Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania, Romania
Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania, Romania
Discover the traditional savors of the country
8 Days
Discover local culinary delicacies and high quality wines during this one-week long Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania, Romania.

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.

 

Highlights of the Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania, Romania
  • 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

 

Suggested Itinerary
This is a private and guided tour. It will be organized for you only, so you will not be part of a larger group.
Day 1  Friday
Start your guided Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania in Sibiu, a charming medieval town which together with the surrounding area was named European Region of Gastronomy in 2019.

Sibiu Old Town

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′

 

Days 2&3  Saturday and Sunday
This weekend will be dedicated to discovering the gastronomy of Marginimea Sibiului, a historical region widely known for its excellent products. Food is made from locally-produced ingredients, ensuring their high quality and authentic taste. They also follow ancient recipes adapted to modern times, so you will get to truly experience the local flavors.

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.

Eat Local Event

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.

Local products

Photo Credit: My Transylvania

Accommodation in Sibiu.

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

 

Day 4  Monday
In the morning you will leave behind Sibiu and travel towards Hunedoara, where you will visit Corvin Castle, the most imposing Gothic building in all of Transylvania. As you cross the stone bridge leading to the entrance, you will be impressed by the tall observation and defensive towers, its rich history and the numerous legends written across its walls.

The Diaspora is increasingly contributing to tourism in Romania

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.

View from Sub Piatra

Accommodation at Raven’s Nest.

Drive time: 4h 30’

 

Day 5  Tuesday

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.

Liliac Winery

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′

 

Day 6  Wednesday
Today you will learn more about the cultural heritage of Transylvania by visiting two of the Fortified Churches which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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.

Viscri Village

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.

Shepherding

Accommodation in Viscri.

Drive time: 2h

 

Day 7  Thursday
Start the seventh day of your Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania by meeting a skillful beekeeper who will tell you everything about the art of beekeeping, talk about life inside a hive and let you taste home-made honey.

BeeKeeper

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.

Winery in Western Romania

You will spend the night in a renovated farmhouse.

Accommodation in Cund.

Drive time: 2h 30’

 

Day 8  Friday
In the morning you will try your hand at artisanal cheese making, during an interesting workshop. Using high-quality milk directly from the cows grazing on the hills surrounding the village and on old Swiss method, you will take part in the production process and learn about all the necessary steps. Moreover, you will get to sample a few delicacies made by your host.

Cheese making Workshop

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.

 

Why travel with us

Suggested Itinerary Viewed On Map
Suggested Accommodation

Casa Luxemburg 3* – Sibiu

Casa Luxemburg is one of the oldest buildings in Sibiu, with a rich history and beautiful 13th century architecture. Its privileged location, in the heart of the old town of Sibiu makes it a perfect choice if you are eager to explore the town just as you step out of the hotel door. Each of the 8 rooms has its own design and unique view, from your window you may see some of the most important attractions such as the Liar’s Bridge or the Council Tower. The quality of the accommodation together with the diversity of dishes will complete your stay in this unique boutique hotel.
Raven's Nest

Raven’s Nest 3*

Raven’s Nest is a private village located in a spectacular natural landscape in the Apuseni Mountains. The three houses, now restored, date from the 18th-19th centuries and offer comfortable accommodation in double or twin rooms decorated in a traditional style. The guests can enjoy the available facilities like hammocks, an open-air cinema or a terrace built on rocks from where they can admire the beautiful sunset over the Transylvanian mountains. The restaurant serves authentic food made from local ingredients, which is paired with excellent wines and artisanal beers.  
Stefania Gusthouse Praid

Stefania Guesthouse 4* – Praid

Located in a quiet area, at the foot of the mountains, the guesthouse was built and decorated in a traditional style specific to the szekely people. The six rooms are comfortable and each one has a unique design, with hand-painted furniture and tapestries hanging on the walls. The inner yard is full of vegetation, and the small pond and wooden terrace are perfect for spending a few tranquil moments in the middle of the nature.

Viscri 125 – Viscri

The 11 rooms of this rural guesthouse are located in traditional German Saxon buildings specific to this area and older than 100 years. The rooms are charming, comfortable and lack TV and internet access so you are encouraged to disconnect from the outside world. They offer set menus cooked from local ingredients and mostly by following traditional recipes. Walking out through the front gate you’ll feel like stepping back in time while exploring the village. Through the back door you will get to the hammocks area where you can relax or walk through the wildflower fields in the summer months.
Food and Wine Tour of Transylvania, Romania: Included Services
  • 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

 

Prices
The prices are calculated for a guided private tour for groups of the sizes mentioned below. If you are interested in a self-drive tour, please send an inquiry for the prices. If you don’t mind sharing the tour and this way also reducing the cost per person, please let us know and we will see if we can get other people to sign up.
Group Size
Price per person – EUR
12 persons
10 persons
8 persons
6 persons
4 persons
2 persons
1100 EUR
1150 EUR
1125 EUR
1225 EUR
1350 EUR
1990 EUR
Traveler’s Reviews
Bernhard & Isabel from Switzerland/France
“We did a fully custom 4 week “tour of Romania”. After an initial contact (Skype) to assess my interests, they made a detailed day-by-day proposal. They offered not only attractions that we certainly would not have discovered ourselves (like a visit to a sheepfold, a custom boating trip in the Danube delta, an egg-painter artist), but also proposed unique accommodations (e.g. in a castle, on a small farm in Bocovina) and arranged for guides e.g. in Maramures. Both my wife and I are very happy with the tour and feel that we got much more out of our visit than we would have had we made arrangements ourselves or made our own day-by-day plan.
Steven from UK
“They organised a self-drive tour through Transylvania for us and it couldn’t have been better. Organising the tour was a breeze with easy communication to ensure we got exactly what we wanted to out of our trip. We were provided a comprehensive itinerary and guidebook which was extremely useful and made everything easy. The accommodation was great, a combination of hotels and local Guesthouses that provide a real look at the Romanian culture. I can’t recommend enough their services!”

Are you looking for something else? Check our other suggested tours focused on culture, history and traditions.