Discovering the Balkansss

Arrive in Sofia where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your fellow travelers and tour director at the welcome dinner.

See the highlights of Sofia, the largest city of Bulgaria, on this morning sightseeing tour. Visit the National History Museum where the gold and silver Thracian treasures are displayed, and see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral and Alexander Nevski Crypt. This evening is at leisure.

After breakfast depart for Nis, one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and third-largest city in Serbia. Here you will enjoy an orientation tour and complimentary lunch. Then continue on to Belgrade with arrival in the late afternoon. Tonight enjoy dinner with live music in a traditional restaurant in the old bohemian quarter of Skadarlija.

Your morning sightseeing tour of Belgrade includes the city’s main attractions: the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress dramatically situated at the joining of the Sava and Danube Rivers, the Republic Square and Knez Mihajlova street, Saint Sava Temple – the largest Orthodox Church in the city, and Tito’s Memorial. The afternoon and evening are free for you to enjoy more of this fascinating city.

After breakfast, depart for Novi Sad, capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina and Serbia’s second largest city after Belgrade. On arrival, take a walking tour of the major attractions of Novi Sad – the Petrovaradin Fortress, Liberty Square, the Cathedral, City Council, Zmaj Jovina and Dunavaska Street. Continue on to Timisoara, where the Romanian revolution began in 1989, and view the ruins of Timisoara Fortress, Huniady Castle, Pasha’s Wheel, the Fabric residential areas and Corso shopping area. Tonight you dine at your centrally located hotel.

After breakfast you depart for Sibiu. On the way you travel through the Romanian countryside and then visit the imposing fortress at Hunedoara that became the castle of Matia Corvin, the pre-eminent medieval king. The castle has a special attraction due to its different military and civil construction styles as well as 400 years of lively activity and history as a royal court. After arrival at Sibiu you will enjoy dinner at your central hotel.

After breakfast a sightseeing tour of Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. You will see Huet Square, the Large Square, Evangelical Cathedral and Liars’ Bridge. Continue towards unforgettable Sighisoara, the most beautiful and best preserved medieval citadel in Europe and birthplace of Vlad Dracul. Your sightseeing will include entrance to the dramatic Clock Tower and its museum. Drive on to Brasov, another impressive medieval Transylvanian city, for a walking tour where you will see the famous Black Church and visit the first Romanian school with its impressive collection of rare books. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.

After breakfast depart for a visit to spectacular Bran Castle, made famous by Bram Stoker’s novel as the residence of the vampire count, Dracula. Then continue to Peles Castle, the summer residence of King Carol I, and visit the 17th century Sinaia Monastery. Arrive late afternoon in Bucharest and dine at your hotel.

Today, get acquainted with the Romanian capital, once nicknamed ‘Little Paris’. During the tour you visit Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon and learn how the Romanian people succeeded in toppling the last communist dictator in Eastern Europe in Revolution Square. Your tour also takes you to the Romanian Athenaeum, Opera House, National Military Club, the Military Academy, Triumphal Arch and Village Museum. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with a folklore show and music.

Tour services end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.