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DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart for Bulgaria
Depart for Bulgaria
DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Sofia
Arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria's lively capital and cultural center, and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. This evening at approximately 6 PM, enjoy a Welcome Dinner and orientation meeting with your Tour Manager on the fascinating journey of Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania that lies ahead. We recommend that you select flights which arrive in your destination no later than 4 PM or earlier, if possible
Overnight: Sofia
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3, Friday - Sofia City Tour
Become acquainted with the history of Sofia on your visit to the National Museum of History. Enjoy exhibits of the Bulgarian lands dating back 8000 years, including glimpses of the unique gold and silver treasures from Thracian times. View the St. Sofia Church across the square from the impressive Neo-Byzantine golden domed Alexander Nevsky Church, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. Stroll the lanes of the city on your own, or, join the optional tour to the remarkable Rila Monastery declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tonight, discover Sofia's diverse dining scene from eclectic bistros to traditional soup bars
Optional: Rila Monastery Tour (PM)
Overnight: Sofia
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Saturday - Nis en Route to Belgrade
A long and rewarding day as you cross the border into the Republic of Serbia. Arrive in Nis, an important crossroad between Central Europe and the Middle East. After an orientation tour of the city with its many historically important sites, enjoy lunch at a popular café. This emerging city was settled in pre-Roman times and flourished during the time of Emperor Constantine. See the remains of the Turkish fort from the 18th century, now a bustling central recreation area filled with shops, cafes and restaurants. Your journey continues to Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe with a long and tumultuous history. This evening's dinner is at a typical restaurant in the old bohemian quarter of Skadarlija, accented by music and songs. Toast your fellow travelers this evening with Rakia, a delicious fruit brandy popular in the Balkans
Overnight: Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5, Sunday - Belgrade City Tour
Today's sightseeing of historic Belgrade includes a visit to the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Built in stages between the 1st and 18th centuries, this fortress witnessed major defensive battles. View the Republic Square, bustling Knez Mihajlova Street, and the imposing Saint Sava Temple, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. This afternoon on your own. Perhaps revisit the old bohemian quarter of Skadarlija, frequently compared to Montmartre in Paris, both in appearance as well as its artistic atmosphere. Or, join the optional Oplenac Complex with Wine Tasting. Travel to the town of Topola and visit Oplenac complex to learn about Serbian history and the royal dynasty of Karadjordjevic. Afterward, continue to King's Winery and taste wines from the royal vineyards. Enjoy your evening at leisure
Optional: Oplenac Complex with Wine Tasting (PM)
Overnight: Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Monday - Tour Novi Sad, & Travel to Timisoara
Drive through the ever changing landscape to Novi Sad, an interesting mix of Serbian culture and Austro-Hungarian architecture, nestled on the Danube. A walking tour introduces you to the city's major highlights including the Petrovaradin Citadel, also known as the "Gibraltar of the Danube," towering over the river. Then, travel to Timisoara in Romania a vibrant city on the Bega River, built around lavish parks and gardens where the Romanian revolution began in 1989. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel with free time before dinner together at a local restaurant. Afterwards, opt to explore the non-stop nightlife of Timisoara, named "Little Vienna," home to year-round cultural performances
Overnight: Timisoara
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Tuesday - Tour Timisoara, Depart for Sibiu, Visit Hunedoara en Route
Begin the day with a walking tour of Timisoara. Admire the city's beautiful baroque and art nouveau architecture and view the 14th century Hunaidy Castle. Then, drive to the region of Transylvania. Visit the mythical 14th century Hunedoara Castle built on old Roman fortifications with huge pointed towers, a massive drawbridge and soaring battlements. This fortress, transformed many times over the years, became the castle of Matthias Corvinus, known as the "Raven King." Then, drive to the charming town of Sibiu, with its maze of cobbled streets and baroque squares. This cultural center of Europe attracted many musicians in the 19th century and today is the center of Romania's major music festivals
Overnight: Sibiu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8, Wednesday - Tour Sibiu & Sighisoara, Travel to Brasov
A guided walking tour begins the day in the bohemian Old Town that still retains the grandeur of its earlier days with a medieval wall guarding the historic area where narrow streets pass by steep-roofed 17th century buildings. View Great Square, Little Square and the Evangelical Cathedral. At the Bridge of Lies, the first forged iron bridge in the country, view decorations of rosettes and geometric motifs. Then depart to Sighisoara, the best-preserved medieval city in Southeastern Europe with fortified walls, cobblestone lanes and 16th century gingerbread houses. Tour the town's famous Clock Tower Museum; view the workings of the magnificent clock with its moving wooden figurines. Then head south to Brasov, nestled at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel with free time before dinner
Overnight: Brasov
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9, Thursday - Tour Bran Castle, Brasov City Tour
Travel south to fabled Bran Castle, surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend, commonly known as "Dracula's Castle." Perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to the commanding towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker's character, Count Dracula. Tour the castle, that now serves as a museum displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. Return to Brasov and take a walking tour of the lovely city, famous for its Town Hall Square filled with ornately trimmed baroque structures and the first Romanian school with its collection of rare books
Overnight: Brasov
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10, Friday - Peles Castle & Sinaia Monastery en Route to Bucharest
This morning, head to Sinaia. Here, you'll truly be enchanted by a visit to romantic Peles Castle, former summer residence of Romania's first royal family. The castle is a masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance architecture. Its 160 rooms are decorated with the finest examples of European art. Afterward, proceed to the 17th century Sinaia Monastery in the Prahova Valley, named after the great St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai. Take a tour of the monastery and its grounds. The museum of Sinaia Monastery is the first religious museum in the country and houses invaluable worship objects. Arrive in the Romanian capital of Bucharest with its lovely parks, gardens, wide boulevards and avenues shaded by centuries-old trees. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest
Overnight: Bucharest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, Saturday - Bucharest City Tour
Morning tour in Bucharest, named the "Paris of the East," takes you to the replica of the French Arc de Triomphe, built in 1935 to commemorate the bravery of Romanian soldiers who fought in WWI. Visit the gigantic Parliament Palace, second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon in the U.S. See the Romanian Athenaeum, the Opera House, the National Military Club and the Military Academy, and visit the impressive open-air Village Museum that recreates the past of a Romanian village from the 17th to the 20th century. In your free time this afternoon, stroll down Victory Avenue, a historic street lined with shops, museums, cafes and elegant homes. Bid farewell to your newfound friends and share wonderful memories at tonight's Farewell Dinner with festive folklore show
Overnight: Bucharest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12, Sunday - Depart Romania
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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