DAY 1
The journey started with the VIP pick up from home in a rather swanky minivan. The driver was lovely and very polite – he ensured we has a great journey. A swift check in with British Airways and the flight left on time. On arrival we were greeted by Daniela, our Titan guide, who showed us to our minivan for the duration and transferred us to our 1st hotel in Bucharest, the 4 Star Hotel Capitol. We also had out evening meal here.
Day 2
Today we toured the city and saw all the important and historical sites including the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s palatial home, and we visited the main square where he was executed. We also visited the incredible Romanian Athenaeum (concert hall).
Next, the National Village Museum (Dimitrie Gusti) where you can step inside and back in time to original Transylvanian style homes, and locals sell their handmade crafts. We then visited Palace of Parliament which is the largest parliament building in the world. It’s luxuriousness, size and wealth was astonishing.
To complete our busy day, we headed down into the old town for food, drinks, and some traditional Romanian entertainment. With its typical European outdoor terraces and lively atmosphere, the old town was certainly the place to be.
DAY 3
Today we left Bucharest behind and travelled North through beautiful and breath-taking forests and Carpathian Mountains into Transylvania. The first visit of the day was Peles Castle. Once a royal residence, it is now state owned and opened to the public. There are 170 rooms, all individually designed with dedicated themes from world cultures. It is Neo-Renaissance masterpiece surrounded by the thick forest. It is a truly a beautiful piece of history.
Then we visited the Azuga Rhein Winery for a tour of the cellars and amazing sparkling wine tasting and a beautiful lunch. We then made our way to the 5-star Aro Palace Hotel in Brasov where we stayed for 3 nights. Brasov is a charming town with a mix of old and new. It has an amazing pedestrian square with plenty of places to eat and drink including the Dracula bar and restaurant. Don’t forget to get a picture of the town name in the mountains just like the Hollywood sign.
DAY 4
Today the first stop was the fortified church in Prejmer which dates back to the early 1200s. It’s the largest church of its kind in South-eastern Europe and went through 50 sieges over hundreds of years, whilst being conquered only once. Within its walls are many rooms which the locals used to store their goods and possessions so when the village was attacked their item was protected. It is now a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We then travelled to visit to a rural home owned by King Charles himself. Known as Casa Printului de Wales Viscri. The authentic charm and basic style were completely unexpected, and we found it hard to believe that King Charles slept in a simple wooden bed with a straw mattress. The King visits every year and spends time hiking and painting in the area. He owns a few homes here and is very much adored by the locals.
Next, we travelled to Sighisoara the only inhabited medieval fortress in Europe. We Walked through the fairy tale medieval streets, stopped in one of the beautiful restaurants in the main square for lunch. The visited the house Vald the Impaler (Dracula was born). This was a truly stunning experience. The evening was spent in a traditional Romanian restaurant with wine tasting and live Folklore entertainment.
Day 5
The first stop today was the Liberty Bear Sanctuary which is the largest animal welfare project in Europe. This afternoon was my favourite part of the tour and a bucket list item for me - Bran Castle. We had a private tour of the castle with its medieval rooms and corridors with creaky floorboards but a highlight for me was the secret passageway (once hidden behind a fireplace). We left the castle via the Time tunnels lift experience for a traditional Romanian feast at the restaurant below.
Day 6
Today we said thank and goodbye to Romania. With a drive back through the splendid view to Bucharest Airport. On arrival at Heathrow our VIP transfer were waiting to take us home
