Tripology

Your English-speaking driver will pick you up from Budapest Airport and take you to your hotel.

Hotel

Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Budapest. Stay in Hotel Rubin

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Today we will head west, Towards Lake Balaton. First stop is at Gyor where you will enjoy a 1 hour walking city tour of this Baroque pearl.

Sightseeing

Then visit to the Millenary Benedictine Abbey. After the world famous Porcelain Manufacture of Herend. Coffee will be served in the cafe.

Shopping

After you will have free time for shopping. Walking tour of Tihany, view of the Lake Balaton.

Hotel

Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Tihany. Stay in Club Hotel Tihany. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Today we will explore the South of Hungary. Visit to the Early Christian Necropolis of Pecs , city tour, visit to the Csontvary Koszta paintings, Cathedral. Drive to Siklós (Historic castle and fort, Turkish monument).

Wine

Villany: country of the cellars and high quality wines, visit to the canteen of the golden medal priced Bock House and wine tasting.

Sightseeing

After this tour drive back to Budapest. On the way back stop for a photo of the interesting style of Paks Church (Makovecz design). Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Budapest.

Hotel

Stay in Hotel Rubin. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Half day city tour of interesting places: Central Main Market, City Park, Szechenyi Thermal Bath, Fine Ars' Museum, Jewish Synagogue. Afternoon half day tour to Szentendre: artist' town, Baroque houses, narrow streets, museums, plenty of souvenir shops. visit to the unique Marzipan Museum of the town.

Hotel

Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Budapest. Stay in Hotel Rubin ****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Visit to the Royal Castle and Lazar Horse Park with horse show and lunch with local specialities.

Wine

Drive to the famous TOKAJ Wine region area and historic cultural landscape area.

Bus

Drive to Miskolc/Lillafüred. For interest and request, we can stop on route at MÁD (old Synagogue, restored with Europa Nostra price).

Hotel

Overnight in Miskolc. Stay in Hotel Millenium ****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. From Lillafured drive to Miskolctapolca. Enjoy the Cave Bath for relaxing continue trough the beautiful mountain road to Eger.

Sightseeing

Visit to the historic town with the Fort and Museum for the heroic battle against the Ottomans, Cathedral, Baroque town center, Ottoman Minaret. Continue to Gyongyos and Old Village of Holloko.

Hotel

Overnight in Budapest. Stay in Hotel Rubin ****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Day at your leisure to explore the city on your own.

In the evening transfer to the Airport. Drop off at arrivals level and the final good-bye from your Hungarian Tour Guide. Fly to Cluj, Romania (Flight not included, for fares and times go to www.wizzair.com ).

Hotel

Upon arrival your English-Speaking guide will transfer you to your hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Cluj. Hotel : City Plazza****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Visit the center of Cluj. St Michael’s Cathedral, Opera and National Theater, The Birth House of Matei Corvinus (the king of Hungary), admire the city from the top of “Cetatuia Hill”. Then depart for the fascinating region of Maramures. We then go on to the wooden Church at Desesti, a UNESCO protected site.

Hotel

Overnight in Sighet. Stay in Casa Iurca De Calinest****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Maramures – the land of traditions and wood churches. First stop at Sapanta and visit the famous Merry Cemetery, truly one of the most unique sites in Europe. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the people that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction. Next we are off to The Birsana church, built in 1720, listed on UNESCO Heritage List, with the florid paintings, the best in Maramures and the Barsana Monastery (UNESCO ) a large monastic complex comprising of several wooden buildings, all constructed in the local style, including the wooden church. The Gate Tower is the highest wooden building in Europe. In Dragomiresti we will visit The Maramures's Woman Museum. Then go to Ieud and visit the oldest wooden church, another UNESCO monument.

Hotel

Overnight in Viseu. Stay in Gabriela Hotel***. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast in Hotel. Today we visit some of the World famous Painted Monasteries. .

Sightseeing

Voronet : founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great . It is the most accomplished sample of artistic achievement in Moldavian architecture and painting . The doors of the porch have a Renaissance framing, whereas the stone carvings of the broken arches at the doors and windows belong to the Gothic style. Voronet Monastery had been dubbed the oriental Sistine Chapel , whereas Voronet Blue , a color obtained from lapis lazuli, entered in the lexicon of art alongside Titian red and Veronese green, and to this day has yet to be reproduced by natural means.

Sightseeing

Moldovita : dates back from 1532 and is due to the ruling prince Petru Rares. It has the aspect of a fortress, with imposing towers and high, thick walls. The church has a three-cusped plan, as well as an open porch. It Is decorated with scenes from the 16th c Moldavian life. You can see here the best preserved frescoes, with fresh and vivid colors.

Sightseeing

Sucevita : the last and the most magnificent monastic achievement among the painted monasteries in Bucovina , looks as a real fortress, with towers, buttresses and watch roads. Built in 1581, by one bishop, it was dedicated to the Assumption in 1584. Paintings of the Sucevita monastery were best preserved both on the outside and on the inside( Ladder of Virtue, the last Judgment, the tree of Jesse,).

Sightseeing

Humor : dates from 1530, this monastery was among the first churches to be painted , the frescoes were painted in 1535. Humor is painted in reddish brown ( from oriental madder pigment), colors are brilliant and truthful to nature.

Hotel

Overnight in Vornet. Stay in Hilde's Residence****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast in Hotel. Depart for the Neamt Monastery: it is the oldest monastery in Moldavia and is the largest men's monastery in Romania with seventy monks. The new church dates from 1497 and was built by Stephen the Great to celebrate a victory over the Poles. This church became the prototype for Moldavian churches in the next centuries. Ending the day in Brasov.

Hotel

Overnight in Brasov. Stay in Casa Wagner***. B.

Sightseeing

Morning Tour of Brasov, which was one of the most important Saxon Cities in all of Transylvania. Highlights include the Black Church , the Council Square, the Hirsher House, the old Saxon houses from the old town, and the White and Black Towers.

Sightseeing

Depart for Bran and a tour of the famous Bran Castle; with ominous ties to Vlad Tepes, who laid siege to the Castle, and is now dubbed Dracula's Castle. We will also visit the Village Museum and the Ancient Customs House Museum of Bran.

Sightseeing

Depart for Sinaia; rightfully nicknamed the "Pearl of the Carpathians". Tour of Peles Castle, home to Romania's first King, Little Pelisor, and Sinaia Monestary.

Hotel

Overnight in Brasov. Stay at Hotel Casa Wagner*** B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast in Hotel. Early in the morning visit at the Prejmer fortified church, the biggest fortress of its kind from Eastern Europe. The biggest fortified church in the Southeastern Europe built in the 14th century. The fortress has double walls and dungeons. Inside its walls there is a church, but the interesting thing here is the honeycomb like inner wall. Every family had one small room for sheltering in case the village was attacked.

Sightseeing

After to the Medieval Town of Sighisoara, on UNESCO's Word Heritage List and makes the perfect introduction to Transylvania.. The Old Town or the Citadel is the only one still inhabited in Europe a lost world and still so at the present! highlights include: The Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Scholar’s Stairs, The Monastery Church, The Shoemakers Town, the Tailor’s Tower, the Tinsmiths Tower.

Sightseeing

Ending the day in Sibiu the "Cultural Capital of Europe" 2007. Sibiu City tour which includes: The Small Square, the Bruckenthal Museum, the Huet Square, the Passage of Stairs, the House if the Butchers’s Guild, the Councillors Tower, the Staircase Tower and the Tanner’s Tower.

Hotel

Overnight in Sibiu. Stay in Zorba Guesthouse ****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast in Hotel. Depart to Bucharest through the beautiful valley of Olt River. Admire the beautiful landscapes of Fagaras Mountains.

Sightseeing

On the route we can make a stop at Cozia Monastery, erected by Mircea cel Bătrân in 1388 and boasting his tomb, is one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in Romania. Wall facets' decorations with original stone rosettes and frames display early Byzantine influence. Of great value is the hospital church, 'bolniţa' (1543), with original well-preserved indoor frescoes like the votive portrait of ruler Mircea cel Bătrân and his sons. Cozia was painted between 1390 and 1931. Some of the original frescoes (1390) are still well preserved. The monastery features a museum of exhibiting old art: icons, old manuscripts and prints, embroideries and objects of worship.

Sightseeing

The second stop on the route will be at Horezu Monastery, The Monastery of Horezu was founded in 1690 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu in the town of Horezu, Wallachia, Romania. It is considered to be a masterpiece of "Brâncovean" style, known for its architectural purity and balance, the richness of its sculpted detail, its treatment of religious compositions, its votive portraits, and its painted decorative works. The town of Horezu is well known for its people who make pottery and present it at an annual fair. There are special traditions which have been well preserved.

Hotel

In the evening arriving at Bucharest. Stay in Crystal Palace Hotel****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast in Hotel. Today we will explore Bucharest the capital of Romania. Highlights: Village Museum, Peasant Museum, Parlament Palace – the second largest building from the world, Royal Palace, Revolutin Square, Historical center.

Sightseeing

Optional we can arrange a visit at Snagov to see the Snagov Monastery – and the grave of Vlad Tepes or at Mogosoaia Palace.

Hotel

Overnight in Bucharest. Stay at Crystal Palace Hotel**** B.

Bus

Breakfast in Hotel. Then transfer to Bulgarian Border where you will meet the Bulgarian Driver (For this time on the driver is not a guide and can not enter the monuments with you, but is very knowledgeable about the area and will give you commentary while driving). The final good-bye from your Romanian Guide.

Sightseeing

Pick up at Giurgiu – Romanian side of the border approx. at 1 p.m. Cross the border to Bulgaria. Drive to the Rock monasteries by Ivanovo, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Hotel

Check-in hotel. Overnight. Stay in Bolyarski Hotel ****. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. After breakfast – sightseeing of Veliko Turnovo - the ancient capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th -14th C.), picturesquely situated on the hills at the banks of the meandering river Jantra. Visit of the medieval fortress of Tsarevets hill and of Samovodska charshiya - handy craft street. (Entrance fee 2 Euros per person; local guide in English 10 Euros total).

Sightseeing

Sightseeing of Arbanassi – 17th C. fortified village with entrance to Konstanzaliev’s house (17th C.) and Jesus Christ’s Nativity Church which interior is covered in frescos depicting 2000 scenes.

Hotel

Overnight. Stay at BOLYARSKI HOTEL **** B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Drive to Plovdiv via Shipka Pass. Visit to the Shipka Memorial church with golden domes. Visit to the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak, UNESCO World Heritage monument.

Sightseeing

Arrival in Plovdiv in the afternoon. Walking in the old part of the town with beautiful old houses from the Bulgarian Revival period (18th – 19th C.). Entrance to the St. Konstantin and Elena church and to the Roman Theatre.

Hotel

Overnight at 3-star hotel in Plovdiv. Hotel : Seven Hills hotel. B.

Sightseeing

Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery across the magnificent nature of the Rila and Rhodope Mountains. Stop at winter resort Borovets. Visit of the largest and one of the oldest Bulgarian monasteries (10th C.), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with medieval defense tower from the 14th C. and fine frescoes.

Bus

Departure to the capital Sofia.

Hotel

Overnight at 3-star hotel in Sofia. Hotel : Meg Hotel. B.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport and the final good-bye from your Bulgarian Driver. B.