Flavours of the Transylvanian Hills

ITINERARY

DAY 1 · Arrival & first taste of Transylvania — Sibiu Airport → Sibiu → Biertan

Arrive at Sibiu Airport and meet your guide. A short walk through Sibiu’s Old Town before driving into the hills of Transylvania to Biertan, one of the best-preserved Saxon villages in Romania. In the evening, a welcome dinner of Transylvanian dishes and local wine.

• Guided walk: Sibiu Old Town — the Large Square, Small Square and the Bridge of Lies
• Scenic drive through the Târnave hills
• Welcome dinner in Biertan

Overnight: Biertan

DAY 2 · Vineyards & a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Biertan → Târnave vineyards → Sighișoara

Morning visit to the Biertan fortified church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for three centuries the seat of the Saxon Lutheran bishops — don’t miss the multi-bolt sacristy door and the tiny “marriage prison”. Lunch and a wine tasting in the Târnave wine region, then on to Sighișoara for an afternoon walk and dinner inside the medieval citadel.

• Guided visit: Biertan fortified church (UNESCO)
• Gastronomic experience: lunch and wine tasting at a Târnave cellar
• Guided walk: first look at the Sighișoara citadel
• Dinner in the citadel

Overnight: Sighișoara

DAY 3 · Sighișoara citadel & cooking workshop — Sighișoara

A full day in Sighișoara, one of the last inhabited medieval citadels in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb the Clock Tower, walk up the covered Scholars’ Stairs to the Church on the Hill, and see the house where Vlad Dracul is said to have lived. In the afternoon, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking workshop.

• Guided visit: Clock Tower and the history museum
• Guided walk: Scholars’ Stairs, Church on the Hill and the Vlad Dracul House
• Gastronomic experience: cooking workshop — traditional Transylvanian recipes

Overnight: Sighișoara

DAY 4 · Saschiz, Viscri & Cincșor — Sighișoara → Saschiz → Viscri → Cincșor

Drive to Saschiz, whose fortified church and clock tower are part of the UNESCO site, and taste the jams and preserves the village is known for. Continue along country roads to Viscri, the white-walled village where King Charles III owns a traditional house, for lunch at a local farm. End the day in Cincșor, a quiet Saxon village at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, with a farewell dinner and a tasting of Romanian fruit brandy (pălincă).

• Guided visit: Saschiz fortified church (UNESCO)
• Gastronomic experience: tasting of local jams, syrups and preserves in Saschiz
• Guided visit: Viscri fortified church (UNESCO) and village walk
• Gastronomic experience: farm lunch in Viscri with cheese, cured meats and garden vegetables
• Village walk: Cincșor and its fortified church
• Gastronomic experience: farewell dinner with pălincă tasting

Overnight: Cincșor

DAY 5 · Departure — Cincșor → Sibiu Airport

A slow breakfast in the village, then transfer to Sibiu Airport.

The order of visits may change depending on church opening hours, host availability and local conditions.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• National tour guide for the full 5 days
• Local specialist guide in the Transylvanian Hills
• 4 nights’ accommodation in traditional guesthouses (1 night in Biertan, 2 nights in Sighișoara, 1 night in Cincșor), twin/double share, with breakfast
• Private coach with driver
• Airport arrival and departure transfers (Sibiu)
• Welcome dinner
• Gastronomic experiences: Târnave lunch and wine tasting, cooking workshop, Saschiz preserves tasting, Viscri farm lunch and farewell dinner with pălincă tasting
• One souvenir per person

NOT INCLUDED

• International flights
• Church, museum and site entrance tickets
• Meals not listed above
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Single room supplement

PRICING

Fixed costs — the coach, the national guide and the local guide — are shared across the group, so the per-person price falls as the group grows.Single supplement: €389

Based on traditional guesthouses on twin/double share, standard-season rates, land package only. Single room supplement: €329. Entrance tickets are not included — budget roughly €20 per person for all churches and museums. Final pricing is confirmed for your specific travel dates.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the Transylvanian Hills?

The Transylvanian Hills (Colinele Transilvaniei) are the rolling countryside between Sibiu, Sighișoara and Brașov, settled by Saxon colonists from the 12th century onwards. The area is known for its fortified churches, traditional farming, wildflower meadows and some of the best-preserved village landscapes in Europe.

What food will we taste on this tour?

Expect Transylvanian and Saxon home cooking: hearty soups, homemade bread, cheeses, cured meats, garden vegetables, fruit preserves and cakes, plus white wines from the Târnave region and a tasting of pălincă, the local fruit brandy. Dietary requirements can be arranged in advance.

Are Biertan and Sighișoara UNESCO sites?

Yes. The fortified churches of Biertan, Saschiz and Viscri belong to the UNESCO site “Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania”, and the historic centre of Sighișoara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right.

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

Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers; autumn brings the grape harvest, orchard fruit and the richest village tables.

Do international visitors need a visa for Romania?

Romania is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. EU citizens need only a valid ID card or passport. Citizens of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can usually visit without a visa for short stays. Always check the current entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.