Eastern Highlights
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Descend the staircases of Transylvania, wander through ancient lanes in Brasov, and look over churches and spires from the Bucegi Mountains.
Their cobbled lanes are useless for cars, their castles have terrible insulation, and their Baroque buildings cost a fortune to maintain. But, on this adventure, you discover that the beauty of these Eastern European features outweighs the impracticalities. You descend tiny history-soaked staircases in the fortresses of Transylvania, wander through ancient lanes crammed with bars and books in Brasov, and look over churches and spires from the ridges of the Bucegi Mountains. Find out that being beautiful is more important than being useful on this trip through Eastern Europe’s historic wonders.
We spend 8 days exploring Hungary, Romania. We visit Budapest, Bucharest, Debrecen, Eger, Cluj-Napoca, Salina Turda, Brașov, Sighisoara.
What Is Included...
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Your fantastic Busabout guide
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All transport
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7 nights' accommodation
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7 breakfasts
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Entrance to Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress
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Salina Turda salt mine
Trip Highlights
- Explore enchanting Sighisoara
- Discover Dracula’s Castle
- Visit the Salina Turda Salt Mine
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Budapest 
Salina Turda 
Brasov
8 Day Itinerary
Eastern Highlights 8 day itinerary
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Day 1
Budapest
Your adventure begins in the Hungarian capital of Budapest where you’ll meet your fantastic Busabout guide for an orientation of the city! Marvel at the Fisherman’s Bastion and explore this ivory fortress with scenic views of the city from the Buda bank of the Danube. See the imposing Citadella upon Gellert Hill, built by the Austrian Empire in the 18th century. This fortress still has armaments on display and fantastic panoramic views of the city, so make sure you bring your camera! Explore the city centre, then it’s time to check out the infamous and world-renowned ruin bars. We’ll have a few drinks and get the party started in our unique surroundings, and celebrate the first night of an epic adventure!
Day 2
Budapest to Debrecen
Rise and shine, it’s time to depart for Debrecen! But first, a stop in the ancient town of Eger. Founded in the 10th century, Eger sprung into life when St. Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary, constructed the first cathedral. Soak up the views of stunning Szepasszony Valley while sampling some wine and enjoying a tasty lunch. Then it’s time to climb back aboard our trusty coach, and continue on to Hungary’s second biggest city where we’ll arrive later this afternoon. Explore this cultural hub and former capital at your own pace, and join us later to experience the nightlife of this eclectic city!
Day 3
Debrecen to Cluj
Farewell Debrecen, today we make tracks towards the Romanian border and the unofficial Transylvanian capital, Cluj. This afternoon we’ll make our arrival and get checked in and settled into our accommodation, before stretching our legs on an exploratory walk of the city. Soak up the sights as we meander through the central park and make our way past the Somesul Mic River. We’ll make our way to St. Michael's Church to see the statue of Matthias Corvinus out the front, followed by the neo-baroque national theatre. This is a bustling student city, so get out there tonight and experience it!
Day 4
Cluj to Brasov
Up and at ‘em! This morning we journey to Brasov with two stops en route. We’ll arrive at our first stop, the Salina Turda, after a short drive. Journey into the ancient salt mines and see the jaw-dropping cavernous rooms, even containing a theme park deep below the surface! We then make our way to the famous birthplace of Dracula, Sighisoara. Renowned for its architecture, numerous towers and ancient churches, it’s the town where Vlad Dracula lived in exile. Make sure you get some pics of the citadel and grab some lunch before we make our departure this afternoon. Later this evening we’ll arrive into Brasov, where you’ll have some free time to get out and explore. Join the group this evening to soak up the relaxed atmosphere of the city and kick start the night.
Day 5
Brasov
The day is yours to delve the depths of a city awash with incredible historic sights. Marvel at the Gothic splendour of the Black Church or check out some of the local bars and cafes and grab some lunch or a few drinks. Get the legs moving with a hike up Tampa Hill to see breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding wilderness. There’s a funicular for those who’d rather save their energy for tonight, when we’ll head out for a night on the town in the heart of Transylvania.
Day 6
Brasov to Bucharest
You’ve heard of bar-hopping, but have you ever been castle-hopping?! Well you’re about to, as we do exactly that on our way to Romania’s capital city, Bucharest. Our first stop is at the famous Bran Castle, which is believed to have been the inspiration for the fictional Dracula’s castle. Next up, we visit the sprawling 13th century Dacian Fortress of the Rasnov Citadel. Standing above the surrounding woods, this citadel was occupied during times of strife and converted from a fortification to a dwelling over time. Our final castle for the day, the picturesque Peles Castle, was built for the Romanian King Carol I in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. We’ll make our arrival into Bucharest this evening, and head out on an orientation walk of the city, before enjoying a night of free time in this buzzing city!
Day 7
Bucharest
It’s the last full day of the adventure, so you’d better make the most of it. You have the entire day to do as you please and see the sights, so tick off all the must-dos: see the gargantuan Palace of the Parliament (the world's largest administrative building), explore the small streets of Bucharest’s central Old Town and take note of the many exciting nightlife spots you’d like to visit this evening. Take a load off and relax in one of Bucharest’s many beautiful parks, or visit the Arcul de Triumf. Tonight we head out into the night for some authentic Romanian revelry, and put the cherry on top of an epic trip! Let’s make it a night to remember.
Day 8
Bucharest
We check out after breakfast. Hope you had a great time exploring the East with us!
Trip Information
Frequently Asked Questions about the Eastern Highlights
Tour starts from:
TBC, Budapest at 3:00pm
Tour ends in:
TBC, Bucharest at 10:00am
Accommodation is included for this trip. You will stay in Twin Share.
You can upgrade to a single room from MyTrip once you have made a booking.
* All upgrades are subject to availability.
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Here is the list of available optional activities, excursions and freetime avaiable on this trip:
- Go to the Great Church in Debrecen
- Hike or take the funicular up Tampa Hill
All optional extras and excursions will be available to book through your Busabout Guide on the trip.
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Yes, depending on availability there is no problem to change dates (a small fee applies). If the new date is more expensive the difference will also need to be paid. You can also transfer the funds you’ve already paid over to another trip of the same or higher value if you change your mind, as long as it’s outside of the notification period.
What happens if I cancel?
A cancellation fee applies based on the length of the trip and how soon the departure date is. Please visit our terms and conditions page for more information.
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