Budapest to Sofia Adventure
10 days, Budapest to Sofia
Itinerary
Day 1Budapest
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
We recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully explore this breathtaking city.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Budapest/Sibiu
Enjoy an orientation walk of Budapest to get a feel for this charming city. Opt to spend free time visiting Buda Castle, wandering the streets of Pest, or soaking in a thermal bath. In the evening, board an overnight train to Sibiu.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Overnight Train (beds)
Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.
Free Time
So much to do in this city - get out and explore!
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Buda Castle Visit
1500HUF per personSet on Castle Hill overlooking the Danube River and Pest, Buda Castle was once home to the Hungarian kings of Budapest. Admire the gorgeous architecture and visit its two museums; the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Permanent collections depict the past 500 yrs of Hungary's art history, including Medieval and Renaissance stonework, Gothic wood sculptures, and Gothic altars.
Budapest Bike Tour
28EUR per personJoin a group for a guided city tour by bike. Buzz around the city on two wheels to cover more ground and get your blood pumping.
Thermal Baths Visit
4200-5000HUF per personBring two towels, your bathing suit and an aching body and prepare to be healed in the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Built in 1913, you can test the waters of 18 different pools (15 of which are spring fed) amidst stunning neo-Baroque architecture. Play chess on floating chessboards, relax in the whirlpools and explore the wonderful mosaic domes of these historic thermal steam rooms.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Sibiu/Sighișoara
Travel by train from Sibiu to the enchanting town of Sighișoara. Use your free time here to explore the cobblestone streets and medieval architecture.
Explore Sighișoara's medieval walled citadel with its cultural attractions and great restaurants and bars.
Sample some Romanian cuisine—the Casa Dracula (original home of Vlad, the model for Count Dracula) is now a restaurant specializing in hearty meat and game dishes of the region.
Local Train
Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
Free Time
Take some time to explore medieval Sighișoara.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Clock Tower Visit
FreeEnjoy a visit to the Clock Tower, also known as the Council Tower -- it's Sighisoara's main point of attraction. It was built in the second half of the 14th century and expanded in the 16th century. After a fire in 1676 when the town's gunpowder deposits located in the Tailors' Tower exploded, Austrian artists rebuilt the roof of the tower in its present baroque style and, in 1894, colourful tiles were added.
Casa Dracula (Vlad Dracul Restaurant)
10-50RON per personYou will not be digging your canine teeth into any humans at the Casa Dracula. Once the original home for Vlad the Impaler, who was the model for Count Dracula, it is now a restaurant specialising in the hearty meat and game dishes of the region.
The History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie)
5RON per personExplore the Renaissance furniture, medical instruments, fine arts, and more in this museum located inside the Clock Tower -- it's been around since 1899!
The Church of the Dominican Monastery Visit
FreeEnjoy a visit to the Church of the Dominican Monastery. Built in the late Gothic style, it was last repaired in 1929, quite some time after it was first attested in a document back in 1298.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Sighișoara/Braşov
With a local guide, venture into the Romanian countryside to visit traditional villages. Get a true sense of life in this less-visited region. Visit charming Brasov.
Enjoy a half-day guided tour of Sighisoara and nearby countryside. Take in the beautiful rolling scenery and visit medieval villages and fortified churches.
In the early evening, transfer to the city of Brasov, the best preserved medieval city in Romania.
Sighișoara Region Guided Tour
Visit some of the city before heading further afield. Coast over rolling hills and into rural villages, learning about the life and folklore of olden times from our expert local guide.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Braşov
Visit the picturesque Bran Castle and learn the history (and rumours) of this fascinating place.
Impressively situated on a rock outcrop and dominating the valley, this 14th century castle is steeped in history and folklore. Soak in the gorgeous countryside as you learn about the creepier side of Romania.
Bran Castle Visit
Visit the picturesque Bran Castle, impressively situated on a rock outcrop and dominating the valley. This 14th century castle is steeped in history and folklore and is an unmissable highlight. Sometimes called "Dracula's Castle", it served as a defense point to protect the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Rumours abound regarding Dracula's interaction with the castle. You'll have to visit to find out the truth.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Brasov History Museum
7RON per personExplore the rare exhibits that showcase Brasov's history, including stone tools from the Paleolithic age and painted ceramics from the Neolithic age, at this impressive museum.
Catherine's Gate (Poarta Ecaterinei) Visit
Get ready to go back in history with a visit to Catherine's Gate, built in 1559 and the only original gate to have survived from medieval times.
Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta)
5-8RON per personTake in the impressive and varied art at this museum, including anonymous 18th century painters from Transylvania to the most famous Romanian artists of the 20th century. It also boasts beautiful European crystal and porcelain and a significant collection of Oriental vases and statuettes.
Schei District Visit
During the Saxon rule of Brasov, from the 13th to the 17th century, Romanians were forbidden from owning property inside the citadel walls and so they settled in the southwestern Schei district.
Walk up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii and the beautiful St. Nicholas Church; then, wander around the small curving streets that gradually slope upwards against the hill. Continue to the southern end of Schei and you'll end up on the gravel road to the impressive Solomon's Rocks (Pietrele lui Solomon), a popular picnic area for locals during the weekend but relatively quiet all other times.
Black Church (Biserica Neagră) Visit
8RON per personThe Black Church is the biggest church between Vienna and Istanbul. It's a famous landmark of the town of Brasov, is Romania's leading Gothic church, and has the largest church bell in the country, weighing a hefty 7 tons (6,350 kg)! Explore its beautiful interior, including stained glass windows and its collection of 119 Turkish carpets, the largest in Europe.
Tampa Mountain Visit
Free-16RON per personTampa Mountain towers over the city of Brasov at 914.4m (3,000ft). Choose to hike to the top of the mountain, or take a cable car if you prefer, but the views from the top of the old town are not to be missed.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Braşov/Bucharest
Travel to Bucharest and enjoy an orientation walk. Take time to explore the Soviet-esque architecture, the beautiful cathedral, or indulge in Bucharest's international cuisine.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Arch of Triumph Visit
FreeEnjoy a visit to the Arch of Triumph to marvel at the exterior of this historic monument. The arch was initially built to celebrate Romania's independence so troops could march under it on their return to the city in 1878. The current arch was built in 1936, it replaced the wooden and quickly built structures that stood before.
National Village Museum Visit
Check out examples of Romanian rural architecture at this outdoor museum that's literally a park 10 hectares large. It boasts rural homes built in the styles throughout Romania as well as churches, outhouses, and mills -- you'll really feel like you're walking through a Romanian village. To give an even more authentic feel to things, many structures are filled with furniture and pieces from the eras they replicate.
National History Museum Visit
Boasting more than 650,000 items, the museum, inaugurated in 1972, gives visitors a true understanding of Romanian culture. Housed in the former historic monument once known as the Palace of the Post, it is situated in the old historical centre of Bucharest.
Palace of the Parliament Visit
Enjoy a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, which contains both chambers of the Romanian parliament as well as the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC). It's the world's largest civilian building with an administrative function, according to the World Records Academy; it's also the most expensive administrative building.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Bucharest/Veliko Tarnovo
Enjoy some free time to explore more of Bucharest in the morning before travelling to Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in the world, Veliko Tarnovo. Wander the medieval town, visit the museums, or sample your first taste of Bulgarian cuisine.
Enjoy this charming town and opt to visit the Tsarevets Fortress just outside the city.
Free Time
Start exploring.
Free Time
Get out and explore.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Tsarevets Fortress Visit
6BGN per personThe Tsarevets fortress, just 1km (.62 mi) outside central Veliko Tarnovo, is a must-see. This huge complex has been an important stronghold for thousands of years, and you can wander at will around the remains of homes, churches, and watch towers dating from the 5th to the 12th century.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Veliko Tarnovo
Enjoy the morning in the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo. In the afternoon, visit the hilltop village of Arbanasi. Soak in the views over Veliko Tarnovo.
Arbanasi Village Visit
Enjoy a visit to Arbanasi. This hilltop village was the residence of choice for the wealthy Roman elite and is still a country haven for the high-flyers of modern Bulgaria. The views all around and down to Veliko Tarnovo are amazing.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Mountain Biking
7EUR per personHit the trails and enjoy the scenic countryside of Bulgaria on two wheels.
Nativity Church Visit
6BGN per personVisit the 16th-century Church of the Nativity to see the amazing murals.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Veliko Tarnovo/Sofia
Travel to Sofia and take an orientation walk of the capital city. Later, wander down the pedestrian street or visit the eclectic Ladies' Market.
A mix of western grandeur and Soviet bulk, Sofia boasts a gold-domed church and delicious international dining.
Sample modern takes on Bulgarian and international food, with some great trendy dining opportunities.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Ladies' Market Visit
FreeEnjoy a visit to the eclectic Ladies' Market - Sofia’s biggest market for fresh produce, meats, fish, cheeses and spices.
St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Visit
Free-6BGN per personDon't miss the stunning gold-domed Alexander Nevsky church, honouring the Russian liberators whose contribution saw the end of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria.
Vitosha Boulevard Visit
FreeEnjoy a stroll down Sofia's chic pedestrian area, Vitosha Boulevard.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Sofia
Depart at any time.