Day 1: Arrive in Budapest, Hungary.
Check into your hotel. Visit Budapest at leisure. In the early evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Budapest.
Budapest is a treasure trove of architectural wonders, from gothic to baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau,
but also full of history, a food capital and surprisingly rich in thermal waters. Discover all of this and more during the guided city tour. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Budapest-Novi Sad, Serbia-Belgrade.
Travel to Serbia. Stop in Novi Sad, capital of the province, situated on the Danube River and famous for its Petrovaradin Citadel, the fortress known in the west as the “Gibraltar of the Danube.” Continue to Belgrade, where you will discover the capital of Serbia on a guided city sightseeing tour. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4: Belgrade-Sofia, Bulgaria.
Cross the border into Bulgaria to arrive in the capital city of Sofia. Join a Local Guide for a city tour that includes the Parliament building, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church, a medieval Bulgarian orthodox church listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the National Theater, and St. Sofia Church. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Sofia. Excursion to Rila Monastery.
This morning, discover Rila Monastery with its colorful frescoes, located inside a nature park. Its checkered history goes back to Ivan Rilski, the hermit who founded it in 927. During the long Turkish rule over the country, the monastery became a beacon of Bulgarian culture. Return to Sofia. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6: Sofia-Plovdiv-Veliko Tãrnovo.
Head eastwards to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, located along the banks of the Maritsa River. Stop here to visit the charming Old Town and the Roman amphitheater. Journey northwards through fine scenery over the Stara Planina Mountains to Veliko Târnovo.. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Veliko Tãrnovo-Bucharest, Romania.
Today, time to see some of the highlights of Veliko Târnovo, located on the Yantra River. During the Middle Ages, it was Bulgaria’s capital and it still retains some of its most attractive medieval features. Visit nearby Arbanassi, world famous for its house design, a cross between a dwelling and a fortress. The village is known as an architectural and historic reserve and was at one time the summer residence of Bulgarian kings. One of the highlights of the visit is the Church of the Nativity, built in 1637. Carry on north to Rousse and cross the Danube to reach Bucharest. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Bucharest.
Flower-festooned parks, gardens, and wide boulevards shaded by century-old trees contribute to Bucharest’s beauty. The highlight of the included sightseeing tour is a visit to the open-air Village Museum, a unique collection of traditional farmhouses, cottages, windmills, watermills, and artisans’ workshops from all parts of the country. Your Local Guide will show you other places of interest, including the Government Victoria Palace, the Royal Palace, and the Savings Palace. There is also an optional afternoon visit to the massive Romanian Parliament, known as the “People’s Palace.“ Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9: Bucharest-Sinaia-Brasov.
Travel to Sinaia in the Prahova Valley. This is a lovely ski resort, almost 3,300 feet above sea level. While in Sinaia, there will be time to visit the Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle, considered among the most romantic castles in the world. Only a few more miles and you reach Brasov, a lovely medieval town famous for its town square filled with Baroque architecture and outdoor cafés. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10: Brasov.
Transylvania is commonly associated with vampires due to the influence of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, and all the subsequent books and many films the tale has inspired. This morning, depart for Bran and visit the legendary Dracula castle. It was built in 1377 and inhabited by the Wallachian prince, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. In the afternoon, a walking orientation of the Old Town of Brasov includes a visit to the Black Church, followed by leisure time. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11: Brasov-Sighisoara-Cluj Napoca.
Stop in Sighisoara, a medieval town with 11 towers within the city walls that surround cobblestone streets, ancient houses, and churches—one of Romania’s prettiest towns. Legend has it that it is also the birthplace of the notorious Vlad (Dracula). Continue to Cluj-Napoca, the film capital of Romania. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Cluj Napoca-Budapest, Hungary.
Cross the border at Oradea into Hungary and return to Budapest. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13: Budapest.
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. Meals included: Breakfast
