A Transylvanian Immersion
Trip highlights
- Explore downtown Bucharest with an expert on the various art and architectural styles found here
- Unravel the secrets of Bran Castle, the home of Bram Stoker's fictional Dracula
- Spend time with the Royal beekeeper, learning about their fascinating craft
- Wander the streets of Brasov, uncovering some of the legends connected to this city
- Hike to the Oak Tree Reserve, the largest meadow with multisecular oaks in Central Eastern Europe
- Lose yourself in the storybook streets of Sighisoara, a town filled with cafes and craft shops
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Bucharest National Library
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Bran Castle, Transylvania
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Royal beekeeper visit
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Former City Hall of Brasov
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Oak tree reserve
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Sighisoara street
Bespoke trips with Jacada
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
- Days 1-3 Bucharest
- Days 3-7 Transylvania
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Beautiful Bucharest
A city of strong contrasts, it’s impossible to fit Bucharest into any kind of box. Go exploring and you’ll discover delightful surprises in this place that straddles the line between east and west and juxtaposes the old with the new. Bucharest is best explored on foot, so you can take your time to uncover the secrets it holds.
Where you could stay
Bucharest
Highlights
- Convenient and central location on Calea Victoriei; one of the city’s main streets
- Bucharest’s main attractions, including the Old Town, are in easy walking distance
- Multiple bars and restaurants to choose from
- Rooms are decorated in a classic style with modern amenities
- Characterful building with an interesting history
Overview
With an enviable central location on Bucharest’s historic Calea Victoriei, the Athénée Palace more than holds its own against the imposing monuments that flank its grand façade: the Royal Palace turned National Art Museum, the Memorial of Rebirth, the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall and the Athénée Palace. Each is a jigsaw piece in the fascinating yet complex history of this city.
A building of such gravity needs the interiors to match, and the classic yet modern rooms and suites are beautifully finished. Light, wood-paneled flooring and splashes of colour throughout the plush furnishings feel both comfortable and luxurious. Choose a room with a balcony for the chance to soak up birds-eye views over the square. Of the multiple dining options, Roberto’s invites you to dine on Italian cuisine infused with Romanian flavours in the shade of their leafy terrace. Meanwhile the English bar serves up a global selection of dishes alongside enticing stories of the renowned writers and spies who made it their wartime haunt, washed down with a crisp gin and tonic or a premium whisky.
The city’s Old Town, with its Belle Époque buildings and ornately beautiful churches, is just a 15-minute walk away, and ready to be discovered on a private walking tour.
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Art and architecture tour
Go on an introductory tour of downtown Bucharest with a local expert. Learn about the colourful mix of architectural styles, the Ceausescu era of ‘systematisation’, why Bucharest earned the name of Paris of the East, and a lot more. On your way you’ll spot some of the interesting street art and grab a coffee from one of the small coffee shops hidden among the historical buildings. The tour can also include visits to the main art museums and interiors of private homes.
Into Transylvania
The day-long drive from Bucharest to Transylvania is beautifully scenic. Along the way you’ll stop for a walking tour of Sinaia, a 19th-century royal rest town nestled in a fir-clad valley. You’ll also take a cable car ride up to the Bucegi Plateau to see the majestic Sphinx, one of Romania’s most striking natural landmarks. Your journey takes you all the way to Brasov. A land steeped in folklore and tradition, Transylvania invites you to explore captivating landscapes surrounded by the misty, brooding Carpathian Mountains, and ancient forests alive with diverse wildlife.
Where you could stay
Transylvania
Highlights
- 16 contemporary rooms and suites looking out over mountains and meadows
- Traditionally inspired cuisine made with local produce
- Spa with impressive views of the surrounding forest
- Access to a range of cultural and nature-based activities
- Guided or unguided hikes in the Bucegi mountains to suit all fitness levels
Overview
Designed to immerse you in Transylvania’s natural charm and cultural heritage, MATCA is a hill-top sanctuary which honours tradition, without compromising on comfort or luxury. Its isolated and scenic location affords it the privilege of remaining authentic, and you’re invited to discover the history and customs that take pride of place during your stay.
The 16 guestrooms and suites are situated in two traditional Transylvanian farmhouses, with two private villas enjoying an undisturbed spot nearby. Peaceful interiors elevated by locally crafted décor and thoughtful touches inspire an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, in harmony with your pastoral surroundings.
The chef at STUP, the hotel’s restaurant, has created a tribute to Transylvania’s culinary heritage through painstaking recreation of traditional recipes. Enhanced by seasonal, local produce, this revived cuisine is best enjoyed with a glass of Romanian wine from the restaurant’s discerning selection. The finishing touch to your dining experience are the enchanting vistas of lushly forested Carpathian mountains. Discover their abundant biodiversity on a range of guided activities, including a walking bear safari and an insight into beekeeping, which holds a special significance to the property, whose name translates to queen of the bees.
→ Find out moreTransylvania
Highlights
- Six cosy rooms with wood floors and exposed beams
- Delicious home-cooked style meals served in the Șura (barn)
- A bounteous vegetable garden to keep the kitchen well-stocked
- Interesting and fun visits to nearby shepherds and beekeepers
Overview
Welcoming comfort meets modern convenience at Viscri 125 a traditional Saxon farm in the heart of Transylvania. The village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best known for its highly fortified church that dates back to around 1100 AD and Viscri 125 invites you to lose yourself in an oasis of lush tranquility when you’re not out exploring.
Originally built as a fortress, you’ll find a main house that faces the street, annexes and a large wooden barn with a vegetable garden and orchard extending beyond it and up a gentle slope past a creek. Meals can be enjoyed in the barn spaces as you get to know your fellow guests and recount tales of your Romanian adventures over dishes created using the freshest produce from the vegetable garden.
The village and surrounds are packed with exciting activities to keep travelers of all ages entertained. Take a horse-drawn cart ride and spend some time with the local shepherds, learning about sheet shearing and milking, and taste some of the local cheeses. You can also meet a beekeeper and get an up-close look at the fascinating art of caring for the bees. There are also mountain biking and hiking trails linking two of the neighbouring Saxon villages. between September and December, you might choose to go truffle hunting, or admire the diversity of wildflowers in the pastures in July.
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Make it mine
Castle discovery
Pied Piper
Tell the bees
Tell the bees
Bran Castle
Set off to unravel the secrets of Bran Castle, the perfect Gothic dwelling for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Unfortunately, neither Stoker nor the real Dracula, Vlad
Tepes, ever visited. The castle is fully equipped with towers and turrets, medieval costumes,
jewelry and weapons, a chamber of horrors and magnificent views of the Carpathians.
The Pied Piper of Brasov Tour
According to local Saxon legend, the Pied Piper of Hamelin reappeared in Brasov with his retinue of stolen children. According to the Brothers Grimm, when the Lower Saxons came to Transylvania 700 years ago, they preserved their oral traditions and recognized themselves as descendants of the children taken by the Pied Piper. This tour encompasses some of the highlights of this playful medieval city.
Saxon villages and Royal beekeeper
Visit the fortified churches and enjoy the scenic countryside. You can meet local artisans and take part in some traditional activities. The Royal beekeeper will demonstrate bee care and discuss the importance of bees in the ecosystem. The beekeeper has a royal
commission from HRH King Charles III and exports almost exclusively to the British throne.
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On foot
Ancient trees
Sighisoara walking tour
Sighisoara’s medieval vibe is enchanting. Perched on a hill, the town is a warren of storybook turrets, gingerbread roofs and cobblestone alleyways. Fortified walls surround Sighioara’s impressive merchant houses, now housing millennium-old cafes, hotels, and craft shops. Lurking in the shadows is the bloodthirsty history of Vlad Tepes, aka Dracula, who is said to have been born here.
Hike to the Oak Tree Reserve
From Sighisoara, start climbing up through butterfly-filled meadows, oak copses, past shepherds with their sheep and friendly dogs, and reach the Oak Tree Reserve, the largest meadow with multisecular oaks in Central Eastern Europe. There are more than 600 trees between the ages of 350 and 450 here, including some specimens that have reached the venerable age of 800.
Jacada provided our family with two amazing European getaways. Hanna and Alice had everything set up beautifully down to every last detail. The excursions, hotels, and guides were all incredible. We definitely recommend them and hope to work with Hanna again for future travel!
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive Impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
