Bucharest City Tour - Overnight in Bucharest

Palace of Parliament - During a day trip to Bucharest, 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, you’ll feel dwarfed by the extravagant opulence and megalomania that “the sleep of reason” can produce.

Capturing a selfie up-close is challenging, as you’ll be attempting to photograph the second-largest administrative building on Earth, after the Pentagon, creating a memorable experience to share with future generations.

Muzeul National al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” - This private tour allows you to visit The Bucharest National Village Museum, where Romanian traditions are showcased. Discover how Romanian villagers created an ecological and sustainable environment in their backyards, and gain insight into their simple, modest lifestyle, living in social and spiritual harmony with nature.

Ateneul Roman - Next, the private tour takes you to the Romanian Athenaeum, a symbol of Romanian culture and often considered emblematic of Bucharest.

Naturally, it stands as one of the most significant tourist attractions on Calea Victoriei and in Bucharest.

Piata Revolutiei - For those planning a city break in Bucharest, a visit to The Revolution Square is essential. This historically significant site transports you back to the moment when dictator Ceausescu was overthrown, leaving behind secrets of a vast fortune and controversies surrounding the state security service and his offshore accounts.

As previously mentioned, upon reaching the Senate Palace, you’ll see the building that once housed the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, where the December 1989 Revolution began, a pivotal historical event that led to Ceausescu’s permanent removal from power through human effort and sacrifice.

Old Town - On a Bucharest day trip, experience the past through a blend of mystery and contrasts in the Historical City Centre, 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, one of the wealthiest landowners in the Balkans, it was a gathering place for merchants passing through Bucharest, part of the vibrant crowd that frequented the historic inn.

In this historical and cosmopolitan area, with guidance from your private guide from Nicolas Experience Tours, you’ll discover not only Bucharest’s most popular restaurants but also museums, old and spectacular churches, and an experiential library where you can purchase books, music, and other souvenirs, ensuring an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones.

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

Curtea de Arges Monastery - Did you know Curtea de Arges is unique for its significant royal tombs?

It’s well-known that truly good, beautiful, and enduring things come only through sacrifice, which becomes evident when you visit the old town of Curtea de Arges. With a rich and eventful history, this is where you can see the ruins of the Wallachian princely court, the 13th-century Royal Church, and the renowned Arges Monastery, an important historical monument with a fascinating yet somber story.

Poienari Castle - The ruins of Poienari Fortress stand high on a cliff overlooking the Arges River, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Built in the early 13th century by the first Wallachian rulers, the castle changed names and residents several times over the decades; eventually, it was abandoned and left in ruins.

Recognizing the location’s potential, upon taking the throne, he ordered the structure to be repaired and fortified, transforming it into 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.

Transfagarasan Highway - Spanning over 150 kilometers, the Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s most spectacular and renowned road, gaining fame from a 2009 appearance on BBC’s Top Gear, making it one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Fully open only from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 meters: the tunnel connecting the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea (Balea Lac).

Big Square (Piata Mare) - If you’re in Transylvania, Sibiu is a must-visit travel destination with a 900-year history. A city tour will help you understand why Sibiu was chosen as the European Capital of Culture, including the Evangelical Cathedral, the Sibiu Old City Center, and the town itself, which are among Romania’s most visited tourist attractions, catering to every taste and providing a wonderful travel experience for even the most discerning tourists.

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

The beauty of this ancient citadel, recognized for its record-breaking achievements, lies in its architecture, street layout, cultural and artistic heritage, and stunning natural scenery, as the town is flanked by the Fagaras and Lotru mountains.

1. Corvin Castle 2. Densus Church 3. Sarmisegetusa Regia - Overnight in Sibiu

Castelul Corvinilor - Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle (Romanian: Castelul Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinilor; Hungarian: Vajdahunyadi vár), is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara, Romania. It is one of Europe’s largest castles and is featured as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.

Densus Church - The Densuș Church (also known as St Nicholas’ Church) in the village of Densuș, Hunedoara County, is the oldest stone church in Romania.

Built in its current form in the 13th century on the site of a 2nd-century Roman temple, using materials from the Dacian Sarmizegetusa fortress, it features a stone tower above the naos. Inside, 15th-century mural paintings depict Jesus in Romanian traditional attire, created by artist Ștefan. In the 18th century, additional paintings were added by Simion de Pitești.

Sarmizegetusa Regia - Sarmizegetusa Regia, also known as Sarmisegetusa, Sarmisegethusa, Sarmisegethuza, Ζαρμιζεγεθούσα (Zarmizegethoúsa), or Ζερμιζεγεθούση (Zermizegethoúsē), was the capital and most important military, religious, and political center of the Dacians before the wars with the Roman Empire. Situated atop a 1200-meter-high mountain, the fortress, comprising six citadels, was the core of a strategic defensive system in the Orăștie Mountains.

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

Salina Turda - Turda Salt Mine is likely one of the most fascinating places to visit in Transylvania. If you have the opportunity to spend your vacation in Romania, it would be a shame not to explore one of its most beautiful sites, the Turda Salt Mine.

This location is a feast for the senses, with the purifying saline air being especially beneficial for those with respiratory issues, such as allergies or asthma.

Gradina Botanica “Alexandru Borza” - If you pass through Transylvania during your trip to Romania, a Cluj Napoca City Tour should definitely be on your itinerary. Prepare your camera, as the Old City Center boasts numerous unique historical and architectural monuments, Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic-style buildings, the oldest dating back to the 17th century, along with friendly and welcoming locals.

Not to mention the restaurants and delicious local cuisine, which are so popular that you might have to wait in line to enjoy your meal.

Surdesti Wooden Church - Nothing compares to the characteristic warmth of wooden constructions, and the Surdesti church offers even more. Visitors are often so impressed they tip their hats – not a joke, considering the church’s tower measures an impressive 54 meters.

Imagine the craftsmanship required to create this 72-meter-high wooden masterpiece, a challenging task even with modern technology, and when you consider it was built in 1721, you understand why it is considered an architectural marvel.

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

Merry Cemetery - This trip to Romania promises not only history, culture, and adventure but also fun.

The Dacians, our brave and wise ancestors who worshiped the god Zalmoxis, would laugh at funerals and cry when babies were born.

In Maramures, traces of historical continuity remain, most notably in Sapanta, home to the unique Merry Cemetery.

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

Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance - To understand why the Romanian people fought so hard to escape communist oppression, visit the Memorial Museum for the Victims of Communism, and you’ll begin to comprehend the totalitarian regime’s damage and the immense pain and suffering it caused in such a short time.

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

Barsana Monastery - One of the tallest wooden churches in Romania (57m height)

Just as you feel a primordial connection with the earth when walking barefoot through grass, you’ll experience a spiritual connection with the sky and God upon entering the courtyard of Romania’s most beautiful wooden monastery, the Barsana Monastery.

If you think you’ve seen astonishing places before, of such divine beauty that they seemed like a piece of heaven on earth, this trip to Maramures might make you reconsider.

With its fairytale scenery and timeless history, this magical place has captivated both 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).

The pass gained fame from Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, where it was termed “the Borgo Pass,” serving as the gateway to Count Dracula’s realm. Stoker likely found the name on a contemporary map; he never actually visited the area.

Today, the pass is home to Hotel “Castel Dracula”; located at an elevation of 1,116 m (3,661 ft), the hotel was built in 1976 and adopted its current name after 1989. The hotel has become quite an attraction due to its medieval villa architectural style and its connection to the novel. In 2018, the property was put up for sale.

Ciocanesti - Ciocănești village, located in the southwestern part of Suceava county (Bukovina, northern Romania), is renowned for its cheerfully painted houses adorned with traditional motifs.

Now a true tourist village, Ciocănești lies on both sides of the Golden Bistrița River, surrounded by scenic pine spruce forests and fertile meadows. It is close to the Vatra Dornei resort, only 22 km away, and 100 km from Suceava city, on the Iacobeni-Borșa road.

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

Manastirea Voronet - The Voroneț Monastery is a medieval monastery in the Romanian village of Voroneț, now part of the town Gura Humorului. It is one of the famous painted monasteries from southern Bukovina, in Suceava County. The monastery was constructed by Stephen the Great in 1488 over a period of 3 months and 3 weeks to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Vaslui. Often known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East,” the frescoes at Voroneț feature an intense shade of blue known in Romania as “Voroneț blue.”

Did you know that Voronet Monastery was founded by Stephen the Great?

Dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of the East,” it attracts tens of thousands of tourists from around the world each year, boasting at least three unique elements that make it a highlight of your trip through Moldavia and Bucovina.

The most impressive aspect of the church’s artwork, both inside and outside, is the exceptional background color – the famous Voronet blue!

Humor Monastery - To understand the importance of religion to our people, you must tour Romania and witness the sheer number of houses of worship built and destroyed by enemies throughout history.

Striving to protect their spiritual treasures, people erected churches away from the world’s eyes, some hidden in the depths of the woods, others nestled within rock caves at high altitudes.

Humor Monastery, built approximately 500 years ago, is an example of a fortified monastery that has endured over the centuries.

After the first church here, built around 1400, was destroyed, the second one, built in 1530 with thick river rock walls, was meant to be a place of worship that would withstand the test of time.

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

Even if you haven’t read the Bible, or the Book of Books, the biblical scenes and icons painted on the walls of Sucevita Monastery provide stunning and vivid visual support in understanding the history of Christianity.

The fortified church is like an open book for anyone who enters its doors, and only by seeing it in person will you truly understand why it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list of cultural landmarks.

Moldovita Monastery - For a spiritual journey to a place that still echoes with the fervent prayers of the hundreds of thousands who have found solace here over history, take your adventure through the Carpathians and Balkans to one of Romania’s oldest monastic settlements, built in 1532, home to the Moldovita Monastery.

The fortified church combines elements of Byzantine, Gothic, and Moldavian style, but what truly impresses visitors is its unique mural artwork, both inside and outside this beautiful house of worship.

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

The Popa Museum - Located 12 kilometers from Targu Neamt, in Tarpesti, Neamt County, you can visit the notable Nicolae Popa Museum. Founded in the ‘70s by local sculptor Nicolae Popa in his own home.

After being wounded in World War II, imprisoned by the communists for opposing the regime, and left with only his house, Nicolae Popa decided to stand up for Romanian values. Through hard work and dedication, driven by a strong artistic inclination, he became one of Romania’s most valued and appreciated naive sculptors and a true creator of folklore.

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

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

Sighisoara Clock Tower - Begin the tour of Sighisoara Old Town with a visit to the Clock Tower and Arms museum. To experience life in the Middle Ages, you must visit Sighisoara, Romania’s medieval town, and Count Dracula’s (actually, Vlad the Impaler) birthplace.

Built in 1280, the Sighisoara Citadel is not only one of Romania’s most visited tourist attractions but also a living, breathing medieval fortress, having been continuously inhabited for over 700 years – a rarity.

Biertan Fortified Church - The Biertan Fortified Church, a breathtaking historical monument, was one of the first Transylvanian Saxon settlements in Ardeal, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hundreds of tourists visit each year, and by coming here, you’ll 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.

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

Black Church (Biserica Neagra) - Next, explore the beautifully-preserved medieval town of Brasov, nestled in the Carpathian Mountains’ foothills. Your guide will lead a walking tour of the Old Town, where you’ll discover the Black Church, the Old Town square, and city walls from the Middle Ages. Enjoy free time to soak in the unparalleled atmosphere at one of Brasov’s charming cafés.

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) - Bran Castle, a blend of myth and history.

Due to its resemblance to Dracula’s fictional castle, it is widely believed that Bram Stoker used descriptions of Bran to create Count Dracula’s fictitious home.

Outside the castle, sample an array of traditional foods: handmade cheeses, pálinka (plum and pear brandy), and traditionally-produced ham and sausages.

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

If you plan to write your memoirs or boast about seeing Europe’s most beautiful castles, the Romanian royal family’s summer residence is undoubtedly one of Romania’s and Europe’s top tourist attractions, and you’ll soon understand why.

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

• Exclusive use of a private car or minibus
• All entry and photo fees covered
• Dedicated English-speaking guide/driver
• Free Wi-Fi in the car
• Guide’s accommodation and meals included
• Car expenses covered, including fuel, parking, and tolls
• Flexible itinerary that can be changed during the tour

• Accommodation, meals and beverages

Embark on a 10-day explorative journey through Romania that promises an unforgettable adventure. We’ve curated a series of captivating experiences, encompassing visits to historical medieval sites, immersive trips into the wilderness, encounters with lush forests and vibrant wildflowers, and breaths of fresh mountain air when the season is ripe. The trip wouldn’t be complete without modern exhibits and a sampling of Romania’s mouthwatering cuisine, seasoned with traditional herbs and spices at each medieval town we explore. The tour offers an excellent opportunity to understand Romania and its citizens, as it is a private 10-day Romanian tour guided by a local. Come, join us!

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