We will start our journey in Romania's bustling capital, exploring both the past and present of this vibrant city. At the Village Museum, we will stroll among authentic wooden houses, barns, and churches, each brought here from a different corner of the country. This open-air collection will give us our very first glimpse into the life of rural Romania.
Later, we will walk through Bucharest's Old Town, with its lively streets, cafés, and historic buildings that echo centuries of change. Lunch will be a friendly moment in a cosy restaurant in the city, while dinner will be traditional, marking our first evening together. We will spend the night in a central hotel in Bucharest, preparing for the countryside adventures to come.
Leaving Bucharest behind, we will drive through gentle hills to the Măldărești Museum Complex, where fortified boyar houses known as "cule" still stand proud. These thick-walled residences tell stories of defense and resilience against raiders centuries ago. Their towers and interiors give us a fascinating glimpse into noble life.
After a traditional lunch, we will continue to Târgu Jiu, a city forever linked to the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. Here, we will walk among his open-air masterpieces, such as the Endless Column and the Gate of the Kiss. Dinner will be cosy, and our accommodation in Târgu Jiu will let us enjoy the peacefulness of this artistic town.
In the morning, we will step into nature at Sohodol Gorge, where steep cliffs rise dramatically above the riverbed. The silence of the gorge, broken only by the sound of water, will offer us a refreshing break. We will then travel to the Densuș Church, one of the oldest and most unusual in Romania. Built from Roman stones and adorned with mysterious carvings, this church is truly unique in Europe.
After a warm lunch along the way, we will arrive in Hațeg, surrounded by green valleys and mountain silhouettes. Dinner will be served in a family-run guesthouse, where we will stay overnight.
Today we will step back into history with a visit to Sarmizegetusa Regia, the ancient capital of the Dacian Kingdom. Hidden in the forested mountains, its stone circles and terraces whisper stories of a civilization that flourished long before the Romans. Walking here will feel like tracing the footsteps of a vanished world.
In the afternoon, we will head toward Rimetea, a Hungarian-influenced village famous for its white houses with green shutters and dramatic mountain backdrop. Lunch will be enjoyed during the journey, while dinner will be served in Rimetea, where we will spend the night in a charming guesthouse.
From Transylvania, we will travel north into Maramureș, the land of wooden traditions. Our destination will be the village of Breb, where narrow lanes, haystacks, and rustic wooden houses preserve the essence of Romanian rural life. The rhythm of daily activities here feels unchanged for centuries.
We will enjoy a traditional lunch along the way and settle into a family guesthouse in Breb for dinner and overnight. The quiet countryside will welcome us with warmth and authenticity.
We will begin the day with a visit to the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța, a place like no other. Its brightly painted crosses, adorned with humorous epitaphs, celebrate the joys and quirks of life rather than mourning death. Close by, we will admire the towering wooden spire of the Săpânța Peri Church, one of the tallest wooden structures in the world.
Later, we will visit Bârsana Monastery, an oasis of peace with wooden churches and flower gardens. Lunch will be cosy near Bârsana, and by evening we will return to Breb for dinner and our second overnight in this authentic village.
Our road will take us deeper into Maramureș, beginning with the Wooden Church of Ieud, one of the oldest in the region. Its simple yet graceful silhouette reflects centuries of faith. Next, we will visit the Dragomirești Museum, where traditional household objects reveal the daily life of villagers.
Continuing into Bucovina, we will arrive in Ciocănești, a unique village where houses are painted with colorful folk motifs. Lunch will be traditional along the way, and dinner will welcome us in Gura Humorului, where we will stay overnight in a cosy guesthouse surrounded by Bucovina's hills.
In the morning, we will stop at the Egg Museum in Vama, which displays thousands of intricately decorated eggs from Romania and beyond. Each piece is a miniature masterpiece of patience and symbolism. Later, we will explore Bucovina's painted monasteries, starting with Voroneț, renowned for its vivid blue frescoes, then Moldovița, and finally Humor, each with unique art and history.
Lunch will be served during our monastery tour, and by evening we will return to our guesthouse in Gura Humorului for dinner and a second night in this peaceful town.
We will begin with a visit to Agapia Monastery, where frescoes painted by Nicolae Grigorescu bring warmth and life to the walls. Our road will then take us through the spectacular Bicaz Gorge, a narrow passage between towering limestone cliffs. Soon after, we will arrive at Red Lake, a natural wonder born from a landslide centuries ago, its waters reflecting the surrounding peaks.
Continuing into Transylvania, we will stop in Korund, a pottery village where craftsmen shape clay into colorful works. Lunch will be taken on the way, and by evening we will reach Sighișoara, the best-preserved medieval citadel in Europe. After a traditional dinner, we will stay overnight in a guesthouse within the citadel walls.
Today we will leave Sighișoara behind and travel to Viscri, a UNESCO World Heritage village where time seems to stand still. Its fortified church and cobbled lanes will immerse us in a Saxon past that still feels alive. Later, we will continue to Sibiel, a Transylvanian village famous for its collection of painted glass icons and warm hospitality.
Lunch will be traditional during the journey, while dinner will be served in Sibiel, where we will also stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.
Our road south will follow the scenic Olt Valley, where mountains rise steeply on both sides of the river. Along the way, we will stop at Cozia Monastery, a 14th-century masterpiece built by Mircea the Elder. Its stone walls and riverbank setting make it one of Romania's most atmospheric religious monuments.
After a cosy lunch, we will continue to Curtea de Argeș, where we will visit the legendary monastery, resting place of Romania's kings and queens. Dinner will be traditional, and overnight accommodation will be in Curtea de Argeș.
On our final day, we will return to Bucharest, completing the circle of our journey. Along the way, we will pass through villages and rolling hills, reflecting on the stories, crafts, and landscapes we discovered over the past two weeks.
Lunch will be enjoyed on the road, and dinner will be our farewell meal together in Bucharest. We will spend one last night in the capital, carrying home the unforgettable memories of Romania's countryside.
