Transylvanian Long Weekend

This four-night trip with Explore Worldwide begins in Bucharest, once dubbed the Paris of the East for its mix of Art Nouveau and Brutalist architecture. The city stroll includes a visit to the Palace of Parliament, a massive and notable relic of Romania’s recent past.

Next, a three-hour drive delivers the group to Moieciu, a village nestled beneath the Bucegi Mountains. Here, the tour settles into a family-run guesthouse with views over fields and orchards. There’s time for a circular walk in protected woodland and the option to visit a forest observatory for bear watching at dusk. Nearby Sinaia showcases two castles: Peles, resembling a Bavarian chateau with Persian carpets and stained glass, and the adjacent Pelisor, adorned in Art Nouveau style.

The final full day is spent at Bran Castle, often called Dracula’s Castle despite little connection to Vlad the Impaler or Bram Stoker. From there, the medieval city of Brasov offers cobbled streets and Gothic churches, including the Black Church. The tour concludes with the journey back to Bucharest for onward travel arrangements.