Castles of Transylvania

AT A GLANCE

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
• Group size: 16–18 guests
• Theme: castles & citadels
• Route: Bucharest round trip

ITINERARY

DAY 1 · Arrival in Bucharest

Private airport transfer to the group hotel in central Bucharest. Welcome briefing with the national tour guide, free evening to settle in — or join an optional short walk past the Palace of Parliament and the Old Town.

• Airport → hotel transfer by coach
• Welcome meeting with national tour guide
• Overnight in Bucharest

DAY 2 · Peleș, Pelișor & Cantacuzino Castles — Bucharest to Bran

North through the Prahova Valley into the Carpathians. A full morning at Peleș Castle, the Neo-Renaissance summer residence of Romania’s royal family, followed by neighbouring Pelișor, Queen Marie’s Art Nouveau retreat. After lunch, continue to Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni, then on to Bran for the night.

• Guided visit — Peleș Castle, Sinaia
• Guided visit — Pelișor Castle, Sinaia
• Guided visit — Cantacuzino Castle, Bușteni
• Overnight near Bran / Brașov

DAY 3 · Bran Castle — into the Saxon land, overnight in Viscri

Morning guided visit of Bran Castle, the hilltop fortress popularly known as „Dracula’s Castle”. Drive south through rolling Transylvanian farmland to Viscri, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified Saxon village. Guided walk of the fortified church, dinner and overnight in a traditional village guesthouse.

• Guided visit — Bran Castle
• Optional stop — Râșnov Citadel
• Guided walk — Viscri fortified church & village
• Overnight in Viscri

DAY 4 · Viscri to Sighișoara

A slow village morning in Viscri before driving on to Sighișoara, the best-preserved inhabited medieval citadel in Europe and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Guided walking tour of the Clock Tower, the covered wooden stairway and the Church on the Hill.

• Morning in Viscri — village walk, local wool workshop (optional)
• Guided walking tour — Sighișoara medieval citadel
• Overnight in Sighișoara

DAY 5 · Sighișoara to Bucharest — departure

Free morning in Sighișoara, then a scenic drive back across the Carpathians to Bucharest. Direct transfer to the airport for onward flights.

• Scenic return drive to Bucharest
• Hotel or airport transfer, tour ends

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• National tour guide for the full 5 days
• Local guides at Peleș & Pelișor, Cantacuzino, Bran and Sighișoara
• 4 nights’ accommodation, twin/double share, with breakfast
• Private coach with driver for the full route
• Airport arrival and departure transfers
• One souvenir per person

NOT INCLUDED

• International flights
• Castle & site entrance tickets
• Lunches and dinners — breakfast only
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Single room supplement

PRICING

Fixed costs — the coach, the national guide and the local guides — are shared across the group, so the per-person price falls as the group grows.

Based on 3–4★ hotels on twin/double share, standard-season rates, land package only. Castle entrance tickets are not included — budget roughly €100 per person for all castle and citadel entries. Final pricing is confirmed for your specific travel dates.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many days do you need to see the castles of Transylvania?

Five days is enough to comfortably cover Peleș, Pelișor, Cantacuzino, Bran, Viscri and Sighișoara without rushing. Add a sixth or seventh day for Corvin Castle or Sibiu.

Is Bran Castle really Dracula’s Castle?

Bran Castle is the site most commonly marketed as „Dracula’s Castle” for its Gothic silhouette, though Bram Stoker never visited it and Vlad the Impaler had only a loose connection to it. His actual stronghold was Poenari Fortress.

What’s included in the tour price?

A national tour guide for the full trip, local guides at each site, four nights’ accommodation with breakfast, a private coach with driver, airport transfers and one souvenir per person. Entrance tickets, other meals, insurance and gratuities are additional.

What’s the best time of year for this tour?

May–June and September–October offer mild weather and thinner crowds. July–August is peak season, with the fullest daylight for the mountain drives; December brings a snow-dusted, festive version of the route.

Do international visitors need a visa for Romania?

Romania is part of the Schengen area. EU/EEA citizens and citizens of many visa-exempt countries can enter with a valid passport or ID. Please check the current requirements for your nationality before booking.