DRACULA TOUR ( 15-16 hours )
Bran Castle , Dracula’s Horror House, Gifts Market, Ethnographic Park : Located between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului mountains, was imposed by strategic and economic reasons at the end of the XIV century as fortress. Here Vlad Dracul (Dracula ) stayed few years of his adventurous life. Between 1920-1947, as Royal Residence, the castle suffered a series of architectural renovations, lead by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who also worked at the castles Peles and Pelisor. Two towers for stairs were added, the bulwarks and the shooting gaps became windows, the stoves and the hearths became modern fireplaces. www.brancastlemuseum.ro (175km;10-11.30h)
Sighisoara, the Medieval Town , Dracula’s House: This gorgeous town with its history of thousands of years is the home of Saxons, Romanian and Hungarians. The beautiful middle age town of Sighisoara , built on a hill in Tarnava Valley , is the best preserved medieval old town with inhabitants in Central Europe . You can also find the house were Vlad Dracul (Dracula ) stayed few years of his adventurous life.www.cetatea-sighisoara.com (145km;13.30-16h)
Sibiu , the Medieval City , 2007 European Cultural Capital: The Citadel of Sibiu was for centuries one of the largest and best fortified in Europe . The city has two easily walk able levels: the “lower town” which contains most of Sibiu's historic sights, and a charming aggregation of old houses and cobbled squares, and the “upper town”, the citadel with its walls and towers from 15th and 16th centuries : Harquebusiers Tower, Potter Tower, Carpenter Tower , Thick Tower, Gunpowder Tower, Tanner Tower. The Citadel was surrounded by walls and defense towers, some of these are still very well preserved and give us a clue of how they looked like hundreds of years ago. www.sibiu.ro (90km;17-20h)
Return in Bucharest : (275km;23.30h) .
Price: 90 EUR (1 person), 100 EUR (2 persons), 110 EUR (3 persons)
Guide, driver and all tickets included.
CASTLES AND BRASOV TOUR ( 12 hours )
Peles Castle , Pelisor Castle : Peles Castle was King Carol I of Hohenzollern’s favorite residence . Built between 1873-1915, it distinguishes itself by its particular architecture, comparable to the most famous palaces in the world. It holds impressive plastic and decorative art collection. In 1899 King Carol I built a castle for heirs Ferdinand and Mary the Pelisor Castle, the most expressive Art Nouveau style monument of Romania . The collection from Pelisor includes Romanian and European painting masters, furniture and decorative art pieces. www.peles.ro (120km;9.30-11h)
Bran Castle , Dracula’s Horror House, Gifts Market, Ethnographic Park : Located between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului mountains, was imposed by strategic and economic reasons at the end of the XIV century as fortress. Here Vlad Dracul (Dracula ) stayed few years of his adventurous life. Between 1920-1947, as Royal Residence, the castle suffered a series of architectural renovations, lead by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who also worked at the castles Peles and Pelisor. Two towers for stairs were added, the bulwarks and the shooting gaps became windows, the stoves and the hearths became modern fireplaces. www.brancastlemuseum.ro (55km;12-13.30h)
Poiana Brasov - mountain resort: D esignated as a winter resort, it’s the famous Romanian ski resort. You can make a mountain trip to Postavarul Mountain or surroundings choosing to follow savage paths in order to discover the real wild nature. www.poiana-brasov.com (30km;14-14.30h)
Brasov , the Medieval City : In the centre of Romania , Brasov is an old medieval burg, a city surrounded by the most famous mountain resorts, a great place for relaxation so hard to find in other great urban agglomerations. The Citadel of Brasov, one of the strongest citadels in Transylvania, hosts arround „Piata Sfatului”-„Townhall Square” the most representative Gothic monument in Romania, the Black Church, built around 1380, partially destroyed by the great fire in 1689, with the largest organ of 4000 pipes in South-East Europe, and also the first Romanian school, churches and cathedrals, museums, medieval weapons collection and restaurants with traditional cuisine. www.brasovtravelguide.ro (20km;15-17.30h)
Return in Bucharest : (175km;20h) .
Price: 75 EUR (1 person), 85 EUR (2 persons), 95 EUR (3 persons)
Guide, driver and all tickets included.
If you feel like seeing something else, choose your destination.
Romania travel guide
Romania offers a rich tapestry of vacation experiences tourist attractions and holiday experiences unique in Europe: medieval fortress and towns in Transylvania, exterior painted monasteries in Bukovina famous worldwide, traditional villages in Maramures, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, spas and much more.
  
 
 
The heart and soul of Romania are its remnants of medieval life and its peasant culture.
The new trend of Romanian tourism, less then the newest hotels, is the eco-tourism. You must enjoy a tour of Romania being housed all over the country in traditional old farms, specially renewed for their guests by their hospitable owners.
 
  
Transylvania is perhaps Romania's best known province, immortalized in legend, literature and film as the homeland of Dracula. There are countless reasons to visit Transylvania including its dramatic landscape of rugged mountains, dense forests, dark caves, deep gorges and lowland valleys. The province is filled with medieval cities like Brasov (featuring old Saxon architecture and citadel ruins); Sibiu (with its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses); Sighisoara (one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, adorned with a hilltop citadel, secret passageways and 14th century clock tower); Bran Castle (a Gothic fairy-tale structure also known as Dracula's Castle); Peles Castle (it takes 1 hour and a half by car to visit one of Europe's most exquisite castle, built in 1883 for King Carol I).
   
 
Maramures, an ancient province in north of Transylvania, provides a look at another side of Romania. This is a land where rural farmers invite travelers into their homes to share a sip of "tuica" (a potent plum liquor) and a bit of homemade bread and cheese. Here the inhabitants have preserved to a great extent the rural culture and crafts of their Dacian ancestors. Elaborate wooden churches with tall spires and shingled roofs distinguish Maramures villages. Woodcarvings decorate the eaves, doorways and windows of the houses. People still attach benches and boxes to their gates, to keep bread and water for passing strangers.
  
East of Maramures, Bukovina is renowned for its painted monasteries, acclaimed as masterpieces of art and architecture. Their exteriors are covered with Byzantine-influenced frescoes of biblical scenes. Among the most notable are Voronet – built in 1448 and known as the Sistine Chapel of the East, Sucevita, Humor and Moldovita.
 
 
 
Spring, summer and fall abound with events and festivals. In early May Bucharest is the host of a one-week carnival. In late July Sighisoara's streets are the stage for the annual Medieval Arts Festival. Beer’s Festivals is celebrated in September and October in all ancient cities. The Halloween is celebrated as nowhere else in the world, with special tours retracing the route of Dracula novel. Music lovers will especially appreciate the George Enescu Classical Music Festival as well as various folk-music and dance festivals that take place, all year round, all over the country.
 
Romanian cuisine specialities and wines are another face of travelling across the country.
More, you can visit all these wonderful lands at reasonable prices and good quality services all over Romania.
Data &Tips
Data:
Romania covers an area of 237500 km2 in south-eastern Europe. Bucharest lies in the far south of the country on the plains of Wallachia (Muntenia). Transylvania, the central region, is surrounded by Carpathians Mountains. The western region is Banat, Moldavia is in the N-NE and the eastern region is Dobrogea with his Black Sea Coast and Danube Delta.
The population is 21.7 million (the second largest country in East-Central Europe, after Poland) and the ethnic composition is: Romanians 88%, Hungarians 7%, Gypsies 3%, Germans, Serbs, Turks,… The main cities are: Bucharest 2.200.000, Brasov 320.000, Cluj 310.000, Timisoara 300.000, Constanta 350.000, Iasi 340.000.
Money:
The national currency is the “leu” (the plural is “lei”). The change rate is around:
1 Euro=3.6-3.8 lei and 1 Dollar=2.6-2.8 lei. There are plenty of places in the cities to change money, with all major foreign currencies, that change without commission. Attention at the commission at few exchange offices. Changing money on the street is illegal and dangerous.
Telephones:
When dialing Romania:
access code(00 or +),Romania code(40), city code(dropping the initial 0), phone no.
To phone abroad from Romania dial:
access code(00), country code, city code(dropping the initial 0), phone no.
You can make a call (even an international call) from all public phones. They are everywhere, in blue boxes. You will need a phone card (around 3 Euros) which is very easy to find to a newsstand or postal office.
The Bucharest telephone code is 021. If dialing from a mobile the code must be used.
Local laws:
If you are driving, or are out late at night, it is a good idea to carry at least a photocopy of your passport and driving license. Random ID checks are very rare, but it is law to have some ID on you all the times.
For the little drive mistakes you can always tip the policeman.
Crime & safety:
If you keep your nose clean, Bucharest is safer than many other European capitals as well as the entire country. Luckily, there is very little violent criminality. However, if you are looking for trouble by going to bad areas, you will find plenty. Petty crime is also a problem, especially on buses and trams.
Taxis:
Taxis are cheap in Romania, around 0.3 Euros per km. You can find a taxi on the street, but do make sure it is a reputable company. You should also be aware that most taxi drivers are unwilling to take passengers on short trips, less than 1.5 Euros. It is recommended to get a taxi by phone. Never get into an unmarked cab, without cash register and license number on the right door, unless you want to pay much more than you should.
Etiquette:
Romanians in their own homes are fabulous hosts. You had better be hungry, because the food never stops coming, dish after dish. You must bring something, flowers and chocolate, and a bottle of whiskey is always appreciated. You will probably be offered local brandy “tuica” or its more refined brother “palinca”. Get used to it. You may as well because you cannot escape its all-embracing charm. Many Romanians love to chat about their country, its problems, history and culture. Don’t be surprised if you are asked very direct questions about your views. Be diplomatic in responding.
Dictionary:
Hello = Buna
Good morning = Buna dimineata
Good evening = Buna seara
Good night = Noapte buna
How are you = Ce mai faceti
Thank You = Multumesc / Merci
Excuse me = Scuzati-ma
Please = Va rog
Sorry = Imi pare rau
Goodbye = La revedere
See you soon = Pe curand
Yes / No = Da / Nu
Cheers! = Noroc
May I have, please = Va rog
May I have the bill = Nota, va rog
How much is it = Cat costa
What time is it = Cat e ora
Today = Azi
Tomorrow = Maine
Next week = Saptamana viitoare
Month / Year = Luna / An
When = Cand
Now = Acum
Where is… = Unde este…
Open = Deschis
Closed = Inchis
Street = Strada
Avenue = Calea
Airport = Aeroport
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