Summary
During this amazing Romania and Moldova Tour from Bucharest to Chisinau (8 days) you will discover the most important tourist attractions of these 2 beautiful countries. You will start the tour in Bucharest where you will enjoy a city tour including the visit of Palace of the Parliament, Spring Palace and Village Museum. Next, you will travel to Sinaia where you will discover Peles Castle and Bran, known for Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend. And the last destination in Romania will be Iasi city, where you will discover such beautiful attractions as the Palace of Culture and the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery. You will continue your trip to Moldova where you will see Orheiul Vechi - a 40 thousand year-old natural amphitheater and Capriana Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the country. You will set off on a time travel in Transnistria, Tiraspol that seems to be a vestige of the Soviet past.You will also visit such wineries as Cricova winery with its huge underground wine galleries (120 km), Milestii Mici – the largest wine cellar in the world (200 km) and Castel Mimi – one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world of wine.
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Alina
Local travel expert in Moldova
I am a representative of a local tour operator in Moldova that has over 10 years experience in the organization of travel. I mainly specialize in wine, gastronomic and cultural tours around Moldova.
Itinerary
On arrival at Bucharest International Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Bucharest.
After settling in, you can have a walk through downtown and explore the city centre on your own.
In the evening, you will visit Bucharest’s Old Town (Centrul Vechi) that is a mix of history, local culture and lifestyle, a trendy entertainment district and favorite hangout for the locals. Packed with a variety of bars and restaurants, the narrow streets from Old Town Bucharest were once the main commercial streets of the city.
After discovering Bucharest’s Old Town, you will have dinner at local restaurant in Bucharest.
In the morning, you will enjoy a city tour of Bucharest including the Palace of the Parliament, a colossal building, the construction of which began in 1984 and has a developed area of 365,000 m2, making it the world’s third-largest administrative building, after The Pentagon and Long'ao Building. The building has eight underground levels, the last one being a nuclear bunker, linked to the main state institutions by 20 km of catacombs, as Nicolae Ceausescu feared nuclear war. You will also visit Ceausescu Palace, also known as Spring Palace, is a luxurious building where Nicolae Ceausescu lived together with his family between 1965 and 1989. The Palace was built between 1964 and 1965, and it is surrounded by 14,830 square meters of land. After the Romanian Revolution, the Palace was used as a VIP residence for official delegations, and in 2016 it was turned into a museum.
In the afternoon, more you will enjoy lunch on your own.
After lunch, you will visit the Village Museum that is an open-air ethnographic museum showcasing traditional Romanian village life. It is located in the King Michael I Park in Bucharest, has an area of over 100,000 m2, and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania.
After visiting the museum, you will have dinner at a local restaurant in Bucharest.
In the morning, you will be transferred from Bucharest to Sinaia, where you will have an excursion at Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many as one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia and built between 1873 and 1914, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art and each room is decorated in a different style or theme. There is a Concert Hall, Music Room (India), Turkish Salon, Great Salon (Italy), Council Room (Switzerland), Moor Hall, etc.
You will continue your journey to Bran where you will have lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will enjoy an excursion at Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend. Bran Castle was more built between 1377 and 1388 atop a high rock, overlooking a pass between Transylvania and Wallachia, the land over which Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) ruled in the 15th century. The Romanian ruler was immortalized as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, “Dracula”, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of the ruler of Walachia. The castle, that overlooks the picturesque village of Bran has some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armour dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Next, you will visit the Old Town of Brasov, one of the largest cities in Romania. The old town is one of the best preserved old towns in Europe with splendid architecture and old fortifications. The city has an amazing history with influences from Germany, the Austria-Hungarian Empire and the old communist state. The city was founded in 1211 by Teutonic Knights and was developed by the Saxons, who were mainly involved in trade and crafts. They contributed a lot to the architectural flourishment of the city.
In the evening, you will check in at the hotel.
The day will begin with a transfer from Brasov to Bacau, where you will have lunch at a local restaurant.
Next, you will travel to Iasi, named Open Air Museum or the Cultural Centre of Moldova region in Romania. During the city tour, you will see the Palace of Culture, one of the most remarkable buildings and a true symbol of the city’s past. The Palace was built between 1906 and 1925 on the location of the former prince’s palace and is a happy blend of several architectural styles: neo-gothic, romantic and neo-baroque. The Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery is another important attraction of Iasi included in the city tour, distinguished by its unusual quality of being completely dressed in engravings and decoration elements. The walls of this church are the reason why it is among the most valuable architectural monuments of the country.
You will continue your journey to another more country, Republic of Moldova. You will be transferred from Iasi to Chisinau, where you will check in and have dinner at the hotel.
You will begin the day by visiting Chisinau which is the main administrative, scientific and cultural centre of Moldova. During the city tour, you will discover pieces of history and culture of the city such as the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the Arch of Triumph, the Monument of Stephen the Great, etc.
After the city tour, you will travel to Butuceni village where you will have lunch at a local guesthouse and taste dishes from the local cuisine.
Next, you will set off on a time travel to Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) to see a natural amphitheater revealing a territory which was first inhabited 40 000 years ago. The Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi includes a series of historical and cultural monuments as well as natural landscapes in the gorge of the Raut River. Ancient fortifications, cave monasteries, monks and hermits – here you can follow the more history of this region. The remnants of the first human settlements were found in the stone caverns from here. On the rocky hill, you will find the ruins of a strong Geto-Dacian fortification, which acted as a sanctuary for celebrating religious holidays and rituals in this prehistoric community. The originality of Orheiul Vechi landscape is due to the gorge of the Raut River, dug under the form of a canyon in the limestone layers of the former Sarmatian Sea, about 14 million years ago.
You will continue your trip by exploring a new city, this time an underground city. During the excursion at Cricova winery in the tourist train, at a depth of 80 m, you will discover the wonders of this place. Cricova underground galleries are formed by over seventy streets covering an area of nearly 120 km, each bearing Bacchic names: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Cahors. The jewel of the underground treasure is the National Collection, including over 600 types of wine totaling about 1 million bottles. Here you can admire the oldest bottle of wine - "Jewish Easter Wine", dating from 1902 and discover the tastes of Cricova wines.
In the morning, you will discover Tighina Fortress located in Tighina town and built in the 15th century by the prince of Moldova, Stephen the Great. Originally built as a small wooden fort, it was later fortified in stone by the prince of Moldova, Petru Rares. Occupied by the Ottomans in 1538 (in a campaign lead by the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent), the fort was strengthened in 1541 and became the center of an Ottoman "raya" (in which were included the surrounding Moldavian villages). In the 18th century, the fort was strengthened by Moldovan craftsmen under the direct supervision of Dimitrie Cantemir. Tighina Fortress is an architectural ensemble of irregular quadrilateral plan, surrounded by wide walls, 2-3 meters thick, made of limestone and brick.
In Tiraspol, you will set off on a time travel. During the city tour, you will discover Vladimir Lenin’s monument and the tank left from more the Second World War. The city seems to be a vestige of the Soviet past. Nevertheless, you will be amazed by the contrasts, one of which is the football complex „Sheriff” - a pearl of contemporary architecture.
In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a restaurant in Tiraspol.
Next stop will be in Bulboaca village at Castel Mimi winery - a destination of interest unique in Moldova. Castel Mimi is currently listed among the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world of wine. The story of the castle begins at the end of 1893, when Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia, plants the first grape vines on the place that would become legend over the years. Here, you will taste Castel Mimi wines, including Rosu de Bulboaca wine, an incomparable wine with outstanding features and elegant flavor.
You will begin the day by travelling to Capriana Monastery, founded in medieval Moldova, which is one of the oldest monasteries in the country. It is located in Capriana in a picturesque forested area once called Codrii Lapusnei. The first significant reference dates from a document issued in 1429 that gave Capriana the status of royal monastery on behalf of Alexander the Good. During a long period, Capriana Monastery acted as the residence of the Moldovan archbishop. Being closed and devastated in the post-war years, it was one of the first monasteries that reopened in 1989, becoming soon the symbol of national revival.
In the afternoon, you will take a ride to Milestii Mici winery located at a depth of 40-85 m in Milestii Mici village. Measuring about 200 km, all underground streets make up the largest network of caves ever dug by a human being, which appeared after the extraction of more limestone deposits. The winery holds an impressive collection of more than 2 million bottles. The "Golden Collection" of Milestii Mici winery, which has over 1,5 million bottles, is the pride of the whole country, as in August, 2005, it was registered in the Guinness World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world. You will feel like a king/ queen here, admiring the beauty of this place, tasting wines in which you will feel the fire of sun and vigor of earth and enjoying national cuisine dishes.
After lunch, you will return to Chisinau where you will have some free time to enjoy on your own.
On your departure day, you will be transferred from the hotel to Chisinau International Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you will have the option to explore Chisinau for a while on your own in the morning and buy some souvenirs.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request
Price per person in €
6 Pers.
8 Pers.
10 Pers.
Jolly Alon Hotel 4* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov)
1835€
1723€
1604€
Bristol Central Park Hotel 4* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov)
1857€
1744€
1626€
Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel 5* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov)
1961€
1848€
1731€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 6 Pers. | 8 Pers. | 10 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request |
Jolly Alon Hotel 4* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov) | 1835€ | 1723€ | 1604€ |
| Bristol Central Park Hotel 4* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov) | 1857€ | 1744€ | 1626€ | |
| Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel 5* (Chisinau) / 4* Hotel (Bucharest) / 4* Hotel (Brasov) | 1961€ | 1848€ | 1731€ | |
What's Included
- Accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at the hotel of your choice in Chisinau (4 nights) and 4-star hotels in Bucharest (2 nights) and Brasov (1 night);
- Breakfast at the hotels in Bucharest, Brasov and Chisinau;
- Lunch on day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the itinerary;
- Dinner on day 1, 2, 4 of the itinerary;
- Excursions on the entire itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Tasting of 4 types of wine at Cricova winery, 3 types of wine at Castel Mimi winery and 5 types of wine at Milestii Mici winery;
- Transportation during the entire itinerary;
- English speaking guide.