Best of Transylvania
€ 385
per personDiscover Transylvania in a nutshell: descend into the underground and see the million years old salt deposits, visit the 3 most remarkable Saxon towns, explore the 2 most famous medieval castles, learn why churches were fortified in old times.
Travel details
Destination
Transylvania
Start / End
Cluj-Napoca
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Service
guided
Seasonality
all year long
Tour type
discover
Departure time
8:30 am
Dress code
for Turda salt mine: non slippery-shoes & appropriate warm clothing recommended (the constant temperature inside the salt mine is 10-12° C).
Visits
Turda salt mine; Alba Carolina fortress in Alba Iulia; Corvin Castle in Hunedoara; Sibiu city center; Bran Castle; Brasov city tour; Viscri fortified church (UNESCO); Sighisoara fortress (UNESCO)
Distance
about 770 km / 478 mi
Car transfer duration
see daily details in Tour Plan
Notes
accommodation locations & order of visits may suffer changes. Certain inside visits may not be available on Monday.
Ever since the Middle Ages, Transylvania became a multicultural, multilingual and multiconfessional territory. These features were the result of the massive population migration which characterized Transylvania’s medieval history as part of the Kingdom of Hungary.
Two of the major nations established in Transylvania at the time were the Szeklers and the Saxons. Their considerable influence upon social administration, arts and culture, religion, agriculture and lifestyle is what differentiates Transylvania from the other regions in nowadays Romania.
This tour of Transylvania focuses on the Romanian and Saxon heritage, revealing medieval and modern aspects, and nevertheless, perspectives upon the make-believe story of ‘Count Dracula’.
Cluj - Turda - Alba Iulia - Hunedoara - Sibiu
Departure from Cluj at 8:30 am. The day will begin with a fabulous underground voyage into the wombs of the ancient salt mine from Turda.
* It is not recommended to visit the salt mine if you have heart, lungs, digestive and other health problems. Check them here.
The next rambling spot of the day will be Alba Iulia. Here, Alba Carolina Vauban fortress will have interesting stories to tell: all about the ancient Romans, the Hungarian kings, the union of Transylvania with Romania and many others.
Lunch in a restaurant.
Later on during the day, in Hunedoara you will discover the Corvin Castle (also known as Hunyad Castle) which, as it’s name already says it, belonged to the Hunyad family, one of the most famous family member being King Mathia Hunyadi. Here, you’ll have the chance to hear lots of legends and stories about the royal family, it’s origin, medieval fighting techniques and so on.
In late afternoon arrive in Sibiu, the best defended medieval fortified town in Transylvania, named European Capital of Culture in 2007.
Dinner in a restaurant and accommodation in a 3* hotel.
Car transfers: approx. 5h00min; ~320 km / 199 mi
(no meals included)
Sibiu - Bran - Brasov
After breakfast, tour Sibiu: visit the four fortifications of the medieval city, the Liar’s Bridge, The Small and the Big Squares. Departure for Brasov, siding the Carpathian Mountains.
Lunch in a restaurant on the way.
Arrive in Bran and visit the so called ‘Dracula’s Castle’. Built on a cliff during the Middle Ages and modernized at the beginning of the 20th century, Bran castle is now one of the most visited places in Romania. You will get the chance to find out what is it’s connection with the famous character Dracula. If any!
Route towards the city of Brasov, originally a Saxon town, called Kronstadt in German and Stalin for a short period during the communist regime. Here you will visit the Black Church, hiding the largest collection of Ottoman carpets in Europe, and some medieval towers and bastions (if it’s on a Monday, the visit to the Black Church will be substituted with another visit).
Dinner in a restaurant and accommodation in a 3* hotel.
Car transfers: approx. 3h30min; ~170 km / 105 mi
(breakfast included, lunch & dinner not included)
Brasov - Viscri - Sighisoara - Cluj
Breakfast and departure for Viscri. This rural establishment will unveil us the best preserved and restored traditional Saxon village in Transylvania, one of the few where the community is still very much alive, where small rural businesses are surviving in a modern world, and, nevertheless, where HRH Prince Charles of Wales owns a traditional Saxon household. You shall then pay a visit to the local blacksmith and visit the 13th c. fortified church (UNESCO patrimony).
Lunch in a restaurant on the way.
Last visit of the day will be Sighisoara medieval fortress, one of the few of it’s kind still inhabited in Europe. Surrounded by 9 of the initial 14 defense towers, each one belonging to a local guild, the fortress shelters not only beautiful medieval architecture, but also medieval legends, such as the one connected to Vlad the Impaler ‘Dracula' birthplace.
Get back to Cluj in late afternoon. End of the tour.
Car transfers: approx. 5h00min; ~280 km / 174 mi
(breakfast included, lunch & dinner not included)
Included:
Not included:
Check here what discounts apply to this tour.
All prices are listed per person and calculated on an 8 participants basis.
For tours for more than 8 participants, please request a quote.