Bucharest Transylvania Christmas Markets Route

Meeting Points: 19:30 Kadıköy Marriage Office parking lot, 20:00 In front of Mecidiyeköy İstikbal Altunbaş 20:30 In front of İncirli Ömür Plaza 21:30 Selimpaşa Metro Rest Area 22:30 Çorlu Metro Rest Area After meeting our guests at the departure points specified in the tour program, we follow the Istanbul–Edirne highway, giving necessary breaks, and arrive at the Edirne–Kapıkule Land Border Gate. After completing our exit procedures there, we enter Bulgaria.

After our overnight journey, in the morning we cross the “Friendship Bridge” over the Danube in Ruse, Bulgaria, and arrive at the Giurgiu Land Border Crossing in Romania. After customs and passport procedures, we depart for Bucharest, the capital of Romania, known as the “Paris of the East.” After our journey, we begin our panoramic tour, during which we will have the chance to closely explore Bucharest. Main sights to be seen include Unirii Square, University Square, the Aviators’ Monument, Victory Square, Calea Victoriei, the city’s most famous avenue, the Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square, the Royal Palace, the statue of our ancestor Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Bucharest History Museum, the “People’s House” (Parliament Palace) built by Ceaușescu, Bucharest Old Town, and the Arch of Triumph, among the places to be seen panoramically. After our city tour of Bucharest, we will have free time for shopping at the Christmas market in the square. For those who wish, we will take part in the optional “Ceaușescu House” tour (30 €). We visit the Ceaușescus’ house, built by Nicolae Ceaușescu and opened to visitors as a museum in 2016. After our optional tour, we head to the hotel where we will stay. After check-in at the hotel, free time and accommodation. Those who wish may join the optional dinner program to be held at a local restaurant (55 €). After the optional tour, return to the hotel. Accommodation at our hotel in Bucharest. Museum and archaeological site entrance fees and guided explanations inside the museums are included in the optional tour price.

After breakfast at the hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join our extra “Transylvania Castles” tour, the highlight of Romania and a journey that leaves lasting memories with its castles (50 €) (entrance fees are not included). In this tour, which includes unique natural and historical beauty, we first visit Peleș Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. After a photo stop here, we continue to Bran town. Upon arrival in Bran, we see the mysterious “Dracula’s Castle,” known in Ottoman history as “The Impaler Voivode” Vlad III, which inspired Count Dracula films and is where the vampire legend was born. After photographing the castle, our guests may shop from souvenir sellers and stalls, which host Romania’s largest open-air souvenir market, and taste local food and drinks specific to the region. After the free time here, we head to the city of Brașov, famous for its historical beauty and cafés. In this beautiful city, where historical buildings constructed in the medieval German Rococo style are located, the main places to see are: the Black Church, the City Walls, and the preserved narrow streets. After our panoramic city tour, we give our guests free time to spend at the Christmas market in the city square. After the free time, we return to our hotel in Bucharest. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. Museum and archaeological site entrance fees are not included in the extra tour price.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart from our hotel, complete our passport and customs procedures at the Giurgiu – Ruse land border gates, and enter Bulgaria. With necessary breaks along the route, we arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. We take our city tour to get to know this historic city built on the Yantra River more closely. Following our panoramic city tour, there will be free time for lunch. After the free time, we proceed via Dimitrovgrad – Haskovo – Kapıkule road and arrive at the Kapıkule Land Border Gate. After completing the passport and customs procedures there, we enter Turkey. With necessary breaks along the route, we arrive in Istanbul. We drop off our guests at the points listed in the tour program (on the return route) and conclude our tour. We hope to meet again in our next organizations.