Top Bucharest Day Trips - page 2

Even better than hoped for! Our guide Serban Riga provided blissfully energetic leadership to the iconic castles and medieval countryside of beauty and mythology. Not only did Serban provide well-paced and abundant information every step of the way, he offered the option for guided touring or to go off on our own at the castles. That flexibility is priceless on tours of this kind. Because of his stellar knowledge of all of the sites, he also timed the visits so that we were able to enjoy even more than the original itinerary provided for. Quick jaunts through foothill villages, spotting the famous Christian Cross high on the mountain, and even movie sets as we rolled through the countryside. His exuberance is infectious and immerses you into Romanian society with a refreshingly candid point of view. He holds nothing back, is very straightforward, and full of positivity. You feel personally cared for and know you are in great hands all along the way. Excellent driver with a great rapport with Serban. You really felt that they were a team looking to deliver optimal quality and experiences for all of us. I highly recommend choosing Serban and this particular small group tour if visiting the castles. Pay attention to his recommendations regarding admission to the sites, and be sure to budget your time for things such as souvenirs or eating appropriately as it is a jam packed schedule. Not much time to waste in order to see all of the beautiful sites. If you have great interest in one castle or the other, I would recommend putting aside an entire day for each in order to not feel too rushed. I personally enjoyed this sampler tour because we were able to get so much accomplished in one trip, but I know one of my friends would’ve preferred more time at Bran Castle over Peles Castle. In a group tour, there will always be different preferences for different people, so try to be specific about your goals before booking. Serban was very clear and fair about getting group consensus about where we would spend time and where we would cut corners. He was very open to consensus. Coming from the United States, it was an extra treat to enjoy such a comprehensive tour with such an established team of guides for such a reasonable price. In my opinion, it would be very hard to spend less and get more out of your day. A great value! Our tour consisted of approximately 14 people, and we were able to avoid the famously long lines, especially at Bran Castle. Another reason to take this tour with Serban or similar size tours rather than a large bus tour for the same sites. For the price difference, do yourself a favor and make sure you book this small tour over the large bus tour if at all possible. Nothing against them, I’m sure they are fine but the tighter your group the better your experience will be. I learned so much from Serban during that day. I feel like I could have asked him questions all day long and never grown bored of gaining more insight. His storytelling and delivery of information was so easy to understand and identify with. A true pro. I hope to be able to take another tour with him sometime in the future and highly recommend you treat yourself as well. 5 star experience with great appreciation! Jeff Grossman New York, USA

Our visit with Mihai was perfect! It was just what I’d hoped for - a mix of nature and enough city visiting that I felt like I’d visited a bit of Transylvania. Just what I wanted, plus a guide happy to flex when we wanted to stray a little from the strict itinerary. Lovely!

It will leave you breathless, there is nothing else I can say. While I am a Romanian living abroad it never ceases to amaze me the beauty you can find in my country. Daniel the guide was awesome and the whole experience we cant recommend enough 10/10!