Rural Maramures and Bucovina Tour

Discover the authentic way of life

7 Days

Explore the best of Maramures and Bucovina during this 7-day tour. See the only “Merry Cemetery” in the world, admire Europe’s highest wooden church, ride a narrow-gauge steam train, learn about the wood-carving culture and about the craft of painting eggs.

Amidst visits and explorations, enjoy the hospitality of the people and get drawn for a few days in the quaint way of life specific to Romanian villages.

Highlights of the Maramures and Bucovina Tour

Observe the daily lives of people
Learn about the communism period in Romania
Meet locals who practice centuries-old crafts and occupations
Learn about the architecture specific to the churches from Bucovina and Maramures
Ride a cart drawn by horses

Suggested Itinerary – Maramures and Bucovina Tour

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

You will start your Maramures and Bucovina Tour from Cluj-Napoca. First you will visit this important city situated in the heart of the country and very well-connected to the rest of Europe.

You will then transfer to Baia-Mare from where you will explore the beautiful region of Maramures in the next few days.

Accommodation in Baia Mare.

Drive time: 2h 30’

Day 2

In the morning you will visit the open air market in Baia Mare, where you will have the opportunity to observe the daily life of the people.

Next on your itinerary is the Memorial Museum of the Victims of Communism. Also known as the Museum of Arrested Thought, it is a former prison where many of Romania’s important figures were held captive and tortured during the communism period. You will learn about the history of the regimen, see photos of how prisoners used to live and visit the cells and torture chambers.

In the second part of the day you will travel to Sapanta to see one of Romania’s most interesting attractions – the Merry Cemetery. Each cross in the cemetery is blue and features traditional motifs. You will also see a painted image, meant to illustrate a personality trait or a significant scene from the life of the person who died and a short, witty poem.

Also in Sapanta you can visit the Sapanta-Peri Monastery, the tallest wooden structure in Europe.

Accommodation in Breb.

Day 3

This day will be dedicated to exploring the countryside and the well-kept traditions of the region. You will hopefully get to realize why Maramures is called the “last truly rural place of Europe”!

Start the day with a horse cart ride in Breb, an emblematic village for all things that represent Maramures. Moreover, the interesting experience will proceed with a visit to one of the wooden churches for which the region is so famous, Budesti. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it has a remarkable collection of wood and glass icons.

You will continue your trip with a stop at the water powered installations in Sarbi, after which you will take part in a wood carving workshop.

Later that day you will visit two more UNESCO Wooden Churches: First is Barsana Monastery with its impressive interior paintings. Many people concide rit the most beautiful one. Nex tis Ieud Wooden Church and then you will stop for a short while at the Ples Ethnographic Museum in Ieud.

Accommodation in Viseu de Sus.

Drive time: 2h

Day 4

Today you will take part in a unique experience as you will get to ride Mocanita. It bis the only fully functional narrow-gauge steam train in Europe. The ride lasts for 6-7 hours and takes you through the beautiful Vaser Valley, an area with green forests, steep cliffs and clean waters.

You will then get ready for your second part of the Maramures and Bucovina Tour and head towards the North-Eastern region of the country.

Accommodation in Vama.

Drive time: 5h

Day 5

It’s time to explore Bucovina, the region famous for its painted monasteries and decorated Easter Eggs.

First you will visit the Egg Museum in Vama, which displays a collection of thousands of eggs, all of them unique in their design. You will have the opportunity to admire them and also learn about the long-kept tradition of manually painting eggs for Easter.

Afterwards, you will explore some of Bucovina’s UNESCO Monasteries. Moldovita Monastery stands out through its colorful external frescoes. Sucevita Monastery features the largest number of the best preserved paintings. Voronet is definitely the one you can’t miss due to it being painted in a particular shade of blue, known worldwide as “Voronet blue”. Most importantly its composition remains a mystery even today.

Accommodation in Vama.

Drive time: 3h

Day 6

You will leave behind the region of Bucovina and travel to Cluj-Napoca, a fascinating city for those who are interested in Romania’s history, art and architecture.

In the afternoon you will have a guided city tour. So you can explore the beautiful Unirii Square, visit King Matthias Corvinus’ birth house and admire an impressive Gothic church. Lastly, you will climb to the Cetatuia Hill to see the remains of the old fortification walls and from. You will also have a panoramic view of Cluj-Napoca.

Accommodation in Cluj-Napoca.

Drive time: 5h

Day 7

Today marks the end of your Maramures and Bucovina Tour. You will be transferred to the airport, from where you will take the flight back home.

Suggested Itinerary Viewed On Map – Maramures and Bucovina Tour

Suggested Accommodation

Bucovina Lodge 4* – Vama

Located in a beautiful location, on a hill, near the forest and overlooking the Vama village, Bucovina Lodge is a 10-room charming hotel. It is very well positioned for visiting the famous painted churches of Bucovina, the mountains and traditional villages from this part of the country. The coziness of the rooms, the quality of the service and the warmth of the host will make you feel just like home.

Hotel Beyfin 4* – Cluj-Napoca

Known for its commitment to quality and attention to details, Hotel Beyfin offer to its guests accommodation in 31 rooms and apartments decorated with charming Italian furniture and having a high level of comfort. From some of the the rooms windows you can enjoy the views over the most important attractions of the city as the hotel is located in the very center of Cluj-Napoca. The distinctive elegance of the hotel can be also found in the restaurant and the upper terrace where you can delight with dishes from the Italian cuisine accompanied by local and international wines.

Maramu’ Guesthouse – Breb

Dating from almost a century ago, this wooden guesthouse offers an authentic rural experience that will allow you to discover the traditions of Maramures. The 4 rooms with a capacity for 12 people are clean and comfortable, preserving elements specific to the region. The inner yard, full of vegetation, and the small terrace are the perfect places from which to enjoy the beauty of the Gutai Mountains. The hosts are very warm and caring and along with the tasty, homecooked meals, will help make your stay memorable.

Maramures and Bucovina Tour: Included Services

Trip planning
Accommodation for 6 nights in standard double rooms with breakfast (B) included
Tour guide services (local, English-speaking)
Private transfer on the above itinerary by sedan or SUV car for up to 4 people (Dacia Logan or similar); fuel, taxes and parking fees are included
Tickets for the ride with Mocanita (with picnic lunch included)
3 dinners (D): 1 in Bucovina, 2 in Maramures; home-cooked meals
Horse ride cart

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 USD
Meals, except those included above. On average you can pay for a meal 10-15 USD

Prices – Maramures and Bucovina Tour

The prices are calculated for a private guided tour for groups of the sizes mentioned below. If you are interested in a self-drive tour, please let us know.

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Single room supplement: 270 EUR

Traveler’s Reviews

Sveta from Australia
“We would have never seen and experienced all the wonderful things we have, has it not been for their local expertise – and true passion for sharing their country. I’m usually not one for taking tours, but the ease or organization (transport makes a big difference), private tour just for our small group, and such a tailored approach was faultless. I’ve been to over 40 countries, and this trip to Romania is one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had!”

Matt from Canada
“They diligently ensured that the itinerary matched our interests in an authentic experience of Romanian culture. The tour was well-organized, accommodations well-chosen and interactions with the guide so educational and enjoyable. With his connections to local people, he gave us an unforgettable experience of monasteries, castles, farmers, artisans, natural places, and a culture that is unique in all the world. In short, their tours are authentic and exceptional. We would wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone traveling in Romania.”

Are you looking for something else? Check our other suggested tours focused on rural and nature.