Highlights of Romania & Bulgaria – 14‑Day Private Cultural Tour (7 UNESCO Sites)
Itinerary at a glance
- includes visits to 7 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites: Bucovina painted monasteries, Sighisoara, Biertan Fortified Church, Sibiu historic centre and also Boyana Church, Rila monastery and the Thracian Tomb.
- Duration:14-days/ 13 nights
- Countries: Romania, Bulgaria
- Tour style: Private or small-group guided cultural & historical tour
- Start: Sofia, Bulgaria
- End: Bucharest, Romania
- Starting Day: Monday through Saturday in summer (15 April - 15 September 2026)
- Starting Day: Tuesday to Saturday in winter (16 September 2025 - 15 April 2026 and 16 September 2026 - 05 December 2026 )
- Main destinations: Bucharest, Sinaia & Peleș Castle, Brașov, Bran Castle, Bicaz Gorge, Suceava, The Moldavian Monasteries, Sighișoara, Biertan, Sibiu, Olt River gorge, Cozia, Sofia, Koprivshtica, Plovdiv, Valley of the Roses, Veliko Tarnovo, Troyan
- Transportation: Comfortable sedan or minivan with driver/guide, flight Bucharest-Sofia (supplement,extra cost)
- Language: English-speaking guides, local in each country
- Rates start at 1,855€ per person for a group of 8.
Day 1: Bucharest Arrival
Quick facts
- Distance: Transfer from airport (~20 km)
- Main visits: Bucharest panoramic introduction
- Meals: Traditional Romanian Welcome Dinner with a Folklore Show
- Overnight: 4★ Hotel Caoitol (or similar central Bucharest hotel)
Welcome to Bucharest, the dynamic capital of Romania. Upon arrival at Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), your private tour guide will meet you in the arrivals hall. Enjoy a comfortable private transfer to your downtown hotel to check in and relax before your journey begins.
Day 2: Bucharest City Tour - Sinaia & Peleș Castle - Brașov
Quick facts
- Distance: 220 km
- Main visits: Palace of the Parliament, Revolution Square, Calea Victoriei, Peleș Castle (Sinaia)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 4★ Hotel Casa Cranta (or similar Brașov hotel)
After a rich buffet breakfast, embark on a guided city tour of Bucharest, famously nicknamed "The Little Paris of the East." Explore grand boulevards like Magheru, Kiseleff, and Calea Victoriei. You will stop at Revolution Square to understand the events of December 1989 and take an inside tour of the massive Palace of the Parliament - the second-largest administrative building in the world. Afterward, leave the capital behind and drive north into the Carpathian Mountains to Sinaia to tour the breathtaking Peleș Castle, the former summer residence of the Romanian royal family. Continue to the medieval Saxon city of Brașov for the evening.
Day 3: Brașov, Citadel of Râșnov & Bran Castle
Quick facts
- Distance: 80 km
- Main visits: Brașov Old Town, Black Church, Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Râșnov Citadel
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner in Poiana Brașov
- Overnight: 4★ Hotel Casa Cranta (or similar Brașov hotel)
Begin your morning with a 3-hour walking tour through Brașov's stunning medieval Old Town. Visit the Council Square (Piața Sfatului), the iconic Gothic Black Church (Biserica Neagră), the Weaver's Bastion, and the White and Black Towers. Following a lunch break, drive to the village of Bran to explore the famous 14th-century Bran Castle and the legends of Dracula. Wrap up your sightseeing at the imposing peasant citadel of Râșnov. Then enjoy a rustic dinner in a traditional restaurant in the mountain resort of Poiana Brașov.
Day 4: Brașov - Bicaz Gorge - Agapia Monastery - Suceava
Today we leave Transylvania behind and we drive along the Red Lake (Lacul Rosu) and afterwards along the Bicaz Gorge, an impressive natural phenomenon with hundreds of meters of limestone-walls, towards Piatra Neamt. We visit the Agapia monastery, with 500 nuns and novices. It is one of the largest monasteries in Europe. Then we drive to Suceava for a 2-night stay.
Quick facts
- Distance: 380 km
- Main visits: Bicaz Gorge, Red Lake (Lacu Roșu) photo stop, Agapia Monastery
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 4★ Hotel Sonnenhof in Suceava (or similar Suceava hotel)
Day 5: The Moldavian Monasteries
Quick facts
- Distance: 180 km
- Main visits: Black pottery workshop in Marginea, Sucevita Monastery, Moldovita Monastery, Voronet Monastery, Egg painting
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight:4★ Hotel Sonnenhof in Suceava
After breakfast, visit the black pottery workshop in Marginea. Learn more about the “oxygen reduction” technique, also found only in Mexico.
Then explore three painted monasteries of Bucovina:
- Sucevița – the largest, resembling a fortified tower; notable fresco: The Ladder of John of Sinai. Enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch.
- Moldovița – outer frescoes explained; houses the UNESCO “Golden Apple” awarded in 1975. South facade: The Siege of Constantinople (24 episodes of the Hymn to the Holy Virgin).
- Voroneț – “Sistine Chapel of the East,” with one of the region’s finest Last Judgment frescoes.
In the evening, see an egg-painting demonstration and share a home-hosted dinner in Vama. Return to Suceava.
Day 6: Suceava - Gura Humorului – Bistrita - Sighișoara
Quick facts
- Distance: 360 km
- Main visits:
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight:4★Hotel Cavaler in the Upper Town of Sighisoara (or similar)
After breakfast, drive over the picturesque Borgo Pass with a stop at the “Castel Hotel Dracula,” where Bram Stoker imagined Count Dracula’s residence.
Continue through Bistrița to Târgu Mureș: view the Vauban citadel and the Art Nouveau Palace of Culture. Later, arrive in Sighișoara, the Upper Town, for a 2-night stay.
Day 7: Sighișoara - Biertan – Sibiu >Highlights of Romania and Bulgaria Tour
Quick facts
- Distance: 120 km
- Main visits:Sighișoara- Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars’ Staircase, the Ducklings’ Square, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler, the Tower with Clock, Biertan (UNESCO), Sibiu and the Bruckenthal Museum,The Evangelical Cathedral, the Liar's Bridge.
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Overnight:4★Hotel Continental Forum (or similar), Sibiu
Morning city tour of Sighișoara, Europe’s only still inhabited medieval citadel.
Walking highlights:
- Upper and Lower Town squares
- Scholars’ Staircase, Ducklings’ Square
- Tinsmiths’ Tower, House with Antler, Clock Tower (climb for views)
- Torture Chamber and Weapon Museum
- Vlad the Impaler’s birthplace (now a restaurant)
Drive to Biertan’s fortified church (UNESCO), former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops (1516–1867).
Day 7: Arrive in Sibiu, principal city of the Transylvanian Saxons.
Leisurely walking tour of Sibiu:
- Old walls and guild towers
- Bruckenthal Museum (baron Bruckenthal, governor of Transylvania)
- Evangelical Cathedral (1520; 1445 Crucifixion fresco inside)
- Passage of Stairs, Liar’s Bridge (1859), Byzantine-style Orthodox Cathedral (copy of St. Sophia)
- Original Pharmacy Museum
Dinner in a top local restaurant with traditional Romanian dishes.
Day 8: Sibiu - Cozia - Pitesti - Bucuresti – Sofia (210 km+flight Bucharest-Sofia)
Quick facts
- Distance: 210 km + Flight Bucharest-Sofia
- Main visits:Olt River gorge, Cozia monastery
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 4★hotel Coop in Sofia (2 nights), ideally in the historic center.
After breakfast, drive along the Olt River gorge toward southern Romania. Visit Cozia Monastery, a beautiful 14th-century Orthodox monastery.
Continue to Bucharest, drop off at the airport, and take your afternoon connecting flight to Sofia.
Your Bulgarian guide meets you at “Vasil Levski” Airport and assists with transfer to your downtown hotel.
Day 9: Sofia
Quick facts
- Distance: 50 km
- Main visits: National History Museum, Boyana Church (UNESCO)
- Meals: Breakfast, Bulgarian welcome Dinner
- Overnight: 4★hotel Coop in Sofia
In the morning, enjoy a city sightseeing of Sofia, a city with a 7,000-year history (approximately two and a half hours’ leisurely walking tour).
Highlights include:
- National History Museum – Thracian gold and silver treasures
- Boyana Church (UNESCO) – one of Bulgaria’s most significant historical treasures, dating to the 13th century
- Other landmarks: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Rotunda of St. George, St. Nicholas Russian Church, Banya Bashi Mosque, and a view of the Great Synagogue (photo stop)
Day 10: Sofia - Koprivshtica - Plovdiv -> Highlights Romania Bulgaria Tour
Quick facts
- Distance: 220 km
- Main visits:Koprivshtica, Plovdiv
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Overnight: 3* hotel Expo in Plovdiv (or similar).
After breakfast, drive to Plovdiv. En route, stop at Koprivshtica, a museum town of Bulgarian National Revival architecture where the past seems to come alive. Situated about 3,000 feet above sea level amid meadows and pine forests, the town has long attracted visitors. Walking tour includes:
- Old Bulgarian-style houses of Lyutov, Debelyanov, and Kableshkov
- Original 19th-century decoration and furnishing
- The town’s preserved appearance and historic atmosphere
Later, continue to Plovdiv, the main city of the Thracian Valley. One of the oldest and most colorful towns in Bulgaria (over 5,000 years old), Old Plovdiv is the center of Bulgarian national revival architecture.
Day 11: Plovdiv – Valley of the Roses – Veliko Tarnovo
After breakfast, walk through Plovdiv’s Old Town: visit the 2,000-year-old Roman Theatre and the Ethnographic Museum, stroll along cobbled streets, and see local artisans at work. Drive north to Kazanlak, in the famous Rose Valley.
The Rose Valley has been a center of rose oil production for centuries (blooming: mid‑May to mid‑June). Visit the Rose Museum to learn why Bulgarian rose oil is used in top perfumes.
The area is also known as the Valley of the Thracian Kings. The Thracians were the earliest recorded people of the eastern Balkans; Greek authors like Homer called this region Thrace. Explore the Thracian Beehive Tomb in Kazanlak, a UNESCO site.
Day 11: Highlights Romania Bulgaria 14-day Cultural Tour > Crossing the Balkan Range
Quick facts
- Distance: 220 km
- Main visits:Old Plovdiv, Roman Theatre, Ethnographic museum,Kazanlak & the Rose Valley, Thracian Tomb (UNESCO), Shipka Pass,Etara open-air Ethnographic museum
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 3* hotel Gurko, Veliko Tarnovo
Cross the Balkans at Shipka Pass. Enjoy the spectacular view from the top of the pass over the Thracian Plain.
Visit the open-air Etara Ethnographic Museum. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s old capital, set on three hills beside the Yantra River. Its 19th‑century houses, fortress walls, and palaces frame a lively university town. Evening at leisure.
Day 12: Veliko Tarnovo – Troyan – Sofia ( 280 km)>Highlights of Romania and Bulgaria Tour
Quick facts
- Distance: 280 km
- Main visits: Veliko Tarnovo, Tzarevets Fortress,Arbanassi museum village,Folk Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Oreshak
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 4★Hotel Coop Sofia (or similar)
After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of historic Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's medieval capital. Overlooking the winding River Yantra, the city combines a rich history with the vibrant atmosphere of a university town. Visit the impressive Tsarevets Fortress, then stroll along the cobbled streets of Samovodska Charshia, home to traditional craft shops and local heritage.
Visit the museum village of Arbanassi. It is known for its traditional architecture and views over Veliko Tarnovo. Explore the richly decorated Church of the Nativity and the 18th-century Konstantsaliev House. Return to Sofia via the Danube Plain, stopping in Troyan and Oreshak to discover Bulgaria's pottery tradition and watch local ceramicists at work. If time permits, visit the nearby Troyan Monastery.
Day 13: Rila Monastery -Day Tour
Quick facts
- Distance: 230 km
- Main visits: Rila monastery (UNESCO)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: 4★Hotel Coop Sofia (or similar)
After breakfast, we travel to the famous Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located some 70 miles to the south of Sofia, in the heart of the Rila Mountain. Founded in the 10th century, it has been the biggest spiritual and cultural centre in Bulgaria for hundreds of years. The visitor’s first sight of Rila Monastery huge towering walls gives the impression of a fortress. However, a step through the archway produces a wonderful surprise.
Day 13: Rila Monastery UNESCO site
Visit Rila Monastery, the largest in the Balkans and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the richly decorated Monastery Church and Museum, home to treasures from the monastery's thousand-year history, while learning about the monks who still live and worship here. Return to Sofia, where the rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner is on your own.
Day 14: Sofia – Departure> Highlights of Romania and Bulgaria Tour
- Distance: Hotel-Airport 10 km
- Main visits: Free morning in Sofia, private transfer to the airport
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Tour ends (no overnight)
Breakfast at hotel. (Boxed breakfast will be provided for the early departures). Time at leisure prior to a drop-off transfer to Sofia airport for your return flight. End of services.
Quick Facts
- Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
- Countries: Romania & Bulgaria
- Start / end: Bucharest → Sofia
- Type: Private cultural tour (min. 2 guests)
- UNESCO sites: 7
- Best season: April–October
Tour highlights
- Explore Bucharest’s grand boulevards and historic core, with optional visits to the Palace of the Parliament.
- Discover Transylvania’s medieval towns: Sighisoara (UNESCO), fortified churches in Biertan (UNESCO), and the historic centre of Sibiu (UNESCO).
- Visit the Bucovina painted monasteries (UNESCO),including the famous monasteries of Voronet, Sucevita, and Moldovita, with their unique exterior frescoes.
- Cross into Bulgaria and experience the vibrant culture of Bucharest–Sofia corridor, with stops in Plovdiv and the Thracian Valley.
- Admire Kazanlak’s Thracian Tomb (UNESCO) and the underground complexity of this ancient burial site.
- Enjoy the spiritual and architectural grandeur of Rila Monastery (UNESCO), Bulgaria’s largest and most famous monastery.
- Explore Sofia’s mix of Roman, Ottoman, and modern heritage, including the Boyana Church (UNESCO) with its medieval paintings.
- Include authentic rural experiences, local meals, and hand-picked hotels in charming towns and mountain areas.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this tour
- Moldavian painted monasteries of Bucovina (Romania)
- Sighisoara Medieval Town and Watch Tower (Romania)
- Fortified Church in Biertan (Romania)
- Historic Centre of Sibiu (Romania)
- Boyana Church, Sofia (Bulgaria)
- Rila Monastery (Bulgaria)
- Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (Bulgaria)
Itinerary overview
The Highlights of Romania & Bulgaria tour is a 14‑day private cultural journey from Bucharest to Sofia, covering 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Designed for discerning travellers, this private tour combines iconic cities, medieval towns, mountain landscapes, and authentic rural life across Romania and Bulgaria.
The tour starts in Bucharest and ends in Sofia, linking Romania’s capital with Bulgaria’s historic heartland. You will travel through Transylvania, the Bucovina region, the Thracian Valley, and the Balkan Mountains, with a balanced mix of guided city tours, monastery visits, and scenic drives.
For the full day-by-day programme, see the Itinerary at a Glance section below.
Prices & booking
This is a private tour available from 15 April to 15 September 2026 (departures Mon–Sat) and from 16 September 2026 to 5 December 2026 (departures Tue–Sat). Prices are quoted in € and are based on a minimum of 2 guests.
- Starting price: from €2,430 per person (for a group of 8 persons/2026 price; final quote depends on travel dates, hotel level, and group size).
- Upgraded hotels: available on request – request a custom quote.
- Booking: contact us via the form below or email to discuss your preferred dates and any tailor‑made changes.
FAQ – Highlights of Romania & Bulgaria 14‑Day Tour
- How long is the tour?
- 14 days, starting in Bucharest (Romania) and ending in Sofia (Bulgaria).
- Is this a group or private tour?
- This is a private tour for a minimum of 2 guests. You can choose your travel dates (within the season) and adapt some elements to your preferences.
- Which UNESCO sites are included?
- 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Bucovina painted monasteries, Sighisoara, Biertan fortified church, Sibiu historic centre, Boyana Church, Rila Monastery, and the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak.
- When is the best time to travel?
- The recommended period is April–October, when weather is pleasant across both countries and most sites are easily accessible.
- What is the accommodation like?
- You stay in hand-picked 3–4★ hotels and guesthouses in cities and charming towns, with an emphasis on comfort and local character. Upgraded options are available on request.
-
FAQ – Highlights of Romania & Bulgaria 14‑Day Tour
- Do I need to speak Romanian or Bulgarian?
- No. Your private guide speaks English (or another language on request) and will handle all communication with locals throughout the tour.
- Can the itinerary be adjusted?
- Yes. As a private tour, you can discuss minor adjustments (e.g., extra day in a city, different hotel level, or tailored cultural interests) before booking.
- How do I book or get a price for my dates?
- Use the enquiry form on this page or contact Brill Travel directly. Provide your preferred travel dates, number of guests, and any special requests to receive a tailored quote.
Why Choose Brill Travel
- 30+ years operating in the Balkans
- Local expert guides
- Private, tailor-made options
- Hand-picked hotels & restaurants
From Disappointment to Delight in the Balkans
A good friend and I decided to visit Romania and Bulgaria this fall (September 21 to October 4), 2014. We found a very interesting trip with Travcoa, a higher-end company with whom we had previously traveled. While we do not prefer group tours, this was to be a small group and we decided that it covered the area we wanted to visit. We signed up. Everything was set. We had placed a deposit on the trip and secured the air. Our air was non-refundable but we did not even give it a thought since we were with Travcoa, which was a name we had come to trust.
Imagine our consternation when, just days before the final payment was due, Travcoa notified us that our trip had been canceled. We were flying into Bucharest for our original tour. We did not want to lose money on the air and we still wanted to visit this area. Therefore, I did what I had done before and got on the internet and searched out companies offering tours to Romania and Bulgaria. To the companies that responded, offering tours to the places the Travcoa tour visited, I sent a brief prospectus based on the original tour so they could devise a tour for us.
Three companies responded to this information. I tweaked their offerings, especially adding the qualifier of five-star or best available accommodations.
One company, Brill Travel (brilltravel.com), in Sofia, Bulgaria, came through with what seemed to be the best match for what we wanted. Not only that, with hotels as good as and often better that the original luxury tour, they wanted a little over half as much for the tour—from $6,245 (with air add-on intra tour and pervious traveler discount) pp from Travcoa to approximately $3,400 (€2,730) pp with Brill. This was a tour for just the two of us.
The hotels turned out to be better than advertised. The included meals were good and the guides were outstanding. Ion was our guide-driver in Romania. He was thirty-something, energetic and extremely knowledgeable. Katja Melamed was our guide in Bulgaria where we had a separate driver. She had master and doctorate degrees and was in the Medieval Department of the National Institute of Archeology, working at the National History Museum. Both loved their countries and expressed this fact. They both were very willing to adapt to our needs to assure that we had a good experience. Ion was a photographer. He pointed out excellent spots for photos. Katja provided us with in-depth historical insights into the places we visited. She even ended our tour by personally guiding us through the Bulgarian National History Museum in Sofia. Our last day, the owner of the agency, Irska, took us to the airport so that she could make sure that the two weeks had been good for us. It was an outstanding experience. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in the Balkans. The areas we visited were beautiful. The history was there at every turn. We had knowledgeable guides. We had a wonderful experience for just the two of us rather than as a part of a group.
What a delightful two weeks! I have had similar experiences before with Exotissimo (EXO Travel) in Vietnam, Malaysia Travel in Malaysia and Oasis Tours for Myanmar, Cambodia and cruising into Vietnam. I have always taken the one precaution of transacting all payments with a credit card. So far, the internet has provided me with many memorable travel experiences even when a so-called “well established” company let me down.
Paul Otto Schneebeck, C.M.
Saint Louis, MO USA
Thank you, again.
Iskra Ilkova of Brill Travel is an absolute professional. A veteran of the Travel Industry, there would not be much about the Balkans and tourism in the Balkan countries that she does not know. She specialises in tours of Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia and has excellent networks and loyal as well as expert tour guides in all the countries she operates in and who she can access.
My wife and I had a fantastic holiday in Romania and Bulgaria. It was organised like clock-work and went off without any drama or fuss. We wanted the best hotels and we were provided with the best. Our guides Ion in Romania and Tsveto in Bulgaria were high class. There were no games played, no scrounging around, no short-cuts and overall, I simply wish that all tour operators are of the quality of Brill (and Iskra). Our progress was monitored and there was a genuine desire to see that we enjoyed our holiday and carried back great memories.
If you are considering visiting Bulgaria and Romania (North Macedonia, too), I strongly suggest that you leave it to Iskra to suggest a tour programme tailor-made for you after indicating the number of days you can spend. We liked the 14 day tour and covered a lot of ground. To conclude, Brill is a top quality, trustworthy, expert and highly professional outfit who can be trusted to provide a brilliant holiday in these wonderful, unspoilt (by over-tourism!) countries.
We are not merely grateful but in awe of Iskra, for our wonderfully conceived and flawlessly executed holiday.