Private tours · Romania & Bulgaria
So you want to go to Romania and Bulgaria?
Grand Bucharest, the castles and medieval towns of Transylvania, then south to Bulgaria's old cities and the Black Sea. Here's how I'd help you and your group make the most of it.
Europe's best-kept secret.
Romania and Bulgaria are still wonderfully undiscovered by most Australians. Painted monasteries, fortified Saxon towns, fairytale castles and mountain villages where life still moves at the pace of a horse and cart, all at a fraction of the cost of Western Europe.
They're perfect for a group of curious friends or family who've done the classics and want somewhere different. Start in Bucharest, wander the medieval towns of Transylvania, then cross the Danube into Bulgaria for Roman ruins, ancient monasteries and a few days by the Black Sea.
Below are my thoughts on where to go, what to do, where to stay and what to eat. Use them as inspiration. I'll shape the trip around your group, your dates, your pace and your budget.
Where to go
Romania, Bulgaria or both?
Bucharest sits just an hour north of the Danube and the Bulgarian border, so the two countries combine beautifully. Most groups start in Romania and finish with a few days on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and Sighișoara
Romania
The grand boulevards and belle-époque palaces of Bucharest, then north into the Carpathians and Transylvania: medieval Brașov, Bran and Peleș castles, the Saxon towns of Sighișoara and Sibiu, and villages where time seems to have stood still.
Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Rila and the Black Sea
Bulgaria
The hilltop fortress town of Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv with its Roman theatre and colourful old quarter, the painted Rila Monastery in the mountains, and the ancient seaside town of Nessebar on the Black Sea.
How many days?
How long do you need?
The honest answer is longer than most people plan. Here's roughly what fits, without rushing.
Bucharest and Brașov
A day in Bucharest, then up into the mountains for Peleș and Bran castles and the old town of Brașov.
Transylvania done well
Add the medieval towns of Sighișoara and Sibiu, a Saxon fortified church and a night in a village guesthouse.
Romania and the Black Sea
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria for Veliko Tarnovo, then finish with a few days by the sea at Nessebar.
The whole journey
Transylvania, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv and Rila Monastery, then unwind on the Black Sea coast.
Things to do
Some highlights.
Choose a few, not all of them. The best trips here leave room for long lunches, village wanders and doing nothing much at all.
Explore belle-époque Bucharest
Walk the old town and Calea Victoriei with a local guide, step inside the vast Palace of the Parliament, then settle into a beer hall or a garden café for dinner.
Tour Peleș and Bran castles
Spend a day in the Carpathians between fairytale Peleș, the royal summer palace in Sinaia, and Bran Castle, the clifftop fortress linked to the legend of Dracula.
Ride the cable car above Brașov
Wander medieval Brașov and the Black Church, then take the cable car up Mount Tâmpa for sweeping views over the terracotta rooftops at sunset.
Climb the clock tower in Sighișoara
Explore one of Europe's last lived-in medieval citadels, climb the Clock Tower and visit a fortified Saxon church in a nearby village.
Lunch with a village family
Visit a Transylvanian village where horse carts still share the road, and sit down to a home-cooked lunch of local cheeses, soups and plum brandy with a farming family.
Drive the Transfăgărășan
Summer only: follow one of the world's most spectacular mountain roads over the Făgăraș range to the glacial lake at Bâlea, with a private driver at the wheel.
See Plovdiv's Roman theatre
Wander the cobbled Old Town and its painted merchant houses, sit in the 2,000-year-old Roman theatre, then dine in the arty Kapana quarter.
Visit the painted Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most beautiful monastery sits deep in the Rila Mountains, its arches and chapels covered in vivid frescoes. A wonderful day trip from Sofia or Plovdiv.
Swim and stroll in Nessebar
Explore the ancient churches and wooden houses of Nessebar's peninsula old town, then spend lazy days on the Black Sea beaches nearby.
Where you might stay
Beautiful places to stay.
From grand city hotels to restored Saxon manor houses and seaside resorts, these are a few I'd suggest for groups and families.
Bucharest
Athénée Palace
A grand belle-époque hotel on Revolution Square, right beside the Romanian Athenaeum. Elegant and very central.
Bran and Brașov
A mountain guesthouse
Family-run guesthouses and chalets in the villages around Bran and Brașov, with mountain views, home cooking and room for everyone.
Sighișoara
Casa cu Cerb
A historic house on the main square of Sighișoara's medieval citadel, a lovely base for a night or two inside the walls.
Viscri, Transylvania
A Saxon village stay
Restored guesthouses in UNESCO-listed Saxon villages like Viscri, surrounded by meadows and fortified churches. Simple, warm and unforgettable.
Plovdiv
Hotel Trimontium
A classic hotel in central Plovdiv, an easy walk from the Old Town and the Roman theatre.
Nessebar and Sunny Beach
A Black Sea resort
Relaxed beachfront hotels near Nessebar with pools, gardens and sea views, ideal for winding down at the end of the trip.
These are suggested accommodation options, not an exhaustive list.
Food to try
What to eat and drink.
Hearty, generous and seasonal, built on pork, fresh cheese, soups and garden vegetables, with surprisingly good wine. These are the things I'd make sure you try. I'll book the right tables once you're there.
Sarmale
Romania's favourite dish: cabbage leaves rolled around spiced pork and rice, slow-cooked and served with polenta and sour cream.
Mici
Little grilled skinless sausages, garlicky and juicy, eaten with mustard, fresh bread and a cold beer.
Papanași
Fried cheese doughnuts topped with sour cream and sour-cherry jam. The dessert everyone remembers.
Shopska salad
Bulgaria's classic: tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and onion under a snowy layer of grated white sheep's cheese.
Banitsa
Flaky filo pastry filled with eggs and white cheese, the classic Bulgarian breakfast with a glass of ayran.
Local wine
Fetească Neagră from Romania and Bulgaria's own Mavrud and Melnik reds. Both countries have wonderful wineries to visit.
Good to know
Worth knowing before you go.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September are ideal: green countryside, warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are best for the Black Sea and the high mountain roads. Winter brings Christmas markets and snowy castles.
Do we need a car?
A private driver is the easiest way to travel. Distances are manageable but roads can be slow, and a local driver-guide brings the history, villages and food to life.
Is it safe and easy to travel?
Yes. Both countries are welcoming, safe and very good value, and English is widely spoken in cities and hotels. I'll arrange local guides wherever they add the most.
How do we get there?
Most Australians fly into Bucharest via the Middle East or Europe, and home from Sofia or Varna. Crossing from Romania into Bulgaria is a short drive over the Danube.
Is it good for families and mixed ages?
Very. Castles, cable cars, village farms and Black Sea beaches keep everyone happy, and the food is easy for children.
How far ahead should we plan?
Six to nine months is ideal, especially for summer and for the best village guesthouses, which have only a handful of rooms.
Why plan with Every Element
Your group, your holiday. I'll organise the rest.
Planning a holiday for a group of friends or family can be complicated. Different interests, accommodation preferences, budgets and expectations all need to come together.
That's where Every Element comes in.
I'll help you choose the right places to visit, find accommodation that suits your group and design an itinerary that balances experiences with time to relax.
I'll book your accommodation, organise private transfers, local guides and experiences, and coordinate all the arrangements so everything works together.
One point of contact, one beautifully organised holiday, designed entirely around your group.
You work directly with me
From the first conversation to the day you arrive home, you deal with me personally, not a call centre.
Designed around your group
Your dates, your pace and your budget, with rooms and experiences that suit everyone, from grandparents to teenagers.
Insider knowledge
Places I know and love, trusted local guides and drivers, and the little extras you wouldn't find on your own.
Every detail booked
Accommodation, transfers, private guides, experiences and restaurant reservations, all organised and confirmed before you leave.
Everything in one app
Your day-by-day itinerary, confirmations and contacts together in your own Every Element travel app.
I'm only a message away
If you need anything while you're travelling, I'm on WhatsApp to help.
Your private Romania & Bulgaria holiday
Let's plan yours.
Tell me who's coming, when you'd like to go and what you love most, whether that's castles, history, food or simply time together. I'll shape a private Romania and Bulgaria holiday around your group, your pace and your budget.