Snagov Monastery

Your first stop on this tour, the Snagov Monastery, is located on an island in the Northern part of Snagov Lake. The monastery was built by Mircea the Elder (the grandfather of the famous Dracula) who also made the first documentary attestation of this church in 1408. During its history, the monastery was rebuilt by Vlad the Impaler and some other rulers of Wallachia. Snagov Monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations - especially for foreign tourists coming to Bucharest - as they can see the place where the cruel voivod, known as Dracula, is supposedly buried. Next, you will travel to Mogosoaia and admire the beautiful scenery of the forest and the countryside on the way. After about 45 minutes of driving from Snagov Monastery, you will reach Mogosoaia Palace, a monumental building with a unique architecture called Brancovenesc style, which is a Romanian Renaissance architectural style consisting of a mixture of Venetian and Ottoman elements. The Palace was built by the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu in 1702 for his elder son. After more than 200 years, renovations began in 1912 by Martha Bibescu and it became a meeting place for the members of high-level society. At the end of the Second World War, after 1945, the palace was nationalized by the Communist Party. Now, the palace hosts the Museum of Brancoveanu Art, and is an important tourist attraction. After the visit to Mogosoaia Palace, you will head back to Bucharest to be dropped off at your hotel.

Make your escape for a half day from the busy streets of Bucharest. Unknown even to some people born and raised here there are some hidden gems just a few miles outside city limits. Leaving Bucharest you travel to the Palace of Mogosoaia. A retreat made for the rulers of the Romanians, in a pure Romanian style called Brancovenesc. It is a quiet and majestic place where you will feel like going back in time.  Next you take a short drive to the Snagov Monastery which is believed to be the resting place of the body of Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. The monastery itself is on an island in the middle of the Snagov Lake offering great views over the surrounding area.

Experience the historical and legendary places related to the man and the legend behind Dracula on this six-day guided tour. Visit Vlad the Impaler’s birthplace in the medieval citadel of Sighișoara, the imposing Hunyadi Castle, the ruins of Poenari Castle, Dracula Castle, and more. Day 1: Bucharest - Curtea de Argeș - Poenari Castle - Vidraru Dam - Transfagarasan Road - Capra Waterfall - Balea Glacier Lake - Sibiu - Sibiel See the Curtea de Arges Monastery and Poenari Castle from the outside. Drive to the Vidraru Dam and along Transfagarasan Road. Stop at Capra Waterfall and Balea Lake before heading to Sibiel Village. Enjoy a 3-course dinner at Ramona Pension. Savor the pension breakfast in the morning. Day 2: Sibiel - Hunyadi Castle - Alba Iulia - Sibiel Start your second day with a visit to Hunyadi Castle, or Corvins' Castle, and the star-shaped fortress, Alba Iulia Citadel. Hunyadi Castle is one of the largest castles in Europe and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Romania. Return to Sibiel to enjoy dinner.  Day 3: Sibiel - Sibiu - Turda Salt Mine After breakfast, head to Sibiu’s old town to see the Big Square, Little Square, Bridge of Liars, Romano Catholic Cathedral, and the oldest house in town. Visit the Turda Salt mine, named one of the top 10 underground wonders in the world by National Geographic. Overnight in Turda town at Casa Ratiu. Day 4: Turda - Biertan Fortified Church - Sighisoara Enjoy breakfast and then visit the Fortified Church of Biertan, a UNESCO world heritage site. Visit Sighisoara’s medieval town, including the Clock Tower, the house where Vlad the Impaler was born, and the Church on the Hill. Overnight in Sighișoara. Day 5: Sighisoara - Prejmer Fortified Church - Bran Castle - Rasnov Fortress - Brasov After breakfast, discover the history of the Prejmer Fortified Church, Bran Castle, and Rasnov Fortress. Continue to Brasov and overnight at Casa Timar Pension. Day 6: Brasov - Peles Castle - Snagov Monastery - Bucharest Savor the pension breakfast before starting your final day with a visit to Peles Castle and Snagov Monastery. End your trip with a transfer to your hotel in Bucharest or the airport.

The first written documentary attestation that mentions this monastery dates from the second half of the XIV th century, during the reigns of Dan I (1383-1386) and Mircea the Elder (1386-1418). In 1453, Vladislav II built a chapel dedicated to the Annunciation, however, local legends says that it sunk into Lake Snagov around the year 1600. The imperial doors from this first chapel were discovered on the shore of the lake further away, and are nowadays kept at the National Art Museum of Romania. The monastery is also famous because of the burial place of Vlad Țepeș in its premises. This is the belief of the locals, to which were also added the opinions of specialists Alexandru Odobescu and Nicolae Iorga. According to the legend, after the death of Vlad Țepeș, which occurred after the battle with the Ottoman Empire in 1476 (who had supported the Dănești in obtaining the throne of Wallachia), the monks of the monastery would have found and hidden the ruler's body.

Start your day in the morning and discover together with your professional guide the wonders of Bucharest, also called The Little Paris of the East. This panoramic city tour includes stops and history lessons at three very important sites: Revolution Square, Constitution Square and equally impressive Military Academy. Discover the history of the Romanians from the time of the Roman Empire, Middle Ages and Vlad the Impaler and walk your way through Monarchy and the dark Communist times of recent history. Drive by sites like: Romanian Arch of Triumph, House of Free Press, Kiseleff Avenue with beautiful French style villas, Embassy Row, Romanian Peasant's Museum, Victory Square, Officer's Club, Cismigiu Garden, Medical School, Opera Square, Fountains Avenue and Military Academy. Next you see the open air Village Museum which will provide you with a unique experience and will give you a glimpse in the life of the Romanian peasants from more than 100 years ago. This museum is particularly impressive because all the houses were taken from their original locations and rebuilt here in Bucharest almost one century ago. In the afternoon you leave crowded Bucharest behind and visit Mogosoaia Palace. Imagine that one of the wealthiest families in Romania managed to spend almost all their fortune in order to restore this wonderful place. Take a trip back in time to a more elendant era and find all the secrets of this place together with your guide. From here you are driving north from the city in order to see a place surrounded in myth and history. The Snagov Monastery is the supposed burial place of a famous Romanian ruler: Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. The monastery is on a small island in the middle of a beautiful lake.

Why miss out on any of Bucharest's major attractions when you can see them all on this full-day tour? And to cap it all off, visit the monastery on the green island in Snagov Lake, where the tomb of Dracula/Vlad Tepes is located. Benefit from a customizable itinerary and private guide. 40 minutes outside of Bucharest on a verdant island is the final resting place of the legendary Dracula. Head there and explore the site while you hear about the history. Visit the National Village Museum and learn what it meant for Romanian villagers to have built a sustainable environment in their backyards. See the iconic Arch of Triumph. At the Palace of Parliament or People’s House, learn about the implications and consequences of the communist regime in Romania. Here you will have the chance to see the second-largest administrative building on the planet, after the Pentagon. Peruse the Romanian Athenaeum. On Victory Avenue, prepare to be amazed by the historical contradictions: on one side, the Royal Palace, and on the other, the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the Revolution Square, where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. See old Orthodox churches, enveloped in an aura of mystery, a music store, as well as casinos, bohemian restaurants, museums, theaters, tea shops, gift shops — where you can purchase some memorabilia —, and much more along the way. Go back in time at Revolution Square to the moment where the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted, leaving behind a great fortune and a suite of controversies. Your guide will shed some light on this important moment in history. Patriarchate Hill is a small hill in Bucharest and an important historic, cultural, architectural, religious, and touristic location. Visit Ceauşescu Mansion, once the private residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu and their children. End the tour with hotel drop-off.

Enjoy private transportation and a licensed guide to the best of Bucharest's landmarks. Be picked up from your hotel and visit the Palace of Parliament or People’s House, the Bucharest National Village Museum, Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue), Revolution Square, and Old City Centre. See the Palace of Parliament, the world's second-largest administrative building. Learn how dangerous and damaging a totalitarian regime like communism can be for a nation. Be prepared to feel small seeing the pointless opulence and megalomania “the sleep of reason” can create. Visit the National Village Museum to see an embodiment of Romanian traditions. Understand what it meant for Romanian villagers to have built an ecological and sustainable environment in their backyard. Also get a glimpse into their simple and modest lifestyle, in social and spiritual harmony with their surroundings. Enter the world of the traditional Romanian houses made of wood, adobe, stone, and other materials, from all parts of the country. Be introduced to national symbols such as the mill and the wooden church. Learn how these treasures of spirituality and civilization have kept the people united for thousands of years. Then, follow your guide to Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue). Be fascinated by the contradictions of history—on one side, you have the Royal Palace and on the other, the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the Revolution Square, where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. Marvel at old orthodox churches, enveloped in an aura of mystery. Also pass through a music store with a large selection of music, casinos, bohemian restaurants, museums, theatres, tea shops, retail stores and gift shops with souvenirs. Next, see the National History Museum and the Romanian Athenaeum, another Romanian architectural landmark, and the CEC Palace. Take a trip back in time to the moment where dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted, leaving behind the secrets of a great fortune and controversies about the state security service. Reach the Senate Palace and find yourself in front of the building that used to house the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. This also served as the starting point of the Revolution of December 1989, a major historical event that marked the removal of Ceausescu from power.

For relaxation, it’s an excellent choice to spend 6 days in Transylvania! This is a tour where you recharge your battery, your life, your thoughts, your mind, and your body! An adventure of a lifetime, for this 6-day tour of Romania we have chosen an assortment of rich sensory experiences, from medieval sites to a taste of the wilderness, with deep forests, vibrantly colored wildflowers, and fresh mountain air (in the right season), all the way to modern exhibits, and a dash of traditional herbs and spices with the delicious foods we will be trying in every medieval town we visit. Total Duration: 6 days Day 1: 1. Snagov Monastery (the Tomb of Dracula) 2. Peles Castle 3. Sinaia Monastery - Overnight in Brasov Itinerary steps: 3 Meals not included Accommodation not included Day 2: 1. Brasov City Tour 2. Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) 3. Rupea Fortress - Overnight in Sighisoara Itinerary steps: 3 Meals not included Accommodation not included Day 3: 1. Sighisoara City Tour (Clock Tower) 2. Biertan Fortified Church 3. Alba Iulia City Tour - Overnight in Alba Iulia Itinerary steps: 4 Meals not included Accommodation not included Day 4: 1. Densus Temple 2. Sarmisegetusa Regia 3. Hunyadi Castle (Corvin Castle) - Overnight in Alba Iulia Itinerary steps: 3 Meals not included Accommodation not included Day 5: 1. Cluj Napoca City Tour (Botanic Garden) 2. Turda Salt Mine 3. Turda Gorge - Overnight in Sibiu Itinerary steps: 5 Meals not included Accommodation not included Day 6: 1. Sibiu City Tour 2. Transfagarasan Road(July-October) or Calimanesti Natural Springs 3. Poienari Fortress - Bucharest Itinerary steps: 6 Meals not included Accommodation not included

Village Museum: In this Bucharest city tour, you will visit The National Village Museum – in one place, you will see an embodiment of Romanian traditions and you will learn what it meant for Romanian villagers to have built an ecological and sustainable environment in their backyard. You will also get a glimpse of their simple and modest lifestyle, in social and spiritual harmony with their surroundings. Book a guide in Bucharest and you will enter the universe of the traditional Romanian houses, large or small, made of wood and adobe, but also stone and other materials, from all areas of the country. You will also see national symbols such as the mill or the wooden church and you will learn how these treasures of spirituality and civilization have kept us united for thousands of years, without needing to invade other nations. Ceausescu Mansion: The “Ceauşescu Mansion” was for a quarter of a century (1965-1989) the private residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu and of their children, Nicu, Zoia, and Valentin. Built in the mid-1960s and known at the time as the “Spring Palace”, the mansion was enlarged between 1970 and 1972. The preferred choice for the design of the Ceauşescu family’s residence was Aron Grimberg-Solari (born 1928). The architecture of the palace is complemented by landscaping conceived by the architect Robert Woll (who was also the main furniture designer for the house) and the landscape engineer Teodosiu. Victory Avenue: On Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue) – with your private guide you will be fascinated by the contradictions of history: on one side, you have the Royal Palace and on the other, the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the Revolution Square, where Ceausescu fled the country by helicopter. You will see old orthodox churches, enveloped in an aura of mystery, a music store, where you can find a large selection of music, as well as casinos, bohemian restaurants, museums, theatres, tea shops, retail stores, and gift shops, where you can purchase souvenirs, and even the National History Museum and the Romanian Athenaeum, another Romanian architectural landmark, the CEC Palace and many others. Revolution Square: In this private tour you can be transported back in time to the moment where the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted, leaving behind the secrets of a great fortune and controversies about the state security service and his offshore accounts. As we mentioned earlier, when we reach the Senate Palace, you will see the building which used to house the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and the place where the Revolution of December 1989 started – a major historical event whereby, through human force and sacrifice, Ceausescu was removed from power. Snagov Monastery: This is a surprise! It's 40 min outside Bucharest, on an Island and it's the place where is the tomb of Dracula!

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the heart of Transylvania and uncover the truth behind the world's most famous vampire with the "Dracula Beyond the Legend" private tour. This eight-day adventure takes you to 14 eerie destinations throughout Romania, immersing you in the dark and mysterious history of the region. The journey begins and ends in Bucharest, a city shrouded in myth and legend, with a rich history dating back to the 15th century. From here, you'll be transported to some of the most haunted and mysterious landmarks in Romania, including the real Dracula's castle, where you'll learn about the twisted history of the bloodthirsty count. Throughout the tour, your expert guide will take you on a bone-chilling adventure through the most haunted and strange locations in Transylvania. Every step of the way is designed to evoke the ominous aura of the vampire that has captivated imaginations for centuries. From the frightening forest where the count is said to have roamed to the macabre town of Sighisoara where he was born, you'll experience the true terror of Dracula's legacy. The in-depth cultural experience of this tour is not for the faint of heart. You'll stay in a hotel with an eerie past, and your meals, transportation, and other amenities are all included. Throughout the journey, your senses will be overwhelmed by the spooky atmosphere that permeates every location you visit. At every destination, your guide will bring to life the dark and twisted history of Transylvania. You'll hear stories of the vampire's wickedness, his thirst for blood, and the terror that he brought upon the people of the region. You'll discover the origins of the legend of Dracula and how it has evolved over the centuries to become one of the most enduring and captivating myths in popular culture. At the real Dracula's castle, also known as Bran Castle, you'll experience the chilling atmosphere that inspired Bram Stoker's famous novel. From the castle's eerie corridors to the dark and forbidding dungeon, you'll be transported back in time to the era when Dracula ruled the land. The tour also includes visits to other landmarks that are steeped in legend and mystery, such as the fortified churches of Biertan and Viscri, the spooky Hoia Baciu Forest, and the medieval town of Brasov. You'll have the opportunity to explore these locations at your leisure, soaking up the atmosphere and discovering the hidden secrets of Transylvania. The tour plan: Day 1: Bucharest OTP Airport - Bucharest City Day 2: Bucharest – Targoviste Royal Court – Poenari Castle Day 3: Poenari citadel – Transfagarasan Highway – Sibiu Day 4: Sibiu – Corvin Castle – Sarmizegetusa Regia – Densus church – Deva Day 5: Deva – Alba Carolina – Turda Salt Mine – Cluj-Napoca Day 6: Cluj-Napoca – Hoia Baciu Forest - Biertan – Sighisoara Citadel Day 7: Sighisoara – Bran Castle – Brasov Day 8: Brasov - Snagov Monastery - Bucharest city or airport