Threads of Tradition: Exploring Romanias Textile and Embroidery Heritage
World Synergy Travel DMC | 21. March 2025
Dive into the rich tapestry of Romania’s culture on this 11-day journey dedicated to the country’s vibrant textile and embroidery traditions. Discover historic landmarks while unraveling the stories behind intricate weavings, embroidered garments, and traditional crafts. From hands-on workshops in charming villages to visits at renowned museums and artisan studios, this tour highlights the artistry and heritage of Romanian textiles. Along the way, enjoy scenic landscapes, medieval towns, and warm local hospitality, making this an inspiring and immersive experience for lovers of crafts and culture alike.
Day 1: Airport – Bucharest (about 30 Km) „Welcome to Romania!” – you are greeted by your guide, as you arrive in Bucharest on the Otopeni International Airport. From here you transfer to your centrally located hotel. Check-in and enjoy a welcome dinner at a historic restaurant in the Old Town, with 1 glass of wine. Overnight in Bucharest. (D)
Day 2: Bucharest (about 30 Km)
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bucharest, one the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in Europe which is also the 5th largest capital city in the European Union. Admire the University Square, the Roman Square, the Victory Square, the very important Square of the Revolution and the Constitution Square with the Palace of Parliament (the second largest administrative building in the World after the Pentagon). Visit of the Romanian Peasant Museum (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). The museum hosts a great exhibition of traditional artifacts and it’s a true showcase of the Romania’s traditional culture. (B)
Day 3: Bucharest – Sibiu (about 280 Km)
Travel towards Transylvania by train, the most famous region in Romania. It’s currently running between 10:00-15:50. Enjoy a walking tour in Sibiu, the largest and wealthiest walled citadel built in Transylvania in the 12th century by the German settlers. The town has a pedestrian-friendly area, with two accessible levels: The Upper Town and The Lower Town, connected through The Stairs Passage. Preserving until today its wonderful medieval atmosphere, Sibiu was listed by Forbes in its top 10 of the most idyllic places to live in the whole world, and was chosen as Europe’s Cultural Capital City in 2007, together with Luxembourg. Visit the Grand Square with the „eyes of the city”, the Little Square, the Liar’s Bridge and the impressive Evangelical Cathedral. Check-in at the hotel. (B)
Day 4: Sibiu – Cisnadie - Sibiel – Sibiu (about 75 Km)
Visit of the open air ASTRA Museum of traditional civilization. Set up in a forest on the edge of the city, it displays a great selection of old households, churches, windmills and other tools which have been brought in pieces and reassembled on the site. Drive to Cisnadie and visit the Textile Museum (closed on Saturday and Sunday) inside the medieval fortified church. The town was famous throughout the country for its factory of carpets. In the evening drive to the village Sibiel, where you will be welcomed by one of the local families and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with lots of wine and brandy. Return to Sibiu. (B,D)
Day 5: Sibiu – Biertan – Malancrav - Sighisoara (about 145 Km)
Continue to the village Biertan, where you will discover one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in Transylvania. Built in 1500 on the foundations of a previous Romanesque building, the fortification features three mighty ring walls, two outer baileys and several defense towers. Then head for the authentic village of Malancrav where you will visit a local textiles workshop (not available on Saturdays). In the afternoon, discover Sighisoara, the medieval citadel, where Vlad the Impaler (count Dracula) took his first steps. The town was settled by the Saxons in the 13th century. This delightful town still preserves the medieval atmosphere, its 14th century wall, towers and bastions. Enjoy a pleasant walking tour inside the citadel, which is on UNESCO World Heritage list, and visit the Clock Tower (exterior), the Church on the Hill (closed on Mondays) and the birth house of count Dracula (exterior). Check-in, dinner and overnight in Sighisoara. (B,D)
Day 6: Sighisoara – Corund - Bicaz – Piatra Neamt (about 210 Km)
Drive through the magnificent landscapes of Eastern Transylvania. In the village of Corund enjoy a ride in horse pulled covered wagon. Visits to the local workshops of a potter, weaver, mushroom processing, beekeeper with tasting. You make a stop at the Red Lake, a very picturesque natural barrier lake. There you will learn the legend about how the lake was formed. Then along the Bicaz Canyon with its spectacular road through the rocks you will get to Piatra Neamt for two overnights. Dinner at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 7: Piatra Neamt – Voronet – Vama – Agapia – Piatra Neamt (about 270 Km)
You will start the day with the Voronet Monastery with its unique shade of blue of the exterior frescoes. Built in just three months and three weeks in the 15th century, Voronet is known as “The Sistine Chapel of the East” and is a UNESCO World’s Heritage site. Then in the village of Vama you will visit the amazing Museum of the Egg where a local artist displays her impressive collection of eggs from all over the world. Lunch in Gura Humorului. In the afternoon stop for the Monastery of Agapia whose church was painted by one of the greatest Romanian artists, Nicolae Grigorescu. Visit of the workshops where the nuns do many textile items as well. They are famous for the traditional rugs, but they also create the richly decorated vestments of the priests and woven clothes. Besides the creation, they also deal with the restauration of older woven rugs. Return to the hotel in Piatra Neamt. (B,L)
Day 8: Piatra Neamt – Zabala – Prejmer – Brasov (about 285 Km)
Today you drive back to Transylvania. Stop in Zabala for the visit of the Ethnographic Csango Museum (closed on Monday and Sunday) in the particular region known the Szeklerland. In the small village of Prejmer you visit its fortified church. Built by the Teutonic knights in the early 13th century, the fortified church was listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage Site. Inside the fortification one can find 272 rooms, one for each village family, a church founded in 1225 and a school. In the afternoon you will visit the well preserved old town of Brasov, where you will get to know the historical and cultural attractions such as the Council Square, the Black Church, the Street of the Rope and the Catherine’s Gate. Check-in and dinner at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 9: Brasov – Bran – Brasov (about 75 Km)
After breakfast depart towards Bran, where you will discover the Dracula Castle. Hidden in the hilly forest of Bran and surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend, the castle was built by the German Saxons in the 14th century and served as customs for many centuries between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1920 the castle became Royal Residence, offered as a gift by the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. Now world widely known for being the place where Bram Stoker's fictional creation, Count Dracula is set, the castle is the most visited place in Transylvania. Back to Brasov you will visit the Ethnografic Museum in the city centre (closed on Monday and Tuesdays). (B)
Day 10: Brasov – Sinaia – Breaza – Bucharest (about 190 Km)
Across the Carpathian Mountains you get to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle (closed on Monday and Tuesday). Considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe, The Peles Castle ( is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947. Before getting back to Bucharest, you will stop to the town of Breaza where you will visit the embroidery workshop of a local traditional artist. They are specialised in „ii”, the traditional blouses used as inspiration by fashion designers worldwide. Farewell dinner at a historical restaurant of Old Bucharest. Check-in and overnight in Bucharest. (B,D)
Day 11: Bucharest – Airport (about 30 Km)
Before being transfered to the airport, you will enjoy some free time in the city. Thank your for your visit! (B)
Included:
- 10 x overnights in very good 4 stars hotels
- Partial Half board (10x breakfast buffet and 6x 3-course dinners) •
- 1x welcome dinner at local restaurant from the Old Town of Bucharest incl. 1 glass of wine
- 1x lunch in Gura Humorului •
- 1st class train ticket from Bucharest to Sibiu on Day 3 •
- 1x traditional dinner at the locals from Sibiel incl. wine and brandy •
- 1x ride in horse pulled covered wagon with visits of the local workshops in Corund
- 1x farewell dinner at historical restaurant from the Old Town of Bucharest incl. 1 glass of wine and entertainment
- Throughout English speaking guide
- All visits and entrance fees as per itinerary (the Romanian Peasant Museum, the Lutheran Church Sibiu, the ASTRA Museum, the textiles museum in Cisnadie, the fortified Church Biertan, textiles workshop in Malancrav, the Church on the Hill Sighisoara, the Agapia Monastery, the Voronet Monastery, the Popa Museum in Tarpesti, the Csango Museum, the Prejmer fortified church, the Black Church, the Dracula’s Castle, the Peles Castle)
- Throughout transportation by modern vehicle
Lufthansa City Center