BULGARIA & ROMANIA & SERBIA

Day 1 – Sofia 

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer from the airport , welcome dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2 – Sofia 

After breakfast, we have a sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city with a history spanning 8500 years! We will visit some of the most interesting historical sites, including the stunning Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Royal Palace, and the St. Sofia Basilica, which is actually the namesake of the city. We'll also explore the ancient Roman Forum from the era of Emperor Constantine the Great, which highlights the historical and cultural richness of the capital.

Optional: Sofia outskirts tour with visit two of most remarkable objects at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. These are Boyana Church and the National Museum of History - one of the largest history museums on the Balkans.

Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated in Boyana district, near Sofia. The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, because of its frescoes from 1259.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 3 – Sofia – Rila Monastery – Rhodopi Mountains - Plovdiv 

After breakfast – depart to Rila Monastery - the biggest Bulgarian spiritual center since the Middle Ages, a UNESCO monument.

After visiting the monastery, we will have lunch in an authentic local house with delicious meals.

In the afternoon – departure to Plovdiv through the Rhodopi Mountains. We will enjoy the cool fresh air and beautiful surrounding nature.

Arriving in Plovdiv in the afternoon - contemporary of Troy and one of the most ancient cities in Europe, selected to be the European capital of culture for 2019.

Accommodation and overnight in the hotel.

Day 4 – Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Etara – Veliko Tarnovo 

After breakfast - visit Old Town with the Ethnographical Museum, the Antique Theatre (in use today), the Roman Stadium and the Bishop’s Basilica of Philipopolis with its impressive mosaics from Roman times – a real masterpiece from the Late Antique art.

Set off to Kazanlak - the capital of the valley of Roses and Thracian kings. Visit an authentic rose oil distillery where can be seen how the famous Bulgarian rose oil is produced. Next is the Thracian Kazanlak Tomb /copy/, dating back to the IV c. B.C. – UNESCO monument.

Departure for Etara - a unique open-air museum, re-creating the way of living of the Bulgarians in the XIX c. - one of the most visited places in the country.

In the late afternoon - the old capital of Bulgaria - Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 5 – Veliko Tarnovo – Ivanovo – Ruse – Bucharest

After breakfast - city tour of Veliko Tarnovo with visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin's Tower.

Departure to the Rusenski Lom River valley. Visit Rock Churches of Ivanovo (XII-XIV c) – an UNESCO site, famous for its unique frescoes.

Set off to Ruse - the first Bulgarian city with European appearance, also called the "little Vienna". The city is also the main Bulgarian port, located on the bank of Danube River.

Meeting with the Romanian guide in Ruse. From here you will cross together the Danube and will drive to Bucharest. Panoramic tour of the Romanian capital – the Royal Palace, the University’s Library, the City-Hall and other interesting sights of the city also called “the little Paris” because of the similar architecture style of the buildings.

Accommodation, dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 – Bucharest – Sinaia – Brasov

After breakfast inside visit of Parliament Palace – the second largest building by surface area in the world after the Pentagon in USA

Then we continue towards the mountain resort Sinaia, also called "the pearl of the Carpathian Mountains". Visit to the Peles Castle, constructed in 1873 as a summer residence of the Romanian royal family. You can see a rich collection of old furniture, carpets, weapons and armors.

Next, we travel further towards Brasov. City tour of this medieval city, founded in XII c. Sightseeing tour of the historical city center with the old city-hall, and the Black Church - the main Gothic style monument in the country.

Accommodation in Brasov

Day 7 – Brasov – Bran (Dracula Castle) – Sighisoara – Biertan – Sibiu

Morning departure to Bran village, where the world-famous Dracula castle is located and visit.

Next, we continue towards Sighisoara - one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania – a UNESCO city. City tour of Sighisoara with the Citadel - a Saxon edifice from XII c. – an UNESCO monument.

Sightseeing of the Clock Tower (inside visit too), the Covered Staircase, Dracula's birth house, the Church on the Hill.

Lunch at the famous restaurant «Vlad Drakula», located in the same house where the popular character of the British writer Bram Stoker was born.

En route of towards Sibiu, we will visit the fortified church in Biertan, which previously used to be the bishops’ residence for more than 300 years, UNESCO monument.

Dinner and overnight in Sibiu.

Day 8 – Sibiu – Timisoara 

In the morning, we will have a city tour in the biggest medieval city in Romania – Sibiu. After check-out of the hotel, direct on the pedestrian street, we take a city tour in Sibiu/Hermannstadt - the European capital of culture for 2007. We will visit, among others the Evangelical Church, the Council Tower, the Large and the Small Square, the Liars' Bridge, the Brukenthal Palace.

Drive towards Timisoara and after check in our hotel, we start the city tour of the European Capital of Culture 2023, where we will visit the most important sights, including also the Museum of Revolution 1989.

Dinner and overnight in Timisoara.

Day 9 – Timisoara – Novi Sad 

After breakfast we leave Romania and pass the border towards Serbia.

Around noon we will arrive in Novi Sad - European Capital of Culture in 2022. City tour with visit to the most interesting places, like: Petrovaradin fortress, Synagogue, Square of Freedom continue the walk through the Street Zmaj Jovina to the Bishop's Palace, then proceed to Danube Street to Danube Park.

Overnight in Novi Sad.

Day 10 – Novi Sad - Sremski Karlovci – Krusedol - Belgrade 

After breakfast, departure towards the baroque town of Sremski Karlovcia and enjoy the short walk through the city, and the view to the Patriarchy Court – the most monumental building of the 19th century in Vojvodina, Saborna church. Visit to the Museum of beekeeping and winery Zivanovic. Honey and wine tasting. There you could learn more about the production of honey and wine and will have opportunity to taste one of the most famous wines in the area.

Visit Krusedol monastery, constructed in the 15th century. Today monastery is dedicated to the Christian holiday Annunciation Day.

Arrive in Belgrade – the capital of Serbia.

Overnight in your cozy centrally located hotel.

Day 11 – Belgrade 

After breakfast continue with half day sightseeing city tour, combination of coach and walking tour. Start the tour passing by the memorial complex devoted to life and deeds of Josip Tito, pass by Saint Sava Temple, Saint Mark’s Church, Serbian National Parliament, and White Palace. Proceed with walking tour through lively pedestrian zone of Knez Mihailova street and continue to Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, the most important cultural-historic complex of the city, situated on the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube.

Free afternoon

Optional : Danube River cruise – 2 hours join a cruise in the Serbian capital.

Day 12 – Belgrade – Zagreb 

After breakfast, time to say good bye and continue with the rest of your tour.