Country
Romania
Duration
12 Days/11 Nights
Travel Type
Escorted Tour
Create some fascinating memories while being amazed by the uniqueness and charm of the Serbian capital Belgrade, discover splendid new tastes of wines in Fruška Gora meeting the incredible Sibiu or strolling through the Bran and Peleș Castle. Admire the picturesque open-air Ethnographic Museum Etar and the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis in Plovdiv and observe a distinguished and unique combination of communist-style architecture in Sofia. Perhaps the sweetest part of this journey is enjoying the delicacies of the traditional cuisine in each of these countries!
Inclusions
– 11-night accommodation in selected hotel category (4 nights in Belgrade, 1 night in Sibiu, 1 night in Braşov, 2 nights Bucharest, 1 night in Veliko Tarnovo, and 2 nights in Sofia)
– Daily breakfast
– Arrival airport transfer in Belgrade
– All sightseeing tours and transfers that are included in the itinerary, except those marked as optional excursions
– Entrance to the Museum of Yugoslav History, Krušedol Monastery, Skull Tower, Bran Castle, Peleş Castle, Open-Air Ethnographic Museum “Etar”
– 1 bottle of water (0.5l) daily for each passenger
– Professional tour guidance throughout the tour
Exclusions
Flights – Return airport transfer in Belgrade – Meals and beverages unless otherwise mentioned – Gratuities to hotel staff, guides, and drivers – Optional excursions – Any other items not mentioned in the Inclusions.
Additional Information
Note
Tour guaranteed at 1 passenger
1
DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN BELGRADE
Upon arrival in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, you will be welcomed by your driver and escorted to your hotel. On the short coach ride from the Nikola Tesla airport, sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights of New Belgrade with its prominent “blocks” – a classic example of Socialist architecture, built after World War II – and modern business centers, including the importing Ušće Tower. Along the way, your driver will show you and tell some stories about the Western Gate of Belgrade, the famous Belgrade Arena, and the monumental Palace of Serbia. Check-in at your hotel. Use your free time to rest. At 7 p.m. in the hotel reception, you will be greeted by your guide who will introduce himself and provide you with detailed information about the entire trip.
Accommodation : Belgrade for 3 nights
2
DAY 2 BELGRADE SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast, you will embark on a tour (driving and walking) around Belgrade, a capital city well known for its various architectural styles, dynamic history, and fantastic views of one of the biggest river confluences in all of Europe. Start the tour by visiting the Museum of Yugoslav History, a memorial complex devoted to the life and deeds of Josip Broz Tito, the political leader of Yugoslavia. Next, you will pass by the stadium of FC Red Star – the former European and World Cup champions, and proceed to the Temple of Saint Sava, Belgrade’s patron saint. Very much a symbol of the city, this impressive building can be seen from any part of the capital. After a short break at the Temple’s plateau, the panoramic tour will then take you from Slavija Square, to Saint Mark’s Church, the Serbian National Parliament, and White Palace, and on to Republic Square. This most central point of Belgrade is surrounded by cultural institutions such as the National Theatre and the National Museum. The tour will then head along the lively Knez Mihailo Street, the main pedestrian and shopping zone, before stopping for a visit to the Orthodox Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, which is located just across from the Building of Patriarchate. Your guide will tell you about the tavern around the corner, the oldest in the city and intriguingly know as “?”, before continuing to Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, the most important cultural-historic complex of the city, situated on the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube.
Meals : Breakfast
3
DAY 3 BELGRADE – FRUŠKA GORA – SREMSKI KARLOVCI – NOVI SAD - BELGRADE
Breakfast. Today you will explore the most interesting sights of Vojvodina, a province in the north of Serbia. You will be driven through picturesque scenery and Serbia’s famous wine region towards the “Serbian Holy Land”, home to 17 functioning Serbian Orthodox monasteries. You will visit the well-preserved monastery Krušedol, where you will have the opportunity to buy wine and rakija made by the monks. The tour continues to the town of Sremski Karlovci. A real gem of Serbian culture and spirituality, Sremski Karlovci feels likes a “museum town” with its Baroque center, the Patriarchal Court, the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and the first Serbian secondary school (gymnasium). It is also famous for wine production and the town’s annual Wineball festival. You will end your tour of this charming town with a visit and wine tasting at one of the region’s most prominent wineries. As Sremski Karlovci lies on the banks of the Danube, you will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch on the shore of Central Europe’s longest river. Further on the tour, you will visit the 2021 European Capital of Culture, Novi Sad. Located on the historical border of two former empires – the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman – as a result, the capital of Vojvodina is a multi-cultural city with an interesting mix of architectural influences. On a sightseeing tour around the city, you will walk around the city’s pedestrian zone, past the City Hall, a Catholic church, the old city center, the former house of Albert Einstein’s wife Mileva, the cultural foundation Matica Srpska, and a synagogue. You will then follow the right bank of the Danube and visit Petrovaradin, or the so-called “Danube’s Gibraltar”, where the fortress is located. Enjoy wonderful views of the Danube and the entire city, you can also end this day with dinner in a wonderful ambiance before heading back to Belgrade.
Meals : Breakfast
4
DAY 4 BELGRADE – TIMIŞOARA - SIBIU
Breakfast at the hotel and then check out. The tour continues to Timişoara, the largest city in western Romania and one that has been influenced by many cultures. The charm of this city, situated on the northern bank of the River Bega, lies in its distinctive architectural character and vibrant cultural life, and it is frequently referred to as “Little Vienna”. Its historical significance is further confirmed by the fact that it was the first European city to have electric street lighting. A guided tour will eave from Unirii Square, the city’s main square surrounded by beautiful medieval buildings among which the Catholic Cathedral of Saint George is a decorative highlight. The tour will take you to Liberty Square, Victory Square home to the Romanian National Opera and National Theatre, and the 15th century Huniade Castle which today represents the best example of Gothic architecture in this region. Continuing to Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007. Before the sightseeing tour check-in to the hotel and take a short rest. Sibiu was the largest and richest of seven fortified towns built by German settlers in the 12th century. In Sibiu, the first hospital and pharmacy in Romania were established, the Romanian book was printed and the oldest museum in Romania, the Brukenthal National Museum, was built. The wealth acquired by the trade guilds of Sibiu was used to build impressive buildings and fortification, and today the old town has retained its former splendor. Parts of the medieval walls still surround the historic center, where narrow streets intersect 17th century buildings. During the tour you will visit the Large Square with Brukenthal National Museum, the Small Square, the Council Tower, the Bridges of Lies, Stairs Passage, and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, modelled on the magnificent Agia Sofia. Overnight.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Sibiu for 1 night
5
DAY 5 SIBIU – SIGHIŞOARA - BRAŞOV
Breakfast and check-out. From Sibiu you will travel to Sighişoara, a town in Transylvania, with a history dating back to the 1100s. With cobbled streets and colorful buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must during your visit to Romania. Sighişoara is also famous as the birthplace of Vlad III, also known as Vlad this Impaler or Vlad Dracula. His birthplace is still there, marked with the placard “Casa Vlad Dracul”. You will also see the Church of the Dominican Monastery, the Clock Tower, Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, the Tailor’s Tower, the Covered Stairway, and other important sights. The tour continues to Braşov. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century and built as one of the seven walled citadels, this amazing city exudes a distinctive medieval setting and has been used as a backdrop in many recent films. Numerous medieval towers continue to glitter over the city. Between them sparks baroque buildings and churches, whiles relaxed cafés line the main square, Piaţa Sfatului. In Braşov, your sightseeing will start with the story of the main square and the House of Council (Casa Sfatului). You will then walk down one of the narrowest streets in the world towards the Gothic style cathedral Biserica Neagră, famously called the Black Church, and further on to Catherine’s Gate, the only original city gate to survive from medieval times. After a pleasant afternoon spent in this picturesque city, check-in to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Braşov for 1 night
6
DAY 6 BRAŞOV – BRAN CASTLE – PELEŞ CASTLE - BUCHAREST
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the beautiful landscape to Bran Castle, the former residence of the Romanian royal family and commonly known as Dracula’s Castle. The fairy-tale appearance of this gothic fortress built in the 13th century, set strategically atop a 60-meter cliff, provides visitors with an irresistible journey back to the middle ages and an era that housed Bram Stoker’s horror novel, entitled “Dracula”. Stoker was fascinated by stories of the dark mysteries of the Carpathian Mountains and the legend of Vlad Cepes, a Romanian hero known as a very cruel ruler, and used it all as inspiration for his world-famous novel. Thanks to the fact that Vlad the Impaler was held as a prisoner in this beautiful medieval castle, a belief was created that Bran Castle is the place where Stoker set his story and it became known as Dracula’s Castle. Afternoon hours will be devoted to the visit of Sinaia and Peleş Castle. When King Carol I of Romania visited the location on which beautiful Peleş Castle now stands, he was amazed by the stunning scenery of the Carpathian Mountains that surrounded it. The royal family decided to build their summer residence there and they made a splendid creation of noble taste and intelligent engineering. The castle considered a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece. In addition to the magnificent exterior with hand-painted stained-glass windows and numerous sculptures surrounding the castle, the interior of over 160 rooms was decorated by more than 400 artisans and artists. After sightseeing, you will depart for the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Hotel check-in and free time. Overnight.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Bucharest for 2 nights
7
DAY 7 BUCHAREST SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel. Start the sightseeing tour of Bucharest. Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of Little Paris”), today Bucharest is a bustling metropolis. While exploring this magnificent city adorned parks, you will see the fascinating blend of French, Byzantine, and communist architecture in the many stylish building. Though much of the centre is modern and garish, you will find splendid 17th and 18th centuries Orthodox churches and graceful art nouveau villas tucked away in quiet corners. You will visit all the city’s best-known sights, including the Piaţa Unirii for a view of the colossal Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest building in the world (after the Pentagon). From there, the tour continues to the medieval Old Town, one of Bucharest’s earliest settlements, which has been the seat of Romanian princes. You will see the Old Princely Court and its church, the peaceful Stavropoleos Monastery, Lipscani Street, and the National Museum of Romanian History. Continue towards the Calea Victoriei Avenue and see the beautiful French-style buildings. When you arrive at Revolution Square, hear the story about what communist rule meant for Romania and how this square earned its name, and don’t forget to take a photo in front of many of its important sights. In the afternoon, use your free time to rest or head to the old city centre and enjoy the open-air terraces, bars, coffee shops, pubs, and clubs that can be found at every turn. This is the perfect place to go out for dinner and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Bucharest while sipping Ţuică, Romania’s national drink made from plums.
Meals : Breakfast
8
DAY 8 BUCHAREST – ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES OF IVANOVO – ARBANASI – VELIKO TARNOVO
Breakfast at the hotel. Start the tour of Northern Bulgaria and visit its most important sights. As soon as you enter the territory of Bulgaria close to the village of Ivanovo, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries, and cells. This is where the first hermits dug out their cells and churches in the rock during the 12th century. The 14th century murals are wonderful examples of medieval art and testify to the exceptional skill of the Bulgarian artists. Admire and find out why this authentic preserved heritage is attractive and popular with tourists. Continue your tour with a short photo stop in the small village of Arbanasi, an architectural and museum reserve. A picturesque open-air museum of cultural heritage includes 80 houses, some of which still have original Ottoman décor and design. If you are lucky, you may catch performances by traditional Bulgarian dancers, with colorful costumes and positive energy. In this small village you can also visit one of its five churches, which together house more than 3600 frescoes. The final stop of the day will take you back in time to the rise and fall of the might capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1396). By walking the winding cobblestone streets of Veliko Tarnovo, you will learn and feel how its proud population lived under Turkish rule, developed fabulous architectural masterpieces, and established a cohesive and powerful craftsmen’s guild. The legends and stories, interesting history, and picturesque location of Veliko Tarnovo and the Tsarevets fortress have gained them numerous admirers in both Bulgaria and abroad, making the region a top tourist attraction in the Balkans. Check-in to your hotel and free time to enjoy your evening in this charming town. Overnight.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Veliko Tarnovo for 1 night
9
DAY 9 VELIKO TARNOVO – ETAR ETHNO VILLAGE – PLOVDIV SIGHTSEEING - SOFIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the open-air Ethnographic Museum of Etar, which contains a collection of 50 objects including water-powered installations and houses with craftsmen’s workshops. The complex exhibits the architecture, way of life, and economy of central Bulgaria during the Bulgarian National Revival. Using original instruments and following old traditions, it presents the Bulgarian customs, culture, and characteristics of 20 regional crafts. Etar has gained popularity for being the only unique collection of old water-powered machines in Bulgaria, 10 of which are still active today and work as they would have done back in the day, and it is considered on of the best kept active technical collections in European open-air museums. Continue the tour and explore the beautiful and ancient city of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe and the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Located on the banks of the Marica River and built around seven hills, the city has a cultural mix of different civilizations and a unique blend of architectural elements, itself a museum under the open sky. You will visit one of its most famous landmarks, the architectural complex of Ancient Plovdiv, where many beautiful houses from the time of the Bulgarian Renaissance have been preserved and restored. The most significant monument of the cultural capital of Bulgaria is certainly the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis; built in the 2nd century with perfect acoustics, in which theatrical performances, concerts, and various cultural events are still held today. You will also visit the Roman Stadium and the Church of Saint Constantine and Helena before finishing the tour in Kapana, the creative heart of the city and a pedestrian area full of shops, restaurants, and galleries. Drive to Sofia and check-in to your hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Sofia for 2 nights
10
DAY 10 SOFIA SIGHTSEEING – RILA MONASTERY (OPTIONAL)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will explore Sofia, a modern, youthful Eastern European capital, distinguished by a unique combination of communist-style architecture, Ottoman mosques and onion-domed churches. The home to many of Bulgaria’s finest museums, galleries, and restaurants, Sofia will reveal to you its most interesting landmarks, such as the impressive Saint Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the colorful Church of Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Church of Saint George, the Banya Bashi Mosque, the Sofia Synagogue, the National Palace of Culture, and Largo, one of the prime examples of Socialist Classicism architecture and one of Sofia’s main landmarks.
Meals : Breakfast
Optional Excursions : Half-day tour of Rila Monastery: High up in the Rila Mountain, where the forest touches the sky, you will find the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria, the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila. Surrounded by beautiful mountainous nature and nestled beneath Bulgaria’s highest peak, Musala, it is the most photogenic, peaceful, and authentic place in Bulgaria. Despite its remote location, it attracts thousands of visitors every day. The significance of this literary and cultural centre of the region was confirmed in 1983 when it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. When you stand in the huge, stone-paved courtyard, surrounded by 24-meter-high walls, you will see that the monastery is also an impenetrable stronghold. The natural beauty of this monastery is enhanced by the main church The Nativity of the Virgin Mother, covered wooden stairs, carved verandas, arches, and colonnades, 300-400 monastery cells and incredible sacred frescoes.
11
DAY 11 SOFIA – NIŠ - BELGRADE
Breakfast at the hotel and then check out. Return to Serbia, this time to the eastern region, of which the city of Niš is the most important destination. Niš, mostly known for being the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, is a crossroad between East and West and therefore sometimes called the “Gate of East and West”. AS the host of the most visited jazz festival of Southeast Europe, you will remember it for its frequent restaurants and cafés, always filled with the warmth and hospitality of the local people. During the tour of Niš, you will see several unique sights of global significance. The most important landmark of Niš is the archeological park Mediana (temporarily closed), a cultural property of exceptional importance as it contains the remains of the residence of one of the most important Roman emperors, Constantine the Great. Another landmark you won’t forget easily is Sull Tower. Made of 950 human skulls, it is one of the most macabre historical sites in the world. You will also visit the Niš Fortress, the largest monument in the city of Niš and the best-preserved Turkish military fortress in Serbia, located in the city center, on the banks of the Nišava River. At the end of the tour, head to the cobbled Tinkers Alley and feel the spirit of the only remaining part of Niš’s old čaršija (market), now home to numerous cafés and restaurants. For an authentic local experience try the grilled meat, arguably the best in the country. After an exciting day, drive to Serbia’s capital city, Belgrade. Check-in to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Belgrade for 1 night
12
DAY 12 DEPARTURE
Breakfast and hotel check out. End of services.
Meals : Breakfast
HOTEL OPTIONS OR SIMILAR
Standard Hotels:
Belgrade: Hotel Royal Inn / Hotel Mark / Hotel Prag
Sibiu: Hotel Best Western Silva / Continental Forum / Mercure Sibiu Airport
Braşov: Grand Hotel Belvedere / Golden Time / Ambient
Bucharest: Hotel Capital Plaza / Parliament / Ambassador
Veliko Tarnovo: Hotel Premier / Tsarevets / Alegro
Sofia: Hotel BW Premier Collection City / Best Western Terminus Hotel / Triada Hotel
Superior Hotels:
Belgrade: Hotel Saint Ten / Hotel Hyatt Regency / Hotel Hilton
Sibiu: Hotel Ramada by Wyndham / Golden Tulip Ana Tower / Hilton Sibiu
Braşov: Hotel Aro Palace / Kronwell
Bucharest: Hotel Grand Continental / Athénée Palace Hilton / Hilton Garden Inn Old Town
Veliko Tarnovo: Hotel Yantra / Augusta Spa / Studio
Sofia: Grand Hotel Sofia / Hilton / Arena di Serdica Boutique Hotel
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Price in $CAD, per person, starting from, in double occupancy |
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2024 Departure Dates |
Standard Hotels | Superior Hotels | |
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May 23 |
2650 |
3480 |
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Supplements |
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Single |
on request | ||
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Return airport transfer |
on request |
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Excursion to the Rila Monastery |
on request |
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Pre night in Belgrade |
+105 |
+185 |
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Post night in Belgrade |
+89 |
+165 |
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Tour Code: BM
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
The Best of Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria – Detailed itinerary
The Best of Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria – Detailed itinerary
