Christmas is probably the most loved holiday for many people across the world and when the country boasts with unique traditions as well, higher are the chances to experience an unforgettable Christmas.

This tour will take you the regions of Transylvania and Maramures where you will be immersed into the rich traditions of people from Romania. Besides spending the Christmas with locals, you will be able to discover some of the most beautiful sites from these two regions.

Yearly dates: December 18-28. 

• Spend the Christmas with local people from Maramures and get involved into their traditions and customs
• Explore the Christmas markets of some of the most beautiful towns in Romania
• Discover the castles and medieval towns of Transylvania in winter
• Enjoy a ride with a steam train through the picturesque Vaser Valley

Accommodation in Bucharest.

Drive time: 30′

Day 2  19th of December

Then you will visit Bran castle. Overlooking a narrow valley, the castle was used both for defense and as residence for the royal family. While crossing the tortuous rooms you will be introduced to the medieval times and learn about the royal family of Romania.

In the afternoon you will arrive in the town of Brasov (Transylvania region). Here you can wander through the cobbled streets so you can discover its beautiful medieval architecture. The main square of the old town is also home to a Christmas market in this period of year, therefore, be sure that you make time to explore it as well.

Accommodation in Brasov.

Drive time:  3 h 30′

Today you will visit one of the largest bear sanctuaries in the world, Libearty sanctuary from Zarnesti. It provides a natural and safe shelter for bears who were rescued from cruel and improper living conditions. While visiting the sanctuary, you will also get to hear some of the moving stories of the bears.

Next on the itinerary is the medieval town of Sibiu, considered by many the most beautiful town in Romania. For the rest of the day, you will have the chance to explore its old town together with its defensive walls and towers, visit the Clock Tower and Evangelical and Catholic churches and cross the Liar’s Bridge – without saying a lie while on it as it is believed that it will crack.

During Christmas holidays, Sibiu is also home to a vivid Christmas market, where you can enjoy traditional and international snacks and drinks, buy gifts for your loved ones and participate to the Christmas events that take place during your stay. If you are a skating lover you don’t have to miss the ice skating ring.

Accommodation in Sibiu.

Drive time: 3 h

Optional: As the trip is designed as a self-drive tour, in the second part of the day you can choose to go to Paltinis, a nearby winter resort where you can ski and enjoy other winter activities. Otherwise, you can choose to spend some more time in Sibiu and visit one or two of the many museums of the town.

Accommodation in Sibiu.

Drive time: 1 h 30′ if going to Paltinis

Next on your Christmas Tour of Romania is the town of Alba Iulia, one of the most important towns in Romanian history as it was here where the main regions of Romania united 100 years ago to form the country we know today. You will have a walk through the citadel which is one of the largest and best-preserved Vauban-style shape citadels in Europe.

You will end the day with a walk in the nature in Coltesti village and surroundings. Coltesti is a charming village featuring small white houses of Hungarian heritage and is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains. If there is snow, the landscape is even more beautiful.

Accommodation in Coltesti.

Drive time: 3h

Then you will travel to Maramures region, the best place where you can witness the Christmas traditions of Romania, and on your way you will have a stop at Surdesti. Here you will visit one of the wooden churches specific to the region and also part of UNESCO heritage.

Optional: On your way to Maramures, you can have a stop at Cavnic, a winter resort popular among the locals of the region.

Accommodation in Maramures region.

Drive time: 4 h

First, you will discover the Merry Cemetery from Sapanta, unique in the world because of the bright decorated crosses and the funny poems written on them. The cemetery is an exhibition of the traditional heritage of the region as its roots are placed in an ancient belief that see death rather as a celebration than as a tragic event.

The Memorial of the Victims of Communism is one of the most interesting museums in Romania as it is located in a former prison where the communists detained their political opponents. While entering into the former cells you will learn about the Communist times and how they impacted the country and its culture.

Then you will return to the guesthouse where the Christmas holiday starts to be announced by the carolers who wander from one house to another singing and reciting about the birth of Jesus Christ. You will receive the carolers dressed in traditional clothes and singing old carols specific to the region.

Optional: Attending church during holiday season is a very well kept custom in Maramures, therefore, in the evening you can accompany the locals at the Christmas Eve mass.

Accommodation in Maramures region.

Drive time: 2 h 30′

Accommodation in Maramures region.

Drive time: 1 h

Day 9  26th of December

Optional: In the second part of the day you have various options of things you can do. If you would like to enjoy more of the snow and winter landscape, you could have a horse-sledge ride. Or if you want to get involved into the local traditional entertainment, you could participate to a concert, religious theater or local party having the Christmas theme. If you would prefer to explore more of the heritage of Maramures, you could visit more of the wooden churches specific to the region, some of them being UNESCO sites.

Accommodation in Maramures region.

Drive time: depends on what you prefer to do in the second part of the day

Then you will head towards Transylvania region. After your arrival in Cluj-Napoca, you can have a walk though the center of the city so you can explore the lively Christmas market.

Accommodation in Cluj-Napoca.

Drive time: 4 h

Since this is a private tour, the start and end days, the locations and duration of the tour are flexible, just let us know your preferences. As presented here, this is a self-drive tour but we can also organize it as a guided tour. 

• Trip planning. This will include 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 10 nights in standard double rooms with breakfast included (if by the time you book the tour there aren’t available rooms at the proposed hotels, we will book rooms at hotels similar in terms of comfort and price)
• Rented car on the above itinerary: Dacia Duster or similar (4×4, manual transmission)
• 4 dinners in Maramures
• Steam train ride (Mocanita)

Services which are not included in the tour package price:

• Entrance tickets to tourist sites, except those mentioned above. Per person you are likely to spend up to 30-50 EUR/person
• Meals, except those included above. On average you can pay for a meal 10-12 EUR/person