Tour overview

This 16-day small-group tour loops through three Balkan countries, from the castles of Transylvania to the Serbian capital and the monasteries, Roman cities and Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen. You stay fifteen nights in hotels and a guesthouse, including two nights in villas within the grounds of Balchik Palace, with breakfast daily and one dinner.

After a walking tour of Bucharest, you drive into the Carpathians to visit Peleș Castle and Bran Castle, linked to the Dracula legend, and stay in a mountain guesthouse. Medieval Brașov and walled Sibiu follow, then Gothic Corvin Castle, the giant rock statue of King Decebalus and riverside hot springs. Crossing into Serbia, you explore Roman Viminacium, Belgrade and Novi Sad, then the rock towers of Devil’s Town and the Skull Tower in Niš.

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In Bulgaria you take the metro to the Soviet Army Monument in Sofia and visit Rila Monastery, a World Heritage Site. Plovdiv’s Roman theatre and a Thracian tomb in the Rose Valley lead to Shipka Memorial Church, the Etar open-air museum and Tsarevets Fortress. Two nights on the Black Sea coast at Balchik include Varna and a clifftop walk at Kaliakra before you return to Bucharest.

The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want an in-depth journey through the eastern Balkans.

Trip highlights

  • Peleș and Bran castles (Day 3)
  • Brașov and Sibiu (Day 4)
  • Belgrade and Novi Sad (Day 7)
  • Rila Monastery (Day 10)
  • Plovdiv and the Rose Valley (Day 11)
  • The Black Sea at Balchik (Days 13–14)

Your route

24 stops from Bucharest to Bucharest

16-day route: Bucharest – Bran – Sibiu – Belgrade – Niš – Sofia – Plovdiv – Veliko Tarnovo – Balchik – Bucharest
  1. Bucharest Days 1–2
  2. Sinaia Day 3
  3. Bran Castle Day 3
  4. Moieciu Day 3
  5. Brasov Day 4
  6. Sibiu Day 4
  7. Corvin Castle Day 5
  8. Orșova Day 5
  9. Viminacium Day 6
  10. Belgrade Days 6–7
  11. Novi Sad Day 7
  12. Devil's Town Day 8
  13. Niš Day 8
  14. Sofia Days 9–10
  15. Rila Monastery Day 10
  16. Plovdiv Day 11
  17. Kazanlak Day 11
  18. Shipka Memorial Church Day 12
  19. Etar Open Air Museum Day 12
  20. Veliko Tarnovo Day 12
  21. Varna Day 13
  22. Balchik Days 13–14
  23. Kaliakra Fortress Day 14
  24. Bucharest Days 15–16

Why choose this tour

Three Balkan countries in one well-paced loop. Two nights in the grounds of Balchik Palace.

Best suited to

  • History and culture lovers
  • Travellers who value comfort
  • Solo travellers and couples
  • Repeat visitors to Europe
Peleș Castle among pine trees, Romania

Day-by-day itinerary

16 days from Bucharest, Romania to Bucharest, Romania

  1. Day 1 · Bucharest Bucharest

    The trip begins.

    Hotel
    Hotel Minerva
  2. Day 2 · Bucharest Bucharest

    A walking tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel Minerva
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Peleș Castle, Bran Castle Transylvania

    Castles of the Carpathians.

    Hotel
    Casa Zada Guest House
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Brașov, Sibiu Brașov and Sibiu

    Medieval towns.

    Hotel
    Hotel Continental
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Corvin Castle, Decebalus statue Corvin Castle

    A Gothic castle and hot springs.

    Hotel
    Pensiune Safrane
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Viminacium, Belgrade Belgrade

    Into Serbia.

    Hotel
    Mr President Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Novi Sad, Belgrade Novi Sad

    Two Serbian cities.

    Hotel
    Mr President Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Devil’s Town, Niš Niš

    Rock towers and the Skull Tower.

    Hotel
    Hotel Regent
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Sofia Sofia

    Into Bulgaria.

    Hotel
    Budapest Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Rila Monastery Rila Monastery

    A World Heritage monastery.

    Hotel
    Budapest Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Plovdiv, Rose Valley Plovdiv

    A Roman theatre and a Thracian tomb.

    Hotel
    Hotel Zornica
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Shipka, Etar, Tsarevets Veliko Tarnovo

    A memorial church and a fortress.

    Hotel
    Hotel Concorde
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Varna, Balchik Balchik

    To the Black Sea.

    Hotel
    The Palace Villa Complex
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Kaliakra Kaliakra

    A clifftop walk.

    Hotel
    The Palace Villa Complex
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Bucharest Bucharest

    Back to Romania.

    Hotel
    Hotel Minerva
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Bucharest Bucharest

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Bran Castle above the forest in Transylvania, Romania

Where you stay

  • Bucharest (2 nights) Hotel Minerva
  • Moieciu (1 night) Casa Zada Guest House
  • Sibiu (1 night) Hotel Continental
  • Orșova (1 night) Pensiune Safrane
  • Belgrade (2 nights) Mr President Hotel
  • Niš (1 night) Hotel Regent
  • Sofia (2 nights) Budapest Hotel
  • Plovdiv (1 night) Hotel Zornica
  • Veliko Tarnovo (1 night) Hotel Concorde
  • Balchik (2 nights) The Palace Villa Complex
  • Bucharest (1 night) Hotel Minerva

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 15 nights in hotels and a guesthouse
  • Meals 15 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • Transport throughout
  • Peleș, Bran and Corvin castles
  • Belgrade, Novi Sad and Devil’s Town
  • Rila Monastery, Plovdiv and Tsarevets
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 14 lunches and 14 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Corvin Castle in Hunedoara

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a short holiday
  • You want most meals included
  • You want an active holiday
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–16 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Day 3
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Bulgaria · UK FCDO travel advice for Romania · UK FCDO travel advice for Serbia
The Great Square in Sibiu, Romania

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,595 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Which countries does the tour visit?

Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria.

Are border crossings included?

Yes, your leader helps with each crossing.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens don’t need a visa for Romania, Serbia or Bulgaria for short stays.

Is Bran Castle included?

Yes, along with Peleș and Corvin castles.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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