Please bear with us whilst we tidy up this page. All the information is correct but just needs to be made more legible.

    Featuring high on the lists of top places to visit in 2020 is Bucharest. The “Common Wanderer” describes it as the “new Berlin” or the “little Paris of the East”. Lonely Planet describes it as “dynamic, energetic and lots of fun” and National Geographic writes “everything you didn’t expect”. Being highlighted by so many international travel writers, it won’t be long before it’s packed to the rafters, like everywhere else. Last year, we featured Kiev on a whim and after glowing reports. They were right and we thought it was good enough to return to in 2020. We believe the same will hold for Bucharest, so come and join us.

    Here, century-old Byzantine churches straddle Belle Époque palaces on Calea Victoriei, the city’s most famous artery, in a sublime mix of old and new, East and West. Nearby, the revived cobblestone streets of historic Lipscani breathe anew with café culture alongside 15th-century Old Princely Court and the magnificent Orthodox Stavropoleos Church. Judged to be the second-cheapest city in Europe to visit in 2020 (after Vilnius), it’s definitely now time go.

• Return morning flights from Dublin to Bucharest

• 10kgs cabin luggage (see note below)

• Transfer between airport and hotel

• Four nights in Bucharest Novotel on B&B basis

• Four evening meals

• Full day excursion to Transyvania, with visit to Bran Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov

• Guided walking tour of Bucharest

• Full financial protection under ATOL 11029

• Escorted by Alan Couser

01Oct OB 156 Dep. Dublin 10.00 Arr. Bucharest 15.40 

05Oct OB 155 Dep. Bucharest 07.15 arr. Dublin 09.15 

Blue Air. Hand luggage only. 56 x 45 x25cm - Max 10kgs (See note below)

Note: We have found in recent years that few of our customers bring much luggage for short city-breaks, so there is no point in paying for it. If we don’t include it, we are not charged, so we don’t charge you! Please feel free to make your own mind up. If you wish to book some checked luggage, we can offer this at £70 for one 20kg bag on this holiday. 

    Direct morning flights from Dublin get you there in around four hours, arriving in good time to check in at our hotel, the brand-new four-star Novotel Bucharest, in the heart of the city. It goes without saying that the hotel features the usual facilities of such a four-star establishment, including an indoor pool and sauna. Located just steps from the newly rejuvenated “old town”, close by to a multitude of restaurants and not a million miles from the colossal Parliament Buildings, the heaviest building in the world. 

    Each evening, as with most of our city-breaks, we will dine at different local venues, enjoying a variety of menus. Of course, we’ll ensure special diets are catered for, too! During the day, we have an excursion programme arranged for you, including a full-day (12 hours) excursion into the Romanian countryside. Here we will visit Bran Castle (aka Dracula’s Castle), Peles Castle, home to the former Royal family and considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe….no that’s saying something! We’ll finish the tour with some free time in the ancient city of Brasov, with its web of tiny cobbled streets and taverns. (This tour is NOT suitable for those with walking difficulties - please see below). Of course, we’ll take you around many of the top sites in the city, itself.

Bran Castle has not been "modernised" and, as such offer ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS to wheelchair users. On arrival at the castle, there is a steep hill to climb, approximately 300-400 metres, cobbled and rising 70 metres, or so. On arrival at the top, there is a staircase of approximately 40 steps just to get to the front entrance. The views are amazing, so it's worth the climb, if you are fit for it and there is no rush. The castle is laid out on many floors, so there are more steps, lots of them. There is no lift. We therefore DO NOT RECOMMEND the visit to the castle for anyone with walking or breathing difficulties or any health issues. We do, however, feel that the excursion will still be worthwhile, as the best views of the castle are from outside, not inside!