
The presence of Jews in Romania dates from early Roman Empire times but during the centuries their population increased, immigrants gradually fleeing from the restriction and persecution of other countries, settled on these lands hoping to live a peaceful life.
The Jewish population reached its peak before World War II, but due to the deportations that followed and the immigration to other countries after the WWII, many of them left the country, leaving behind a rich and very well-preserved heritage.
You will tour Romania in search of this lost heritage, visiting beautiful synagogues, interesting Jewish cemeteries and learning about the fascinating stories of the Romanian Jews.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Therefore, you will start the Jewish heritage tour in Romania by visiting the Great Synagogue which has a beautiful interior design mixing the baroque and rococo style and also holds an exhibition dedicated to the Jewish martyrs. The Choral Temple is the main working synagogue in the city and a stunning building decorated with lavish furniture and lightening. The introduction into the Jewish capital’s heritage will be completed with a visit to the State Jewish Theater and the Jewish History Museum housed in the beautiful Holy Union synagogue.
At the midday you can have a kosher lunch at Joseph’s, a famous restaurant held by an Israeli.
Optional: On the second part of the day in this Romanian tour, you can choose to explore the Old Town of Bucharest or to discover more of the Jewish heritage by visiting the Yeshua Tova synagogue, the Holocaust Memorial or one of the three Jewish cemeteries.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Drive time: 1h
From Peles castle you will travel to Brasov where you will visit the Neolog synagogue, built in the early 20th century in a charming Spanish style. Here you will also meet a member of the Jewish community of the town which will introduce you to the history of the local Jews. Near the synagogue there is a Jewish canteen where you can have a lunch cooked only with kosher ingredients.
In the afternoon you will continue your Jewish heritage tour in Romania with a guided walking tour of medieval Brasov, visiting the historic center, some of the town’s defensive walls and towers and the impressive Gothic Black Church.
Optional: For a wonderful panorama of the town you can go up to the nearby Tampa Mountain. To get there you will need to take the cable car or if you are up for a hike, to walk for about 2 hours roundtrip through the forest.
Accommodation in Brasov.
Drive time: 3h
The next stop will be the famous Romanian Bran castle, an impressive building dating from 13th century but restored and decorated in a charming style in the early ’20 by our queen Maria and used as a royal residence.
Viscri is one of Romania’s most authentic and charming German-Saxon villages. You will explore the village by walking through its unpaved streets, admiring the vividly colored houses and visiting the beautiful fortified church which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Accommodation in Viscri.
Drive time: 2-3h
Sibiu is another beautiful medieval town and a landmark regarding the culture of Romania, being chosen European Capital of Culture in 2007. You will have a guided walking tour of the Old Town so you can admire its historic buildings with eye-catching roofs and defensive walls and towers and learn about the strong influence of German-Saxons in Sibiu and surroundings. The tour will also include a visit to the Great Synagogue, an important and fascinating building of Jewish heritage in Romania due to its rich history and Renaissance appearance.
Optional: You can choose to do a small detour and visit Biertan, a village close to Sibiu and located in a wonderful rural setting. Here you will visit the fortified church, an imposing building watching the village from a little hill.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Drive time: 2-3h
The Jews inhabited Timisoara and Banat region since 2nd century AD but their presence begin to be more noticeable in the early 18th century, after the Turkish army surrounded the town which was under Austrian domination at that time. Even if they had some restrictions, generally the Jews were tolerated in the town and few of them faced severe anti-Semitic actions. Their evolution as Jewish population mixed well with the rest of the population and they had important roles in the political and commercial life of Timisoara.
Accommodation in Timisoara.
Drive time: 3-4h
To better understand the history of the town, today you will have a guided walking tour through its center. You will learn about the Secession and Baroque palaces of the town, the fortress of Oradea and you will visit two of the synagogues of the town. The Zion Neological Syangogue is an imposing Neo-Moorish building having a very-well preserved design and a huge cupola while the Orthodox Synagogue is the only synagogue still functioning in the town and features a beautiful eclectic style with strong Moorish influence. At the end of the day you will also visit the Jewish cemetery of the town.
Optional: If want to spend a relaxing afternoon you can enjoy the thermal waters of Baile Felix, the largest health resort in Romania.
Accommodation in Oradea.
Drive time: 3h
Before continuing your way to Maramures region, you will visit the Jewish cemetery, where almost every gravestone is written only with Hebrew characters.
In the second part of the day you will travel to Breb, a small village in the bucolic Maramures region. You will explore the village walking through its streets so you can learn about the quaint life and unique traditions of the locals. The village has also a small Jewish cemetery which is very interesting to see.
Accommodation in Vadu Izei.
Drive time: 5h
Then, you will travel to Sapanta where you will visit the Christian Merry Cemetery, unique in the world as its funerary crosses are lively decorated with paintings and poems about the life of the deceased. Sapanta is also the town from where the Spinka Hasidic group originates.
Accommodation in Vadu Izei.
Drive time: 1h
From Budesti you will travel to Cluj-Napoca, but on your way you can stop at Dej to visit one of the most interesting synagogues in Transylvania.
Cluj-Napoca (named Klausenburg in German) is one of the most vibrant cities of Romania, featuring a wide variety of gardens and art galleries. The Klausenburg or Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidic dynasty originates from this city. You can be introduced to the Jewish part of the city by having a kosher lunch at the Jewish canteen. Then you will have a guided walking tour of the city which will include a visit to the Memorial Temple of Deported, a superb synagogue built in Moorish style and still officiating services for the remaining Jews of the city.
Accommodation in Cluj-Napoca.
Drive time: 3h
From Cluj there are direct flights to Israel and there are many direct connections with cities in Europe through which you can connect to North America or other parts of the world. So the tour can end in Cluj or it can be extended. Generally the tour is subject to change and adaptation depending on your interest.
Included services in the Jewish heritage tour
- Trip planning and assistance before, during and after the tour
- Certified English speaking tour guide (accommodation, relocation and meals are included)
- Accommodation for 10 Nights in standard double or twin room, breakfast included
- Private transfer on the above itinerary by car (Dacia Logan or similar for a group of 1-4 persons, Renault Traffic or similar for a group of 5-8 persons; fuel, taxes and parking fees are included)
- 1 dinner in Viscri (set menus, home cooked traditional food)

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Are you looking for something else? Check our Private Genealogy Tour of Romania or other suggested tours focused on culture, history and traditions.