Bucharest to Belgrade; Semi – Private Tour with Tour Leader & Car

Welcome in Bucharest! After your arrival in Bucharest, you will make your own way to the hotel already booked for you by Choose Balkans, where you will be welcomed by hotel staff assisting you with the check in procedures. After freshening up and settling in, spend your first day exploring the city at your own pace. Often called "Little Paris," Bucharest is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, historic landmarks, and the magnificent Palace of the Parliament, which is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. Wander the charming cobblestone streets, enjoy the lively cafes, and visit shops and galleries in this historic area.

Our tour leader will come and pick you up at your hotel in Bucharest in the morning. As we travel towards our first destination of this 8 days tour, enjoy the scenic views of the Romanian countryside. Our first stop for today will be Bran, a small village famous for Bran Castle. With a history of more than 6 centuries, Bran Castle became widely known as Dracula’s Castle, mainly due to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Here, we will discover the history of Vlad the Impaler and the connection between Vlad Tepes and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As we explore the castle’s rooms and towers, you will learn more about its significance as a royal residence and its role in Romanian culture. After the tour of Bran Castle, we will take a stroll through the charming village of Bran. We will visit the local market, where you can find handmade crafts, souvenirs, and delicious treats. Feel free to pick up souvenirs or local crafts.

In the afternoon we will drive thirty minutes away from Bran and head to Brasov.

Today we will visit Brasov, one of Romania’s most beautiful cities. We will head towards Piața Sfatului (Council Square), the vibrant heart of the city. We will marvel at the colorful Baroque buildings and the impressive Black Church, the main Gothic style monument in Romania and the largest Lutheran place of worship in the region. Before driving towards our next destination, we will have some free time for lunch.

Later we will set off on our journey to Sighișoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its medieval charm. While we head towards the Sighisoara Citadel, we will pass through the main gate and reach a true symbol of medieval life, the Clock Tower, which is home to Sighisoara’s History Museum. The basement of the Clock Tower is also home to a torture chamber, and the tower is beautifully decorated with numerous sculpted ornaments, as well as a clock on each side. Have some free time to explore the local artisan shops and galleries, where you can find unique crafts and souvenirs

After brekfast we will drive towards our next destination, the city of Cluj Napoca, one of Romania's largest cities. Our first stop will be the Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, a stunning example of Neo-Gothic architecture. Marvel at its beautiful stained-glass windows and serene atmosphere. We will stroll through Unirii Square, where you’ll see the impressive St. Michael's Church and the nearby Matthias Corvinus Statue.

ter exploring the city our next stop will be Alba Iulia and we will head to the Alba Carolina Citadel. The fortress is the place where you can travel over two millennia back in time and it is a amazing example of Vauban-style architecture. Alba Carolina Citadel is remarkable not only for its architectural elements and the beauty of its gates, which reflects unique military structures, but also for the rich history surrounding it.

From Alba Carolina we will drive to our least destinations or the day, Sibiu.

Today we will start with a city tour of Sibiu, a city that was named the European Capital of Culture in 2007, where we will take a walking tour of a city that blends history and multicultural elements. We will walk towards Piata Mare (Large Square), the main square of Sibiu. Admire the beautiful Baroque buildings, including the City Hall and the Council Tower. We will end our city tour with a stroll through the passage of stairs and a crossing of the famous Bridge of Lies, a famous landmark with a romantic legend.

Also known as Hunyadi Castle, the building displays an impressive Gothic architecture, and it is the supposed place where Vlad Tepes was imprisoned by John Hunyadi for 7 years. Corvin is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe and an important piece of history for Romania. Corvins' Castle is also the largest fortress in Romania, which has been standing for more than 300 years.

After the visit to Corvins' Castle, we will head towards Timisoara.

Before heading back to Serbia, we will have a city tour of Timișoara. The city is known having the largest area of historical monuments in Romania. Timisoara, was under a few empires and rulers starting with the Ottoman Empire, Austro – Hungarian Empire and the city where the 1989 Revolution began. These past eras have left their marks via architecture, religion, language, food, and the city landscapes. Starting in the mid-16th century, for 164 years, Timișoara was a Turkish city. We’ll pass by the sites of the hammam (Turkish public bath), bazaar (marketplace), Central Mosque, and cemetery. At the beginning of the 18th century, Austrian imperial troops led by Prince Eugene of Savoy conquer the place and new streets, new houses, new churches were built. We will walk towards Union Square (Piața Unirii), the heart of Timișoara. Take some time to admire the stunning architecture, including the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral and the Baroque Palace.

After exploring Timișoara, our last destination in Romania we will head towards Novi Sad in Serbia. .

After brekfast we will have a city tour of Novi Sad, considered to be the cultural capital of northern Serbia. Located on the historical border of two former empires – the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman, as a result you will be able to distinguish among the mixture of melting cultures influencing the town through centuries. You will immediately notice the Austro-Hungarian as well as the Ottoman influences. The town has a unique Baroque architecture characterizing some of its most important buildings. Not to be missed is the Petrovaradin Fortress also known as the Gibraltar on the Danube. We will be able to explore the old town walking through the pedestrian streets passing by Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska

Novi Sad region is also very famous about the culture of wine production and high quality of fine wines. We will learn more about the region’s tradition on wine production in Sremski Karlovci, the center of Serbian culture in the 18th century and famous for the well-respected wine cellars. Sremski Karlovci is a real gem of Serbian culture and spirituality, which feels like a ‘museum town’ with its Baroque center. It is said that every building, house and street in the city have their own stories to tell. Sremski Karlovci has its own legend which claims that whoever drinks from the Four Lions fountain located in the city center will surely return to Karlovci and get married there. After the tour you will have some free time to taste different wine specialties of the region, by enjoying the spectacular views of the vineyards

Today we will visit Belgrade the capital of Serbia. Our first stop will be Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, where Belgrade started as a human settlement a very long time ago. The fortress is built on the confluence of two big rivers Sava and the Danube. The view of the city from the Fortress is breathtaking. In the Upper Town of the Belgrade Fortress, you will visit the Pobednik monument with a history dating back to 1913. The park is a huge green area with beautiful trees and peaceful paths. Leaving the Kalemegdan we will walk through Knez Mihailova, the oldest street in Belgrade also the social midpoint of Belgrade locals. Finally, we end the tour at the Republic Square, the real heart of Belgrade, with buildings of the National Theatre, and National Museum and a well-known statue of Prince Michael (Knez Mihajlo). This remarks the end of this 8 days tour through Romania and Serbia. We hope this has been a wonderful experience with great memories to cherish for a lifetime.