Two of the Oldest Civilizations in Europe 2025 - from Sofia to Bucharest - 9 Days

Sofia – Rila Monastery – Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Gabrovo – Veliko Tarnovo – Ivanovo – Ruse – Bucharest – Sibiu – Sighisoara – Bran – Brasov – Sinaia – Bucharest

Dates:

22 March 2025 – 30 March 2025
02 May 2025 – 12 May 2025
16 August 2025 – 24 August 2025
12 October 2025 – 20 October 2025
 

Highlights:

·         Explore the two pearls of both banks of Danube River – Romania and Bulgaria with their biggest historical and cultural treasures

·         Fully escorted tour with a professional tour guide in English

·         Accommodation in First class (4*) hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage included

·         Traditional meals in authentic restaurants

Most important objects and attractions:

·         Sofia – the capital city of Bulgaria – one of the oldest cities in Europe

·         Plovdiv – European capital of culture for 2019!

·         Ivanovo Rock churches – UNESCO site

·         Veliko Tarnovo – the historical hill Tzarevetz and the Royal Castle of Second Bulgarian State

·         UNESCO listed Thracian Tomb in Kazanluk

·         Bucharest – Little Paris of the East with its impressive Parliament Palace (second biggest public building in the world by surface area)

·         The Castles of Romania – Peles Castle, Dracula’s Castle

·         Fortified Church Biertan – UNESCO site

·         City Sighisoara – UNESCO site

·         Black Church in Brasov – the biggest Gothic Dom in Eastern Europe

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Sofia – departure (D)

Arrival to Sofia. Transfer from the airport, welcome dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2 - Sofia city tour (B, L)

After breakfast - embark on a panoramic city tour of Bulgaria’s capital. Highlights include the 5th century St. Sofia Basilica, National Parliament, the ruins of the Roman Serdica and the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In the afternoon you have free time to further explore Sofia with a wander through the Vitosha Art Boulevard, with its boutiques, shops and cafes.

Overnight.

Day 3 - Sofia – Rila Monastery - Plovdiv (B, L)

After breakfast - set off to Rila Monastery (X c.)- the biggest Bulgarian spiritual center since the Middle Ages till nowadays, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s located in a picturesque mountain area. The Rila Monastery has rich collection of icons and wall-paintings. Its museum keeps a real treasure: a wooden cross of just 81 cm height, carved with 104 religious scenes and 650 figures.

After lunch in a local restaurant continue on to Plovdiv.

In the late afternoon arrive in Plovdiv and, after check-in at your hotel, discover the city's highlights on a walking tour through the beautiful Old Town and marvel at the 18th century Bulgarian architecture, visit the Ethnographical Museum, one of the museum-houses in the old city, the St. Constantine and Elena church, the Antique Theatre (in use today) and the Roman Stadium.

Accommodation, dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 4 – Plovdiv – Kazanluk – Etara – Arbanassi - Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanassi - Etara - Kazanluk - Plovdiv (B, D)

After an early breakfast - transfer to Kazanluk, capital of the Valley of the Roses, to learn about the production of Bulgarian rose oil followed by a visit to the 4th century Thracian Kazanlak Tomb. Continue to Etara Open-Air Museum, where you will discover over 300 years of Bulgarian tradition. In the afternoon we arrive in village village of Arbanassi famous for its ancient, richly decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Accommodation and dinner in Veliko Tranovo

Day 5 – Veliko Tarnovo – Ruse – Bucharest (B, D)

After breakfast you will have a city tour of Veliko Tarnovo with visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin's Tower.

Then departure to the Rusenski Lom River Valley. Visit Rock Churches of Ivanovo (XII-XIV c) – an UNESCO object, famous for its unique frescoes.

In the afternoon we will cross the Danube and will drive to Bucharest

Accommodation and overnight in the hotel.

Day 6 – Bucharest – Sibiu (B, D)

After breakfast we will have a Panoramic tour of the Romanian capital – the Royal Palace, the University’s Library, the City-Hall and other interesting sights of the city also called “the little Paris” because of the similar architecture style of the buildings. We will visit also the inside of Parliament Palace – the second largest building by surface area in the world after the pentagon in USA.

Then departure through the Carpathian Mountains to Sibiu and the Oltului Valley – the most spectacular river valley in Romania. In the afternoon we arrive in the biggest medieval city in Romania – Sibiu. After check-in the hotel, direct on the pedestrian street, we take a city tour in Sibiu/Hermannstadt - the European Cultural Capital 2007. We will visit, among others the Evangelical Church, the Council Tower, The large and the Small Square, the Liars' Bridge, the Brukenthal Palace. Dinner and overnight in Sibiu.

Day 7 – Sibiu – Biertan – Sighisoara – Bran (Dracula Castle) - Brasov (B, L)

In the morning we departure to Sighisoara via Biertan. In Biertan we will visit the fortified church, which previously used o be the Bishops' residence for more than 300 years. Biertan - one of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches (XV-XVI century) in Transylvania, having been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1993. Then we drive to Sighisoara (Schässburg) one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania – a UNESCO city. City tour of Sighisoara with visit of the Citadel - a 12th century Saxon edifice located in the historic center of the city. Still occupied, the citadel is listed as a World Heritage Site. Here we visit the city and see the main touristic objectives of the so called "Rothenburg ob der Taube from Transylvania": the Clock Tower (inside visit too), the Covered Staircase, Dracula's birth house, the Church on the Hill.

Lunch at the famous restaurant «Vlad Drakula», located in the same house where the popular character of the British writer Bram Stoker was born. In the afternoon departure to Bran village, where the world-famous Dracula castle is located. It is the most curious part of the trip in Romania, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Accommodation and overnight in Brasov.

Day 8 – Brasov – Sinaia – Bucharest (B, D)

Breakfast. City tour of Brasov - a medieval city, founded in 12-th century. Sightseeing tour of the really good preserved historical city center with the big square, the old city-hall, and the Black Church - the main Gothic style monument in the country.

In the afternoon – departure to the mountain resort Sinaia, also called "the pearl of the Carpathian Mountains". Visit to the Peles Castle, constructed in 1873 as a summer residence of the Romanian royal family. You can see a rich collection of old furniture, carpets, weapons and armors. Return back to Bucharest. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in Bucharest.

Day 9 – Bucharest (B)

Your tour concludes after breakfast with a departure transfer for your onward journey.

Included services:

Accommodation with breakfast in 4* hotels, like follow:
-          2 x Sofia: egg. BW Expo Hotel 4*

-          1 x Plovdiv: egg. Grand Hotel Plovdiv 4*

-          1 x Veliko Tarnovo: egg. Grand Hotel Yantra 4*

-          2 x in Bucharest: egg. Hotel Continental Forum 4*

-          1 x in Sibiu: egg. Hotel Ramada 4*

-          1 x in Brasov: egg. Hotel HP Tower 4*

4 meals: 8 breakfasts, 5 dinners and 3 lunches
·         Throughout transportation by a comfortable car, van or mini-bus or LDC; for groups up to 7 passengers, the guide is also a driver.

·         Parking fees, road and border taxes

·         All entrance fees for the museums, sites and churches

·         Professional English-speaking guide for touring days in Bulgaria and Romania

·         English-speaking assistant for airport transfers (day 1 and day 9)

Tour prices don’t include:

Other meals than mentioned
Beverages with meals
International flights from / to Bucharest or Sofia
 

Privately escorted tour prices 

Group prices

Ask for quote!