Golden Eagle Luxury Trains
Castles of Transylvania
Seven-day luxury rail cruise from Istanbul to Budapest through Transylvania
7 daysfrom $13,509
71% rail
MIR Corporation · Rail Journey
Castles of Transylvania by Private Train
Take a short and sweet weeklong rail journey that begins in historic Istanbul, heads north through Bulgaria and Romania's beautiful Transylvania region, and rolls on to sophisticated Budapest.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Istanbul
Istanbul (Turkey)
Begin in Istanbul, the former capital of two great empires and the historic meeting place of East and West. Board the Golden Eagle Danube Express for Bulgaria.
- Day 2railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Istanbul (Turkey)
Begin in Istanbul, the former capital of two great empires and the historic meeting place of East and West. Board the Golden Eagle Danube Express for Bulgaria.
- Day 3railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
Arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, inhabited since the Paleolithic Age and once capital of the 12th-century Second Bulgarian Empire. View remains of the Royal Fortress, and walk the town's winding, cobbled streets. Watch the countryside unfold as the train lumbers north to Romania.
- Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Sinaia (Romania), Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu
Arrive in Sinaia, gateway to the beautiful Bugeci Mountains, and visit the summer palace of King Carol I, Peles castle. Explore the birthplace of Vlad Tepes the Impaler (Dracula) in the citadel of Sighisoara, and visit Bran Castle in Brasov, which served as Bram Stoker's model for Dracula's ancestral home. Stroll the Old Town Square in the Saxon town of Sibiu.
- Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Sinaia (Romania), Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu
Arrive in Sinaia, gateway to the beautiful Bugeci Mountains, and visit the summer palace of King Carol I, Peles castle. Explore the birthplace of Vlad Tepes the Impaler (Dracula) in the citadel of Sighisoara, and visit Bran Castle in Brasov, which served as Bram Stoker's model for Dracula's ancestral home. Stroll the Old Town Square in the Saxon town of Sibiu.
- Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Kecskemet (Hungary), Lajosmizse, Budapest
Explore Kecskemet's stunning art nouveau architecture and buildings, and enjoy a spectacular Puszta horse show in Lajosmizse. End the journey in genteel Budapest, Hungary's Hapsburg-style capital, with its renowned Royal Palace, Matthias Church, and splendid Opera House.
- Day 7overnight: Budapest
Kecskemet (Hungary), Lajosmizse, Budapest
Explore Kecskemet's stunning art nouveau architecture and buildings, and enjoy a spectacular Puszta horse show in Lajosmizse. End the journey in genteel Budapest, Hungary's Hapsburg-style capital, with its renowned Royal Palace, Matthias Church, and splendid Opera House.
Included
- Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train.
- Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (1 night in Istanbul, 1 night in Budapest).
- All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day.
- A generous allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.
- Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.
- Complimentary draft beer in the Bar Car for all passengers.
- Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.
- All guided off-train tours per itinerary.
- The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.
- All gratuities.
- Baggage handling.
Not included
- International airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving the tour.
- Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at museums, etc).
- Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.
- Drinks, beyond draft beer in the Bar Car, and beer and wine at set meals.
- Visa fees, any excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination or medical costs.
- Travel and trip cancellation insurance.
