Transylvania Christmas Markets by Air

Today we fly to Bucharest and meet our local guide who will accompany us by coach from the airport to our hotel. On arrival, we will take a short walk through the Old Town of Bucharest in the company of a local guide, followed by a welcome dinner accompanied by a folklore performance at a historic restaurant in the Old Town.

After breakfast, we’ll transfer by coach to the train station where we travel by rail from Bucharest to the mountain resort of Sinaia alighting at the Royal Train Station, which is also a stop for the famous Orient Express. We’ll explore Sinaia on foot with a guided tour ending at Peles Castle. This masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture is undoubtedly one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873, it is no wonder it served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947. After our tour of Peles Castle, we will travel to Brasov by coach where we’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Brasov, known as the ‘Crown of Transylvania’. We’ll explore the beautiful centre, starting in the Council Square built by the Saxons. Entrance is included to one of Romania’s leading gothic churches and the largest between Vienna and Istanbul, the Black Church, which got its name after the Greater Fire of 1689. Our tour will also include a stop by Rope Street, the narrowest street in Europe, and conclude back at the Council Square where the Brasov Christmas Markets await us.

Expect to find the streets lit up, the tree switched on, and some beautiful market stalls selling a mixture of handmade souvenirs as well as local products and decorations – not forgetting all the tasty food and drinks stalls! After some free time to explore the Christmas markets, we’ll travel by coach to the famous Dracula Castle. Hidden amongst the hilly forest of Bran, the setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula awaits. Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend, it was originally built by the German Saxons in the 14th century. Since 1920, the castle has become a Royal Residence, offered as a gift by the people of Brasov to Queen Maria of Romania. We’ll enjoy a delicious 3-course lunch in the Queen Maria’s Tea House and experience a guided tour before returning to Brasov by coach to enjoy a leisurely evening.

Today we travel by coach to Sighișoara, one of the few still inhabited medieval fortresses in the world. Founded by the Transylvanian Saxons and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, we’ll take a guided walking tour starting at the landmark of Sighișoara, the Clock Tower, and continue through the cobbled streets of the citadel that was inhabited without interruption until today. We include entrance to the birthplace of Count Dracula and enjoy a visit to the Church on the Hill. We’ll then travel by coach onto Sibiu, one of the largest cities in Transylvania, where we’ll enjoy dinner in the evening.

After breakfast, we will experience the heart of Sibiu on a guided walking tour through the Old Town. There are three famous squares to the Old Town: Grand Square, Small Square and Huet Square. We’ll pass museums, the Town Hall and its tower, the Catholic Church, Luxemburg House, and much more. At the end of the tour, there will be some free time to enjoy the Sibiu Christmas Markets. Not only are these the largest Christmas markets in Romania, but they have also been voted the most beautiful – and when you get there, you’ll see why! Situated in the Grand Square, surrounded by Baroque architecture and decorated with lights and illuminations, these markets look and feel like something out of a film. There are plenty of cosy and colourful stalls selling a variety of hand-crafted gifts and edible goods. After some free time, we will enjoy included entrance to the fascinating Steam Train Museum. You can enjoy a piece of locomotive history as you stroll through the tracks, both narrow and wide.

This evening, we’ll transfer by coach to the nearby village of Sibiel where we will enjoy a traditional dinner with the local people, accompanied by homemade wine and brandy.

We transfer by coach to Sibiu train station, where we take the train along the scenic route to Calimanesti. On arrival, we will visit the Cozia Monastery housing the tomb of Mircea the Elder, considered to be one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in Romania. We will then travel by coach to Bucharest with time to explore the Christmas market. Located right in the centre of Constitution Square, with Parliament Palace as its backdrop, you’ll find over 100 decorated wooden stalls offering handicrafts, mulled wine, baked goods, Christmas decorations and traditional specialities. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

After breakfast, we board the coach and include one final visit to Parliament Palace before our tour comes to an end. This grand palace is the seat of the Romanian Parliament and is also the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. We then transfer by coach to Bucharest Airport for our return flight to London.