Tourist Visas: You do not need a visa to visit Romania. You simply need your passport and you will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival at the airport.
Meals: For the included meals listed above, some of them will be family style and others will involve ordering from a menu. Alcohol is not included with these meals. For other meals that the group eats together, bills can usually be paid separately or we will simply collect all the money at the end of the meal to pay the total bill.
Packing: Packing lightly will make it easier to load up the van and will also be less of a hassle as you move from place to place. There may be times when you’ll need to walk with your luggage for a short while to reach our accommodation.
SIM cards: If you do not have an international plan for your phone, you can obtain a local SIM card upon arrival in Bucharest so that you will have internet on your phone during the trip. Otherwise, you can also plan to use the WiFi at our hotels during the tour. Please bring a photocopy of the details page of your passport as this is sometimes needed to purchase a SIM card as a foreigner. It costs about $20 USD.
Local currency: The local currency is Romanian lei (also known as Romanan ron). As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which can be found in all cities and towns in Romania. This method ensures you’ll get the best exchange rate and you won’t have to carry around a large amount of cash. However, please check with your bank to make sure they don’t charge high foreign ATM fees.
If your bank fees are too high, you can also exchange USD, GBP or Euros at money exchange offices located throughout the country. Keep in mind that credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
With rules and regulations regarding Covid testing constantly changing, our team will ensure that you have all the information necessary to properly prepare for your entry into Romania and return to your home country. You can expect additional communications specific to Covid-19 and travel testing as the tour gets closer.
Romania is currently open to US travelers and there are no Covid entry requirements at this time. All travelers are allowed to visit without any tests needed. We do recommend bringing your Covid vaccination certificate as some airlines may require you to present it at check-in.
Before returning to the US, a negative Rapid-Antigen test is required and must be performed within 24 hours of your departure from Romania. We will arrange for these tests to be taken at our hotel in Bucharest and the cost will be approximately $50 USD for the Antigen test.
We will keep this section updated and inform you if there are any changes.
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Bucharest’s Otopeni International Airport:
Please note: When arriving into Romania, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Romania. Here are the details for the hotel:
Novotel Bucharest – Strada Victoriei, 10302 Bucharest, Romania
Before the trip starts, we’ll send out details for you to join a WhatsApp group that will only be for members of this tour. This way, we can all start communicating, answer any questions and keep everyone in the loop at all times. This will be very useful for keeping in touch with everyone during the tour as well.
Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to our group hotel in the city center. After getting settled and having a good rest, we’ll start off with an evening tour orientation and group dinner at one of Bucharest’s most popular Romanian restaurants, located in the heart of the Old City.
Accommodation: Novotel Bucharest
Meals Included: Dinner
We’ll begin today with a walking tour along Victory Street, passing markets, street art and historical sights before entering a local neighborhood filled with beautiful early 19th century mansions, hidden cafes and unique street art. From here, we’ll explore narrow passageways, Communist structures and lively squares before lunch. We’ll also have time to visit an Antiques Market inside of the old Bucharest Stock Exchange Building and the grand Unirii Square.
Accommodation: Novotel Bucharest
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Bucharest, we’ll drive 3.5 hours north, straight into the Carpathian Mountains. We’ll make stops along the way until we reach the medieval and absolutely beautiful town of Brasov, with its diverse history and lively atmosphere. Upon arrival we’ll check into our hotel, walk along the main street and visit Piata Sfatului, the lively main square where evening festivities are always taking place, with ample time to check out the unique shops, food stalls and markets as well. Dinner will take place in a long-running restaurant known among locals for its excellent ambience and great food.
Accommodation: Gott Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll embark on a walking tour of the city, visiting the Romanian, German and Hungarian neighborhoods, including several traditional businesses (bakeries, bookstores, and more) where we can interact with locals and learn about their work. We’ll also have a short workshop in the afternoon with a traditional artisan who will teach us some specific Romanian painting techniques. After our class, you’ll have some free time to wander Brasov as you wish.
Accommodation: Gott Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The day begins with a 45 minute drive to the town of Bran, home to the famous Bran Castle (the inspiration for Dracula). We’ll take a walk through the medieval castle, touring its dozens of rooms, courtyards, towers and views out over the beautiful countryside. From here we’ll wander through the Bran market before heading to a small nearby village to participate in a unique and traditional egg-painting workshop in the home of a local artist. We’ll also enjoy a home cooked lunch in her house. From here, we’ll return to Brasov for an evening of free time.
*Please note that visiting Bran Castle requires a 5 minute uphill walk to the entrance and walking up and down 100+ steps inside the castle
Accommodation: Gott Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll drive 2 hours to the authentic Hungarian region of Romania called Corund. Hungarians have been living in Romania for centuries and have maintained their unique culture and heritage. After checking in to our traditional guesthouse, we’ll head off with our local guide for a undeniably special experience. We’ll visit with local artisans who are producing their crafts, not for tourism, but for the community’s own use, using only traditional methods of production. This includes a black pottery workshop and a traditional weaver. We’ll learn about these crafts and the workshops that keep these traditions alive. Dinner will then take place in the beautiful gardens of a local trout farm.
Accommodation: Biz Pension
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The truly local experience continues as we head up to the remote Fantana Plateau, home to only a few small villages and the southernmost peat bog in the world. We’ll begin with a 2 hour tour of the villages, nature and a local bio-mushroom farm. We’ll then head to a local home for a delicious, freshly prepared lunch before stopping at a local syrup and jam producer where we can taste their products and learn about the people and their traditional rural factory. Finally, we’ll pay a visit to a tinder workshop (type of mushroom) to learn about this unique craft that few people know about. Our dinner tonight will be at the home of a local family.
Accommodation: Biz Pension
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a morning full of surprise activities in beautiful Corund, we’ll drive 1.5 hours to the village of Sighisoara, considered one of the best preserved medieval villages in all of Europe. Upon arrival, we’ll have lunch in town before meeting with our guide. Our guide will take us through the cobblestone lanes, to the 400-year old clock tower and impressive hilltop cathedral, into a traditional wine cellar and to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (the inspiration for Dracula). You’ll then have free time in the friendly walled village before meeting up for dinner.
Accommodation: Doubletree Sighisoara
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll drive to a tiny village where we’ll visit the home of a local Roma (gypsy) family for a truly unforgettable experience. Usually, the Roma are not open to visitors but our personal contacts have arranged this unique visit for us. We’ll meet a wonderful family, be welcomed into their home, learn about their traditions and have plenty of time to interact with several generations of family members. After our visit, we’ll continue through the heart of Transylvania to the village of Viscri, one of the most traditional villages in the region and made famous by Prince Charles’ participation in a local preservation plan. After a tour of this community, we’ll head to the nearby village of Messendorf, where we’ll spend the night at the wonderful Messendorf Inn.
Accommodation: Messendorf Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, we’ll begin our final journey, heading towards the Prahova Valley and back to Bucharest. The drive will take approximately 5 hours, including stops along the way. Upon arrival back in the capital, we’ll get settled in our hotel right in the heart of the Old Town before having our final group dinner.
*If a Covid test is still required to return to the US, we’ll have these scheduled at our hotel during the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Hotel Europa Royale
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
