Halloween Road Trip in Bulgaria & Romania

Breakfast at the hotel and we start our day with a visit to a beautiful monastery just outside the city. In a small lake along the Kolentina River, we will visit the monastery of Cernica which was founded in 1608, on the site of an older monastery. Today's grounds stretch over three former islands in a lake that were connected by narrow strips of land over time. The enclosure of the monastery looks like a fortress while the church in the middle of the enclosure is dedicated to Hagia Sophia. Time for spiritual relaxation and prayer, followed by an introduction to the old and new city of Bucharest. Through our panoramic tour we will admire the triumphal arch, the Athenaeum, Revolution Square, the Greek church, the opera, the botanical garden and the military academy. Next, in a prestigious area, we will visit Herastrau Park, one of the largest parks in the country. Time for coffee and food at the many restaurants and cafes within the park. Finally, on our return to the hotel, we will see the imposing House of the People, the largest building complex in Europe today, and the second in the world after the Pentagon of the United States. Its construction was started by Romania's communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu in his glory days, and today it hosts the country's parliament. Free time to explore Lipskani district, το ιστορικό κέντρο του Βουκουρεστίου με την συνοικία Λιπσκάνι, the historical center of Bucharest where it still retains the charm of the old town. Here we will find antique shops, small shops overflowing with old decorative objects. In the afternoon return to our hotel and rest. Our evening free, dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Breakfast at our hotel and today a beautiful full-day excursion follows. First we will visit the village of Bran where the famous Tower of Count Dracula is located. It was built by the Saxons to protect the passage to the Carpathians from the attacks of the Turks. The castle became famous worldwide thanks to Bran Stoker, who the 1897 wrote a horror story with Dracula as the hero. In the outdoor shops of the area, we will find dracula themed wines, masks, shirts, amulets, handmade constructions etc. Then we will reach one of the most interesting cities in Romania, the city of Brasov, a well-known commercial center of the most ancient times. In this fairytale medieval town surrounded by green hills we will see the Black Church which is the largest Gothic church in Romania which took its name from the great fire of 1689 as it blackened its exterior in contrast to its interior which is well-preserved and houses one of the largest church organs in Eastern Europe. We will walk through the cobbled streets, between picturesque buildings that are more reminiscent of Bavarian architecture than Eastern Europe and we will come across the narrowest street in central Europe. All roads lead to the spacious central square where we will stop for coffee and food. Early evening, enthralled by our day we will return to our hotel in Bucharest. Overnight.