On Dracula's Footsteps

"We Draculs have a right to be proud ... I am the last of my kind".

"We Draculs have a right to be proud ... I am the last of my kind". - Dracula, from Bram Stoker's Dracula

Some say that Transylvania sits on one of Earth's strongest magnetic fields and its people have extra-sensory perception. Vampires are believed to hang around crossroads on St. George's Day, April 23, and the eve of St. Andrew, November 29. The area is also home to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it's easy to get caught up in the tale while driving along winding roads through dense, dark, ancient forests and over mountain passes.  

Join our tour and follow the book!

Highlights of the tour

Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest
The Famous Dracula's Castle in the village of Bran 
Vlad Tepes' House in Sighisoara, now a cozy restaurant 
Snagov Monastery - the place where Vlad Tepes supposed to be buried after his assassination
Accommodation at the “Dracula Castle” Hotel
Borgo Pass in the Carpathians Mountains.
Poienari, Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1400 stairs to climb.: 
        (Note: only photos from a distance because it is closed for restoration by 2022)

Targoviste city with the 14th century Princely Court where Vlad Tepes ruled.

Day 1: Bucharest. Welcome to Dracula's Land, a land of mystery!

We will start to discover Count Dracula's traces at the Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest, built in the second half of the XIVth century. The guide will pick you up and you will start to discover the city.

The city tour includes all the important places and architectural buildings: Parliament Palace, Arch of Triumph, the former Royal Palace (nowadays the Art Museum), the Athenaeum (Romania’s most famous concert hall), the Revolution Square (where the 1989 anti - Communist revolt went nationwide), ride along Victoria Avenue, the University, the National Theatre, the Opera House, Manuc’s Inn, the medieval core of the town, the Patriarchy.

We will not unpack because our adventure just started and tomorrow...  

 

Day 2: Bucharest – Snagov Monastery – Brasov. Prepare to immerge into the legend!

The guide will pick you up from the hotel and will go to Snagov to visit Snagov Monastery where Vlad was buried after his assassination. The monastic establishment is located on a small island of Snagov Lake so you’ll also enjoy a boat trip across the lake. The architectural style of the monastery follows the architectural pattern that is characteristic of the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos in Greece.
Then, we will go to Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities in Romania and will visit the Black Church.
The Black Church is the largest gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul and boasts the largest church bell in Romania, weighing in at seven tons.

Day 3: Brasov – Bran Castle – Sighisoara: Follow the footsteps of Count Dracula!

This day is dedicated to Bran Castle, well known as Dracula's Castle. This castle came to be connected with the legend of Dracula the Vampire. It was built between 1377 and 1382, on a 60 m high rock with a strategic, military and commercial purpose. The building has four towers positioned at the four cardinal points. The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of ghostly nooks and secret chambers, whilst in the inner courtyard, there are artesian wells, connected to an underground network. The castle had both a military and a customs point purpose.
 
We head towards Sighisoara. Here we will visit the house where Vlad Tepes was born, now a cozy restaurant. You can serve his favorite dish and drink his Vampire red wine. Sighisoara is the best-preserved medieval town in Romania.

Day 4: Sighisoara – Bistrita – Borgo Pass – Piatra Fantanele

Walking tour - visit the medieval citadel (the “Upper Town”) of Sighisoara: the Clock Tower, the Evangelical Church, etc.
 
After the city tour, we will drive across Transylvania via Targu Mures and Bistrita (walk through the medieval town center) to the Borgo Pass in the Carpathian Mountains. The landscape is amazing. 
 
Accommodation to “Dracula Castle” Hotel. At the construction of the hotel, in the year 1980, the 21 members of the „Dracula” Society from London carried bricks by hand or by barrow, leaving a document with their signatures closed hermetically in an empty Scotch whiskey bottle (the president at that time was Mr. Bruce Wightman). The place where the document is located is known only by the master of the „Dracula” castle from Piatra Fântânele in Romania.
In front of the hotels is the statue of legendary Bram Stocker. The hotel is situated in the mountain and has a wonderful view of the area. 

Day 5: Piatra Fantanele – Biertan – Sibiu

In the morning continue your tour with a walk in the spectacular scenery around the hotel, and then drive southwards to Biertan Fortified Church and visit it. In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage. The ecclesiastic and defense complex was built in the 15th-16th century in the late Gothic style, with a specific Renaissance element. 
From Biertan, we will go to Sibiu where will overnight. City tour of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007 and the European Region of Gastronomy in 2019. 

Day 6: Sibiu – Poienari, Vlad Tepes’s Citadel – Targoviste - Bucharest

In the last day in Transylvania, we will complete our tour with a visit to Poienari, Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1000 stairs to climb. In 1459, Turks captured by Vlad Tepes in revenge for killing his father and brother were made to march to this site, where they were ‘encouraged’ to build this amazing defensive fortress. It’s rightfully considered by Dracula buffs to be the ‘real’ Dracula’s castle.
 
On our way to Bucharest, we will pass thru Targoviste, where we will visit The Princely Court which served as the capital of Walachia, where Vlad ruled. It was here that the Prince impaled a great many disloyal court members (the boyars) after inviting them to a celebratory feast. Chindiei Watchtower now houses an exhibition illustrating Vlad's life.
 
In the evening will arrive in Bucharest, safely...we hope!

Description

"We Draculs have a right to be proud ... I am the last of my kind". - Dracula, from Bram Stoker's Dracula

Some say that Transylvania sits on one of Earth's strongest magnetic fields and its people have extra-sensory perception. Vampires are believed to hang around crossroads on St. George's Day, April 23, and the eve of St. Andrew, November 29. The area is also home to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it's easy to get caught up in the tale while driving along winding roads through dense, dark, ancient forests and over mountain passes.  

Join our tour and follow the book!

Highlights of the tour

Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest
The Famous Dracula's Castle in the village of Bran 
Vlad Tepes' House in Sighisoara, now a cozy restaurant 
Snagov Monastery - the place where Vlad Tepes supposed to be buried after his assassination
Accommodation at the “Dracula Castle” Hotel
Borgo Pass in the Carpathians Mountains.
Poienari, Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1400 stairs to climb.: 
        (Note: only photos from a distance because it is closed for restoration by 2022)

Targoviste city with the 14th century Princely Court where Vlad Tepes ruled.

Day 1: Bucharest. Welcome to Dracula's Land, a land of mystery!

We will start to discover Count Dracula's traces at the Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest, built in the second half of the XIVth century. The guide will pick you up and you will start to discover the city.

The city tour includes all the important places and architectural buildings: Parliament Palace, Arch of Triumph, the former Royal Palace (nowadays the Art Museum), the Athenaeum (Romania’s most famous concert hall), the Revolution Square (where the 1989 anti - Communist revolt went nationwide), ride along Victoria Avenue, the University, the National Theatre, the Opera House, Manuc’s Inn, the medieval core of the town, the Patriarchy.

We will not unpack because our adventure just started and tomorrow...  

 

Day 2: Bucharest – Snagov Monastery – Brasov. Prepare to immerge into the legend!

The guide will pick you up from the hotel and will go to Snagov to visit Snagov Monastery where Vlad was buried after his assassination. The monastic establishment is located on a small island of Snagov Lake so you’ll also enjoy a boat trip across the lake. The architectural style of the monastery follows the architectural pattern that is characteristic of the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos in Greece.
Then, we will go to Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities in Romania and will visit the Black Church.
The Black Church is the largest gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul and boasts the largest church bell in Romania, weighing in at seven tons.

Day 3: Brasov – Bran Castle – Sighisoara: Follow the footsteps of Count Dracula!

This day is dedicated to Bran Castle, well known as Dracula's Castle. This castle came to be connected with the legend of Dracula the Vampire. It was built between 1377 and 1382, on a 60 m high rock with a strategic, military and commercial purpose. The building has four towers positioned at the four cardinal points. The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of ghostly nooks and secret chambers, whilst in the inner courtyard, there are artesian wells, connected to an underground network. The castle had both a military and a customs point purpose.
 
We head towards Sighisoara. Here we will visit the house where Vlad Tepes was born, now a cozy restaurant. You can serve his favorite dish and drink his Vampire red wine. Sighisoara is the best-preserved medieval town in Romania.

Day 4: Sighisoara – Bistrita – Borgo Pass – Piatra Fantanele

Walking tour - visit the medieval citadel (the “Upper Town”) of Sighisoara: the Clock Tower, the Evangelical Church, etc.
 
After the city tour, we will drive across Transylvania via Targu Mures and Bistrita (walk through the medieval town center) to the Borgo Pass in the Carpathian Mountains. The landscape is amazing. 
 
Accommodation to “Dracula Castle” Hotel. At the construction of the hotel, in the year 1980, the 21 members of the „Dracula” Society from London carried bricks by hand or by barrow, leaving a document with their signatures closed hermetically in an empty Scotch whiskey bottle (the president at that time was Mr. Bruce Wightman). The place where the document is located is known only by the master of the „Dracula” castle from Piatra Fântânele in Romania.
In front of the hotels is the statue of legendary Bram Stocker. The hotel is situated in the mountain and has a wonderful view of the area. 

Day 5: Piatra Fantanele – Biertan – Sibiu

In the morning continue your tour with a walk in the spectacular scenery around the hotel, and then drive southwards to Biertan Fortified Church and visit it. In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage. The ecclesiastic and defense complex was built in the 15th-16th century in the late Gothic style, with a specific Renaissance element. 
From Biertan, we will go to Sibiu where will overnight. City tour of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007 and the European Region of Gastronomy in 2019. 

Day 6: Sibiu – Poienari, Vlad Tepes’s Citadel – Targoviste - Bucharest

In the last day in Transylvania, we will complete our tour with a visit to Poienari, Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1000 stairs to climb. In 1459, Turks captured by Vlad Tepes in revenge for killing his father and brother were made to march to this site, where they were ‘encouraged’ to build this amazing defensive fortress. It’s rightfully considered by Dracula buffs to be the ‘real’ Dracula’s castle.
 
On our way to Bucharest, we will pass thru Targoviste, where we will visit The Princely Court which served as the capital of Walachia, where Vlad ruled. It was here that the Prince impaled a great many disloyal court members (the boyars) after inviting them to a celebratory feast. Chindiei Watchtower now houses an exhibition illustrating Vlad's life.
 
In the evening will arrive in Bucharest, safely...we hope!

PRICE

Price for private tour:

980 /person (per person for group of 2 traveling together)

Included:

  • 5 nights accommodation with breakfast to centrally located hotels, well-chosen and tested. 
  • Transport by modern car/minivan, fuel, all local taxes, parking, included for the entire period.
  • Professional English-speaking guide which is also your driver for the entire tour - local guide.
  • Visits as per program /assistance/guide.
  • Local experiences. 

Not included: 

  • Entrance fees for the attractions included in the tour or extras.
  • Other meals except for breakfast.
  • Other personal services as souvenirs, personal care, porterage service fee.
  • Airport transfers 
  • Others that are not included.

The tour is fully refundable in case of cancelling up to 30 days before the scheduled trip

Special prices for groups! Contact us to get a quotation.

Map
Tour costs
1060 €