Romania & Ukraine

     Welcome to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, the city formerly known as the Little Paris due its beautiful architecture resembling the French capital. We transfer you from the airport, assist you checking-in and after a break take you in an exciting tour of the city.

     Our sightseeing experience will include a drive on the Victory Avenue, a central axis of the city displaying monuments of unique importance such as the Royal Palace, the Athenaeum Concert Hall, The Officers’ club or the Savings Bank Palace. From classic we will continue to modern driving around but also stopping at the Palace of Parliament, the 2nd largest building in the world for whose construction, a surface of the city that equals the one of Venice was demolished and cleared.

     Fortunately, not all historical town was affected so we will stroll in a nice pedestrian section of the city, where the mid and late XIX century atmosphere can still be felt among many hidden treasures of the city that await to be discovered by us

     Today is a day for discovering the country while driving. Romania and Ukraine do not compete yet for the world’s top position of highway penetration but this fact is a minor liability for traveling since for travelers represents a chance to see more of the authentic countryside, crossing cities, towns and villages and observing the people.

     We will leave behind Wallachia, the Southern province of Romania and cross the Milcov river into Moldova, the North Eastern part of the country, the two above mentioned provinces being united only in mid XIX century. The city of Focsani where we will have our lunch is also known as the city of the Unity, lying as a symbol at the crossroads of modern Romania.

     In the evening we will arrive in the capital of Moldova, Iasi, check-in and enjoy a tasty dinner in a local restaurant. After the dinner we will embark for a brief but enjoyable scenic city tour by night.

     In the morning we will tour the city of Iasi, a city of an unique cultural importance featuring a paradoxical combination of old stylish architecture and communist buildings. We will walk the historical centre situated between the exquisite neo-gothic Palace of Culture, the landmark of the city, the Viennese neo-classical National Theatre, the largest Orthodox cathedral in the country and the Union Square where the Eiffel Company build hotel Traian lies.

     We will have a local and traditional lunch in the most famous Iasi restaurant, Bolta Rece founded in 1786 that still keeps the spirit of old Moldavians inns.

     After lunch we will continue up North to the historical city of Suceava, visiting the Royal Inn, the Village museum, but most imposing of them all, the Suceava fortress, a pillar of Moldavian defense throughout the centuries where extraordinary tales of courage are to be revealed.

     Today we plan to discover the neighboring Ukraine, a fascinating, not well discovered country. We cross the border into Ukraine in the morning and head towards Hotin, a stronghold strategically positioned on the banks of the Nistru River, having an unique fortifications system for the era

     Less than an hour away, the city of Cernauti, one of the most Cosmopolitan cities ever in the Eastern Europe is our next highlight. Today mostly Ukrainian, the city had a recent past when also Germans, Romanians, Jews, Poles used to live in a harmonious ethnical understanding. Cernauti displays beautiful streets with magnificent architecture where we will walk along and also the most emblematic construction, the Archbishop’s Palace, nowadays the University as a highlight to be visited.

     In the afternoon we cross the border back into Romania and we sit for a delicious dinner remembering a vivid day, full of discoveries.

     Although culture and history are the basics of an educational trip, today and the next day, some wonderful nature wonders are to enchant and fulfill our trip as well. Crossing the Carpathian Mountains will reveal unique sceneries to us, plenty of photo opportunities and occasions to feel the high altitude fresh air.

     Just before lunch we will visit the two nicest monasteries of the North of Moldavia, included in the Unesco World Heritage. These monasteries are beautifully painted inside but also, very interestingly, outside, showing scenes not only from the Bible but also from the peoples’ lives & beliefs. Another charming stop will be at Marginea, the place where local artisans are turning black pottery into pieces of art.

     We will be served lunch in a traditional house, eating with a family and having the chance to sample once again the local cuisine and meet the local people. After lunch we will visit the Museum of Art of Woodworks.

     In the afternoon we will drive again through the mountains, on the Bistrita River Valley just to end in a beautiful private home located on a wonderful mountain lake, Izvorul Muntelui.

     Among the four Romanian sites listed in the famous book “1001 natural wonders you must see before you die” two of them are to be checked this morning. The Ceahlau massif but mostly the Bicaz Gorges, a narrow and deep canyon carved into pure rock are our major morning attractions.

     A brief stop at the Red Lake, a natural lake created after a curious mountain slide will complete our experience and the beautiful route through the mountains will lead us later in the village of Praid where we will have lunch.

     In the afternoon we will visit and have free time in Sighisoara, one the only European fortress where people still live inside of the fortifications, a beautiful sample of medieval German architecture in the Romanian lands. Walking through the fortified town will reveal unique stories and let us fell the spirit of the colorful citadel where Vlad the Impaler known as Dracula was born.

     Few hours away from Sighisoara, lies the city of Brasov, our next stop, another medieval burg of Transylvania, the third major region of Romania. In Brasov we will enjoy a walking tour in the historical downtown around the Town Hall Square, seeing the Black Church, the largest Gothic construction East of Vienna but also a curiosity, the Rope street, one of the narrowest streets in the whole Europe.

     One the “brands” of Romanian tourism is Mr. Dracula and one castle, Bran has become part of the legend. We will take you there not before warning you that you might be disappointing by finding out that a legend remains a legend and the castle has quite of a different story to tell although not less impressive. Its present day look was given by the most beloved Queen of Romania, Queen Mary, who played a major role in the creation of modern Romania after WW1.

     Dinner and accommodation in the area of the castle will complete an exciting day.

     In the first part of the day we will visit another major highlight of Romania, the Peles Palace. Located in the mountainous resort of Sinaia, the Peles palace was built in the mid and late XIX century at the orders of Carol 1st the king of Romania as its summer residence. The palace has impressive woodworks commissioned to Czech masters, original furniture but most important is the collection of different styles, from one room to another one walks through Classical, Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Spanish and Moorish styled interiors. Nevertheless the central vacuum cleaner, the elevator, the cinema room and other novelties for that century are also unique to this palace.

     After lunch on the way, we will re-enter Bucharest, have a chance to see more of the capital city of Romania, spend some free time in some romantic corners of it, shop or visit more of the city museums. In the evening a nice dinner will be meant to conclude an interesting trip in one of Europe’s still most authentic places.

     Fly back.