9-Day Wine Tour Iasi – Bucharest, Romania

Program

DAY 1 – FLIGHT TO IASI, ROMANIA

Today you take your flight to Iasi, the largest city in the north of Romania and the birthplace of several Romanian personalities. After arrival, you are expected in one of the nicest rooftop bars in the city for a glass of wine as a welcome drink.

Overnight in Iasi.

DAY 2 – IASI (B, D)

After breakfast you have some free time. Then you will visit the historic wine region of Bucium, where in 1469 Saint Stephen the Great designated the city of Suceava wine regions on Socola Hill. These wine regions grew in size over time, eventually spreading over four of the seven hills surrounding the city of Iasi. A visit to the Bucium wine region creates a personal bond that will last you a lifetime.

You will taste Feteasca Alba and Busuioaca de Bohotin, both local wines. You can also taste the Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine tasting is accompanied by traditional Romanian dishes.

Overnight in Iasi.

DAY 3: IASI CITY TOUR – COTNARI – IASI (O)

After breakfast you will have a guided tour of Iasi. The first stop will be the Palace of Culture. Afterwards, visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of Iasi’s most famous buildings. The current cathedral was built on top of two older churches, the White Church and the Stratenia Church, in early 1833. The last stop in Iasi will be at the “Vasile Alecsandri” National Theater, the first national theater in Romania.

The first historical traces of the Cotnari wine region date from the 18th century. The wines from the Cotnari area are known for their exceptional qualities obtained by limiting the average grape production to 70-80% on one hectare of land compared to other vineyards in Romania or in wine-growing countries. During a wine tasting in the Cotnari wine region, you will taste local wines such as the Grasa de Cotnari, Feteasca Neagra Rose and Feteasca Neagra Red Dry.

Overnight in Iasi.

DAY 4: IASI – BICAZ GORGE – SIGHISORA (O)

After breakfast, leave the Romanian region of Moldova and drive through the impressive Bicaz Gorges. After this, travel on to a lake known for its unusual color. The Red Lake was created in 1837, when a series of severe storms erupted over the Ucigasu mountain, part of which came down and blocked several streams. The river deposits that formed there had a reddish color, hence “Red Lake”.

After this you will drive to Sighisoara, the city with the only inhabited medieval fortress in Europe. This is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walking through the winding, cobbled streets, you will discover the beautiful historic buildings of this city. Finally, you will reach the clock tower, one of the symbols of the city, from where you have a breathtaking view of the city. The tower houses a museum with medieval weapons and a torture chamber. After visiting the tower, climb the three hundred wooden stairs to the church on the hill, built in the XIV century.

Overnight in Sighisoara.

DAY 5: SIGHSOARA – JIDVEI – SIBIU (O)

After breakfast you will visit the wine region of Jidvei which is located around the village of the same name. You will visit one of the largest wine producers in Romania and taste their Chardonnay, Jidvei Rose and Merlot, among others.

The next stop is the city of Sibiu, declared the European Capital of Culture in 2007. Here you will take a walking tour of a city that triumphantly combines history and multicultural elements. On your city tour, explore the main square of Sibiu, from where you can explore the Brukenthal Museum and Roman Catholic Cathedral before visiting Huet Square with its Evangelical Church.

Overnight in Sibiu.

DAY 6: SIBIU- ISARESCU – CURTEA DE ARGES MONASTERY – BUCHAREST (B)

This morning, after breakfast and on the way to Bucharest, stop at one of the most beautiful religious monuments in Romania, the Curtea de Arges Monastery, a beautiful religious structure at the foot of the Carpathians. Built between 1512 and 1517, the monastery is widely known for the legend of Manole, one of the most important Romanian myths, which left a powerful mark on its people: “you cannot create something eternal without sacrifice”. Today, the monastery is one of the most important historical monuments in Romania and it is the final resting place for several members of the Royal House of Romania.

After visiting the monastery of Curtea de Arges, you will travel to Dragasani, where you will visit a wine estate and have a wine tasting. You will taste their Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot Rose and the Dragasani Black (their most iconic red wine). After the wine tasting you will travel to Bucharest.

Overnight in Bucharest.

DAY 7: BUCHAREST- PELES – CANTACUZINO – BUCHAREST (B, L)

After breakfast, head to Peles Castle, the spectacular home of the former Romanian Royal Family. Built in the 19th century to the specifications of Carol I, Romania’s first king, Peles Castle depicts the monarch’s aesthetic way of thinking, combining German and Italian neo-Renaissance.

After visiting the castle of Peles you travel to the castle of Cantacuzino. This castle is of great architectural, historical and artistic value and was opened in 1911 at the request of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino and the then Prime Minister of Romania. The decorations give the interior a strong romantic ambiance. The stained glass, the stucco marble, the painted ceilings, the wooden, stone or forged iron railings, the forged castings in brass and richly decorated and all other details are all beautifully crafted. Inside the castle, enjoy a gourmet lunch made from carefully selected ingredients and accompanied by a wine tasting. After the wine tasting, travel back to Bucharest.

Overnight in Bucharest.

DAY 8 – BUCHAREST CITY TOUR AND WINE TASTING (B)

Romania’s capital, Bucharest, is often referred to as ‘the Paris of the East’. Your Bucharest city tour is designed to help you discover the best tourist sites.

After breakfast, head to Bucharest’s Old Town, a place full of life with lively cafes and street food, history and many contrasts. Here you get a guided tour. In this part of the city you can see sights such as the CEC Palace and the Stravopoleos Monastery.

After the tour, during a wine tasting, you will have the opportunity to taste three of the best wines from southern Romania. This wine producer used to be a supplier to the Royal Family, which means that you cannot really leave Romania without trying their wines. You will taste the Renatus White, Tres Rosae and the Renatus Red.

Overnight Bucharest.

DAY 9 – BUCHAREST – FLIGHT BACK (B)

After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, you will be taken to the airport or you can optionally book an excursion… or extend your trip to another beautiful wine region of Romania. If you want to extend your wine trip, you can also go to one of the neighboring countries, for example Bulgaria or Hungary.