Bucharest City Tour - Overnight in Bucharest

Palace of Parliament - During a day trip in Bucharest, visitors can explore one of the world’s most debated administrative buildings. This private tour of The Palace of Parliament, also known as the People’s House, offers insights into the dangers and destruction a totalitarian regime like communism can inflict on a nation. Standing before one of the largest constructions globally, one might feel dwarfed by the extravagant opulence and megalomania that “the sleep of reason” can produce.

Capturing a selfie up-close is challenging, as you attempt to fit the second largest administrative building on the planet, after the Pentagon, into your frame. This experience is one to share with future generations.

Muzeul National al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” - This private tour includes a visit to The Bucharest National Village Museum, where Romanian traditions are showcased. Visitors will learn about the ecological and sustainable environments Romanian villagers created in their backyards, and gain insight into their simple, modest lifestyle, harmoniously integrated with their surroundings.

Ateneul Roman - The next stop on the private tour is the Romanian Athenaeum, a symbol of Romanian culture and often considered emblematic of Bucharest. It is naturally one of the most significant tourist attractions on Calea Victoriei and in Bucharest.

Being part of the European Heritage list (le Patrimoine), it holds a special place in cultural history.

Piata Revolutiei - For those planning a city-break in Bucharest, The Revolution Square is a must-visit due to its historical importance. Here, visitors can be transported back to the moment when dictator Ceausescu was overthrown, leaving behind secrets of a vast fortune and controversies about the state security service and his offshore accounts.

As mentioned earlier, upon reaching the Senate Palace, visitors will see the building that once housed the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, where the Revolution of December 1989 began, a pivotal historical event that led to Ceausescu’s permanent removal from power.

Old Town - A day trip in Bucharest offers the chance to experience the past through the mystery and contrasts of the Historical City Centre’s streets, starting with Hanul lui Manuc, a massive fortified inn that served as a cultural and economic hub in its time. Built around 1806 by Manuc Bei, a wealthy Balkan landowner, it was a gathering place for merchants passing through Bucharest, part of the vibrant crowd that frequented the historical inn.

In this historical and cosmopolitan area, with guidance from Nicolas Experience Tours, visitors will find popular restaurants, museums, old and spectacular churches, and an experiential library offering books, music, and souvenirs for an unforgettable experience.

1. Curtea de Arges Monastery 2. Poenari Castle 3. Transfagarasan Highway 4. Sibiu City Tour - Overnight stay in Sibiu

Curtea de Arges Monastery - Curtea de Arges is renowned for its significant royal tombs. The notion that truly good, beautiful, and enduring things come only through sacrifice becomes evident in the old town of Curtea de Arges. With a rich history, visitors can see the ruins of the Wallachian princely court, the 13th-century Royal Church, and the famous Arges Monastery, a historical monument with a fascinating yet somber story.

Poienari Castle - The ruins of Poienari Fortress stand on a cliff overlooking the Arges River, at the Carpathian Mountains’ foothills. Built in the early 13th century by the first Wallachian rulers, the castle changed names and residents over time, eventually being abandoned.

Recognizing the location’s potential, Vlad the Impaler ordered its repair and consolidation, making it one of his main fortresses. When the Turks attacked and captured the castle in 1462, Vlad escaped through a secret passageway leading north through the mountains.

Big Square (Piata Mare) - In Transylvania, Sibiu is a must-visit destination with a 900-year history. A city tour reveals why Sibiu was chosen as the European Capital of Culture, including the Evangelical Cathedral, Sibiu Old City Center, and the town itself, which are among Romania’s most visited tourist attractions, catering to all tastes and providing a delightful travel experience.

For those who love authentic cultural experiences, whether romantic or adventurous, Sibiu offers everything needed to relax, enjoy, and leave everyday stress behind for a memorable trip.

The beauty of this old citadel, recognized for its architecture, street arrangement, cultural and artistic heritage, and stunning natural scenery, is flanked by the Fagaras and Lotru mountains.

Transfagarasan Highway - Stretching over 150 kilometers, the Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s most spectacular and renowned road. Featured on BBC’s Top Gear in 2009, it has become one of the country’s top tourist attractions. Open fully from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 meters, where a tunnel links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea (Balea Lac).

1. Biertan Fortified Church 2. Sighisoara City Tour - Overnight stay in Sighisoara

Biertan Fortified Church - The Biertan Fortified Church, a breathtaking historical monument, was one of the first Transylvanian Saxon settlements in Ardeal and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hundreds of tourists visit annually to discover what makes this place special.

Located in a small town dating back to 1224, the church impresses with its stunning scenery and unique construction, built on a hillock in the town center, surrounded by three defensive walls and seven bastions.

Sighisoara Clock Tower - The tour of Sighisoara Old Town includes a visit to the Clock Tower and Arms museum. To experience life in the Middle Ages, a visit to Sighisoara, Romania’s medieval town and Count Dracula’s (Vlad the Impaler) birthplace, is essential.

Built in 1280, the Sighisoara Citadel is not only one of Romania’s most visited tourist attractions but also a living medieval fortress, inhabited for over 700 years, which is quite rare.

1. Turda Salt Mine 2. Cluj Napoca City Tour (Botanic Garden) 3. Surdesti Wooden Church - Overnight in Sighetul Marmatiei

Salina Turda - The Turda Salt Mine is one of Transylvania’s most fascinating sites. A visit to Romania would be incomplete without exploring this beautiful place.

This location is a visual and physical delight, with purifying saline air beneficial for those with respiratory issues like allergies or asthma.

Gradina Botanica “Alexandru Borza” - A Cluj Napoca City Tour is a must when passing through Transylvania. The Old City Center boasts unique historical and architectural monuments, Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic-style buildings dating back to the 17th century, and friendly locals.

The popular restaurants and delicious local cuisine may require a wait, but the experience is worth it.

Surdesti Wooden Church - The warmth of wooden constructions is unmatched, and the Surdesti church is particularly impressive. Visitors are often in awe of its 54-meter towers.

The craftsmanship involved in creating this 72-meter high wooden masterpiece, built in 1721, is remarkable, making it an architectural marvel.

1. Explore Maramures all day (local market) 2. Merry Cemetery 3. Sighet Memorial Museum - Overnight in Sighetul Marmatiei

Merry Cemetery - This Romanian trip promises history, culture, adventure, and fun.

The Dacians, wise ancestors who worshiped Zalmoxis, laughed at funerals and cried at births.

In Maramures, historical continuity is evident, especially in Sapanta, home to the unique Merry Cemetery.

The colorful crosses and tombstones, each a work of art, feature humorous poems about the deceased that will leave visitors in stitches.

Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance - To understand why Romanians fought against communist oppression, a visit to the Memorial Museum for the Victims of Communism is essential. It reveals the totalitarian regime’s damaging impact and the immense pain and suffering it caused in a short time.

1. Barsana Monastery 2. Borgo Pass Road 3. Ciocanesti village - Overnight in Gura Humorului

Barsana Monastery - One of Romania’s tallest wooden churches (57m height).

Walking barefoot through grass connects one to the earth, and stepping into the Barsana Monastery courtyard offers a spiritual connection with the sky and God.

This trip to Maramures may redefine perceptions of divine beauty, with its fairytale scenery and timeless history captivating tourists and locals for centuries.

Tihuța Pass - Tihuța Pass (Romanian: Pasul Tihuța, also called Pasul Bârgău; Hungarian: Borgói-hágó or Burgó) is a high mountain pass in the Romanian Bârgău Mountains (Eastern Carpathian Mountains) connecting Bistrița (Transylvania) with Vatra Dornei (Bukovina, Moldavia).

Made famous by Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” the pass was the gateway to Count Dracula’s realm. Stoker likely found the name on a map, never visiting the area.

Today, the pass hosts Hotel “Castel Dracula,” built in 1976 and renamed after 1989. The hotel, styled as a medieval villa, is a popular attraction due to its novel connection. In 2018, the property was put up for sale.

1. Voronet Monastery 2. Humor Monastery 3. Sucevita Monastery 4. Moldovita Monastery - Overnight in Gura Humorului

Manastirea Voronet - The Voroneț Monastery, a medieval site in Voroneț, now part of Gura Humorului, is one of southern Bukovina’s famous painted monasteries in Suceava County. Constructed by Stephen the Great in 1488 to commemorate the Battle of Vaslui victory, it is often called the “Sistine Chapel of the East.” The frescoes feature an intense shade of blue known as “Voroneț blue.”

Founded by Stephen the Great, Voronet Monastery attracts thousands of tourists annually, with at least three unique elements making it a highlight of any trip through Moldavia and Bucovina.

The church’s artwork, both inside and outside, is notable for its exceptional background color – the famous Voronet blue.

Humor Monastery - To grasp religion’s importance in Romania, one must tour the country and see the numerous houses of worship built and destroyed by enemies over time.

To protect spiritual treasures, people built churches hidden in woods or nestled in rock caves at high altitudes. Humor Monastery, built around 500 years ago, is a fortified monastery that has endured through the centuries.

After the first church, built around 1400, was destroyed, a second one was constructed in 1530 with thick river rock walls to withstand time.

Sucevita Monastery - Sucevita and Voronet are among Romania’s most beautiful monasteries, part of the international cultural and spiritual heritage, making them essential stops on any trip to Romania and northern Moldavia.

Even without reading the Bible, the biblical scenes and icons on Sucevita Monastery’s walls provide a vivid visual understanding of Christianity’s history.

The fortified church is like an open book, and seeing it in person reveals why it is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landmark.

Moldovita Monastery - For a spiritual journey echoing with fervent prayers of countless people finding solace over history, visit one of Romania’s oldest monastic settlements, built in 1532, home to Moldovita Monastery.

The fortified church combines Byzantine, Gothic, and Moldavian styles, but its unique mural artwork inside and outside is what truly impresses visitors.

1. Lucia Condrea - egg painted museum 2. Nicolae Popa Museum 3. Bicaz Gorges - Overnight Stay in Brasov

The Popa Museum - Located 12 kilometers from Targu Neamt in Tarpesti, Neamt County, the Nicolae Popa Museum is a notable sight. Founded in the ‘70s by local sculptor Nicolae Popa in his own home, the museum showcases Romanian values.

After being wounded in World War II, imprisoned by communists for opposing the regime, and left with only his house, Nicolae Popa dedicated himself to art, becoming a valued naive sculptor and a true folklore creator.

Muzeul International al Oualor Lucia Condrea - In the summer of 1993, artist Lucia Condrea opened a museum in Moldovita (Bukovina, Suceava- Romania) bearing her name. Unique in Romania and possibly the world, the museum’s artistic value is remarkable, with over 5500 exhibits displayed across two levels in 56 cases.

Bicaz Canyon - What could be more beautiful than a walk along a river that has carved its way through Romania’s mountains and virgin forests?

1. Brasov City Tour (Black Church) 2. Bran Castle / Dracula’s Castle 3. Peles Castle - Back to Bucharest

Black Church (Biserica Neagra) - The journey continues to Brasov, a beautifully-preserved medieval town in the Carpathian Mountains’ foothills. A walking tour of the Old Town reveals the Black Church, Old Town square, and medieval city walls. Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere in one of Brasov’s charming cafés.

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) - Bran Castle, a blend of myth and history, is believed to have inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional Dracula’s castle due to its resemblance.

Outside the castle, visitors can sample traditional foods like handmade cheeses, pálinka (plum and pear brandy), and traditionally-produced ham and sausages.

Peles Castle - Once upon a time, there was a beautiful castle…

For those writing memoirs or wanting to boast about seeing Europe’s most beautiful castles, the Romanian royal family’s summer residence is a top tourist attraction in Romania and Europe, and its beauty is soon understood.

Every year, thousands of notable figures and hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Romania to admire its beauty and, for a few hours, feel like royalty.

• Transport by private vehicle
• On-board WiFi
• All Fees and Taxes
• Parking Fees
• Gasoline
• Photo fees
• Accommodation, Food, and Drinks for the guide/driver

• Accommodation, food and drinks
• Entrance fees as per the itinerary

Experience an unforgettable adventure on our 9-day tour of Romania. We’ve curated a diverse selection of enriching experiences, from exploring medieval landmarks to savoring the untamed beauty of lush forests with their colored wildflowers and crisp mountain breeze (depending on the season). This journey also takes us to contemporary exhibits, and indulges your senses in the unique blend of traditional herbs and spices in the mouthwatering cuisine we will taste in every ancient town we visit.

Discover Romania and its people in the best way possible - an intimate 9-day tour in Romania with a local guide :) Join us!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.