With Sibiu being European Region of Gastronomy in 2019, it is the perfect departing place for a tour that will take you through German-Saxon villages, where you will experiment the rural way of life and ancient recipes, through places of Hungarian heritage and authentic Romanian farms. Craftsmen, wine-tasting sessions, beautiful medieval castles, calming nature and spectacular attractions are also part of this tour.

Food in Romania is quite hearty, typical Eastern European. But in recent years there’s been an effort to adapt to the 21st century, make portions smaller, present the food in a better way and use even more local and seasonal products.

• Explore Sibiu, 2019 European Region of Gastronomy and its surroundings
• Have a home-cooked meal made from organic ingredients
• Taste wines at two of Transylvania’s best wineries
• Visit a sheepfold and learn how to make cheese
• Try traditional local dishes
• Learn about crafts and centuries’s old practices

You will be transferred to the hotel located in the heart of the Old Town and depending on the amount of time you have left, you can enjoy dinner and rest or you can have a walk through the city.

Accommodation in Sibiu.

Drive time: 30′

As Sibiu is Region of Gastronomy in 2019, there are various events organized throughout the weekends in the surrounding villages between June and October. Depending on when you come, you will visit the village where the event is taking place.

Photo Credit: Eat Local

During these two days you will have a delicious brunch or picnic consisting of local delicacies, you will have a walk around the village to learn about its history and culture and you will take part in a workshop promoting a local craft.  You will also get to taste products made by small families, take part in a walking tour on gastronomy culture at the ASTRA Open Air Museum and have a guided tour of Sibiu’s Old Town. If the program allows it, you can also visit a local market and a museum.

Photo Credit: My Transylvania

Accommodation in Sibiu.

Drive time: depends on where the event is taking place (between 1-3 hours)

Then you will stop in Alba-Iulia, a city of great importance in the history of Romania. You will walk inside the star-shaped fortress and learn how current Romania came to be.

In the afternoon you will arrive at Raven’s Nest, a private village located in a spectacular natural landscape in the Apuseni Mountains. There you can enjoy a walk in nature, witness the sunset from the Jacuzzi or relax in one of the hammocks provided by the guesthouse.  You will also have an authentic dinner made from locally sourced ingredient  paired with excellent wines or craft beers.

Accommodation at Raven’s Nest.

Drive time: 4h 30’

The first attraction you will be visiting today is Turda Salt Mine, a place like no other where you can enjoy the healthy salty air and marvel at the impressive man-built structures. Here you can row a boat, ride a Ferris-wheel and find out how the mining industry in the area developed over the centuries. We chose to include this place as salt plays an important role in gastronomy and it was even more important in the past when it helped preserve meats and vegetables over long periods of time.

The next stop of your Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania will be at one of the best wineries in Transylvania called Liliac. Here you will have the opportunity to learn a little bit about Romanian wines and taste some of them. The winery is located on rolling hills, in a beautiful area.

In the afternoon you will reach Praid, a village of Hungarian heritage and you will stay at a guesthouse decorated in a traditional manner. As you walk through the village you can observe the architecture specific to the Hungarian community, while at dinner you will enjoy a hearty traditional meal.

Accommodation in Praid.

Drive time: 4h 30′

You will first stop in Darjiu village, where you can admire the impressive monument built by Szeklers. It has an interesting architecture and well-preserved frescoes. In one of the towers of the fortification, to this day, locals keep their ham and bacon as it offers very good storing conditions and at times of assault in the past, it was easily available.

Afterwards you will reach Viscri village, that not only hosts one of the most important German-Saxon monuments, but it is also one of the few places in the region where time seems to have stood still, as traditions are still practiced like centuries ago and nature was mostly left untouched.  After a visit to the 12th century fortified church you will meet the blacksmith of the village and see how he makes objects the old way. You will also stop at a small bakery and if they are baking bread then, you will witness how they bake the bread using traditional methods.

In the afternoon you will travel by horse cart to a nearby sheepfold. Shepherding has played an important role in the gastronomical development of Romania and now you will have the chance to learn everything about this occupation, from the way sheep are milked to how cheese is made.

Accommodation in Viscri.

Drive time: 2h

After that, we will travel to an ecological farm to have lunch, made using ingredients grown by the owners themselves.

In the afternoon you will visit to a local winery that combines the traditional with the innovation, reflected in the process of obtaining the wine and the architecture of the building. You will get to taste some of the best wines produced in Transylvania, especially whites.

You will spend the night in a renovated farmhouse.

Accommodation in Cund.

Drive time: 2h 30’

Later that day you will travel back to Sibiu, thus marking the end of your Food and Wine tour of Transylvania.

Drive time: 2h

The tour can start and end in places other than Sibiu, just let us know and we will adjust the itinerary. It can easily start and/or end from cities like Bucharest, Timisoara, Cluj Napoca or Brasov.

• Trip planning and assistance before, during and after the tour
• Certified English speaking tour guide (accommodation, relocation and meals are included)
• Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast included in standard double rooms at the places suggested above. The accommodation at those places is subject to availability. If those particular places will not be available for the dates you are interested in, we will suggest alternatives of similar quality and price.
• Private transfer on the above itinerary by sedan or SUV car for up to 4 people (Ford Mondeo, Dacia Logan or similar), by minivan for 5-8 people (Opel Vivaro or similar) and by minibus for more than 9 people (Mercedes Sprinter or similar); fuel, taxes and parking fees are included
• Transfer to the airport on arrival and departure
• Participation in the program around Sibiu (brunch, gastronomy tour at village museum and food tasting at a farm)
• Meals: 1 brunch (in Sibiu), 3 lunches (at a winery, in Viscri, at the ecological farm) and 4 dinners (in Sub Piatra, Praid, Viscri and Cund)
• Two wine tasting sessions (at least 5 wines)
• Visits to craftsmen, sheepfold, workshops and other communities mentioned in the itinerary

Services which are not included in the tour package price:

• Flights
• Entrance tickets to tourist sites (you might spend around 30 EUR/person)
• Meals except the ones included (you will probably spend on average 10-15 EUR/meal, in some places it will be more and in others less.)
• Other services not mentioned in the above sections