Romania to Hungary – Post Danube River Cruise Trip

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PRE / POST RIVER CRUISE TRIPS

Starting point: Giurgiu Port / Bucharest - Romania

Ending Point: Budapest - Hungary

Total distance: approx. 1700 km (1050 miles)

Total driving time: approx. 27 hrs

Average daily driving time: approx. 3 hrs 45 min

Overnights in: Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Gura Humorului, Botiza village, Budapest

We can start this tour from Giurgiu, the port on the Danube River where the river cruise boats are disembarking or from Bucharest, if your cruise package includes a night in this city.
In the morning you’ll meet our tour guide at the established starting point and you’ll start your post cruise tour in Romania.
We will drive on the route towards Transylvania and we’ll pass the beautiful Carpathians mountains via a scenic route – Prahova Valley, which includes charming small mountain towns. We will stop at one of them – Sinaia, to visit the Peles Castle, built at the end of 19th century to be a royal summer residence for the Romanian kings. The visit will impress you with castle collections, wooden carvings, stained glass windows and very modern technologies at the time of construction.
In the afternoon we’ll arrive at Brasov, one of the most important cities from Transylvania, a city with a rich history dating since 13th century. Discover it having a walking tour of the Brasov’s Old Town: Council Square, Black Church, Weaver’s bastion, Rope’s street, Ecaterina’s Gate, medieval wall and towers. Along the walk you can see buildings dating since the medieval time and also more decorative architecture of the imposing houses built or re-decorated in 19th century.
Dinner will be served in a nice Romanian Restaurant from the Old Town. (2 courses meal, plus water, beer or local wine).
Accommodation in a 3 stars boutique hotel located in the Old Town of Brasov

Breakfast. First stop will be at Prejmer Fortified Church (UNESCO), a unique site which has had the role to protect the local community since 15th century.
Next we’ll drive you to visit the famous Bran castle, a true gothic medieval castle dating since 14th century and a former “gate” to protect Transylvania.
We’ll end the day at Sibiu. Sibiu and we’ll have a walking tour of the Sibiu’s Old District. Sibiu is one of the oldest and biggest medieval towns from Transylvania.. The city is reminiscent of old European cities such as Nuremberg and it was founded in 1190 and grew to be the chief city of the Transylvanian Saxons. Highlights: the Big Square, the Small Square, The staircase Tower, the Lier’s Bridge, Evangelic, Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals, medieval wall and fortifications.
Overnight in a 4 stars hotel, located in the Old Town of Sibiu.

Breakfast. To day we’ll explore more of the Saxon Heritages from Transylvania, driving on scenic roads over the Transylvanian rolling hills and valleys, passing old and picturesque villages.
First stop will be at Biertan village, a short walk and visit at Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO), a former headquarter of the Evangelical church.
Another very interesting place is the Viscri village, preserving the old architecture and way of life, it is considered one of the most scenic Transylvanian villages. Walk through the village, visit the Fortified Church (UNESCO) and Ethnographic Museum, local craftsmen workshops.
On the route we’ll pass the Saschiz village (UNESCO) with its two important sights: The Church and the Fortress.
We’ll end our day at Sighisoara, the “Pearl of Transylvania”. The old town is part of the UNESCO World Heritages List. Sighisoara is a wonderful  medieval city where you can still enjoy the medieval atmosphere. The citadel built in 13th century by German (Saxon) settlers, it was an important cultural and artist center in the medieval period. The old town is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns from Europe.
Overnight in a 4 stars hotel, located in the Old Town.

Breakfast. We will be on the route changing the regions from Transylvania to Bucovina – the land of the famous painted monasteries. We’ll cross the Carpathians mountains using one of the most scenic roads which will pass the Red Lake and Bicaz Gorges, a monument of nature.’
In the afternoon we’ll visit the first important monastery: Voronet Monastery (UNESCO), preserving fabulous interior and exterior frescoes. Find more about the history of the Romanian painted monasteries.
Overnight in a 4 stars hotel from Gura Humorului town.

Breakfast. In the morning we’ll continue our post cruise tour in Romania exploring the Bucovina region.
Visits at:
Sucevita monastery (UNESCO): the most magnificent monastic achievement among the painted monasteries in Bucovina , looks as a real fortress, with towers, buttresses and watch roads. 
Moldovita monastery (UNESCO): 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. 
Beside the old and beautiful monasteries we’ll also dedicate some time to visit: a painted eggs museum and workshop, Marginea pottery center.
In the second part of the day we’ll cross again the mountains heading to Maramures – the land of wooden churches, huge carved wooden gates and the well preserved traditions.
On the route we’ll pass the picturesque Ciocanesti village with its decorated and painted houses.
As we arrive in Maramures we’ll have a special stop at Maramures Woman Museum – Dragomiresti. It is a small but very interesting museum where we can see how people from Maramures used to live, to find more about their traditions and customs. At the entrance of the museum is an impressive wooden gate, a good moment for your tour guide to explain to you the history and symbols carved on the Maramuresean Gates.
End the day in Botiza village.
Dinner with Traditional home-made food served in a local guesthouse (pension).
We’ll stay overnight in a family runned local guesthouse (pension), private rooms, ensuite bathroom, wi-fi. It is the best way to discover the food and the hospitality of our host.

Breakfast. Today we’ll have an easy and relaxing day to explore Maramures. In the morning we’ll drive to Desesti. Visit the wooden church (UNESCO). Maramures is a land where you can enjoy great countryside landscapes, old villages, and local people with their beautiful folk costumes. We’ll visit some local craftsmen such as a traditional weaver, a wood carver, a water mill, traditional household, etc.
Visit at Barsana Monastery, a good example of monastic life in Maramures and of the wooden buildings architecture.
We will spend the afternoon in Botiza village. Visit a local household to see and understand more about the way of living in these villages. Visit a local sheepyard (depending on the season). See the local spring of salted water, used for pickles in the autumn. Or just relax in the guesthouse.
Dinner and overnight in a local guesthouse (pension).

Breakfast. We’ll say farewell to our host. We’ll have one stop in Maramures at the Sapanta Merry Cemetery (UNESCO) known for its colourful tombstones and funny texts on them.’
We’ll continue driving on the north of Romania towards the Hungarian border and we’ll end our journey in Budapest – the capital of Hungary.
Overnight in a 4 stars hotel in Budapest

Breakfast. Check-out until 11.00 AM

If required we can offer travel services in Budapest such as: hotels, airport / train station transfers, guided private tours in Budapest and in its surroundings.
You can easily complete your post cruise tour by spending a couple of days in the beautiful Budapest.

We are presenting here just few ideas about how to spend some days in a post cruise extension in Romania. But we can always customize, change our proposal in order to fit your traveling plans, your interests and how you feel comfortable to travel. We have been offering private tours since 2005 so we know how important it is that your vacation to be designed exactly as you want. So please if you have any ideas, requests or questions feel free to tell us and help us to build the perfect trip for you.
Send us your query at office@visittransilvania.ro or click on the book/request button and fill the form.
Our tour designers will reply in the shortest time possible. They are all tour guides also, with a lot of experience In the field” and they will be able to design a route which is possible to be done and be comfortable for you. You’ll avoid the risk of having a tour designed by a person sitting in the office only and probably who has never been to those locations.
Let’s build together your pre / post cruise tour in Romania and let’s leave you to enjoy a great journey and experience of Romania!