3-Day Romania Private Tour from Bucharest with Transylvania and Bears

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Discover the mythical land of Transylvania in a unique way
• 02 Admire the breathtaking beauty of Peleș Castle and Bran Castle
• 03 Learn the truth behind the legends of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula
• 04 See the largest brown bear sanctuary in the world and take unforgettable photos
• 05 Explore the medieval town of Sighișoara and its fascinating history

Explore Romania on a 3-day tour from Bucharest, visiting Peleș Castle, Bran Castle, Râșnov Fortress, Sighișoara, the Bears Sanctuary, and Snagov Monastery. Discover the mythical land of Transylvania while learning the truth behind the legends of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. Admire medieval towns, royal architecture, and breathtaking mountain scenery, then meet brown bears at the largest sanctuary of its kind in the world.

Discover the mythical land of Transylvania while learning the truth behind the legends of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Brasov, Bucharest, Sighisoara, Sinaia, Râșnov, Piatra Craiului Mountains

Languages English, Romanian

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Bucharest to Sinaia, Bran, Râșnov and Brașov

• Our first destination is the tourist town of Sinaia, where Peleș Castle is located, the summer residence of the former Romanian royal family. Peleș Castle is one of the most beautiful museums in Romania and was built over almost 40 years by King Charles.
• Our next stop is the infamous Bran Castle, also known as Dracula Castle, where you will discover the truth behind the legends. To get there, we travel through the Prahova Valley, where breathtaking natural beauty opens before your eyes. The most spectacular view is from Bușteni, where you can admire the peaks of the Bucegi Mountains. A traditional lunch can be arranged in Bran village.
• Continue to the town of Râșnov, which, besides its picturesque streets lined with neatly arranged medieval houses, will enchant you with the gorgeous Râșnov Fortress. It is one of the best-preserved peasant fortresses in Transylvania and was built in the 13th-14th centuries by the inhabitants of the settlement of the same name. Enjoy a beautiful panorama over Bârsa Land from the very top of the fortress.
• Transfer to Brașov, with arrival around 6 PM.

2

Day 02

Viscri and Sighișoara Medieval Heritage

• Visit Viscri, an authentic Transylvanian village and home to the oldest fortified church in Transylvania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through this enchanting village is like going back in time. Even Prince Charles of Wales, attracted by the beauty of this area, bought a house here a few years ago. Time is allocated for taking pictures and walking through the village, and your guide will lead you to the best spots.
• Visit the medieval town of Sighișoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. So resplendent are Sighișoara's pastel-coloured buildings, stony lanes, and medieval towers that you may rub your eyes in disbelief. Fortified walls encircle Sighișoara's lustrous merchant houses, now home to cafes, hotels, and craft shops. Visit the medieval town, including the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, and the house where Vlad the Impaler was born.
• Walking along the wall that surrounds the Sighișoara citadel, admire the five-century-old houses together with the towers erected by the various guilds of the citadel, of which the Shoemakers', Tailors', and Tin Makers' Guild towers are the most impressive.
• Visit the Church on the Hill, but not before climbing the 175 covered steps built in 1642 to make access easier for schoolchildren. From this highest point of the citadel, you will have a view over the whole citadel, so don't forget your camera.
• After visiting Sighișoara Old Town, head to a local restaurant for lunch of fresh salads, traditional soups, delicious sarmale, meat, chicken, vegetables, and other regional fare (drinks and meals at your own expense). A traditional lunch can be arranged in Sighișoara medieval town at Dracula House Restaurant.

3

Day 03

Bears Sanctuary and Snagov Monastery to Bucharest

• Visit the Bears Sanctuary, located in the forest 2 km from Piatra Craiului National Park. It covers an area of 69 hectares of forest, streams, and ponds, where around 100 brown bears live. It is the biggest sanctuary of its kind in the world. Prepare your cameras!
• About 45 kilometres north of Bucharest, on an island in the middle of Snagov Lake, lies the monastery of the same name. Built around the time of Vlad the Impaler's grandfather, Mircea the Old, the monastery has become famous as the burial place of the king of Wallachia who would become the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Pickup and drop-off
• Transport
• English-speaking guide
• 2 nights' accommodation in Brașov
• Breakfasts

What's Not Included

• Entrance fees
• Other meals

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes recommended.

Know before you go

• 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, after which he died, the body of Vlad the Impaler was secretly buried in a Christian manner inside one 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 on making 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. 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!

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Pick up from your hotel in Bucharest

Tour start

Day 1: Bucharest - Peles Castle - Bran Castle - Rasnov Fortress - Brasov.

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.