Belgrade Airport / Belgrade – Return flight
Belgrade City Tour & River Cruise, Timisoara (Romania), Corvin Castle – Sibiu, Sighisoara – Brasov, Bran Castle – Peles Castle – Sinaia – Bucharest City Tour, Arbanasi – Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), Kazanlak Thracian tomb *UNESCO – Plovdiv, Rila Monastery – Sofia, Nis (Serbia), Oplenac – Belgrade, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Belgrade – Airport
14 Days
All year
Arrival Belgrade (Serbia)
Arrival in Belgrade Airport and transfer to your hotel. Free evening, dinner at the hotel and overnight in Belgrade.
Belgrade City Tour & River Cruise
Full Day guided tour of Belgrade, to explore the capital city of Serbia – one of the oldest cities in Europe, After breakfast we transfer to the Vračar plateau, where we’ll see one of the most important sights of Belgrade – Saint Sava Temple, one of the biggest orthodox temples on the Balkans. In the vicinity is located the National Serbian Library. Continue further to the city center and Slavija Square, St. Mark Church and the Serbian Parliament Building, Republic Square, the National Theatre and National Museum. A walk through the always lively Knez Mihailo Street, main walking and shopping zone, on our way to Kalemegdan, we will visit the Congregational Church.The tour will end at Kalemegdan, the most important cultural-historic complex of the city. In the Kalemegdan Park, on the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube, the Belgrade Fortress raises proudly, and is the witness of the tumultuous history of this ancient city. In the afternoon we take a river cruise to enjoy the views of Belgrade from the boat (1.5 hrs) Dinner and overnight.
Belgrade – Timisoara (Romania)
Morning transfer towards Romania, where we visit and spend the night in the city of Timisoara, the largest city in western Romania. Timisoara has been influenced by many cultures: Romans, Turks, Austrians, Germans and Serbs have all left their mark and their influence which can be seen in neighborhoods throughout the city even today. The charm of this city, settled on the northern bank of the Bega River, lies in its distinct architectural character and vibrant cultural life. Frequently referred to as “Little Vienna,” Timisoara is home to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums and a buzzing nightlife.
We enjoy a guided tour of Timisoara, where we will see the main attractions of the city; such as:
The Victory Square which stretches from Opera Square to Loga Boulevard, and is surrounded by elegant baroque buildings. The Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral built between 1936 and 1946, The baroque Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, the impressive 18th century Baroque Palace which now houses the Museum of Fine Arts with works by German, Flemish and Italian artists, the 14th century Huniade Castle and the Banat region which dates back to the 2nd century AD and is the location of the Timisoara’s Jewish community. Here are located also 3 synagogues. Dinner and overnight in Timisoara.
Timisoara – Corvin Castle – Sibiu
This morning we transfer to the historical city of Sibiu. Along the way we visit an impressive Castle, the Corvin Castle, also known as Castle in Hunedoara; and it the most spectacular Gothic-style castle in Romania. The beautifully preserved structure features a sumptuous Knights’ Hall, an impressive drawbridge, high buttresses, inner courtyards, a chapel and some 50 rooms resplendent with medieval art.
Continue further to Sibiu, where we enjoy a guided tour of the city, including the Highlights: Craftsmen’s Square, Huet Square and Evangelical Church, Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith Square, Great Square, Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Catholic Church, City Hall Tower. Sibiu was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The city is divided in two sections, the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu’s historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Traditional dinner in Sibiu and overnight.
Sibiu – Sighisoara – Brasov
This morning we visit Sighisoara, an old town whose origin goes back to the Roman times
Sighisoara is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.
Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this perfectly intact 16th century gem with nine towers, cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches rivals the historic streets of Old Prague or Vienna.
During the city tour of Sighisoara we will see the Church on the Hill with its 500-year-old frescoes, the 13th century Venetian House and the Church of the Dominican Monastery, the 14th century Clock Tower and the Sighisoara’s citadel built in the 12th century.
An interesting visit is also The Vlad Dracul House, located in the Citadel Square, close to the Clock Tower. This ocher-colored house is the place where Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula, was born in 1431 and lived with his father, Vlad Dracul.
Leaving Sighisoara, we drive further to Brasov, one of the most visited places in Romania.
We stroll around the old Town Hall Square where we admire colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures. Visit the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania. Its interior is impressive and well-kept, and it houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe. We will walk in one of the narrowest streets in Europe – The Rope Street, which is approximately 120 cm (4 feet) wide;
Dinner and overnight in Brasov.
Brasov – Bran Castle – Peles Castle – Sinaia – Bucharest
This morning we visit Bran Castle, one of the most important touristic attraction in Romania, due to its links with the legend of Dracula. The landscape in this area is a harmonious mixture of different landforms. high mountains, plateaus, the curvy shapes carved by the rivers along their banks and the valleys that cross the land. The castle was built between 1377 and 1388. We will visit the castle and pass through its narrow winding stairways that lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armor dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, which offers an open-air Ethnographic Museum consisting of old local-style village houses complete with furniture, household objects and costumes.
Later on, we reach another castle, the Peles Castle located in Sinaia. Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows and Cordoba leather-covered walls. Until 1947 it was a summer residence for the royal family. Peles Castle was the first European castle to have electricity, it even has its own power plant. It has 160 rooms and each room is decorated in a different style or theme.
There is a Concert Hall, Music Room (India), Turkish Salon, Great Salon (Italy),Council Room (Switzerland), Moor Hall, and so much more. The Royal Library has a secret door and the castle’s 60-seat Theater, with royal box, showed the first movie projection in Romania in 1906. After the visits we stop in Sinaia, a picturesque mountain resort in Prahova River valley.
In the afternoon we reach the capital city of Romania, Bucharest where we will spend the overnight
Bucharest City Tour
Full day in Bucharest to explore the city. Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of “Little Paris”), Bucharest, Romania’s largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis.
In the morning we take a guided tour, where we will see the Arch of Triumph, pass through Calea Victoriei which is Bucharest’s oldest most charming street, discover some of the most stunning buildings in the city, including the Cantacuzino Palace, the Revolution Square, the Military Club,
National Savings Bank Palace and the National History Museum. We visit the old town, where at the beginning of 1400s, most merchants and craftsmen – Romanian, Austrian, Greek, Armenian and Jewish – established their stores and shops in this section of the city; Today, the area is home to art galleries, antique shops, coffeehouses, restaurants and night-clubs. At the centre of the historic area are the remains of the Old Princely Court, built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula
Later we enter to the Bucharest Parliament Palace.
Built at the special request of Nicolae Ceausescu, leader of Romania’s Communist Party, the colossal Parliament Palace
– formerly known as “People’s House” is the world’s second largest administrative building after the U. S. Pentagon.
It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build this masive structure that boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 350-ft.-long lobby and eight underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker.
We visit also one of the oldest churches in Bucharest (with parts dating back to the 16th century and a steeple built in 1715), the Apostles’ Church. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest.
Bucharest – Arbanasi – Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
Today we leave Romania, and transfer towards another interesting destination, Bulgaria.
Along the way we stop in Arbanasi, a small village in north central Bulgaria popular with tourists because of its well-preserved historical buildings and close proximity to Veliko Tarnovo, the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The village was founded by Christians in the 15th century, and became the property of Roustem pasha, the Grand Vizir to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, in the mid-16th century. Many of the old buildings still have an Ottoman decor and design.
In Arbanasi we visit The Nativity Church, built in the 15th century. The church has beautiful frescoes inside
Later we reach Veliko Tarnovo, One of Bulgaria’s oldest towns. Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval capital of Bulgaria, with more than 7000 years of history. The houses, stacked one above the other, situated on the steep hills of the town, show a remarkable and unique architectural style. Guided tour of the city, dinner and overnight.
Veliko Tarnovo – Kazanlak Thracian tomb *UNESCO – Plovdiv
This morning we transfer to Plovdiv, Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the second biggest city in Bulgaria
Along the way we visit the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak *UNESCO. Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is a unique aesthetic and artistic work, a masterpiece of the Thracian creative spirit. This monument is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world. The exceptionally well preserved frescos and the original condition of the structure reveal the remarkable evolution and high level of culture and pictorial art in Hellenistic Thrace.
City tour of Plovdiv, where we will visit its most important sites, such as the Roman Stadium located in the heart of the city; the Ancient Theatre – one of the best preserved in the World; Roman mosaics in the Small Basilica and the Old Town of Plovdiv with its splendid Bulgarian Revival-style wooden-frame houses dating back to 18th and 19th century,
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.
Plovdiv – Rila Monastery – Sofia
This morning we drive to the Rila Monastery – the biggest and most important symbol of Bulgarian Orthodox church. The Monastery has been founded in the 10-th century and rebuilt in 13-th and 14-th centuries. It is one of Europe’s oldest and included in UNESCO’S list in 1983. Behind the 20 meters walls lie impressive monastery buildings, a church and a chapel with valuable murals.
In the afternoon, city tour of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. The tour will include the most important sites of Sofia, such as Alexander Nevski Cathedral, which the biggest one in Bulgaria, the Holy Synod, St. Sophia Church, National Gallery for Foreign Art, National Library, National Palace of Culture, Borisova Garden, Eagle’s Bridge, Council of Ministers, Banya Bashi Mosque, St. Nedelya – an old metropolitan church, and the National Assembly Square.
Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Sofia – Nis (Serbia)
Today we transfer back to Serbia. We will stop for visit and overnight in the city of Nis, an important crossroad between Central Europe and the Middle East. Nis is a city with many historically sites, which was settled in pre-Roman times and flourished during the time of Emperor Constantine. During the city tour we will see the remains of the Turkish fort from the 18th century, now a bustling central recreation area filled with shops, cafes and restaurants; the bridge on the Nišava River, and the Square of King Milan where we will see the authentic facades of old Niš
We visit the Skull Tower Museum – a unique monument in the world and one of the most moving monuments of Serbian history with human skulls walled in stone. It represents a sad period of the Serbian history, the Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire (1804-1813). Stoped by the Ottoman military, the rebels were murdered and their skulls were used as building blocks for a tower built by the main road at the entrance of the city. A warning to the local populace of an impending fate to any potential future rebels. The authorities of Serbia in 1892 built a chapel around the tower to preserve this unique monument representing the nations bravery and sufferings.
Dinner and overnight in Nis.
Nis – Oplenac – Belgrade
Morning transfer to Belgrade. Along the way we visit Oplenac. We will climb to the Oplenac hill, a beautiful green area covered with wood, where is located the St. George churchm buit in the 20th century, as a house of prayer for all the members of the Serbian Royal family. The church has Byzantine style, with five domes and completely covered with white marble. The interior of the church is a spectacle of colors and light, with lavishly decorated marble floors and colored glass mosaics. A surface of 3 500m2 is covered with more than 40 million peace of tiles, in more than 15 000 shades of different colors representing the most extensive gallery of copies of Serbian medieval fresco paintings in one place. We’ll also visit Petar’s House, the Museum of the Karađorđević family, palace, Royal vineyards and the Winery. Next we enjoy some wine degustation and visit of the cellars.
Evening in Belgrade for dinner and overnight.
Belgrade – 2021 European Capital of Culture Novi Sad 1 hrs – Petrovaradin Fortess – Rural Lunch in an ethno village – Wine Tasting in Sremski Karlovci – Belgrade 1 hrs
This morning we transfer towards Vojvodina region, one of the most panoramic sites of Serbia, to visit 2 of the most beautiful cities of the region: Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci. Along the way we stop in the Krušedol Monastery. Further we reach Novi Sad, the 2021 European Capital of Culture, where we enjoy the walking tour in the city center, passing through The City Hall, The Cathedral, Assembly of Vojvodina, shopping zone with restaurants and coffee-shops.We continue to visit the Fortress of Petrovaradin, the so-called ‘Danube’s Gibraltar’, where the fortress is located. At the fortress, we will see the clock tower, old fortress walls, and have great views over the Danube, including the many bridges spanning the river. We stop for lunch in an ethno village, with authentic farm houses still in use today, who offer traditional menus in a traditional setting. In the afternoon we start our return transfer towards Belgrade. Along the way we stop for a visit of Sremski Karlovci, a city of vineyards, rich in culture and history. Sremski Karlovci feels like a ‘museum town’ with its Baroque centre, the Patriarchal Court, the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and the first Serbian secondary school (gymnasium). It is also famous for wine production and the town’s annual Wineball festival. We visit a local winery and enjoy degustation of wines. Dinner and overnight in Belgrade.
Belgrade – Airport
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in Belgrade until airport transfer for the return flight.