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Treasures of the Balkans & Transylvania

Treasures of the Balkans & Transylvania

12 day tour from Sofia to Bucharest
Tour Operator
Cosmos
Departures
May 19, 2026 – Sep 28, 2027
Prices From
$2,549
Dates & Prices
Discover the treasures of the Balkans on this vacation through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Romania. Visit the capitals—Sofia, Belgrade, Budapest, and Bucharest—as well as some of the fascinating towns and cities along the way. Discover Novi Sad, famous for its citadel; Cluj Napoca, the film capital of Romania, and Sinaia, a lovely ski resort town. Sighisoara is one of Romania’s prettiest towns with 11 medieval towers within the city walls, cobblestone streets, ancient houses, and churches. Explore Brasov, a charming Transylvanian town featuring Saxon walls and bastions and an expansive square. Visit Sofia’s Boyana Church, a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Marvel at Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German neo-renaissance architecture built in the 1880s and nestled at the foot of the mountains. It is considered one of the most stunning and romantic European castles. In Bucharest, visit the open-air Village Museum, showcasing traditional village life with a collection of traditional farmhouses, cottages, wind and watermills, and artisans’ workshops from all parts of the country. Last, but not least, visit Bran Castle, built in 1377 with imposing towers and turrets, and once inhabited by Vlad the Impaler—the Count who gave Bran Stoker the inspiration for his novel’s character, the vampire known as Dracula. This Balkans and Transylvania tour is designed for value-minded, savvy travel lovers. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
ARRIVE IN SOFIA, BULGARIA
Check into your hotel. Take advantage of the CosmosGO app to visit Sofia at leisure. In the early evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.
Day 2
SOFIA
This morning, join a Local Guide for a city tour that includes the Parliament building, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Theater, and St. Sofia Church and Boyana Church, a medieval Bulgarian orthodox church listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B)
Day 3
SOFIA–BELGRADE, SERBIA
An interesting drive today as you leave Bulgaria and cross the border into Serbia. Continue to the lively capital that takes its name Belgrade (white city) from the fortress built on a white ridge overlooking the city. Today’s Distance: 245 mi/ 395 km (B)
Day 4
BELGRADE
Today, discover more about Belgrade on a guided city sightseeing tour to see the main monuments including Novi Beograd, Ada Bridge, Topcider park, Tito’s Memorial, Parliament House, Terazije and Kalemegdan Fortress. Enjoy some free time to explore more. (B)
Day 5
BELGRADE–NOVI SAD–BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Stop in Novi Sad, capital of the province, built on the banks of the Danube River and famous for its Petrovaradin Citadel. Enjoy a stroll in the town center. Continue to Budapest, capital of Hungary, split in two by the River Danube. It is a treasure trove of architectural wonders and history. See the best of both Buda and Pest with an optional cruise on the Danube River, with refreshments and refreshing views of the magnificent Parliament, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Castle Hill. Today’s Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km (B)
Day 6
BUDAPEST
This morning, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour to discover the highlights of Budapest. Admire views of the Opera House, Saint Stephen’s Basilica, Parliament, the Royal Palace, and Matthias Church. Stop to take a photo at Heroes Square and the Castle District. Free time this afternoon and evening to explore more. (B)
Day 7
BUDAPEST–CLUJ NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Drive through the Hungarian countryside, cross the border into Romania and continue to Cluj-Napoca, the film capital of Romania. En-route to the hotel, see some of the city’s highlights during a panoramic city tour. Today’s Distance: 292 mi/ 470 km (B,D)
Day 8
CLUJ NAPOCA-SIGHISOARA-BRASOV
Stop in Sighisoara, a medieval town with 11 towers within the city walls surrounding cobblestone streets, ancient houses, and churches—one of Romania’s prettiest towns. Legend says it is also the birthplace of the notorious Vlad who inspired the fictional character of Count Dracula. Continue to Brasov, a lovely medieval town famous for its town square filled with Baroque architecture and outdoor cafés. Today’s Distance: 168 mi/ 270 km (B,D)
Day 9
BRASOV: EXCURSION TO BRAN
Transylvania is commonly associated with vampires due to the influence of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, and all the subsequent books and many films the tale has inspired. This morning, depart for Bran and visit the legendary Dracula castle. It was built in 1377 and inhabited by the Wallachian prince, Vlad the Impaler. In the afternoon, a walking orientation of the Old Town of Brasov includes a visit to the Black Church, followed by leisure time. Today’s Distance: 37mi / 60km (B)
Day 10
BRASOV–SINAIA–BUCHAREST
Travel to Sinaia in the Prahova Valley. This is a lovely ski resort, almost 3,300 feet above sea level. While in Sinaia, there will be time to visit the Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle, considered to be among the most romantic castles in the world. Continue to beautiful Bucharest with its flower-festooned parks, gardens, and wide boulevards shaded by century-old trees. Today’s Distance: 115 mi/ 185 km (B)
Day 11
BUCHAREST
The highlight of the included sightseeing tour is a visit to the open-air Village Museum, a unique collection of traditional farmhouses, cottages, windmills, watermills, and artisans’ workshops from all parts of the country. Your Local Guide will show you other places of interest, including the Government Victoria Palace, the Royal Palace, and the Savings Palace. Take your experience to another level with an optional afternoon visit to the massive site of the Romanian Parliament, known today as “The Peoples 'Palace,” once the most extravagant symbol of Romania’s communist era under Ceausescu's dictatorship. (B)
Day 12
BUCHAREST
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

What's Included

Meals
11 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

Hotels

Sofia Budapest Hotel
Superior Tourist-Class
Kopernikus Hotel Prag
Superior Tourist-Class
Intercity Hotel Budapest
First-Class
Golden Tulip Ana Dome
First-Class
HP Tower One
First-Class
Capitol
First-Class

Itinerary Dates & Prices

Start Date
May 19, 2026
End Date
May 30, 2026
Our Price
$2,669
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 02, 2026
End Date
Jun 13, 2026
Our Price
$2,549
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 16, 2026
End Date
Jun 27, 2026
Our Price
$2,799
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 30, 2026
End Date
Jul 11, 2026
Our Price
$2,769
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jul 14, 2026
End Date
Jul 25, 2026
Our Price
$2,769
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jul 28, 2026
End Date
Aug 08, 2026
Our Price
$3,039
Guaranteed
Start Date
Aug 11, 2026
End Date
Aug 22, 2026
Our Price
$2,769
Guaranteed
Start Date
Aug 25, 2026
End Date
Sep 05, 2026
Our Price
$2,769
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 08, 2026
End Date
Sep 19, 2026
Our Price
$2,699
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 15, 2026
End Date
Sep 26, 2026
Our Price
$2,799
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 22, 2026
End Date
Oct 03, 2026
Our Price
$2,799
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 29, 2026
End Date
Oct 10, 2026
Our Price
$2,669
Guaranteed
Start Date
May 18, 2027
End Date
May 29, 2027
Our Price
$2,899
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 01, 2027
End Date
Jun 12, 2027
Our Price
$2,939
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 15, 2027
End Date
Jun 26, 2027
Our Price
$2,939
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jun 29, 2027
End Date
Jul 10, 2027
Our Price
$2,899
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jul 13, 2027
End Date
Jul 24, 2027
Our Price
$2,899
Guaranteed
Start Date
Jul 27, 2027
End Date
Aug 07, 2027
Our Price
$3,199
Guaranteed
Start Date
Aug 10, 2027
End Date
Aug 21, 2027
Our Price
$2,899
Guaranteed
Start Date
Aug 24, 2027
End Date
Sep 04, 2027
Our Price
$2,899
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 07, 2027
End Date
Sep 18, 2027
Our Price
$2,939
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 14, 2027
End Date
Sep 25, 2027
Our Price
$2,939
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 21, 2027
End Date
Oct 02, 2027
Our Price
$2,939
Guaranteed
Start Date
Sep 28, 2027
End Date
Oct 09, 2027
Our Price
$2,799
Guaranteed

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