bicaz Gorges, an amazing natural wonder, and take a short walk along the gorges.

   • Arrive in Moldova, welcomed by the Bicaz Dam, the largest artificial lake in Romania, and drive along its shore to reach our accommodation, the Lostrita Pension ***. Enjoy a family-run hotel with excellent food and stunning views of Bicaz Lake and the Ceahlau mountains.

   Dinner at Lostrita Pension *** features a fish-based menu (3 courses) showcasing Romanian fish dishes due to its location near the lake and rivers. Other options are available upon request. Water, 1 beer, or a glass of local wine are included.

   Overnight stay at Lostrita Pension ***.

   Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, Grandma’s cookies tasting, and cheese tasting.

7. Day 7: Bucovina Painted Monasteries Tour

   • Breakfast. Today, we will drive up north to visit Bucovina and its famous painted monasteries (UNESCO sites). In the morning, we will drive along the Bicaz Lake and then on the beautiful Transrarau mountain road. As passengers, you just have to enjoy the scenery of the Rarau mountains.
   • The first cultural visit will be to the Moldovita monastery (UNESCO), which dates back to 1532 and is due to the ruling prince Petru Rares. It has the aspect of a fortress, with imposing towers and high, thick walls.
   • Besides the old and beautiful monastery, we will also dedicate some time to visiting a painted eggs museum and workshop.
   • Bucovinean style lunch (2 courses) will be served in a local small restaurant.
   • The next visit will be to Voronet Monastery, founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great. It is famous for its original frescoes, blue background, and the best preserved and most impressive representation of the Last Judgment.
   • Return to the accommodation. Special Dinner in the Moldavian style.
   • Three courses of dinner plus water, 1 beer, or a glass of local wine are included.

   Overnight at Lostrita Pension***.

   Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

8. Day 8: Return Journey to Bucharest

   • Breakfast. We will leave our host and Bicaz Lake, driving on our way back to Bucharest. Today, we will have our longest drive (approx 6 hrs driving time), but we will make it as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
   • We will stop at the Dealu Mare / Ceptura Wine area, in the heart of an important vineyard area, for a wine-tasting program that includes 5 premium local wines, cheese, etc.
   • Possible stop for lunch at your leisure.
   • In the evening, we will arrive in Bucharest. Check-in at the hotel.
   • Accommodation in a 4-star hotel with a central location.
   • Farewell dinner will be served at „Carul cu bere” restaurant, one of Bucharest's most famous restaurants. It is focused on Romanian cuisine and has a long tradition dating back to the 19th century.

   Meals included: breakfast, dinner

   Overnight in a 4-star hotel, central location.

9. Day 9: Departure from Bucharest

   • Breakfast. According to your flight time, we will transfer you to the airport.

   Meals included: breakfast.