Romania

Romania is one of the larger countries in Eastern Europe and one of the least well known to British travellers. That is changing. Its mix of Latin language, Orthodox faith and Central European architecture is unusual, its countryside still has horse-drawn carts and haymaking by hand, and the Carpathians are home to a large share of Europe's brown bears.

Bucharest is where most journeys begin. Once called "Little Paris", it has grand belle époque boulevards, an Arc de Triomphe and a cluster of Orthodox churches in the Old Town, alongside the enormous Palace of the Parliament built under Ceaușescu. It is a city of contrasts, and a guide makes a real difference to understanding it. Beyond the capital, Transylvania's walled towns such as Brașov and Sibiu, Peleș Castle at Sinaia and Bran Castle, linked to the Dracula legend, are all within reach. In the north, the painted monasteries of Bucovina are covered inside and out in sixteenth-century frescoes, and the villages of Maramureș keep their tall wooden churches. The Danube Delta, on the Black Sea, is one of the largest wetlands in Europe.

Romanian cooking is hearty. Sarmale (cabbage rolls), mămăligă (a polenta-like cornmeal), mici (grilled sausages) and ciorbă sour soups appear on most menus, often with a glass of local wine or a shot of plum brandy, țuică. Papanași, fried doughnuts with sour cream and jam, make a good finish.

Our Romania tours are centred on the capital: a Bucharest city break and a private guided walking tour of its old streets. Both can be extended on request with private transfers into Transylvania, which we can plan as a tailor-made trip. A private driver is the easiest way to combine Bucharest with Sinaia, Brașov and Sibiu over four or five days, avoiding long journeys on public transport.