Our bespoke Dracula Tours for groups are regarded by previous guests as the most professionally and imaginatively arranged Dracula Tours in Transylvania. If you are travelling independently, please take a look at the two Dracula Tours on our 2008 Tours page.
We take great pride in our detailed research, and we ensure that the historical facts behind the Dracula mythology are clearly presented. While we acknowledge and respect the great readership of Bram Stoker's famous novel, we believe the true story of Vlad Dracul (The Impaler) is equally sensational. Since our tours are train-based, they strongly connect with the literary journey taken by Jonathan Harker, and we take every opportunity to exploit this fact. Below are two classic tours for groups which can be modified according to preference.
This tour concentrates on the architectural evidence surrounding the Dracula legend. We generally operate this route as a weekend special, departing Bucharest on Friday evening and returning on Monday morning.
Vlad's enemies are impaled before himAfter leaving Bucharest in the afternoon on Day 1, the train heads directly for the medieval Saxon city of Brasov in Transylvania. You will be accompanied by your guides who will also provide music and other Vampire-oriented entertainment. On arrival in Brasov you will go straight to a nearby traditional village, where you will be greeted by costumed musicians and dancers, before you enjoy a barbecue supper around a bonfire, which will include storytelling and a presentation of pyrotechnics.
In the morning of Day 2 you will visit the famous Bran Castle which was used by Vlad Dracul "The Impaler" in defence against Turkish invaders in the 15th century. The castle became the home of Romanian Queen Marie - daughter of British Queen Victoria. After lunch in a nearby tavern, you will rejoin your private train for the short trip to Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Dinner will be taken in the medieval citadel.
Bela Lugosi as Dracula - 1931Day 3 begins at the World heritage site of Biertan, followed by lunch in a medieval restaurant - with Robber Steak and Vampire Wine. After a train-ride to the Saxon city of Sibiu, you will take a tour of the citadel. Tonight everyone will be the guest of Count Dracula and his "draculettes" at a Vampire Ball.
The train returns to Bucharest next morning Day 4, and there will be a presentation of momentos on the way.
This is the mother of Dracula tours. After leaving Bucharest in the afternoon on Day 1, the train heads directly for the medieval Saxon city of Sighisoara in Transylvania - the birthplace of Vlad Dracul "The Impaler". You will be accompanied on the train by your guides who will also provide music and other Vampire-oriented entertainment. Dinner will be taken in Sighisoara medieval citadel.
In the morning of Day 2 you will visit the World heritage fortified site of Biertan, followed by lunch in a medieval restaurant - with Robber Steak and Vampire wine. It was in villages like this that Vlad the Impaler defended against the Turkish invaders. In the afternoon you will take a train-ride to Cluj, where Jonathan Harker stopped on his way to Castle Dracula. After a free evening in the town, you will take dinner in a traditional Hungarian restaurant - and enjoy similar paprika chicken and Tokay wine as Jonathan Harker.
Vlad Dracule's birthplaceAfter the morning of Day 3 in Cluj, lunch is taken en-route for Bistrita, Harker's next stopover. Here you will pass the Golden Krone restaurant on your way to Castle Hotel Dracula. The evening will bring many surprises.
Day 4 begins as the train snakes its way through spectacular mountain passes to Lunca Ilvei. You will be greeted by costumed musicians and dancers who will take you by horse-drawn cart to their village. After a buffet lunch, with traditional plum brandy as fortification, you will make your way to Borgo Pass, where Harker stopped on his final stage to Dracula's Castle. If you wish, you can ride a horse to the Pass. Tonight there will be some interesting special effects in the forests, before a barbecue feast around a bonfire.
The next step of your journey on Day 5 is through the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. There will be a brief stop for lunch at Renaissance Lazar Castle - the former home of Gabor Bethlen, an important European statesman who became Prince of Transylvania in the 17th century. You will arrive in the Saxon city of Brasov in the afternoon, and after free time to explore, you will take dinner in a traditional Saxon restaurant.
Bran CastleIn the morning of Day 6, you will visit the famous Bran Castle which was used by Vlad Dracul "The Impaler" in defence against Turkish invaders in the 15th century. The castle became the home of Romanian Queen Marie - daughter of British Queen Victoria. After tasting sparkling wines and taking lunch in the Royal wine-cellars of Azuga, you will visit Peles Royal Castle which became the favoured home of Romanian President Ceausescu. Tonight there will be a farewell Vampire Ball in Brasov. You will be a personal guest of Count Dracula and his "draculettes".
Everyone will arrive back in Bucharest during the morning of Day 7, and there will be a presentation of momentos on the way.
