ROMANIA HIGHLIGHTS

ARRIVAL IN BUCHAREST – CITY TOUR IN BUCHAREST (50 KM)
Meeting with the English-speaking guide at the airport, transfer to the hotel in Bucharest.

City tour, visit Bucharest`s main touristic attractions:

• Press House, a monumental building symbolizing Romania’s communist era, once the headquarters of state‑run media.
• Kisselef Boulevard, a leafy avenue lined with embassies and elegant villas, perfect for appreciating the city’s architectural charm.
• Arch of Triumph, inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, this landmark commemorates Romania’s independence and victories in World War I.
• Victory Square & Victory’s Boulevard, the heart of modern Bucharest, home to government buildings and bustling city life.
• Revolution Square, a historic site where the 1989 revolution unfolded, marking Romania’s transition to democracy.
• Cotroceni Palace, a stately residence that now serves as the official home of Romania’s president, surrounded by lush gardens.
• Palace of Parliament, the world’s heaviest building and second largest administrative structure (after the Pentagon), a striking symbol of Ceaușescu’s regime.
• It is both awe‑inspiring and controversial, ~365,000 m², 12 floors, 8 underground levels, +1,000 rooms, lavish interiors, ~ 4.1 million tons, making it the heaviest building on Earth. The Architect, Anca Petrescu, was only 28 years old when she led the project. Built during Ceaușescu’s massive urban restructuring program, inspired by his visit to North Korea, it required the demolition of one-fifth of Bucharest’s historic center, including churches, synagogues, hospitals, and ~40,000 homes.
• Lipscani Street (Old Town), a lively district of cobbled streets, historic inns, cafés, and shops, preserving the charm of Bucharest’s past.

Accommodation in Bucharest.

Breakfast and Visit to Agapia Monastery.

• We begin at Agapia Monastery, the largest nuns’ monastery in Romania. Its church is adorned with unique interior frescoes, offering a glimpse into centuries of spiritual artistry.
• Journey through Bicaz Gorges. We then drive through the dramatic Bicaz Gorges, a spectacular 5‑km stretch of twisting road carved between sheer limestone cliffs rising 300 meters high. This natural wonder is one of Romania’s most breathtaking landscapes.
• Red Lake (Lacul Roșu): Nearby lies the Red Lake, the largest natural mountain lake in Romania, formed after a landslide in the 19th century. Its tranquil waters and surrounding forests create a scene of rare beauty.
• Prejmer Fortified Church: On our way to Brașov, we stop at Prejmer Fortified Church, the most important and best‑preserved fortified church in Transylvania. Visitors can walk along the battlement parapet and see the legendary “Death Organ”, a defensive weapon of medieval times.
• Arrival in Brașov: We continue to Brașov, a charming medieval city framed by the Carpathian Mountains, where history and culture await.

Overnight in Brasov.

After breakfast, we visit Dracula’s Castle. Then we drive to Brasov, where we begin our city tour.

Brașov City Tour
Discover the main attractions of this medieval city nestled within the Carpathian Arch:

• Council Hall, the historic center of civic life.
• Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania, with interior visitation included.
• Weaver’s Bastion, a well-preserved defensive tower showcasing Brașov’s medieval fortifications.
• Black and White Towers, watchtowers offering panoramic views over the city.
• Schei Quarter, a picturesque district reflecting Brașov’s multicultural past.

 Sinaia City Tour (afternoon)
We continue to Sinaia, the “Pearl of the Carpathians,” where we visit Peleș Castle, the summer residence of Romania’s royal family. Built at the end of the 19th century in Neo‑Renaissance style, this modern palace reflects the elegance of the Hohenzollern‑Sigmaringen dynasty.

Our journey concludes in Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital, where history and modernity meet.

Accommodation in Bucharest.

Breakfast, check out and head to the airport for your flight home.
End of tour.