Make your escape for a half day from the busy streets of Bucharest. Unknown even to some people born and raised here there are some hidden gems just a few miles outside city limits. Leaving Bucharest you travel to the Palace of Mogosoaia. A retreat made for the rulers of the Romanians, in a pure Romanian style called Brancovenesc. It is a quiet and majestic place where you will feel like going back in time.  Next you take a short drive to the Snagov Monastery which is believed to be the resting place of the body of Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. The monastery itself is on an island in the middle of the Snagov Lake offering great views over the surrounding area.

Experience the perfect way to see Bucharest. Relax and enjoy this 3-hour private tour around Romania's capital in a comfortable van for 8 passengers, with a friendly English-speaking guide. Stop at all the interesting attractions along the way, including some famous sites like the House of the People - the second largest Parliament buildings in the world, the Arch of Triumph - a symbol from Romania's glory during the interwar period, or the National Theater of Bucharest. However, you will also see some hidden jewels like Assan's Mill with interesting stories and facts. 

The first attraction will be the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, a territory spanning across 69 hectares of coniferous forests where you will safely observe more than 90 rescued brown bears in their natural habitat. Since all bears have been rescued from poor conditions and here they can live freely in their natural environment, the sanctuary has been recognized as the most ethical one in the world. The trip will continue with a one-hour drive through the Carpathian Mountains after which you will arrive at Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle. This historical monument was originally a fortress built between 1211 – 1225 by the Knights of the Teutonic Order. It distinguishes itself by the imposing towers and turrets and the mystery wave that shrouds people when they cross its threshold. Also, the castle was marketed to be the home of the main character from Bram Stocker’s novel “Dracula”.

Start your day in the morning and discover together with your professional guide the wonders of Bucharest, also called The Little Paris of the East. This panoramic city tour includes stops and history lessons at three very important sites: Revolution Square, Constitution Square and equally impressive Military Academy. Discover the history of the Romanians from the time of the Roman Empire, Middle Ages and Vlad the Impaler and walk your way through Monarchy and the dark Communist times of recent history. Drive by sites like: Romanian Arch of Triumph, House of Free Press, Kiseleff Avenue with beautiful French style villas, Embassy Row, Romanian Peasant's Museum, Victory Square, Officer's Club, Cismigiu Garden, Medical School, Opera Square, Fountains Avenue and Military Academy. Next you see the open air Village Museum which will provide you with a unique experience and will give you a glimpse in the life of the Romanian peasants from more than 100 years ago. This museum is particularly impressive because all the houses were taken from their original locations and rebuilt here in Bucharest almost one century ago. In the afternoon you leave crowded Bucharest behind and visit Mogosoaia Palace. Imagine that one of the wealthiest families in Romania managed to spend almost all their fortune in order to restore this wonderful place. Take a trip back in time to a more elendant era and find all the secrets of this place together with your guide. From here you are driving north from the city in order to see a place surrounded in myth and history. The Snagov Monastery is the supposed burial place of a famous Romanian ruler: Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. The monastery is on a small island in the middle of a beautiful lake.

Early in the morning you leave Bucharest behind and drive north to get in the Carpathian Mountains. First stop of the day is Peles Castle. this is a overwhelming site built by the first Romanian king, Carol I. In this fairy tale location you are going to learn more about Monarchy in Romania and its heritage. You will discover all the wonders of this beautiful palace which seems frozen in time. Next you will push further north to cross the mountains and finally get to the historical region of Transylvania. Over here you will start your vampire hunt in order to find out all about Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stocker's Dracula. The next stop is the medieval castle of Bran, also known as Dracula's Castle. After Bran you are heading to the 13th century medieval fortress of Rasnov, an impressive site built on a mountain top overlooking the whole valley around. This awesome site was actually built by the Teutonic Knights when they first came here almost 800 years ago. Last stop of the day is the medieval part of the city of Brasov. Take a walking city tour of this charming old town with its impressive history and landmarks. From here your are starting your journey back to Bucharest.

Travel to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, visit Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved in the rock, explore the medieval Veliko Tarnovo, visit the Tsaravets Fortress, a fortification from the Middle Ages, and then admire Nicopolis ad Istrum, a Roman and early Byzantine town. Begin your day trip by leaving Bucharest for Veliko Tarnovo, crossing the Danube River, which separates Romania from Bulgaria, and making your first stop at Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved in the rock and inhabited since its establishment. Not far from Basarabov Monastery is the charming medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, often referred to as the "City of the Tsars". You will walk on the cobbled streets in the historical quarter of Samovodskata Charshiya, and up on the hill, you will discover the fortress of Tsarevets, settled in the 4th century and surrounded by thick walls and the strongest Bulgarian fortification from the Middle Ages. Veliko Tarnovo was often compared to Rome or Constantinople in greatness. The village of Arbanassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be your final stop before returning to Bucharest. Arbanasi has experienced strong Greek cultural influence for centuries, with traditional houses that are large and heavily fortified and orthodox churches dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries with stone walls and thick gates. Walk through its quiet and picturesque streets and admire all of this.

Visit 2 historic castles in Transylvania on a guided day trip from Bucharest, including the stunning Bran Castle in the medieval city of Brasov, where the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula is said to have lived. Following pickup from your hotel, make your way into the Carpathian Mountains and stop in the charming town of Sinaia, famous for its 17th-century royal residence. Admire the Neo-Renaissance beauty of Peleș Castle, strategically located on a medieval route that linked Transylvania and Wallachia.   Cross the mountains to discover the medieval fortress most associated with the legend of Count Dracula. Learn the extraordinary history of Bran Castle on a small group tour exclusive to you. Get some free time to browse the souvenir market, and then visit Brasov to see the impressive medieval and Gothic architecture on a walking tour of the historic city center.

Your first stop on this tour, the Snagov Monastery, is located on an island in the Northern part of Snagov Lake. The monastery was built by Mircea the Elder (the grandfather of the famous Dracula) who also made the first documentary attestation of this church in 1408. During its history, the monastery was rebuilt by Vlad the Impaler and some other rulers of Wallachia. Snagov Monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations - especially for foreign tourists coming to Bucharest - as they can see the place where the cruel voievod, known as Dracula, is  supposedly buried. The Caldarusani Monastery is located also on the shore of a lake surrounded by a beautiful forest. It was built in the XVIIth century by Matei Basarab and it represents one of the largest and oldest Orthodox Monasteries in Wallachia historical region. The church shelters an impressive collection of religious artifacts and books. The icons are very beautiful, six of them being painted by the most important Romanian painter, Nicolae Grigorescu. Next you will, travel to Mogosoaia and admire the beautiful scenery of the forest and the countryside on the way. After about 45 minutes of driving from Caldarusani Monastery, you will reach Mogosoaia Palace, a monumental building with a unique architecture called Brancovenesc style, which is a Romanian Renaissance architectural style consisting of a mixture of Venetian and Ottoman elements. The Palace was built by the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu in 1702 for his elder son. After more than 200 years, renovations began in 1912 by Martha Bibescu and it became a meeting place for the members of high level society. At the end of the Second World War, after 1945, the palace was nationalized by the Communist Party. Now, the palace hosts the Museum of Brancoveanu Art and is an important tourist attraction. After the visit to Mogosoaia Palace you will head to back to Bucharest to be dropped off at your hotel.

Take a break from the capital and start your morning with a visit to Slanic Prahova, known as the biggest salt mine in Europe and also known for its remarkable combination of both man-made and natural beauty. Stands today as one of the most important watering and climatic resorts in Romania. Unique in the country but also in Europe, in the salt mine, the humidity of the air is circa 50%, and the air composition is richer in sodium ions that have spectacular ameliorative and prophylactic effects as far as breathing deficiencies and diseases are concerned. Next, visit Peles Castle in Sinaia City, the royal residence and one of the most famous castles in Romania, the summer residence of the first king of Romania, Carol I of Hohenzollern, of German origins. Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German New-Renaissance architecture, built in the late nineteenth century and considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Peles Castle was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. Was used as a summer residence by the Royal family for more than 50 years, and the original interior decoration is still intact. Then head back to Bucharest.

Forget about legends and travel to see Vlad the Impaler's Royal Court and his Fortress in Poienari village, where Vlad use to hide the country's gold. Stop to see Curtea de Arges Monastery, a real beauty of the Royal Family, and where the graves of the Romanian Kings are located. See the biggest dam in Romania nearby, Vidraru Dam, and get ready to take pictures. You will travel by private car and have your own guide while visiting some of the most historical and interesting sites in the area. Travel to Targoviste Fortress, one of the most important medieval monuments in Romania with a history that goes back to the 15th century. Explore the former princely court, that was used as a residence by some of the most famous princes of Southern Romania, including Constantin Brancoveanu and the legendary Vlad the Impaler who built the emblematic Chindia Tower. Learn the history of Tragoviste, from its small beginnings as a fortress to its expansion to a princely residence by Vlad Dracul. Move on with a walk up to Chindia Tower, the symbol of the princely court of Targoviste. Admire the view from the tower’s balcony, especially the ruins of the two princely palaces, and also observe the silhouette of a church dated back to 1415. Finish walking around what remains of the palace and visit the two churches that still survive in the area, the small Holly Friday Church and the Great Princely Church, the only monument built in the 15th century in Southern Romania still conserved in its original form. Reach the old town of Curtea de Arges, with its rich and eventful history, and see the ruins of the Wallachian princely court, the 13th century Royal Church, as well the famous Arges Monastery. Learn the interesting and sad history of the sites from the guide. Enjoy visiting Poenari Castle, a perfect stop for history lovers and fans of Dracula. Experience the perfect chance to discover the wildlife in Transylvania.