Best of Romania, Transylvania & Hungary

Welcome to Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital, where grand boulevards and Belle-Époque elegance hint at a rich past. Settle into the rhythm of the city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a local dinner. Raise a glass to the journey ahead as you share your first taste of Romania’s warm hospitality – the perfect way to begin your adventure.

Step into Bucharest’s history on a walking tour with a visit to the colossal Palace of Parliament, one of the world’s largest and heaviest buildings, built during Romania’s communist era. Passing through Revolution Square, a key site in the country’s fight for freedom, you’ll finally arrive at the Arch of Triumph, the city’s tribute to its WWI victory. The afternoon is yours to explore, shop or simply enjoy the Romanian capital’s energy.

Leave Bucharest behind as you wind through the wooded Carpathian Mountains, arriving in the elegant resort town of Sinaia. Visit Peleș Castle, a neo-Renaissance palace built for Romania’s first king and filled with original furnishings, weaponry and decorative arts. Travel onward to the Saxon village of Hărman, where you’ll step inside a fortified church built to protect the community during medieval times. Continue through the countryside to a traditional Saxon home, carefully restored by your hosts. Here you’ll enjoy a Be My Guest experience, sharing stories over a homemade meal prepared using Transylvanian recipes, with ingredients sourced from the surrounding region.

Bran Castle—better known as the home of Bram Stoker’s Dracula—sets the scene this morning. With its towering spires, hidden passageways and dramatic history, it’s easy to see why this fortress fuels the legend. Dive into Culture as your Local Specialist reveals the real story, from royal retreat to eerie icon. Then, wander the medieval streets of Braşov, uncover its Saxon past and visit the fire-scarred Black Church. Tonight, your evening is yours to enjoy as you wish.

Begin your day in Sighișoara, a UNESCO-listed gem and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. Stroll its cobbled lanes and explore the old town on foot, seeing the covered wooden stairs, the landmark clock tower and the house where Vlad the Impaler was supposedly born. Continue to Sibiu, a city rich in Saxon character and charm. Join a Local Specialist to uncover the Great Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths’ Square and the Liar’s Bridge. See the Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary, known for its ornate interior and the resting place of a Wallachian prince.

This morning, you may choose to join an Optional Experience to Muzeul Astra, one of Europe’s largest open-air museums, showcasing over 300 original buildings that reflect Romania’s rural architecture, crafts and farming heritage. Later, visit Corvin Castle, a spectacular Gothic fortress known for its towers, turrets and tales of Vlad the Impaler. Continue west towards Timișoara, a city celebrated for its grand architecture and cultural heart. Often called ‘Little Vienna’, Timișoara is known for its public squares, Art Nouveau architecture and its key role in the 1989 revolution that shaped modern Romania.

Cross the border from Romania into Hungary and head for Bugac Puszta, part of the Great Hungarian Plain. This is the region where goulash originated, you’ll stop for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and watch a horsemanship display that showcases the riding skills of local herdsmen before enjoying a bowl of the hearty stew. Later, continue to Budapest, where wide boulevards and river views mark your arrival in the capital. This evening, you may choose to explore the city from the water on an Optional Experience dinner cruise along the Danube, passing landmarks lit up in gold.

Start your final day uncovering the grandeur of Budapest with your Local Specialist. Stand in the vast Heroes’ Square, surrounded by statues of Hungary’s great leaders, before crossing the Danube to Buda. Ascend Castle Hill, to see the striking Matthias Church. Nearby, take in views over the city from the Fisherman’s Bastion, with its fairytale turrets overlooking the Hungarian Parliament. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure—perhaps a soak in the city’s famous thermal baths? Tonight, toast to an unforgettable journey over dinner with your fellow travelers.

Your journey comes to an end as you bid farewell to Budapest and your travel companions.