ARRIVAL IN BUCHAREST/ DEPARTURE FROM SOFIA

Arrival at Bucharest Airport. Guided sightseeing tour in the historic center of Bucharest: People’s Salvation Cathedral, Palace of Romanian Parliament (House of People), Unirii Square, Romanian Patriarchy, Old Court, Stavropoleos Monastery, Calea Victoriei, Revolution Square, Romanian Athenaeum. Accommodation at the hotel and time at leisure. Optional dinner. Overnight in Bucharest.

Breakfast. Departure in the morning towards the Carpathian Mountains and the famous Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia, where Peleş Castle is located. Visit to the castle – residence of the Romanian royal family in the end of 19th – beginning of 20th century, it is impressive with its German Neorenaissance architecture. Departure for Transylvania for a visit to Bran Castle – former border fortification at the frontier between mediaeval Wallachia and Transylvania, it has been fully refurbished under the rule of Romanian queen Mary in the years between the two world wars. Bran Castle is also famous as Dracula Castle, due to the similarity with the descriptions of the castle of Count Dracula in the famous novel of the Irish writer Bram Stoker. Continue to Braşov. Accommodation and optional dinner. Overnight in Braşov.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in the city center of Braşov – Black Church, Old Town Hall, Strada Sforii, medieval fortifications. Departure for Sighisoara – one of the most beautiful towns in Romania with its preserved medieval fortifications, brightly colored houses and beautiful churches and monasteries. Walking tour in the historic center and free time. Departure for Biertan. Visit to the local Lutheran church, once most important spiritual and cultural center of the Transylvanian Saxons. Departure for Sibiu. Accommodation. Optional dinner. Overnight in Sibiu.

Breakfast. Walking tour in the historic center of Sibiu that triumphantly blends history and multicultural elements. In your city tour, you will explore the Main Square of Sibiu, where you will admire the building of the Brukenthal Museum and the Roman Catholic Cathedral before visiting the Huet Square with its Evangelical Church, and the famous Bridge of Lies. Departure for Wallachia via the Carpathean Mountains. Visit to Curtea de Argeş Monastery, stunning religious edifice located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Departure for Bucharest. Accommodation, optional dinner and overnight in Bucharest.

Breakfast. Departure for Bulgaria via the Danube’s Bridge. In the afternoon – sightseeing tour in the village of Arbanassi, famous for its well-preserved 17th and 18th century churches and the typical Revival architecture of its houses. Visit to the Church of the Nativity preserving one of the most extensive ensembles of frescoes on the Balkans. Sightseeing tour in Veliko Tarnovo: visit to Tsarevets Medieval Fortress – capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in the 12th-14th centuries, and free time along Samovodska Charshiya market. Accommodation and optional dinner. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo/ Arbanassi.

Breakfast. Departure for Plovdiv, European capital of culture for 2019. Walking tour in the Old Town, including the Roman Ancient Theatre, which was built in the 1st century AD and is nowadays considered to be the largest surviving Roman construction in Bulgaria, St. Constantine and Helena Church, Roman Stadium. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum. Free time in the Kapana creative district. Departure for Sofia. Accommodation, optional dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Drive to Rila Monastery – largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, part of the list of world cultural heritage of UNESCO. Visit to the monastery Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Among its greatest treasures are the wood-carved iconostasis, some 14th and 15th century icons, wall paintings, made by the famous artist Zahari Zograph. Drive back to Sofia. Walking tour in the center of the Bulgarian capital with a visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral – one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in Europe, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and a primary tourist attraction. The most remarkable buildings and locations of the city are focus of this tour – St. George Rotunda, Banya Bashi Mosque, Central Halls (covered market), St. Sophia Basilica. Optional dinner at traditional Bulgarian restaurant with folklore program. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia Airport and departure.