Castles & Capitals of the Balkans – 14 days

Arrive at “Nikola Tesla” International Airport.

Our guide will meet you in the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name. He will do the following: assist with currency exchange, provide essential information about Belgrade, assist with check-in, explain the location of your accommodation, advise on how to reach the main sights, and give you an overview of current events in the city.

If your flight is delayed, there is no need to worry. We will monitor your flight, and our guide will meet you accordingly. There are no additional charges for flight delays. After a short ride of 20 minutes, you’ll be in the city’s center. Check in at the hotel, and take the rest of the day to get more familiar with Belgrade, walk around, or follow your guide’s recommendation for dinner. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are arriving in Belgrade a few days before the tour departure, you can book additional nights with us at the same hotel for a surcharge of 55€ (Classic package) or 95€ (Upgraded package). Prices are per person, per night, in a double or twin room.

Overnight: Belgrade

Breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll start with our Belgrade sightseeing tour. Today we’ll show you most of the city’s key sights.

We’ll start at the daunting Belgrade Fortress, dramatically perched above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Built between the 1^st and 18^th centuries, this fortress witnessed major defensive battles. We’ll visit the Victor Monument, the Monument of Gratitude to France, the Zindan Gate, the Chapel of Saint Petka, the Clock Gate, and the Clock Tower.

Once we finish at the fortress, we will begin our panoramic ride through New Belgrade – Belgrade’s largest municipality, featuring impressive modern architecture. Here we will see some remarkable buildings such as the Ex-Central Committee of the Communist Party, Federal Executive Council, also known as the Palace of Federation, Genex Tower or Western Gate of Belgrade, Sava Center, Belgrade Arena, and many more.

After New Belgrade, we’ll reach Zemun, a northern area of Belgrade known for its Central European architecture, charming quarters, cobblestone streets, and fish restaurants along the Danube River. Its curvy cobblestone streets and small houses will give you the impression that Zemun is a melting pot of Mediterranean and Middle European cultures.

After Zemun, we’ll drive through Dedinje, Belgrade’s most luxurious residential area, before we reach the imposing Saint Sava Temple, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.

After the sightseeing tour, spend the rest of the afternoon on your own. Consider visiting Nikola Tesla’s Museum and the National Museum, or wander around the central streets.

In the evening, visit the Old Bohemian Quarter of Skadarlija, often compared to Montmartre in Paris in both appearance and artistic atmosphere. It’s a perfect opportunity to get more familiar with traditional Serbian cuisine and the famous Belgrade nightlife. (Optional = 35€ per person)

Overnight: Belgrade

After breakfast, we will visit Novi Sad. On our way to the second-largest city in Serbia, we shall stop at the nearby town of Sremski Karlovci, the center of Serbian culture in the 18th century. Strolling through this picturesque town’s cobbled streets will lead us to the first Serbian High School, which produced several great writers and poets. Along the way, we will visit the Old Patriarch’s Court and the theological complex, including the Assembly Church and Theological Lyceum. Being in the very heart of the famous wine region, why not visit one of the well-respected wine cellars? We’ll try Bermet wine, the area’s best-known product.

Our next stop is the second-largest fortress on the Danube River – Petrovaradin, one of the most important strategic points in the perpetual war between the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. We shall be introduced to the legends of underground passages before we continue to “Serbian Athens”, as the City of Novi Sad is known.

As we stroll through Novi Sad’s great cultural institutions and historic buildings, we will visit the oldest part of the city, the Zmaj Jovina pedestrian zone. Here, we will explore the rich history of Novi Sad, including the monument to Svetozar Miletic, the Novi Sad Cathedral, and the Episcopal Church. After our sightseeing tour, enjoy your free time for lunch or a drink, or stroll around the beautiful streets of Novi Sad.

Next, we will proceed to Budapest. After roughly three hours of relaxed, highway travel, we will arrive in the Hungarian capital. Check in at the hotel and use your free afternoon to walk around on your own or to follow your guide’s recommendation for dinner.

Overnight: Budapest

After breakfast, set off on a comprehensive 3-hour city tour of Budapest, starting with the view from Gellert Hill.

Enjoy an unbeatable panorama of the city and the Danube River as your guide fills you in on the city’s two halves: Buda, the ancient seat of the Hungarian Kings, and Pest, the heart of the modern city. Start your explorations in Buda with a tour of the medieval castle and follow your guide around Trinity Square, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Matyas church. After snapping photos of the grand Buda Castle from the 13th century, cross the iconic Chain Bridge into Pest to admire the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building on the waterfront.

Browse the shops along lively Vaci Street, then take a peek inside the opulent St. Stephen’s Basilica, where the star attraction is, somewhat bizarrely, the right hand of its namesake, King Stephen. Next, stroll down the elegant Andrassy Avenue, home to the lavish Hungarian State Opera House, and marvel over the monuments of Heroes Square.

For lunch, follow your guide’s recommendations and enjoy traditional Hungarian cuisine at a local restaurant. Gulyas stew is always a good choice.

Use your free afternoon to soak in one of Budapest’s many famous thermal baths or walk around this magnificent city. In the evening, don’t miss a spectacular Danube cruise under Budapest’s bridges. You will hear many stories and legends while sipping champagne and listening to some famous Ferenc (Franz) Liszt’s pieces. (not included).

Overnight: Budapest

Breakfast. Today, we’re leaving Hungary for neighbouring Romania, but only after visiting the third-largest city in Hungary, Szeged.

On our one-hour walk around the city center, we will check out the most important sights, starting with the famous Széchenyi Square.

We will take a lunch break before we proceed to Romania. Since January 2025, Romania has been part of the Schengen Area, meaning there are no longer border controls between Hungary and Romania. Thus, we will arrive in Timisoara, Romania’s fourth-largest city and the capital of the Romanian Banat, after only 1.5 hours of driving.

Check in at the hotel, and use the afternoon to learn why Timisoara is nicknamed “The Little Vienna,” walk around the beautifully restored public squares, and try delicious traditional Romanian food.

Overnight: Timisoara

Breakfast and check-out. On our guided tour of the historical center, we’ll ensure you don’t miss any of the most important sights: the Orthodox Cathedral, Victory Square, Liberty Square with the City Hall, Union Square with the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral with the Bishop’s Palace. We will take a lunch break in one of Timisoara’s cozy restaurants.

After the break, we’ll continue east, and our first stop will be Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle. This Gothic treasure of Transylvania is an important cultural landmark of Romania.

After the visit, we will proceed. After about an hour and a half of a pleasant ride, we’ll arrive in Sibiu, founded by German settlers in the 12th century. You may know it as “The City of Eyes” for its distinctive roof features. We’ll check in at our hotel, take a short break to refresh, and then proceed to the walking tour. We will visit the Large Square with Brukenthal National Museum, the Small Square, the Council Tower, the Bridge of Lies, the Stairs Passage, and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, modeled on the magnificent Hagia Sofia. Use your free afternoon to explore the town independently.

Overnight: Sibiu

Today, we’ll continue exploring “The Transylvanian Triangle.” Our next stop will be Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This town was also established in the 12th century, again by German craftsmen, the so-called Transylvanian Saxons. Today, the city is known for its well-preserved historical center, colorful houses, and watchtowers, but perhaps more than anything else, as the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler. We’ll check the Church of the Dominican Monastery, the Clock Tower, Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, the Tailors’ Tower, the Covered Stairway, and other significant sights.

Then we will proceed to Brasov, perhaps the most picturesque town on our trip. You’ll be charmed by its historical buildings, restored bastions, and fortified guard towers. The best way to explore this cute place is on foot, so that’s precisely what we will do.

You’ll see the narrowest street in the world, The Black Church, Catherine’s Gate, Beth Israel Synagogue, and many other interesting sights.

After a day filled with excitement, take the evening to relax and prepare for the adventures awaiting us tomorrow.

Overnight: Brasov

Today we’ll spend a day immersing ourselves in the landscapes and landmarks of Transylvania. This unique region is packed with historic castles, rich scenery, and an evocative atmosphere.

Our first stop will be the famous Bran Castle, the former residence of the Romanian Royal family, widely known as Dracula’s Castle. Here we will walk inside its majestic towers and down its winding, narrow staircases and passages, and learn about the infamous Vlad the Impaler.

Our next stop, Peles Castle, is Romania’s most impressive castle and a must-see. King Carol I built this Neo-Renaissance castle as a summer residence for the Royal family. This fairy-tale-like edifice is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. The castle is surrounded by splendid parklands – the work of several landscape architects, each of whom left his mark on the park and gardens of Peleş. In addition to the magnificent exterior, with hand-painted stained-glass windows and numerous sculptures surrounding the castle, the interior of more than 160 rooms was decorated by more than 400 artisans and artists.

After this exceptional experience, we’ll continue toward Romania’s capital. Check in at the hotel. Free time.

Overnight: Bucharest

Today, we’ll show you why Bucharest is nicknamed “Little Paris.”, known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings, and a reputation for the high life.

While exploring this magnificent city filled with parks, we will see an exciting blend of French, Byzantine, and communist architecture in the many stylish buildings. We will visit all the major sights in the city: Piața Unirii with Parliament (the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon), Roman Square, the Arc of Triumph, the Romanian Athenaeum, Lipscani Street, Calea Victoriei Avenue, and, finally, Revolution Square.

On your own this afternoon, explore the city, enjoy the bars and terraces, and in the evening, take in the vibrant atmosphere Bucharest is famous for.

Overnight: Bucharest

Breakfast and check-out.

As soon as we enter Bulgaria near the village of Ivanovo, we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries, and cells, where the first hermits dug out their cells and churches in the rock during the 12th century.

Continuing our tour, we’ll make a brief photo stop in the small village of Arbanasi, a picturesque open-air museum of cultural heritage featuring 80 houses. Arbanasi is a quiet, picturesque village that, even today, retains a medieval character through its old architecture.

Our final stop will be in Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful cities, located on the banks of the Yantra River. Also known as the City of Tsars, Veliko Tarnovo features an impressive fortress, the ruins of the former Tsarevets Palace, and a patriarchal church, now adorned with modern and intriguing paintings. The city’s medieval atmosphere is well preserved, thanks to its old architecture and narrow streets, where you can admire local artisans at work.

Check into the hotel and enjoy the evening in this charming town.

Overnight: Veliko Tarnovo

Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.

We’ll drive to the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum Etar, which contains a collection of 50 objects, including water-powered installations and houses with artisans’ workshops.

The complex showcases the architecture, way of life, and economy of central Bulgaria during the Bulgarian National Revival. Using original instruments and following traditional practices, it presents Bulgarian customs, culture, and the characteristics of 20 regional crafts.

The next stop on our tour will be the town of Kazanlak, with a tour through the rose fields, where you’ll have an excellent opportunity for some great photos. Then, we continue east to the Ethnographic Complex Damascena, located in the heart of the Valley of Roses, where you will learn why Bulgaria is famous for rose oil production, followed by some free time for lunch. The next stop is a visit to the famous Thracian tomb from the 4th century BC – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’ll end the day in the beautiful and ancient city of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Located on the banks of the Marica River and built around seven hills, the city has a cultural mix of different civilizations and a unique blend of architectural elements. It is an open-air museum.
Check in and enjoy your free evening.

Overnight: Plovdiv

After breakfast, we will start our Plovdiv sightseeing tour. On our walking tour, we will visit the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, the Roman Stadium, and the Church of Saint Constantine and Helena. We will finish in Kapana, a real art center and a district dedicated to creative industries, a pedestrian area full of shops, restaurants, and galleries.
Experience the atmosphere of this artistic and trade center and enjoy lunch at local restaurants.

The next stop on your way to Sofia is the charming town of Koprivshtitsa, with its fascinating history and authentic 19th-century architecture. We’ll walk around this small, picturesque city in central Bulgaria, nestled among the slopes of the Sredna Gora Mountains, which carries a distinct spirit of tranquility and eternity. Once a site of battles for Bulgaria’s liberation, the city has now been converted into a museum of the Revival Period. Here, you can visit the homes of some of the most eminent Bulgarians, writers, and rebels and admire the vast collections of ethnographic treasures, including ancient weapons, intricate national costumes, and stunning jewelry.

After this extraordinary experience, we’ll proceed to Sofia, arriving in the evening. Check-in. Free time.

Overnight: Sofia

After breakfast, we will start with our Sofia sightseeing tour. On our walking tour, we will visit the ruins of Serdica-Roman fortress walls; St George Rotunda, the oldest building in Sofia; St Sofia Basilica, the oldest active church which gave the city its name; St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world; National Theatre and many more historical sites from ancient times alongside the modern areas of cosmopolitan city life.

Use your free afternoon, or book an optional trip to Rila Monastery, one of the country’s holiest sites and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual and literary center of the Bulgarian national revival, with an uninterrupted history from the Middle Ages to the present. PRICE = 40 EUR per person.

Overnight: Sofia

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. End of services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your flights are better from Belgrade, you can return to Belgrade at no charge and depart from Belgrade tomorrow or a few days later. You can book the hotel on your own, or we can do that for you for a surcharge of 45€ (Classic package) or 85€ (Upgraded package. Prices are per person, per night, in a double or twin room.

• Small, intimate group experience – no more than 15 people
• Arrival & departure airport transfers
• Fully escorted by English-speaking tour guides from day 2 to day 13
• comfortable transportation for your entire journey (a modern, air-conditioned van or a minibus, depending on the number of passengers)
• Sightseeing per itinerary
• 2 nights in the chosen hotel category in Belgrade 
• 2 nights in the chosen hotel category in Budapest
•  1 night in the chosen hotel category in Timisoara
• 1 night in the chosen hotel category in Sibiu
• 1 night in the chosen hotel category in Brasov 
• 2 nights in the chosen hotel category in Bucharest
• 1 night in the chosen hotel category in Veliko Tarnovo
• 1 night in the chosen hotel category in Plovdiv
• 2 nights in the chosen hotel category in Sofia
• 13 meals: 13 breakfasts in the hotels (buffet style)
• Entrance fees: Saint Sava Temple in Belgrade, Wine tasting during the Novi Sad trip, Corvin Castle, Bran Castle, Peles Castle, Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, Etar Open Air Museum, Arbanasi Historical Village, Rila Monastery, Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, Rose Museum Kazanlak
• City taxes
• All fuel costs, parking fees, and road tolls
• VAT
• Tour organization and 24/7 assistance from a licensed incoming tour operator

• Arrival and departure flights
• Food & drinks
• Optional expenses
• entrance fees other than mentioned

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour, you can choose from the following options:

Pre-Tour Accommodation in classic package:

110€ per room, per night for double and twin share
100€ per room, per night for solo travellers

Pre-Tour Accommodation in an upgrade package:

190€ per room, per night for double and twin share
180€ per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation in classic package:

90€ per room, per night for double and twin share
80€ per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation in an upgrade package:

170€ per room, per night for double and twin share
160€ per room, per night for solo travellers

• 40% at the time of booking
• The remaining 60% not later than two weeks before the arrival

• Children from 0 to 2 years old – FREE of charge.
• Children from 2 to 12 years old, sharing the bed – 50% discount on the price of a twin room
• Children aged 2 to 12: extra bed – 30% discount on the price of a twin room.

• Up to 60 days before the departure date = 100% refund
• 59 days to 46 days before the departure date = 90% refund
• 45 days to 31 days before the departure date = 80% refund
• 30 days to 16 days before the departure date = 70% refund
• 15 days to 8 days before the departure date = 50% refund
• 7 days or less before the departure date = 0% refund

• You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements before the booking. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler. A current, valid passport is required on the day of travel.
• Gratuities are not included in the price (not mandatory, but encouraged)
• The final choice of hotels will depend on the availability at the time of your booking. We reserve the right to change the hotel due to availability, but we promise the same category, location, and level of quality
• Please note that VICTOR TOURS doesn’t guarantee the entrance to the church/cathedral due to sudden closure (mass, wedding, etc)
• Please note that VICTOR TOURS doesn’t guarantee the timing due to weather and traffic
• Please note that VICTOR TOURS doesn’t guarantee entrance to any sight due to late arrival
• The minimum number of guests required is one
• Tour duration = 14 days