Tour Date: 3 to 10 September, 2026Location: Romania
Romania is a captivating country in Southeastern Europe, known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cultural heritage. From medieval castles to modern cities, Romania offers a blend of tradition with wonderful scenery, crisscrossed by railways.
The landscape is strikingly diverse—mountains, hills, and plains are evenly distributed. The Carpathian Mountains dominate the centre, offering natural beauty, including 14 national parks and the Danube Delta, which is the second-largest and best-preserved delta in Europe. This delta spans 5,800 square kilometres and supports 1,688 different plant species, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a paradise for birdwatchers.
Romania has a rich cultural heritage reflected in its well-preserved medieval towns, castles, and traditional villages. The country has earned recognition as a top destination to visit by CNN Travel, highlighting attractions such as Transylvania with its historic castles.
From: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Birmingham, or overland by rail from London St Pancras.
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Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Thursday 3 September, 2026 (D) – Arrival in Romania
UK airport direct departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted or Birmingham. Meet your English speaking tour manager and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Overland by rail from the UK is also available with nights in Munich and Budapest leaving UK on 1st September.
Day 2 Friday 4 September (B,D) – Bucharest and its Treasures
After breakfast, meet your guide and start sightseeing tour, including the most interesting sites in Bucharest, like The Parliament Palace, also known as The People’s House, the second largest building in the world, after Penthagon, The Revolution Square, The Opera Square, Victoria Ave and the Triumphal Arch. Visit Parliament Palace, built 1984 – 1989, the second largest building in the world, after Pentagon, with unique marble decorations, wooded sculptures made of rare essence, also. Former house of Ceausescu, this building is impressive at first only by figures : 270 meters by 240, 86 meters high, 1100 pieces and 12 floors. Ceausescu wiped a big portion of the surrounding district in order to build this palace. It’s without a doubt that the interior surprises more than the outside : the Transylvanian marble that covers kms of walls, each and every piece is adorned. Big stairways, sophisticated floors and alive colours make the palace a perfect place for shooting a movie. The ceiling is at 8 meters high; everything is at double the size from any palace. The effective surface is actually a small part in comparison to the built surface. Free time for lunch. Visit Village Museum, one of the largest open air museums in the entire Europe. In the afternoon, walking tour in the old city centre to discover the old perfume that Bucharest hides. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 3 Saturday 5 September (B,D) – Bucharest – Sinaia – Bran – Brasov
After breakfast, take the train to Sinaia. Arrival in Sinaia royal station, still used today and a landmark for the Orient Express train that stops here on its way to Istanbul. Visit the summer residence of the first royal couple, King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe. You will discover this unique masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance style castle, a reminder of the King’s Carol German origins. Free time for lunch. Continue to Bran by bus where you will visit the famous medieval castle built as a fortress – The “Dracula’s” Castle – for the citizens of Brasov with view to defend the city. Prince Vlad used the Castle as a general headquarters during his incursions in Transylvania. Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker’s Dracula. Arrival in Brasov. Walking tour in Brasov to admire the unique baroque buildings. Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains and resplendent with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, as well as a wealth of historical attractions, Brasov is one of the most visited places in Romania. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels, Brasov exudes a distinct medieval ambiance and has been used as backdrop in many recent period films. Visit Black Church, the largest gothic church between Wien and Istanbul. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Brasov.
Day 4 Sunday 6 September (B,D) – Brasov – Sighisoara
In the morning, take the train towards Sighisoara. Arrival in Sighisoara around noon. Free time for lunch. Walking tour in Sighisoara that includes the two squares of the Citadel, the Scholars’ Staircase, the Ducklings’ Square, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler, the Clock Tower, (inside visit) the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was born in Sighisoara. Today, his birthplace is a restaurant and one of the main tourist attractions. Dinner and overnight in Sighisoara.
Day 5 Monday 7 September (B,D) – Sighisoara – Sibiu
After breakfast, transfer to Biertan and visit Biertan Fortified Church, UNESCO world heritage. Rising sharply above a huddle of Saxon-style buildings, Biertan’s fortified church is a poetic sight surrounded by medieval-themed inns and pastel-colored houses. Arrival in Sibiu and enjoy some free time for lunch. Start walking tour in Sibiu. A visit to Sibiu is a „must” as this was the European Cultural Capital in 2007. We suggest you take an incursion in the medieval centre who has been very well preserved: the Big Square, where in past times big reunions and executions took place, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the fortifications, etc. Continue with a ride with the touristic tram in Rasinari area (in option, depending on availability). Dinner and overnight in Sibiu.
Day 6 Tuesday 8 September (B,L) – Sibiu – Cornatel – Sibiu
After breakfast, transfer to Cornatel where you will embark on a scenic trip on a narrow gauge steam train on Hartibaciu Valley, a perfect moment to learn more about Transylvania. Lunch in a local gastronomical point. Transfer to Sibiel carriage ride in the picturesque village of Sibiel and visit Icon Glass museum, the largest one in Europe. Today, you will have the chance to learn more about the local community of Sibiel, about their struggle to keep alive the old traditions. Return to Sibiu. Free time in Sibiu. Free time for dinner. Overnight in Sibiu.
Day 7 Wednesday 9 September (B,D) – Sibiu – Cozia – Bucharest
In the morning, drive back to Bucharest following the picturesque Olt valley. Stop and visit Cozia Monastery (14th century, built by Mircea the Elder, Vlad the Impaler’s grandfather). Arrival in Bucharest. Farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Bucharest.
Day 8 Thursday 10 September (B) – Departure
Transfer to Bucharest airport for return flights or overland by rail back to the UK via Budapest and Munich.
Prices (per person)
- 8-day trip from Bucharest: £1,575
- 8-day trip with flights from London Gatwick: £1,795
- 8-day trip with flights from Manchester: £1,795
- 12-day trip overland by rail from home UK station: £2,545
(book early to get first class and Eurostar Plus)
Book early to get the best flight prices as above. Flight prices might increase for late bookers.
Options
- Main hotels single use room supplement: £235 (£510 for overland option)
Deposit
- £400 (own flights), £600 (with flights), £1,000 (overland)
Holiday Includes
- All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
- En-suite accommodation
- Meals as shown in the itinerary; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch D = Dinner
(7 breakfasts, 6 dinners, 1 lunch) - Entrance fees as per program
- Carriage ride in Sibiel village
- Tram ride in Rasinari
- Services of our tour manager. Holiday is fully escorted from Bucharest
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
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We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Flight Options from the UK – TBC
A2-651 11:45 London Gatwick to Bucharest (arr 16:55)
A2-650 09:40 Bucharest to London Gatwick (arr 11:00)
BA874 09:15 Heathrow to Bucharest (arr 14:30) or BA876 15:05 Heathrow to Bucharest (arr 20:20)
BA875 15:40 Bucharest to Heathrow (arr 17:10)
W2-3002 08:55 Luton to Bucharest (arr 14:15)
W2-3005 15:40 Bucharest to Luton (arr 17:10)
FR3846 09:35 London Stansted to Bucharest (arr 14:45)
FR3847 15:10 Bucharest to London Stansted (arr 16:30)
W2-3020 19:05 Birmingham to Bucharest (arr 00:25)
FR-3422 11:30 Bucharest to Birmingham (13:00)
Overland by Rail
Tuesday 1 September:
First Class travel from your home UK station to London
Eurostar 11:04 St Pancras to Brussels (arr 14:05)
ICE17 14:25 Brussels to Frankfurt
ICE725 17:54 Frankfurt to Munich (arr 21:07)
Overnight at hotel in Munich
Wednesday 2 September
RJX63 09:28 Munich to Budapest (arr 16:02)
Overnight train at 23:05 Budapest to Bucharest – sleeper
Thursday 3 September
Arrival into Bucharest at 14:26 to join main tour as above
Return by Rail
Thursday 10 September
NZ472 17:58 Bucharest to Budapest (arr 08:55) – sleeper
Friday 11 September
Arrive 08:55, 1 night at Hotel in Budapest
Free time in Budapest
Saturday 12 September
Rail at 09:40 Budapest to Munich (arr 16:34)
Overnight at hotel in Munich
Sunday 13 September
ICE726 07:46 Munich to Frankfurt (arr 11:04)
ICE314 12:25 Frankfurt to Brussels Midi (arr 15:35)
EST9149 16:51 Brussels Midi to London St Pancras (18:05)
First class rail travel back to your home UK station
Hotels
- Hotel Capitol 4* in Bucharest
- Hotel Casa Wagner 3* in Brasov
- Hotel Sighisoara 3* in Sighisoara
- Hotel My Continental 3* in Sibiu