13 days · 6 countries
Transylvania and the Balkans
From AED 11,270per person, twin share
Thirteen days of travel link Transylvania and the Balkans, crossing Romania, Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria along the way.
- Duration
- 13 Days / 12 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Bucharest
- 6 countries on this tour
- Romania
- Hungary
- Serbia
- North Macedonia
- Bulgaria
- Kosovo
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-moving coach tour through six countries, with guided walking tours of castles and old towns and a hotel change most nights
- Accommodation
- 12 nights in mostly 3 and 4 star hotels, with a new city most nights across Romania and the Balkans
- Meals
- 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus local guides at some sites
- Transport
- Air-conditioned Coach
- Best time to go
- Runs in September and October: warm late-summer days easing into cool, comfortable autumn across Romania and the Balkans
Tour overview
This tour spans Transylvania and the Balkans. You explore Bucharest and its well-known castles, including Bran Castle, long linked to the Dracula legend. In Sibiu you try traditional Romanian cuisine, and Budapest comes next, split by the Danube River into its Buda and Pest sides. A guided tour of Belgrade takes in the Church of Saint Sava, among the largest Orthodox churches anywhere. North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, has nearly 2,000 years of history behind it, and Bulgaria’s UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery follows. Etar, an open-air museum of traditional village life, keeps 18th-century Bulgarian customs alive, and the trip ends with local food and wine in Ruse.
Highlights
- An orientation walk in Bucharest
- Welcome dinner in Bucharest
- A guided tour of Peleș Castle
- A guided tour of Bran Castle
- An orientation walk in Brașov
- A guided tour of Sighișoara
- A traditional Romanian dinner in Sibiu
- A guided tour of Corvin Castle
Show all 20 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- The star-shaped Alba Carolina Citadel
- A guided tour of Budapest
- Liberty Square in Novi Sad
- A guided tour of Belgrade
- Tinker’s Alley in Niš
- A guided tour of Skopje
- Rila Monastery
- The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia
- An orientation walk in Plovdiv
- Etar, an open-air museum village
- A guided tasting of Bulgarian wine
- Farewell lunch in Ruse
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Bucharest
1 night · Day 1
Hotel CH Bucharest
Sinaia
Day 2 · on the way
Bran
Day 2 · on the way
Brașov
1 night · Day 2
Hotel Ambient
Sighișoara
Day 3 · on the way
Sibiu
1 night · Day 3
ibis Styles Sibiu Arsenal
Corvin Castle
Day 4 · on the way
Alba Carolina
Day 4 · on the way
Show all 22 stopsShow fewer stops
Cluj-Napoca
1 night · Day 4
Wyndham Cluj
Oradea
Day 5 · on the way
Budapest
2 nights · Days 5–6
ibis Styles Budapest City
Novi Sad
Day 7 · on the way
Belgrade
1 night · Day 7
Nobel Design Belgrade
Niš
Day 8 · on the way
Skopje
2 nights · Days 8–9
Hotel Turist City Center
Rila Monastery
Day 10 · on the way
Sofia
1 night · Day 10
Ramada by Wyndham Sofia City Center
Plovdiv
Day 11 · on the way
Etar
Day 11 · on the way
Veliko Tarnovo
1 night · Day 11
Hotel Panorama Veliko Tarnovo
Ruse
Day 12 · on the way
Bucharest
1 night · Day 12
Hotel CH Bucharest
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Bucharest
Dinner included
Start your tour in Bucharest. You meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel for a short overview of the days ahead, then head out on an orientation walk through the city. Later, you can join the optional excursion to see different sides of Bucharest. In the evening, the group sits down together for a welcome dinner.
Included
- Orientation walk through Bucharest’s historic centre, past the Parliament and Old Town
- Welcome dinner with the group
Optional extras
- Romania in Two Worlds · AED 340 per person
- Overnight
- Bucharest
- Hotel
- Hotel CH Bucharest
Day 2
Bucharest – Sinaia – Bran – Brașov
Breakfast included
The itinerary today is classic Transylvania. The route from Bucharest climbs into the mountains, taking you to two of Romania’s best-known castles: Peleș Castle, set above the Carpathian Mountains, and Bran Castle, the home of the Dracula legend. Later, an orientation walk leads you through the old streets of medieval Brașov, including one of Europe’s narrowest streets, just 1.3 metres across.
Included
- Guided tour of Peleș Castle in Sinaia
- Guided tour of Bran Castle
- Orientation walk in medieval Brașov
- Travel
- Bucharest → Sinaia → Bran → Brașov by coach
- Overnight
- Brașov
- Hotel
- Hotel Ambient
Day 3
Brașov – Sighișoara – Sibiu
Breakfast and dinner included
The route continues to Sighișoara, a medieval town whose fortress is both UNESCO-listed and counted among the best-preserved citadels anywhere in Europe: a guided tour takes you through it. From there, you move on to Sibiu, where an orientation walk uncovers the legacy left by Saxon settlers from the 12th century, including the ‘Bridge of Lies’, Romania’s oldest cast-iron bridge. In the evening, an included dinner brings traditional Romanian cooking to the table.
Included
- Guided tour of Sighișoara’s fortified old town
- Traditional Romanian dinner in Sibiu
- Travel
- Brașov → Sighișoara → Sibiu by coach
- Overnight
- Sibiu
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Sibiu Arsenal
Day 4
Sibiu – Corvin Castle – Alba Carolina – Cluj-Napoca
Breakfast included
A local guide leads you around Corvin Castle, widely considered one of the most dramatic Gothic castles in Europe and among the most photographed. From there, the nearby Alba Carolina Citadel comes into view: star-shaped, with over 12 kilometres of defensive walls still standing. Cluj-Napoca is next, where you spend the night after a short orientation walk, leaving the rest of the evening free to explore on your own.
Included
- Guided tour of Corvin Castle
- Visit to the star-shaped Alba Carolina Citadel
- Orientation walk in Cluj-Napoca
- Travel
- Sibiu → Corvin Castle → Alba Carolina → Cluj-Napoca by coach
- Overnight
- Cluj-Napoca
- Hotel
- Wyndham Cluj
Day 5
Cluj-Napoca – Oradea – Budapest
Breakfast and dinner includedThe morning crosses from Romania into Hungary, with a stop to see Oradea’s Art Nouveau square on the way. Budapest comes into view lit up in the early evening, when a guided tour takes you through the city. An included Hungarian dinner with the group follows.
Included
- Guided tour of Budapest, taking in Heroes’ Square and the Parliament Building
- Included Hungarian dinner
- Travel
- Cluj-Napoca → Oradea → Budapest by coach
- Overnight
- Budapest
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Budapest City
Day 6
Budapest: Free Day
Breakfast includedThe day is free to spend as you like. You can book an excursion to the thermal baths, join the optional city sightseeing tour that takes in two different areas of the city, or watch the Parliament lit up from the water during a Danube dinner cruise. There is also time to wander on your own through medieval corners such as the alleys of Castle Hill, or to shop for souvenirs.
Included
- Free time in Budapest: thermal baths, sightseeing or shopping at your own pace
Optional extras
- Buda vs Pest · AED 340 per person
- Budapest Baths · AED 235 per person
- Danube Dinner Cruise · AED 320 per person
- Overnight
- Budapest
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Budapest City
Day 7
Budapest – Novi Sad – Belgrade
Breakfast and dinner includedNovi Sad is the first stop after the border crossing into Serbia, with its historic centre and Liberty Square in the Old Town. Belgrade follows, where a guided tour takes in an impressive fortress standing where the Danube and Sava rivers meet. In the evening, an included dinner offers a taste of Serbian culture.
Included
- Visit to Liberty Square in Novi Sad
- Guided tour of Belgrade, including Belgrade Fortress
- Included Serbian dinner
- Travel
- Budapest → Novi Sad → Belgrade by coach
- Overnight
- Belgrade
- Hotel
- Nobel Design Belgrade
Day 8
Belgrade – Niš – Skopje
Breakfast and dinner includedThe drive today heads south through Serbia, passing vineyards, plum orchards and dense forest along the way. On the road to North Macedonia, there is a stop in Niš to explore Tinker’s Alley before the border crossing into Skopje. A local guide then shows you around the city’s eclectic, statue-filled centre, ahead of an included dinner.
Included
- Visit to Tinker’s Alley in Niš
- Guided tour of Skopje’s old town
- Included dinner
- Travel
- Belgrade → Niš → Skopje by coach
- Overnight
- Skopje
- Hotel
- Hotel Turist City Center
Day 9
Skopje: Free Day
Breakfast includedSkopje is yours to explore at leisure today, or you can choose one of two excursions. One option is a guided day trip into Kosovo, taking in Pristina and Gracanica Monastery, with lunch included. The other heads to Matka Canyon, where caves reach up to 176 metres deep, before continuing to the blue waters of Lake Ohrid for boat rides.
Included
- Free time in Skopje
Optional extras
- Kosovo Day Trip · AED 340 per person
- Lake Ohrid & Matka Canyon · AED 340 per person
- Overnight
- Skopje
- Hotel
- Hotel Turist City Center
Day 10
Skopje – Rila Monastery – Sofia
Breakfast and dinner included
The border crossing into Bulgaria today leads to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, a centre of Bulgarian religion and culture that holds sacred relics dating back to the medieval period. Sofia follows, where a guided walking tour covers the capital’s landmark sights, among them the Neo-Byzantine St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. An included Bulgarian dinner closes the day.
Included
- Visit to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery
- Guided walking tour of Sofia, including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Included Bulgarian dinner
- Travel
- Skopje → Rila Monastery → Sofia by coach
- Overnight
- Sofia
- Hotel
- Ramada by Wyndham Sofia City Center
Day 11
Sofia – Plovdiv – Etar – Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast included
The day is devoted to Bulgarian heritage. A short orientation walk introduces Plovdiv, including its Roman theatre and old town. From there, the route leads to Etar, an open-air ethnographic village recreating a traditional Bulgarian village of the 18th and 19th centuries. The day ends at the hilltop town of Veliko Tarnovo, where you spend the night.
Included
- Orientation walk in Plovdiv’s old town
- Visit to the open-air museum village of Etar
- Travel
- Sofia → Plovdiv → Etar → Veliko Tarnovo by coach
- Overnight
- Veliko Tarnovo
- Hotel
- Hotel Panorama Veliko Tarnovo
Day 12
Veliko Tarnovo – Ruse – Bucharest
Breakfast and lunch includedToday heads back into Romania. Ruse is the stop for a wine tasting led by a local sommelier, who explains how the region’s continental climate along the Danube River shapes its wines. The same winery hosts a celebratory lunch with the group before the final stretch into Bucharest for the last evening of the tour.
Included
- Guided wine tasting near Ruse
- Farewell lunch with the group
- Travel
- Veliko Tarnovo → Ruse → Bucharest by coach
- Overnight
- Bucharest
- Hotel
- Hotel CH Bucharest
Day 13
Bucharest
Breakfast includedThe tour wraps up this morning, following one last breakfast together as a group. It is time for last goodbyes, exchanging contact details and sharing photos. Anyone not heading home right away can spend a few more hours in the city: perhaps a walk through one of the public gardens, a coffee, or some last-minute souvenir shopping.
Included
- Free time in Bucharest before you head home
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
Sat 4 Sept – Thu 16 Sept 2027
Available
AED 11,270
Single room +AED 4,110
Sat 18 Sept – Thu 30 Sept 2027
Available
AED 11,270
Single room +AED 4,110
Sat 2 Oct – Thu 14 Oct 2027
Available
AED 11,270
Single room +AED 4,110
What’s included
Included
- 12 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Romania in Two Worlds
Day 1AED 340per personA guided tour of Bucharest’s Palace of the Parliament, followed by a visit to the open-air Village Museum to see traditional rural houses and churches from across Romania. €80. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 1 in the itineraryBuda vs Pest
Day 6AED 340per personA locally guided walk through Buda and Pest, taking in the Fisherman’s Bastion and the Shoes on the Danube memorial, with lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to St Stephen’s Basilica, including its terrace. €80, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryBudapest Baths
Day 6AED 235per personAn afternoon at the Széchenyi thermal baths in Budapest’s City Park, with return hotel transport and fast-track entry. Bring a swimsuit. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryDanube Dinner Cruise
Day 6AED 320per personAn evening cruise on the Danube with a welcome drink and a buffet of traditional Hungarian dishes, taking in the Parliament Building, Buda Castle Hill and the Chain Bridge lit up at night. Vegetarian options are available. €75, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryKosovo Day Trip
Day 9AED 340per personA full day in Kosovo with a local guide, visiting Gračanica Monastery, Pristina’s main sights and Prizren’s old town, mosque, stone bridge and hilltop fortress, with lunch included. €80, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 9 in the itineraryLake Ohrid & Matka Canyon
Day 9AED 340per personA boat trip through Matka Canyon to Vrelo Cave, followed by a guided walk through Ohrid’s old town and a boat ride on UNESCO-listed Lake Ohrid. €80, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 9 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria are in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers those stretches of the tour. Serbia and North Macedonia are outside Schengen, and the optional Kosovo day trip is too, so the tour leaves and re-enters Schengen more than once.
UAE passport holders do not need a visa for Schengen stays of up to 90 days, though you will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a multiple-entry Schengen visa, since the route crosses in and out of the Schengen area. Apply up to six months ahead, and start early if you travel before summer, when Dubai appointments fill up.
Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo each set their own entry rules. Many visa-required nationalities can enter them on a Schengen visa that has already been used, for a limited stay, but the conditions and day limits differ by country and passport. Our visa team checks your passport against each one and handles the Schengen application: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Romania aren’t included: arrange your own to Bucharest for day 1 and home from Bucharest at the end.
Your tour leader meets the group at the start hotel in Bucharest at 10:00 on day 1. The tour ends the same morning in Bucharest, after breakfast on day 13, so plan a flight home that afternoon or later.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Breakfast is included every day, plus one lunch and six dinners, mostly on arrival in a new city.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
You will use euros in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, and Serbian dinars and Macedonian denars in Serbia and North Macedonia. Cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants, but it helps to carry some local cash for small purchases and the optional Kosovo day trip.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
The tour runs in September and October, so expect warm, settled days early on and cooler, crisper weather by the final week in Bulgaria.
Pack layers, comfortable walking shoes for cobbled old towns and castle grounds, and a light rain jacket. Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is expected at Rila Monastery.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked. For Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, ask them what your passport needs.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Bucharest and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 51 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Transylvania and the Balkans?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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