Dracula's Castle, Follow the legend in Transylvania, private tour from Bucharest
Description
This is a private tour from Bucharest to Transilvania. From the spooky to the sublime, you can still see the best of Transylvania even without staying the night on this day trip from Bucharest. Traveling in your private group, visit the summer home of Romanian royals at storybook Peles Castle, and then conjure up images of Count Dracula at Gothic Bran Castle. The well-paced itinerary also leaves time for a stop in the medieval city of Brasov, known for its blackened church.
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Itinerary
Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris"), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis. Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
Peles Castle is the most impressive castle in Romania and a must-see attraction if you’re passionate about stories of royalty, splendid architecture and history. The summer residence of the royal family until 1948 when it was confiscated by the communist regime, the castle from Sinaia is today, like in its first years, one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. In 1866, Romania had only partially today’s size. Two of the historical provinces managed to unite, but the independence from the Ottoman Empire was still needed in order to have the union strengthened. It was Romania’s first king, Carol the 1st of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, who managed to obtain this major national goal. The Prince of Romania from 1866 and the King of Romania from 1881, Carol the 1st built Peles Castle, a royal residence that became a lifetime project until his death in 1914.
Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker's Dracula. Built on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, Bran castle was first documented in an act issued on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel. Although Stoker never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and his vivid imagination to create the dark and intimidating stomping ground of Count Dracula, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Tepes, ruler of Walachia. While the association with Dracula is sketchy at best, the castle continues to hold a strong attraction for all fans of the Count.
Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains and resplendent with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, as well as a wealth of historical attractions, Brasov is one of the most visited places in Romania. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels*, Brasov exudes a distinct medieval ambiance and has been used as backdrop in many recent period films. The location of the city at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence in the region. This was reflected in the city's German name, Kronstadt, as well as in its Latin name, Corona, meaning Crown City (hence, the coat of arms of the city which is a crown with oak roots).
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(3)
My Wife, me and our friend Lou LouAnn recently did a 7 Rivers of Europe Cruise on AmaWaterways River Cruises, our last stop was Bucharest Romania and so we decided a trip to Bran (Dracula's) Castle near Halloween time was a must before returning home to Phoenix. We pre-arranged with our driver Cornel Negoi from Romaqnia Best Travel to be picked up at the Cruise Ship dock and of course Cornel was there right on time! Cornel speaks many languages including Romanian and English very well, our drive was over the Carpathian Mountain Range and the conversation was fluid, engaging, and delightful. We talked about our families, life in Romania and the rest of the world, and I felt truly relaxed and confident in our guide from the first moments we met! He drove us in a comfortable car that handled 6 pieces of luggage, and the views of the Carpathian Mountains were stunning as the leaves were turning beautiful fall colors. We arrived at Dracula's (Bran) Castle and Cornel took us to the entry way where we got our tickets (not included in tour cost), and he waited for us at his car, telling us to take as much time as we would like inside the castle. We climbed the steps to this famous attraction and thoroughly enjoyed venturing into the various parts of the castle! We toured the castle for a little over an hour and headed for the driver, who was patiently waiting for our return. A few minutes later, our driver stopped at a Gem of a restaurant called the Stana Turistica Sergiana Poina Brasov which served Romanian Cuisine fit for a King (or Vampire), lol After a hearty meal, Cornel drove us to Bucharest where we were scheduled to fly out the next day and dropped us off at the The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection Hotel, calling the porters in advance who were waiting outside and immediately took our luggage into the hotel. Best Romanian Tour ever! Guide was professional, polite, informative and truly a wonderful human being...Take this trip it is 100% worth it! 5 Stars out of 5 Stars, and Two Thumbs up, Way UP!
We had a tour that exceeded our expectations. The car was very spacious and from the luxury range. The guide was friendly and knew well the history of his country, told us a lot of interesting things. A proactive person and a very good driver. I highly recommend collaborating with him.
This tour was incredible. Our guide for the day was Cornell and I think everyone should experience a tour with Cornell. He was fantastic and made the day one of our favorites during our trip. If you're booking this trip, know that Peles Castle is not open for visitors Monday - Thursday. Before confirming the tour, Cornell called me to let me know. We were able to visit the grounds and outside of Peles, and it was fantastic. There is a cafe very close by, where you can get a lovely cappuccino and sit on the deck looking at the castle. It was perfect. A bit later we unfortunately ran into some traffic, but Cornell kept us entertained with facts and lore of Romania, along with fun stories about his life and family. It made being stuck in traffic seem not so bad, like we were chatting with an old friend. This was definitely a tour to remember.
Thank you so much for this kind words. You was the ones who inspired me in this tour because was so interactive . I enjoy your presence also. Thank you again and we are waiting for you back in Romania. We have so manny things to show you! All the best, Cornel
