Itinerary
Day 1: Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Poienari Castle - Vidraru Dam - Transfagarasan Road - Balea Lake - Sibiu - Sibiel.
Pass By: National Military Museum Bucharest, Strada Mircea Vulcanescu 125-127, Bucharest Romania
While we leave Bucharest, you can admire the beautiful city centre.
Stop At: Curtea de Arges Monastery, Bulevardul Basarabilor 1, Curtea de Arges 115300 Romania
Visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, which is the most important pilgrimage and prayer place in the county of Arges. Founded in the time of voivode Neagoe Basarab, between 1512 and 1517, the monastery is a part of the most famous Romanian legend, “The legend of master Manole”. Because of its notoriety and spiritual charge, Curtea de Arges Monastery is to be found on most presentation folders and albums of Romania.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Poienari Castle, Arefu Romania
Stop at the foot of Fagaras Mountains to explore a stronghold built by Vlad the Impaler himself: Poenari citadel is a strong fortress on a high hill dominating the entire area. To get to the fortress we must climb 1480 stairs.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Transfagarasan Highway, Dn 7C Sibiu and Arges County, Curtea de Arges 115300 Romania
The Transfagarasan road ( The Top Gear Road ) is one of the most spectacular roads in the world. Located in Romania, it runs trough Fagaras mountains and it represents a challenge for every driver because of its sharp hairpin turns. Built between 1970 and 1974 by the military forces, the Transfagarasan has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. You'll pass through the breathtakingly majestic landscape of Balea area. See mountains and a waterfall as you visit Lake Balea and Lake Vidraru.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Vidraru Dam, Arges River between Fruntii Mountains and Ghitu mountains, Curtea de Arges 117040 Romania
Stop at Vidraru Dam for beautiful photos over the lake and the Fagaras Mountains.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Capra Wasserfall, DN 7C - Cabana Balea Cascada, Fagaras 505200 Romania
Stop at Capra waterfall
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Balea Glacier Lake, Fagaras Mountains Bâlea Lake Romania Romania
Balea glacier lake is located in Fagaras Mountains at the altitude of 2042 meters. We stop there for fantastic pictures over the lake and the road. We can have a coffee at Balea Chalet located on the lake's shore. Transfer to Sibiel village, overnight at Ramona House, a home stay style pension, en suite rooms.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Dinner: Traditional 3-Course dinner made of fresh local products, homemade wine and homemade plum brandy included.
Accommodation included: Transfer to Sibiel village, overnight at Ramona House, a home stay style pension, en suite rooms.
Day 2: Sibiel - Hunedoara Castle - Alba Iulia Citadel - Sibiel.
Stop At: Castelul Corvinilor, Strada Castelului 1-3, Hunedoara 331141 Romania
Visit Hunyadi Castle, one of the seven wonders of Romania and Transylvania most spellbinding fortress. The castle is thought to have been cursed and many believe that it is the most haunted castle in Europe! Equally chilling is the Bear Pit, where prisoners were thrown to animals after their usefulness expired.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Stop At: Citadel of Alba Iulia, Calea Motilor, nr. 5A, Alba Iulia 510134 Romania
Alba Iulia’s star-shaped citadel is one of Transylvania’s most overlooked sights. The walls of this magnificently preserved citadel – the largest in Romania – enclose grand monuments and museums, glittering churches, and archaeological treasures.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast: made of fresh local products including eggs, cold cuts, cheese, gem, traditional zacusca, fruits, tea and coffee.
• Dinner: Traditional 3-Course dinner made of fresh local products, homemade wine and homemade plum brandy included.
Accommodation included: Transfer to Sibiel village, overnight at Ramona House, a home stay style pension, en suite rooms.
Day 3: Sibiel - Sibiu - Medias - Bistrita - Borgo Pass.
Stop At: Sibiu Tourist Information Center, Strada Brukenthal Samuel 2, Sibiu 550178 Romania
Sibiu is the heart of Germanic Transylvania. Saxon colonists called the town Hermannstadt. Sibiu town lies on the site of one of the largest Middle Age fortresses from Romania. In the Middle Ages Sibiu was surrounded by three concentric rings of fortified walls. Some have survived, along with a fascinating network of squares, staircases and towers dating between 13 and 18 centuries. We visit the Big Square which is the historic centre of Sibiu, first mentioned in documents in 1411 as a cereal market, the square existing since 1366 when the third fortification belt of the city was finalized.
We visit the Little Square which is the second largest historic place of Sibiu and one of the most beautiful in town and Huet square, dominated by the Evangelical Church, which is the oldest in Sibiu, the Liars' Bridge. Highlights: The Big Square, The Little Square, The Council Tower, The Bridge of Liars, The Evangelical Cathedral and the oldest house in the town.
Visit Medias old town for about 60 minutes including The Evangelic Cathedral. During the Middle Ages, Medias, like most other towns in Transylvania, was strongly fortified. Its 33 craft guilds built, maintained and defended the bastions of the walled city against invading forces. The fortified church of St. Margaret represented the core around which the citadel gradually developed. The centre of the ancient settlement of Medias has maintained a medieval feel with narrow winding lanes, centuries-old houses and a large pedestrian square surrounded by colourful facades.
Driving to Borgo Pass, the place where Dracula Castle is located in Dracula Book. Overnight at Dracula Castle Hotel, en suite rooms.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast: made of fresh local products including eggs, cold cuts, cheese, gem, traditional zacusca, fruits, tea and coffee.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Dracula Castle Hotel, en suite rooms.
Day 4: Borgo Pass - Targu Mures - Biertan - Sighisoara.
Pass By: National Theatre of Targu-Mures, Targu Mures Romania
Located at the heart of Transylvania, is one of the most beautiful towns.
Stop At: Biertan Fortified Church, Central Square, Biertan 557045 Romania
Visit Biertan Fortified Church, UNESCO world heritage. Rising sharply above a huddle of Saxon-style buildings, Biertan’s fortified church is a poetic sight surrounded by medieval-themed inns and pastel-coloured houses.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sighisoara Historic Center, Piata Cetatii Nr.1 Center of Sighisoara, Sighisoara 545400 Romania
Visit Sighisoara medieval town - UNESCO world heritage and Vlad the Impaler birthplace. Walking tour in Sighisoara Citadel. So resplendent are Sighişoara’s pastel-coloured buildings, stony lanes and medieval towers, you’ll rub your eyes in disbelief. Fortified walls encircle Sighişoara’s lustrous merchant houses, now harbouring cafes, hotels and craft shops. Visit Sighisoara medieval town including The Clock Tower, The Church on the Hill and the house where Vlad the Impaler was born. Lunch can be arranged in Sighisoara medieval town at Dracula House Restaurant.
The rest of the day at your leisure.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sighisoara at Citadela Hotel or similar, en suite rooms.
Day 5: Sighisoara - Prejmer - Bran Castle - Rasnov Fortress - Brasov.
Stop At: Peasant Fortified Church at Prejmer, East side of the Brasov Depression, Prejmer 507165 Romania
Visit Pejmer Fortified Church. One of Eastern Europe's best preserved fortified churches. This superbly preserved complex has the most powerful fortified walls in Transylvania at 4.5m thick. Prejmer’s fortress was originally constructed in the early 1200s by Teutonic knights. The 270 store rooms were once used by Prejmer’s inhabitants during times of war when each family would retreat into its own room. Only being there inside the fortress, inside the defence corridors, you can catch a glimpse of the gone by eras when every day was a battle for survival.
Duration: 50 minutes
Stop At: Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Str. General Traian Mosoiu nr. 24, Bran 507025 Romania
Next stop is the infamous Bran Castle, aka Dracula Castle where you will discover the truth behind the legends! To get there we must go through Prahova Valley. Breathtaking natural beauty is opened in front of your eyes but the most spectacular view is from Busteni where you can admire the peaks of Bucegi Mountains. Traditional lunch can be arranged in Bran village.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Stop At: Rasnov Citadel, Unirii Square no. 12, Rasnov 505400 Romania
Travel to Rasnov town which, besides the picturesque streets with medieval houses orderly arranged, will enchant you with gorgeous Rasnov Fortress, one of the best-preserved peasant fortress of Transylvania. Beautiful panorama over Barsa Land from the very top of the fortress.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Brasov Historical Center, Piazza Sfatului, Brasov Romania
Transfer to Brasov, arriving time around 6 pm. Overnight at Casa Timar Pension or similar, en-suite room, breakfast included
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Casa Timar Pension, en suite room.
Day 6: Brasov - Peles Castle - Snagov Monastery - Bucharest.
Stop At: Peles Castle, Str. Pelesului 2, Sinaia 106100 Romania
Today's first destination is the tourist town of Sinaia, where Peles Castle is located, the summer residence of the former Romanian royal family. Peles Castle is one of the most beautiful museums in the world and was built in almost 40 years by King Charles 1. Breathtaking natural beauty is opened in front of your eyes but the most spectacular view is from Busteni where you can admire the peaks of Bucegi Mountains.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Stop At: Snagov Monastery, North of Bucharest 40km Snagov Island, Snagov 077165 Romania
There are many gaps to fill when it comes to the life of Vlad the Impaler. While his life has been exploited and his heroic battles against the Turks highly praised, little is known about the last hours of his legendary life. It is believed that Vlad’s decapitated body was found in the woods around Bucharest by the monks of the Snagov monastery and brought here to be buried since both Vlad and his father had donated money to the church. But Snagov was also a place of punishment. In a small cell, Vlad the Impaler invited his victims to kneel in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary. Suddenly a trap door would open and his guest would be sent to a ditch below where stakes stood erect ready to pierce his body. Decapitated skeletons found here stand as proof of these horrific crimes.
Another legend says that after the battle with the Turks in 1476, subsequent to which he died, the body of Vlad the Impaler was secretly buried in the Christian manner inside either of the churches. In one version of the story, Vlad was murdered in a nearby forest, and the monks of the monastery found the body. Perhaps the monks felt indebted to Vlad for the additions he insisted be added to their abode, most bizarrely, the prison and the torture chamber. Whatever the reasons, the monks dressed the body richly and put it to rest in front of the church altar.
Peasants talk about the “hidden treasures” of the Impaler. Sensing death, Vlad had them make cast-iron barrels in which he placed silver, gold and precious jewels; he then ordered the course of a river to be diverted by a dam (perhaps the Dambovita river) after getting rid of the riches, he gave free flow to the river and all the peasants involved were IMPALED!
Visitors who cross the lake by boat or over the bridge, reach the quiet, remote monastery that brings the legend alive! One can pay his respects at Dracula’s tomb, located at the altar footsteps, and admire the beautiful frescoes, some of which go as far back as the 15th century. Locals tell stories about a different church that existed here, which fell into the lake together with its steeple, during a storm. When the wind blows they say you can hear a chime rising from the bottom of the lake.
Nevertheless, people are superstitious and the monastery has had its fair share of bad luck: floods, earthquakes, the burning of the bridge connecting it to the mainland during the 1821 revolution as well as being transformed into a prison in the 19th century. Although there has been a lot of debate around the real tomb of Vlad the Impaler and whether you are a Dracula fan or not, the monastery of Snagov is worth a peak! It was once an important hub of the cultural and monastic life: it hosted a printing shop as well as a mint…When coming here travellers understand why it was used as a refuge as well as a prison… As for the vampire hunters…what better place to end a trip to Romania than the legendary burial place of the count of all counts: Count Dracula?!
Transfer to Bucharest City at your hotel.
Duration: 40 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
