Tour highlights:

Day 1 - Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to the hotel, followed by city tour.

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day 2 - Visit Boyana church before exiting Sofia. Continue south, to Rila Monastery. After the visit of the monastery, drive to Plovdiv.

O/N in Plovdiv, Hotel Alafrangite*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 3 - Guided walk of Plovdiv’s Old Town in the morning, then head to Veliko Tarnovo, through the picturesque Shipka Pass. On the way, stop in Kazanlak, to visit the Thracian Tomb.

O/N in Veliko Tarnovo, Hotel Bolyarski**** (located in the Old Town)

Day 4 - Visit Tsarevets fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, then continue to Arbanassi, where you will visit the Nativity church and the Konstantsalieva House. In the afternoon, head north, and before exiting Bulgaria, visit the Ivanovo Rock Churches. Arrive in Bucharest in the evening.

O/N in Bucharest, Hotel Ramada Majestic**** (centrally located)

Day 5 - Bucharest city tour in the morning, then drive to Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle). End the day in Brasov.

O/N in Brasov, Hotel Casa Wagner*** (located right on the Old Town Square)

Day 6 - In the morning, enjoy a guided walk in the Old Town area of Brasov. Then continue to Sinaia, where you will visit the Peles Castle and the Sinaia Monastery. Return to Bucharest in the evening.

O/N in Bucharest, Hotel Ramada Majestic**** (centrally located)

Day 7 - Departure. Transfer to the airport.

Detailed itinerary:

Day  1 – arrival in Sofia, followed by city tour

Upon your arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your private tour guide and taken to the hotel. After check in at the hotel you can start exploring Bulgaria’s capital city. Sofia was a small town until 1879 when it was chosen for various reasons to be the capital of the newly liberated Bulgarian state. Since then the city grew to more than 1.2 million inhabitants. Traces from the Roman and Thracian times can be found in the centre of Sofia together with beautiful examples of the 19^th and early 20^th century architecture. They coexist together with some monstrous concrete buildings inherited from the Communist past of the country.

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You will enjoy a walk in the central part of town admiring the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (entrance included), The Parliament and the  former Royal Palace, The Russian church, The Presidency, The Rotunda St. George, The Synagogue, The covered food market, etc. One of the highlights of the city is the Boyana church set in one of the suburbs of the city. The church dates from the 11^th c. and has interesting frescos depicting life in our lands in the past. The church is protected by UNESCO.

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day  2 – Sofia – Rila Monastery – Plovdiv

In the morning after breakfast we are heading south to the magnificent Rila monastery. It is a landmark of Bulgaria and is part of UNESCO’s world heritage. The monastery lies in the very Rila mountain, at 1147 meters above sea level. It is no doubt the most popular tourist site among all monasteries in Bulgaria for its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history. The monastery is believed to have been founded by the hermit John of Rila, in the 10^th century. The relics of this Bulgarian saint are exhibited for pilgrims in the main church.

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After the spiritual experience in the Rila monastery we are heading for Plovdiv – one of the most charming and magical places in Bulgaria. Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming a major city ruled by Greeks, Romans and Ottomans, all the way to the times of The National revival. Plovdiv has also a unique artistic atmosphere with its many prominent artists, galleries and cozy bistros.

O/N in Plovdiv, Hotel Alafrangite*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 3 Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Shipka pass – Veliko Tarnovo

In the morning we admire some of the highlights of Plovdiv – the Antique theater, The Roman stadium, The Old Town of Plovdiv – preservation site showing the Bulgarian Renaissance architecture, The main street, the Djumaya mosque, etc.

Then we will visit Kazanlak – the center of the rose oil extraction and oil producing rose of Kazanlak is one of the most widely recognizable national symbols. In the town you can learn more about the production of the high quality Bulgarian rose oil, which are the world famous perfumes that contain it, why the Bulgarian rose oil is more expensive than gold!

The other highlight of Kazanlak is the Thracian tomb (entrance included) included on the heritage list of UNESCO. Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4^th century BC.

On our way to Veliko Tarnovo , the old capital of our country,  we will be driving through the one of the scenic passes in the Balkan mountains – Shipka.  The Shipka pass and peak are very emotionally charged for the Bulgarians – it is the site of one of the most important victory of the Bulgarian people and the Russian army against the Ottoman Turks in the late 19^th c.  The place where the battle was now houses an  impressive monument.

In the evening we arrive in Veliko Tarnovo – the “most Bulgarian” of all towns.

O/N in Veliko Tarnovo, Hotel Bolyarski**** (located in the Old Town)

Day 4 – Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanassi – Ruse – Bucharest

In Veliko Tarnovo we’ll see the spectacular Tzarevetz fortress (entrance included) – the seat of the Bulgarian kings from the Medieval times. The town is located on three hills and the meandering Yantra river. One of the most remarkable sights in Veliko Tarnovo is the panoramic view of the old town with the houses perched on the cliffs above each other and their reflection in the river. You can discover the traditional Bulgarian crafts along the Samovodene market street where you will find masters demonstrating wood carving, coppersmithing, icon painting, weaving, silversmitting, etc.

In the afternoon we visit  the picturesque village of Arbanassi which is located 4 km from Veliko Tarnovo. It was a settlement with special privileges from the Sultan and home of rich merchants. Many old houses are preserved from 17^th and 18^th centuries together with several beautiful churches thus giving Arbanassi the status of an Architectural reserve.

The highlights of the village are the churches Nativity and  St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the Konstantzalieva House, the former government residence of the Communist leader Todor Zhivkov which offers a magnificent view of the town of Veliko Tarnovo.

In the afternoon we set off  for Ruse on the Danube river which is some 2 hours drive from Veliko Tarnovo.

The next UNESCO site we visit is the Ivanovo Rock Monastery (entrance included) which is located 21 km from Ruse. In contrast to the traditional monastery complex which consists of 1-2 churches and a residential part, the Ivanovo cloister represents a network of small churches chapels and cells hewn into the rocks, some 32 meters above the waters of the picturesque canyon of the Rusenski Lom river. The Ivanovo monastery is famous for the beautiful and well-preserved paintings.

After the visit of the church, we drive for Bucharest.

O/N in Bucharest, Hotel Ramada Majestic**** (centrally located)

Day 5 – Bucharest (city tour) – Bran Castle – Brasov

Atheneum Concert Hall

In the morning, you will be met by your private guide at the hotel, and start discovering Romania’s capital right away. With a population of just over 2 million, Bucharest is the largest city between Berlin and Athens. Nicknamed “The little Paris” between the two World Wars, Bucharest is, nowadays, a city of contrasts. 45 years of Communist rule changed the aspect of the city dramatically, but still, traces of the old, bohemian times can be found, especially in the French architecture of the residential districts and the famous churches that still survive throughout the Romanian capital.

The city tour will give you the opportunity to admire some of the landmarks of Bucharest, such as the Arch of Triumph(inspired by the one in Paris), the Atheneum (Romania’s most famous concert hall), the Revolution Square (where the 1989 anti – Communist revolt went nationwide) and the Romanian Patriarch’s Church. You will also enjoy a guided tour of the Palace of Parliament (the world’s second largest building, after the U.S. Pentagon), built by Ceausescu, Romania’s Communist dictator.

Bran Castle

At around noon, you will head north, for Transylvania, and you will visit one of the most famous landmarks of Romania, the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula Castle.

The castle was built in the 14th century by the Transylvanian merchants as a military fortress to defend the area against the frequent Turkish attacks. After 1900, it was donated to the Romanian Royal Family and it became the favourite place of Queen Maria. Extensively renovated, it became a residence, and later a museum. Nowadays it is one of the most visited sites in Romania. After the visit of the castle you will have an opportunity to have a look at the local souvenirs and then, you’ll continue towards Brasov, where you will arrive in the late afternoon

O/N in Brasov, Hotel Casa Wagner*** (located right on the Old Town Square)

Day 6 – Brasov (walking tour) – Peles Castle – Bucharest

Black Church in Brasov

After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided walk in the Old Town center of Brasov, still partly surrounded by the medieval city walls and bastions, where the Saxon architecture is still very much present. The Black Church, the largest Gothic church in south-east Europe is definitely worth a closer look, and if you wish, you can also take a cable car ride up to the top of the Tampa mountain, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Old Town.

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Peles Castle

After the guided walk, you will head for Sinaia, a little town which has always been linked to the Romanian Royal family. Here you visit Peles Castle , an astounding Royal residence, built by Carol I, Romania’s first king. At the time of its building (late 19th century), the castle was one of the most modern buildings in Europe, having its own central heating system and electricity. Next, we make a quick stop at the Sinaia monastery (17th century), the very first building to be built in these parts, after which the whole town was named.

In the late afternoon, you will return to Bucharest.

O/N in Bucharest, Hotel Ramada Majestic**** (centrally located)

Day 7 – Bucharest – departure

Today you will say goodbye to Romania, and the friends you made here. Your private guide will escort you to the airport for your departure.