21 Days Balkans Tour From Budapest With Transylvania&bukovina

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1 - Saturday - Budapest - Timisoara (320km) HUNGARY+ROMANIA

Pass By: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
Pick-up in the morning at 9 a.m. from your hotel.

Stop At: Timisoara Historical Center, Timisoara 300003 Romania
Timisoara, a very charming city for its architectural features for many Turkish, Serbian, Austrian and German elements, which will become the European Capital of Culture in 2021
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Timisoara.


Day 2: Day 2 - Sunday - Timisoara – The Corvini Castle – Alba Iulia – Sibiu (320 km)

Stop At: Castelul Corvinilor, Strada Castelului 1-3, Hunedoara 331141 Romania
In the morning we will visit the most fascinating gothic castle in Eastern Europe and one of the most beautiful and greatest of our continent, the famous Corvin Castle
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Alba Iulia, Alba Iulia, Alba County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit Alba Iulia, an important city from a historical point of view, because the Great United Romania was made here on December 1st, 1918, so immediately after the First World War
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sibiu, Sibiu, Sibiu County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit Sibiu, a beautiful medieval city where Romanians and Saxons have been living peacefully for centuries and where the various religious monuments (Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants) demonstrate this peaceful coexistence. Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture in 2007 and hosts an extraordinary theater festival every year. The city fascinates thanks to its three squares (Big Square, Small and Huet Square ) that transport tourists in a real medieval atmosphere. Its towers and its 15th century bastions, but also its beautiful museums and the famous “houses with the eyes” give the visitor lovely moments. Also in Sibiu you will see one of the largest gothic evangelical churches in Transylvania.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Sibiu.


Day 3: Day 3 - Monday - Sibiu - Sighisoara - Targu Mures - Bistrita (260km)

Stop At: Sighisoara Historic Center, Piata Cetatii Nr.1 Center of Sighisoara, Sighisoara 545400 Romania
Visit Sighisoara, with its imposing Clock Tower. This citadel is the best preserved in Europe and, extraordinary, it is still inhabited. Since 1999 the historic center of Sighisoara is a UNESCO heritage site. Here we will admire the church on the hill, reachable after a wooden staircase called the schoolchildren’s ladder. We will also see the statue of the famous Hungarian national poet Petofi Sandor, testifying to the fact that in Sighisoara the Magyar community was in the past numerically important. Next to the statue is the beautiful Catholic church, reserved for the Hungarian community, and the tower of the shoemakers. You can have lunch at the house where Vlad the Impaler was born (not included)
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Mures County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit Targu Mures, a city in which the baroque style predominates. Targu Mures is dominated by the beautiful Palace of Culture, symbol of the locality, an extraordinary baroque palace. In this transylvanian city, the Hungarian community is still numerous and the architects who have worked on the design of historic buildings are all Hungarians
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Bistrita, Bistrita, Bistrita-Nasaud County, Northwest Romania, Transylvania
Walking tour in Bistrita, whose main monument is the Lutheran church, built in the fourteenth century in Gothic style but remodeled with Renaissance elements in the second half of the sixteenth century.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Bistrita.


Day 4: Day 4 - Tuesday - Bistrita – Voronet – Moldovita – Sucevita – Marginea – Gura Humorului (250 km)

Stop At: Manastirea Voronet, Strada Voronet 166, Voronet 725301 Romania
Visit the monastery of Voronet, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Carpathians, founded by the great prince Stephen the Great and characterized by a beautiful blue color, inimitable and unique in the world
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Moldovita Monastery, Vatra Moldovitei 727595 Romania
Visit to the Moldovita monastery, another famous religious monument, founded by Pietro Rares in the 16th century and whose interior and exterior frescoes enchant the visitor.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sucevita Monastery, Dn17a 169, Sucevita 727510 Romania
The last of the painted monasteries that you will have the pleasure of admiring is the Sucevita monastery, founded by the Movila brothers in the seventeenth century. Like the previous two, too, it presents Gothic and Byzantine elements, which merge to form the fascinating Moldovan architectural style. The frescoes on the northern façade of this monastery have remained visible thanks to the protective walls that have never been demolished here.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ceramica neagra Marginea, Nearby Suceava Plateau and Bucovina's Obcini Marginea Village, Suceava Romania
We continue with a visit to the local artisans of Marginea, who perform excellent work with the famous black ceramic, here you will have the opportunity to enter the workshop to closely observe the various working phases of ceramic pots, but you can also buy items typical of Bucovina. At Marginea you can buy not only ceramic vases, but also beautiful painted eggs and decorated with the traditional Romanian technique.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel/pension in Gura Humorului or Suceava

Day 5: Day 5 - Wednesday - Radauti – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges – Miercurea Ciuc (290 km)

Stop At: Piatra Neamt, Piatra Neamt, Neamt County, Northeast Romania
Short stop in Piatra Neamt, a famous ski resort that preserves a beautiful citadel founded at the time of Stephen the Great, in the fifteenth century and an 18th century synagogue. The city has a wonderful geographical position being surrounded by mountains that guard beautiful lush vegetation
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Bicaz Canyon, Dn12c, Lacu Rosu 535502 Romania
We will head towards the Bicaz Gorges and then admire a breathtaking landscape. The Bicaz gorges are crossed by a road flanked by a stream and constitute a landscape of strong emotional impact with thrilling cliffs. Along the gorges there is a market with typical handicrafts and souvenirs that make the attraction even more lively.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Lacu Rosu, Lacu Rosu, Harghita County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit of the Red Lake, a natural barrier lake, which was formed following the landslide of a part of a mountain, in fact the trunks of the trees are still present in the lake and this gives a particularly evocative atmosphere. The place is interesting especially for the legends that were born and have spread in reference to the name of the lake. During the visit you will become aware of these legends.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Miercurea-Ciuc, Miercurea-Ciuc, Harghita County, Central Romania, Transylvania
You then continue through a scenic road that offers a spectacular view of the Carpathian chain to get to Miercurea Ciuc. This area is also called the Siberia of Romania for the low temperatures and the landscape that characterize this area

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Miercurea Ciuc.


Day 6: Day 6 - Thursday - Miercurea Ciuc – Brasov – Bran – Sinaia (180 km)

Stop At: Brasov Historical Center, Piazza Sfatului, Brasov Romania
Visit Brasov, a wonderful Transylvanian town, once entirely fortified, an important cultural, tourist and commercial center. Brasov impresses with its typically German architecture, where the Gothic, the Baroque and the Renaissance intersect to give life to an interesting and culturally very lively city. Visit of the First Romanian School, which is located in the oldest district of the city, and which was inhabited exclusively by Romanians, the Schei district, interesting for the entrances into the city that were carried out in medieval times through the Caatherine’s and Schei Gate, quest last of the nineteenth century. In Brasov we will also visit the impressive Black Church, the largest evangelical Gothic church in Eastern Europe, with a 65 meter high bell tower and a length of 90 meters, the church houses the most beautiful nineteenth-century mechanical organ of Romania. We will then admire the palaces and houses of the historic center, recently restored, with the Council Square which now houses a beautiful museum, and the pedestrian Avenue of the Republic.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Str. General Traian Mosoiu nr. 24, Bran 507025 Romania
Later we proceed to Bran where we will visit the famous Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle. In the Middle Ages, Bran was exactly on the border between Wallachia and Transylvania, so it was essential for the inhabitants of Brasov to build and preserve a defensive stronghold
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Sinaia, Sinaia, Prahova County, Southern Romania
Arrival in Sinaia in late evening.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Sinaia.


Day 7: Day 7 - Friday - Sinaia – Bucharest (130 km)

Stop At: Peles Castle, Str. Pelesului 2, Sinaia 106100 Romania
Visit to the fabulous Peles Castle, the summer residence of the first king of Romania, the King Charles 1 of Hohenzollern, of German origins. The castle was beautifully designed by a Czech architect, and is famous for being one of the most modern castles in Europe at the time of its construction, between the 19th and 20th centuries. Each room is characterized by a unique style, different from the styles of the other rooms. We will also admire the Florentine room, where we will breathe a typically Italian and Renaissance atmosphere.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Bucharest.

Day 8: Day 8 – Saturday – Bucharest – Arbanassi – Veliko – Sofia (400 km) ROMANIA + BULGARIA

Stop At: Arbanasi, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo Province
We will leave Bucharest in the morning and head to Bulgaria. After crossing the bridge over the Danube River we will enter in Bulgaria and our first visit will be at a hidden 16th century Church of Nativity with beautiful and richly inside painted fresco
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Tsarevets, Tsar Asen Square, Veliko Tarnovo 5000 Bulgaria
Visit Veliko Tarnovo , “City of Tsars” , the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Tsarevets Fortress , Monument of the Asenevtsi kings , Samovodska charshia are the main attractions of the city.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
In the early evening we will arrive in Sofia . The walking tour of city center will include the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint (Sveta) Sofia Church , Banya Bashi Mosque, the Sofia Synagogue and the main shopping street Vitosha .
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Sofia


Day 9: Day 9 – Sunday – Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA + MACEDONIA

Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria
Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) and founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila ) , a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church . The monastery , one of the largest in the Balkans , was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1000 years . Our tour includes a visit to the Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Continue drive south to the Bulgarian – Macedonian border . In the early evening we will arrive in Skopje , the capital of Macedonia . Orientation tour of Skopje before arriving to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Skopje.


Day 10: Day 10 – Wednesday – Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA

Stop At: Old Bazaar, Skopje, Skopje Republic of North Macedonia
Enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa ) , with its most important landmarks : quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar”, the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar (is the biggest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today ), the Memorial house of Mother Teresa , the 1500 years old fortress Kale , Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horse
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Lake Ohrid, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Continue the tour and drive to Ohrid ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) situated on the banks of the lake with the same name , perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the old city center are testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. The walking tour of the old city center will include the narrow streets and squares , the Anchient Theater , discover the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church ) , Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress and pedestrian shopping street .
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Ohrid.


Day 11: Day 11 – Thursday – Ohrid – Bay of Bones – St Naum – Tirana – Kruja (210 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA

Stop At: Bay of the Bones Museum, Gradiste, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
After breakfast departure to the Museum on Water called also the Bay of Bones, an exceptional archeological complex and a reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 BC.A Roman military fortification
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Monastery of Saint Naum, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Next will drive to the amazing monastery of St.Naum, built on a rock that offers a great view of the Ohrid Lake and experience a small rowing boat ride to the springs of Black Drimm river.
!! Please keep in mind that the boat ride can be done only from April to September and is conditioned by the weather. It is still possible to see the lake from the shore but you won’t get a deeper view of it
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Skanderbeg Square, At the center of Tirana, Tirana Albania
Continue the tour and crossing the Macedonian – Albanian border driving to Tirana, capital of Albania . The walking tour of city center of Tirana will reveal the main tourist attractions : Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg , National History Museum , Palace of Culture, National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg’s statue
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
In the evening we will arrive in Kruja . The name and the importance of the city are attributed to the national hero of Albania, George Castriot Skanderbeg, who made Kruja a fortress of resistance against the Turkish Ottoman empire for more than 25 years in the 15th century . Orientation tour of Kruja before arriving to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Kruja.


Day 12: Day 12 – Wednesday – Kruja – Budva – Kotor (190 km) ALBANIA+MONTENEGRO

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
Visit the Kruja Castle, the headquarter of “the Dragon of Albania” . Enjoy a visit of the Kruja Castle Museum for a short lesson of Albanian history than discover the local souvenir market of the local traditional Old Bazaar
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Budva City Walls, Old Town, Budva, Budva Municipality 85310 Montenegro
Visit Budva – Montenegro , crossing the Albanian – Montenegro border and stop to visit the Old Town and show you the most important spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s street, marina, Mediternaska Street and Slovenska Plaza
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Kotor Old City, Stari grad, Kotor, Kotor Municipality 85330 Montenegro
In the evening we will arrive in Kotor and discover the fortified old town – Stari Grad ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) .
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Kotor.


Day 13: Day 13 – Thursday – Kotor Bay Tour – Dubrovnik (150 km) MONTENEGRO + CROATIA

Stop At: Bay of Kotor, Kotor, Kotor Municipality Montenegro
Kotor Bay Tour : Perast (boat trip to Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks), Tivat & Porto Montenegro.
!! Please keep in mind that the boat trip to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks depends on the
weather and in case of bad weather (for ex: strong wind, storm, ecc) it is possible that we will see
the Church only from the shore as a caution for your safety.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Continue the tour and cross the border to Croatia and head to Dubrovnik. “The Pearl of the Adriatic:”, Explore the Old Town also part of Unesco Heritage, via Onofrio’s Fountain and up Prijeko Street to the Old Port – the key to Dubrovnik’s trading and maritime success.
!! After check-in in Lapad-Dubrovnik you will take a 10 minutes ride with a local bus (own expenses) together with the tour manager to reach the old town of Dubrovnik
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Lapad - Dubrovnik


Day 14: Day 14 – Friday – Dubrovnik

Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Free time for yourself in wich you can choose through many possibilities offered by local operators to admire better the surroundings like: Boat Trip to the beautiful Elafiti Islands or discover the natural beauty of the Blue Cave and the options don’t stop here. The tour manager will help you with indications regarding the tours. If you prefer to relax you can stroll on the promenade from Lapad or just lay down on the beach and enjoy the Adriatic sea.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Lapad - Dubrovnik


Day 15: Day 15 – Saturday – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Split (300 km) CROATIA + BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA

Stop At: Old Bridge (Stari Most), Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
After breakfast we will head to Bosnia – Herzegovina and after we will cross the border we will visit the beautiful city of Mostar with its Old Bridge Area and the old city, part of Unesco Heritage
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: The Peristyle of Diocletian's Palace, Dioklecijanova Ulica, Split 21000 Croatia
Next, we will cross the border back to Croatia and arrive in one of the most important cities at the Adriatic Seat: Split. Visit the 4th century Diocletian’s Palace and city’s historical center also listed on Unesco’s heritage.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Split.


Day 16: Day 16 – Sunday – Split - Plitvice Lakes (260 km)

Stop At: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Central Croatia
After breakfast , we will head to the Oldest National Park from Croatia that is also part of Unesco heritage. We will enjoy a walking tour in the nature and discover the amazing colours of the Natural Park that are ranging from azure to green, grey or blue depending on the sunlight.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Korenica close to Plitvice National Park.
!! Please keep in mind that the visit of Plitvice Lakes is conditioned by the weather and in case of bad weather the National Park administration can take the decision to close it. We aren’t responsible in this case but we will do our best if possible to make some slight changes to the itinerary if the next day the weather will get better, respecting all the visits included in the itinerary. The tour manager will decide and choose the best solution for the group keeping in mind also your safety.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Korenica close to Plitvice National Park.


Day 17: Day 17 – Monday – Plitvice – Postojna – Ljubljana (290 km) CROATIA + SLOVENIA

Stop At: Postojna Cave, Jamska cesta 30, Postojna 6230 Slovenia
After breakfast we will head to the border of Slovenia. Explore the largest show-cave in Europe, the Postojna Cave with an electrical train, a touristic attraction that you can’t miss it , thanks to its natural beauty. In the late evening we will arrive in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ljubljana Old Town, Ljubljana Slovenia
Orientation tour in Ljubljana.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Ljubljana.


Day 18: Day 18 – Tuesday – Ljubljana – Zagreb (140 km) SLOVENIA + CROATIA

Stop At: Ljubljana Old Town, Ljubljana Slovenia
After breakfast , enjoy walking tour in wich you will discover the main tourist attractions of Ljubljana city center : Congress Square, the National University Library, the New Square, and Cobbler’s Bridge, main square with the Prešeren monument, Franciscan Church, and Three Bridges , Old Square, the river promenade, the Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Open Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, and Dragon Bridge.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Zagreb, Zagreb, Central Croatia
Next, we will head to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb where we will discover this magical city. Explore Zagreb’s Upper Town and Lower Town districts on this walking tour—enjoy fine city views from the Strossmayer Promenade. Discover top attractions including the Lotrščak Tower, St Catherine’s Church, the Stone Gate and the seat of the Croatian Parliament. Then, descend via Tkalčićeva Street to the Lower Town and head through Dolac Market to medieval Kaptol. Admire traditional architecture in Ban Jelačić Square.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Zagreb.


Day 19: Day 19 – Wednesday – Zagreb – Belgrad (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA

Stop At: Belgrade, Belgrade
After breakfast we will head to Serbia and in the afternoon we will arrive to Belgrad, capital of Serbia. Visit the Republic Square, the National theater and the National museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan park, Belgrade fortress, „Victor“ the most famous symbol of Belgrade and the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Belgrad.


Day 20: Day 20 – Thursday – Belgrad – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY

Stop At: Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Vojvodina
After breakfast , departure to Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad where we will visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad and obligatory sight for any tourists, not least for the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. We will see also y – Dunavska, street with its long line of single-storied 19th century houses. The Danube embankment, the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the other bank.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
In the evening we will arrive to Budapest ,`´ The Queen of Danube “ , capital of Hungary .
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Budapest.


Day 21: Day 21 – Friday – Budapest HUNGARY

Stop At: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
Free time in Budapest in wich you can discover by yourself this magical city and see the iconic statues of Heroes’ Square, the Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover also St. Stephen’s Basilica, Dohány Street Synagogue and the beautiful Castle District in Buda.

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.