Inclusions
- Return International Flights
- Daily Breakfast
- Welcome dinner on Day 1 at a local restaurant
- 3 nights’ accommodation at 4 Star in Belgrade
- Visit Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic Square, St. Sava Cathedral, and Tito Memorial Centre in Belgrade
- Explore Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad, including wine tasting at a traditional cellar
- Tour Nis Fortress and learn about its Roman heritage
- 4 nights’ accommodation at 4 Star in Sofia
- In Sofia: visit Alexander Nevski Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church, Church of St. Sophia, Rotunda of St. George, and the UNESCO-listed Boyana Church
- Excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains
- 1 night accommodation at 4 Star in Veliko Tarnovo
- Day trip to Plovdiv, featuring the Roman Theatre, Forum, and Old Town
- Visit Kazanluk, including the UNESCO Thracian Tomb replica, and Etara Open-Air Ethnographic Museum
- Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi Village, including the Nativity Church
- 2 nights’ accommodation at 4 Star in Bucharest
- Guided sightseeing in Bucharest, covering the Palace of Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Arch of Triumph, and Village Museum
- Services of English-speaking local guides in each country
- All entrance fees to monuments and museums as per itinerary
- Private, air-conditioned coach for all transfers and sightseeing
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
- Cross-border transfers between Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania
You'll Love
- Discover the vibrant capitals Belgrade, Sofia, and Bucharest, each rich in history and culture.
- Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Boyana Church, Rila Monastery, Thracian Tomb of Kazanluk, and Etara.
- Enjoy wine tasting in the charming Baroque town of Sremski Karlovci.
- Explore ancient Roman ruins in Plovdiv and medieval treasures in Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi.
- Experience the beauty and spirituality of the Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains.
- Embrace the diverse cultures, traditions, and cuisines of Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Overview
Discover the best of the Balkans on this 11-day journey through Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, where history, culture, and natural beauty come alive. Begin in Belgrade, Serbia’s vibrant capital, exploring its fortress, grand churches, and lively streets. Visit the Baroque town of Sremski Karlovci for a wine tasting, and explore Novi Sad with its impressive Petrovaradin Fortress.
Travel to Nis, one of Europe’s oldest cities and birthplace of Emperor Constantine the Great, then cross into Bulgaria to explore Sofia, with landmarks such as Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Rotunda of St. George, and the UNESCO-listed Boyana Church. Journey to the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the scenic Rila Mountains, and visit Plovdiv with its Roman ruins and charming Old Town. Continue through the Valley of the Roses to Kazanluk and explore the Etara Open-Air Museum.
In Veliko Tarnovo, walk through the medieval Tsarevets Fortress and Samovodska Charshia, then visit Arbanassi Village with its frescoed Nativity Church. Conclude in Bucharest, Romania’s elegant capital, touring the Palace of Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Arch of Triumph, and the Village Museum.
This tour perfectly blends history, culture, and scenic beauty, offering travelers a rich experience of the Balkans’ heritage, architecture, and traditions.
When/Date
Itinerary
Arrive in Belgrade, Serbia’s exuberant capital where grand Austro-Hungarian architecture meets modern café culture. After a warm welcome at the airport, transfer to your Hotel. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, where you can savor Serbian cuisine and meet your fellow travelers.
Begin your exploration of Belgrade with a guided city tour showcasing its most iconic landmarks. Visit the medieval Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, and Republic Square, home to the National Theatre, National Museum, and the equestrian statue of Prince Mihailo. Marvel at the enormous St. Sava Cathedral, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, adorned with marble interiors and golden domes. Conclude your tour at the Tito Memorial Centre, where the former Yugoslav leader’s tomb lies within the House of Flowers, surrounded by artifacts from his life and era.
This morning, drive to the charming town of Sremski Karlovci, known for its Baroque architecture and centuries-old winemaking tradition. Explore Branko Radicevic Square, the Patriarchal Palace, and the elegant Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas. Enjoy a wine tasting in one of the town’s historic cellars before continuing to Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city. Visit the Petrovaradin Fortress, a grand 18th-century stronghold towering over the Danube, and cross the river to the Old Town (Stari Grad) with its Gothic and neoclassical buildings. Return to Belgrade in the evening.
After breakfast, depart for Nis, one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and the birthplace of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Discover the imposing 18th-century Ottoman fortress that dominates the city and learn about its fascinating past. Continue across the border into Bulgaria and arrive in Sofia, the country’s vibrant capital.
Spend the day exploring Sofia’s historic and cultural treasures. Visit the gold-domed Alexander Nevski Cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, and the nearby St. Nicholas Church, known for its Russian-style onion domes. See the Church of St. Sophia, which gave the city its name, and the ancient Rotunda of St. George, the best-preserved Byzantine building in Bulgaria. Continue to the UNESCO-listed Boyana Church on the city’s outskirts to admire its stunning 13th-century frescoes, which predate the Italian Renaissance by two centuries.
Today’s journey takes you into the Rila Mountains, the highest range in the Balkans, to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rila Monastery. Nestled in a serene valley surrounded by pine forests, this 10th-century monastery is a masterpiece of Bulgarian architecture and spirituality. Explore the richly painted church, the arched cloisters, and the beautiful frescoes that depict biblical scenes and saints. Return to Sofia in the afternoon, with time to relax or explore more of the city at your leisure.
After breakfast, travel to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and the European Capital of Culture for 2019. With a history stretching back over 6,000 years, Plovdiv is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Explore the well-preserved Roman Forum, Stadium, and the magnificent 2nd-century Roman Theatre, still used for performances today. Wander the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, lined with beautiful Revival-era mansions, art galleries, and traditional museums. Return to Sofia in the late afternoon.
Depart Sofia and journey through the scenic Valley of the Roses to Kazanluk, the heart of Bulgaria’s rose oil industry and home to the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Visit a replica of the UNESCO-listed Thracian Tomb, showcasing remarkable wall paintings from the 4th century BC. Continue through the historic Shipka Pass, a key site in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation, and arrive at the Etara Architectural-Ethnographic Complex. This open-air museum vividly recreates 19th-century Bulgarian village life, complete with working water-powered mills and artisan workshops. In the late afternoon, arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria.
In the morning, enjoy a walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo, picturesquely perched along the Yantra River. See the imposing Tsarevets Fortress, once home to Bulgaria’s medieval kings, and stroll through Samovodska Charshia, the town’s oldest street, where traditional craftsmen still practice their trades. Continue to the nearby village of Arbanassi to visit the richly decorated Church of the Nativity of Christ, famous for its vibrant frescoes depicting over 2,000 biblical scenes. Cross the Danube River into Romania and continue to Bucharest, the country’s dynamic capital. Check into the 4-star Novotel Bucharest City Centre for a two-night stay.
Discover the eclectic charm of Bucharest, a city blending Belle Époque elegance with modern dynamism. Visit the colossal Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest buildings in the world, followed by the 17th-century Metropolitan Cathedral and the stately Romanian Athenaeum. See the Arch of Triumph, inspired by its Parisian counterpart, and explore the open-air Village Museum in Herastrau Park, which showcases traditional Romanian architecture and rural heritage. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the cafés and boulevards of this lively European capital.
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Bucharest Airport for your onward flight, taking with you unforgettable memories of your Balkan journey through Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.
