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Bucharest-Ljubljana Tour - 12 days
From Romania to Slovenia via Hungary, 3 countries in one tour
The “Bucharest-Ljubljana Tour” crosses three countries, Romania, Hungary, and Slovenia, takes you from the exotic Carpathian Mountains to the impressive Alps, from the vivid city of Bucharest to the magnificent old town of Ljubljana. On the way, you’ll experience the local cultures and cuisines, the medieval towns of Sighisoara or Sibiu, the charming Hungarian city of Pecs, and the famous Lake Bled and Postojna Cave from Slovenia.
Type: private, cultural tour
Distance: 2155km / 1340mi
Country: Romania, Hungary, Slovenia
Accommodation: 4-star hotels and superior guesthouses
This tour is private and can be scheduled based on your request. We kindly inform you that some of the sites included in the program might be closed, so we suggest you contact us before booking your flights to Bucharest.
Single Supplement: €400
Group of 2-3 persons: €4160 per person sharing a double room
Group of 4-7 persons: €3199 per person sharing a double room
Highlights of the tour:
Countries
- Romania
- Hungary
- Slovenia
Cities
- Bucharest
- Brasov
- Sibiu
- Alba Iulia
- Hunedoara
- Timisoara
- Pecs
- Maribor
- Ljubljana
Major Sights
- The Romanian Parliament
- Peles Castle
- Bran Castle
- Corvin Castle
- The Iron Gates
- Zsolnay Museum
- The oldest grapevine in the world
- Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
- Postojna Cave
- Predjama Castle
UNESCO Attractions
- Viscri fortified church
- Sighisoara
- Biertan fortified church
Day 1
BUCHAREST (40min drive)
Arrival in the capital of Romania. You’ll be transferred from the airport to Bucharest. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel
Day 2
BUCHAREST CITY TOUR (1h drive)
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bucharest, including a visit to Casa Ceausescu Museum. The walking tour includes Revolution Square and the bustling old center of Bucharest. You’ll also admire The Village Museum and famous boulevards and neighborhoods of this interesting city.
Bucharest's settlement was first mentioned in 1459, and, ever since, the town has gone through a series of continuous changes, representing the central scene of Romania’s political, artistic, university, financial, and cultural life. Between the two world wars, due to the elegant architecture and the elite living in Bucharest, the city was nicknamed “The Little Paris.”
During the tour of Bucharest, you’ll stop in front of the Romanian Parliament, the largest administrative building in Europe. The building is located in Bucharest's historical and geographical center, and it was built on a hill. The building, whose works were started in July 1984, includes a huge combination of monumental sculptures, gilded ornaments, decorative flooring, laced ceilings, brocade curtains, heavy carpets, tapestry, all in a succession of chambers, galleries, lavish vast rooms, and halls. It’s the perfect image of a regime detached from reality, a regime that didn’t care at all about the real needs of Romanian society.
The tour of Bucharest continues with Casa Ceausescu Museum*. Built in the 1960s, this mansion was the private residence of Nicolae Ceausescu and his family. During your visit here you will discover Nicolae Ceausescu's passions, where and how he spent his time. Walls covered with handmade paneling, crystal chandeliers manufactured in Medias, Romania, handmade fabrics, and paintings by famous Romanian painters are just some of what you will see.
Located in a green area of Bucharest and inaugurated in 1936, The Village Museum is one of the most beautiful and interesting museums in the country. It boasts old and original houses brought from different parts of the country. In The Revolution Square, you’ll get the story of the anti-communist revolution from 1989, and you’ll find out more about the hardships an entire nation had to suffer for 45 years.
The day ends with what became the most bustling area of Bucharest, The Old Center. Once the place of princely families and nobles, later an area of the craftsmen, the old center became today the Mecca of bars, restaurants, and quaint cobblestone streets.
*Casa Ceausescu Museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. On Mondays, you will be visiting the Palace of the Parliament. Passports are required for the entrance into the Parliament.
Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel
Day 3
BUCHAREST – SINAIA – BRAN – BRASOV (4h drive)
After a 2-hour drive, you will stop in Sinaia to visit the most beautiful castle in Romania – Peles Castle.
Peles Castle, built in two stages between 1875 and 1914, was the summer residence of King Carol Ist and his wife, Queen Elisabeth. You’ll visit the ground floor where you’ll be astonished by the overwhelming interiors, amazing stain-glass windows, paintings, some of them made by famous artists such as Gustav Klimt.
After a scenic drive, you will reach Transylvania, and you will stop in Bran to visit the famous Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s castle. It was a safeguard castle for the trade route that connected Transylvania and Wallachia; it was built by the people of Brasov between 1377 – 1378. It represents in the consciousness of any tourist the dark residence of Prince Dracula, a fictional hero in the famous British Bram Stoker’s novel. In reality, Bran Castle is connected to Queen Marie of Romania. Her story is equally interesting with the one of Dracula, if not more interesting.
In the afternoon you will enjoy a short walking tour in the old town of Brasov. You’ll admire the beautiful buildings like the Black Church**, which is built in Gothic style. Also, you will see the narrowest street in Romania, Rope Street, Schei and Catherine’s Gates, St. Nicholas Church, and the old Schei neighborhood.
* Peles Castle is closed on Mondays. Rasnov fortress or the Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni may be used as alternatives.
** During the cold months between November and April, the Black Church will be seen from outside.
Overnight in Brasov: 4-star hotel
Day 4
BRASOV – VISCRI – SIGHISOARA (2h30min drive)
It’s time to discover the forgotten world of the former Saxon villages. On the way to Sighisoara, we’ll make a detour to the remote village of Viscri, a great UNESCO site. There are just 2 or 3 dirt roads in Viscri, the main one being quite wide. This road is lined on both sides with beautiful and traditional houses, built in the Saxon style. At the outskirts of the village, perched on a hill, there is the fortified church of Viscri, one of the oldest fortified churches in Transylvania. You will visit the church and the small museum located at the entrance.
The tour of Eastern Europe continues with Sighisoara, another UNESCO site in Transylvania. Founded by the Germans about 800 years ago, the medieval citadel of Sighisoara looks even now as a perfect picture postcard. It is the best-preserved citadel in Romania, a stunning combination of cobblestone streets, medieval walls, massive watchtowers, and old architecture. The highlights of Sighisoara are the House of Vlad Dracul, known as the birthplace of Dracula, the Clock Tower – the symbol of Sighisoara, the Covered Staircase, and the Church on the Hill, one of the oldest buildings of the citadel.
Overnight in Sighisoara: 4-star hotel
Day 5
SIGHISOARA – BIERTAN – SIBIU (1h50min drive)
On the way to Sibiu, you’ll make a detour for the UNESCO site of Biertan. The village of Biertan (German: Birthalm), first mentioned in an official document in 1283, is home to one of the largest and most impressive medieval strongholds in Transylvania. Surrounded by quaint streets and vineyards, the 15th-century fortified church from Biertan is perched high on a hill in the middle of the village. Three tiers of 35-foot-high defensive walls, connected by towers and gates, encircled the complex, making the church impossible to conquer during medieval times. Featuring late-Gothic architecture with heavy doors and double exterior walls, the church boasts the largest Transylvanian polyptych wooden altar and a remarkable wooden door that once protected the treasures in the sacristy. Artisans from Vienna (Austria) and Nurenberg (Germany) built the altar between 1483 and 1513. The door, a true marvel of engineering, has an ingenious locking mechanism with 19 bolts that can be simultaneously activated by a key.
In the second part of the day, you will enjoy a walking tour of Sibiu. Hermanstadt, to use its German name, was founded by the Saxon colonists about 800 years ago. In a short time, Sibiu became one of the most important cities of Transylvania. Sibiu boasts several medieval squares, including the Great Square (Piata Mare), which is the largest of this kind in Romania. It is surrounded by old houses, impressive palaces such as the Brukenthal Palace, and religious constructions, including the Catholic Cathedral. The tour of Sibiu continues with the other squares, the oldest cobblestone streets, and you’ll find out more about the legend which surrounds the Bridge of Lies. The tour of Sibiu ends with the Evangelical Cathedral and the former medieval towers.
Overnight in Sibiu: 4-star hotel
Day 6
SIBIU – ALBA IULIA – HUNEDOARA – ORSOVA (5h drive)
Today you’ll visit Alba Iulia, a great Vauban fortification. It was the capital of Transylvania between 1541 and 1690. In the first part of the 18th century, the Austrian Empire transformed Alba Iulia into one of the best-defended citadels of the region. Several of the gates have been very well preserved. The third gate, a real masterpiece, is one of them.
Then, you’ll be taken to Hunedoara, where you’ll visit the largest Gothic castle in Transylvania. Built-in the 14th-15th centuries, the castle belonged to the ancestors of King Corvinus, the Hungarian king of the 15th century. It is here that Vlad the Impaler was imprisoned on his way to Budapest.
The scenic road continues along the valleys of the Carpathian Mountains. The Roman journey continues with the Baile Herculane spa. Founded by the Romans in a lush and beautiful area, the spa developed into a major tourist attraction during the Austrian occupation. Unfortunately, after more than 40 years of neglect by the Communist regime, the resort will likely lose some of its most beautiful buildings. In the afternoon, you’ll get to see the Danube River for the first time. You’ll overnight along this magnificent river near the city of Orsova.
Accommodation in Orsova: 4-star hotel
Day 7
ORSOVA – TIMISOARA (4h20min drive)
The Danube River, named by Napoleon “the king of European rivers”, follows one of the most fascinating itineraries. We refer to the Iron Gates, an area that covers 120km, and it is here that you can admire the highest monument of Europe. The Decebalus Rex Monument shows the face of the famous Dacian king. It was carved in 10 years at the request of one of the richest businessmen of Romania. You’ll enjoy a boat ride along with the Iron Gates, and enjoy the many wonders of nature.
In the afternoon you’ll reach Timișoara, one of the most beautiful cities in Romania. Known as “Little Vienna”, Timișoara has a 900-year old history. It is known for its Baroque buildings and for its beautiful squares. It is here that the revolution started on December 16th, 1989, announcing the end of the brutal Communist regime. You’ll walk around the famous Opera Square, now peaceful but where people died for their liberty.
Further on, you’ll take a stroll in the old town to admire its beautiful buildings and picturesque alleys.
Accommodation in Timisoara: 4-star hotel
Day 8
TIMISOARA – PECS (HUNGARY) (4h20min drive)
It’s time to leave Romania behind. You’ll be crossing the border into Hungary, where the tour of Eastern Europe continues with the beautiful UNESCO town of Pecs.
The tour of Pecs includes a walking tour in the main square where you’ll admire some of the town’s best architecture, including the magnificent cathedral, the City Hall, and the former mosque, now transformed into a Christian site. The tour of Pecs will include the Zsolnay Museum, where you’ll see some of the finest examples of this old and world-famous ceramics manufacturer.
Accommodation in Pecs: 4-star hotel
Day 9
PECS – MARIBOR (SLOVENIA) – LJUBLJANA (4h40min drive)
Slovenia is the last country on your itinerary, and it’s a country with many famous tourist attractions. One of them is the city of Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia. You’ll roam the streets of the old town, you’ll admire its superb architecture, and you’ll stop to see the oldest grapevine in the world, just 400 years young!
In the afternoon, you’ll reach Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
Accommodation in Ljubljana: 4-star hotel
Day 10
LJUBLJANA – BLED – LJUBLJANA (2h drive)
In the first part of the day, we will visit Lake Bled, a stunning area located in the foothills of the Alps. The lake, surrounded by forests and guarded by the imposing peaks of the Alps, offers a unique experience. Known as a tourist destination since the 19the century, the area is also known for the church built on the island in the middle of the lake.
As you wind into town through majestic peaks, notice the 11th century Bled Castle rising high atop a stone cliff. Head up to Bled Castle to explore its restored buildings and historic walls. Enter the museum and delve into the castle’s history as you see its artifacts, armor, and weaponry. Then grab stunning panoramic views of the lakes from atop the cliff.
At noon, head to Bohinj to visit Savica waterfalls. Enjoy a 20 min boat ride on Lake Bohinj and then hike to see Savica Waterfalls, considered one of the most impressive natural scenery in the country. The waterfall itself drops a towering 78m into a large water sink located at an altitude of 500m. Then continue to Mostnica Gorge and last visit St John the Baptist Church.
In the evening, return to Ljubljana.
Overnight in Ljubljana: 4-star hotel
Day 11
LJUBLJANA – POSTOJNA – PREDJAMA – LJUBLJANA (2h drive)
In the first part of the day, you’ll be transferred to Postojna Cave, the only one in the world with a double-track railway line. You’ll explore one of the best-preserved caves in the world. It’s time to get amazed by this amazing underground world.
Not far away lies the Castle of Predjama. Built at the entrance of another cave, the castle has a fascinating history. It is here where you’ll discover the legend about the robber baron, Erazem Predjamski.
In the afternoon, you’ll be back in the capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana is one of the smallest capitals of Europe, but this works to its own advantage. It is here where you can enjoy the Italian influence, the Baroque architecture, the imposing churches, and the cobblestone streets full of life, shops, restaurants, and bars. You will see all the major landmarks of Ljubljana: the main square with Prešeren monument, Franciscan church and Three Bridges, the Congress Square (Park of the Star), the National University Library, Križanke monastery, The New Square, The Cobbler’s Bridge, The Old Square (the oldest street), the romantic river promenade, the Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the famous Open-Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle on Castle Hill.
Overnight in Ljubljana: 4-star hotel
Day 12
LJUBLJANA – AIRPORT (40min drive)
You’ll be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.
End of the tour
Price
Single Supplement: €400
Group of 2-3 persons: €4160 per person sharing a double room
Group of 4-7 persons: €3199 per person sharing a double room
Included:
- Airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by modern car
- Accommodation for 11 nights in 4-star hotels and superior B&Bs
- Breakfast
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide/driver in Romania
- English-speaking tour leader in Hungary and Slovenia
- Entrance fees to sites included in the program
- Danube River boat ride
- Lake Bohinj boat ride
Not Included:
- Flight ticket
- Local tour guides in Ljubljana and Pecs
- Hotel extras (telephone, mini bar, etc.)
- Other meals except for breakfast
- Photographing or filming fees at the visited sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
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