As you’ll tour the country you’ll take part in exciting winter activities and relax in scenic places. Add to this a stay in an ice hotel and a ride with a dog-drawn sleigh and you’ll make your winter dream trip a reality!
- Ride a sledge drawn by horses through the countryside
- Listen to a Christmas carol concert
- Taste a traditional Christmas meal
- Attend local festivals and witness interesting customs
- Spend the night in an ice hotel
- Ride a narrow-gauge steam train and enjoy the beautiful winter landscape
- Visit the best Christmas market in Romania
- Celebrate the New Year’s Eve with a fireworks show
Your Christmas Holiday Tour in Romania will start in one of the “last truly rural places of Europe”: the region of Maramures. It is a place where unique traditions are still kept as centuries ago and Christmas time is one of the richest periods when you can witness them.
Depending on your arrival time you can start exploring the village where you will stay or you can enjoy a relaxing evening at the charming rural guesthouse which will be your home for the next five days.
Accommodation in Maramures.
Then you will travel to Sighetu Marmatiei where you will learn about the communist time and its impact on our country at the Memorial of the Victims of Communism.
Accommodation in Maramures.
Drive time: 1 h
Then, as every “maramuresean” does on Christmas Eve, you will prepare to greet the carolers wandering from house to house dressed in traditional clothes. Caroling or “colindat” in Romania is a very rich tradition and its uniqueness was recently acknowledged when it listed as part of the UNESCO intangible world heritage. And Maramures is the best region to experience this fascinating custom.
Accommodation in Maramures.
Then you will find out why Maramures is called “the land of the wooden churches”. You will visit some of the beautiful small churches, made entirely of wood, which are specific to the region. Their uniqueness is internationally appreciated and some of them are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Accommodation in Maramures.
Drive time: 1h 30’
The train takes you to spectacular landscapes of mountains and valleys and when you are up in the mountains you will enjoy a meal there before returning on the same very scenic valley.
Accommodation in Maramures.
Drive time: 2h
Then you will leave Maramures behind and head to the much more famous Transylvania region. You will arrive in Sovata where you will stay at a hotel with a spa so you will enjoy a sauna, Jacuzzi and pools.
Accommodation in Sovata.
Drive time: 4h 30’
Back at the hotel you will be able to enjoy again the spa.
Accommodation in Sovata.
Drive time: 3h 30’
On the way you will stop in Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval citadels in Europe. Walk along the cobbled streets to feel the atmosphere of old times and admire the views from the top of the historic Clock Tower. Next on your journey is Biertan, a place of Transylvanian Saxon heritage where you will visit the fortified church, an imposing monument that overlooks the entire village and valley.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Drive time: 3h
Hunedoara is home to Romania’s most important Gothic architectural monument, Corvin Castle. Don’t hesitate to cross the long entrance bridge and find out the various legends of the place.
Alba Iulia, a city of historical importance is a must-see attraction. Spend a few hours in the place where the three main regions united to form the present Romania and explore the fortress, after which you will travel back to Sibiu.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Drive time: 3h 30’
At night you can gather in one of Sibiu’s many squares and count down to the New Year. Welcome 2019 with fireworks, good food and music.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
If you wish for a more active day you can travel to Paltinis, a famous area amongst sport lovers where you can ski or ride a bobsled or just have a walk in nature.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Drive time: 1h 30’
You will drive from Sibiu towards the Fagaras Mountains and then take a cable car up to Balea Lake, where the ice hotel is built every year. The hotel has everything one would expect from such a place: rooms or igloos decorated with furniture made entirely of ice, soft blankets that will keep you warm at night, an ice restaurant and even a park where you can have fun and enjoy winter sports.
Accommodation in Balea.
Drive time: 1h
In Brasov you can walk around the old town, admire the defensive walls and towers. Not to be missed are the views from the nearby Tampa Mountain, where you can arrive by hiking or taking the cable car.
Accommodation in Brasov.
Drive time: 2h
Next on your itinerary is Bran Castle, famous for its association with Dracula. Built in the 15th century, the imposing monument manages to bring to life the long-forgotten atmosphere of medieval times.
Accommodation in Brasov.
Drive time: 1h 30’
Drive time: 3h
We designed this Christmas tour to start from Maramures (Cluj Napoca airport is the closest) and to end in Bucharest but we can adapt the tour to other places of arrival and departure as well.
- Trip planning and assistance before and during the tour by email and phone. You will receive a personalized self-drive booklet with vouchers for accommodation, detailed information about the places you are visiting, directions, useful contacts and recommended things to see and do along the way
- Accommodation for 14 nights in standard double rooms with breakfast (B) included
- Rented car to be used on the above itinerary: 4×4 car for up to 4 people (Dacia Duster or similar) and minivan for 5-8 people (Renault Trafic, VW Caravelle or similar). Cars usually have manual transmission but if you want to to drive automatic, please let us know.
- Tickets for the ride with steam train, the horse-drawn sleigh and the dog-drawn sleigh rides
- 5 dinners (D) in Maramures
- 2 lunches (L): 1 in Maramures, on Christmas Day and 1 during the ride with Mocanita (the steam train)
Services which are not included in the price of the Christmas and New Year Holiday Tour in Romania:
- Entrance tickets to tourist sites, except those mentioned above. Per person you are likely to spend up to 50-70 USD
- Meals, except those included above. On average you can pay for a meal 10-15 USD
Are you looking for something else? Check our other suggested tours focused on culture, history and traditions.
