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Peles Castle and Romanian Village Experience
4.9
8 Ratings
București
Step into the past with a full day tour of Valea Doftanei, a charming Romanian village. Experience traditional village life, enjoy a horse-drawn cart ride, and savor a delicious lunch made from local produce. Discover the stunning mountain scenery and learn about medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Meet friendly locals and support their work by purchasing traditional products like honey and local cheese.
Step into the past with a full day tour of Valea Doftanei, a charming Romanian village. Experience traditional village life, enjoy a horse-drawn cart ride, and savor a delicious lunch made from local produce. Discover the stunning mountain scenery and learn about medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Meet friendly locals and support their work by purchasing traditional products like honey and local cheese.
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- University’s Square - Visit and appreciate University Square, a place rich in history and symbolism.
- Palace of Parliament - The Palace of Parliament spans 365,000 sqm and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest administrative building globally (second only to the Pentagon) and the heaviest and most costly building…
- University’s Square - Visit and appreciate University Square, a place rich in history and symbolism.
- Palace of Parliament - The Palace of Parliament spans 365,000 sqm and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest administrative building globally (second only to the Pentagon) and the heaviest and most costly building worldwide.
- Peles Castle - Often regarded as a gem of Romanian architecture, Peles Castle is nestled at the base of the majestic Bucegi Mountains in a picturesque setting. It served as the summer residence for the Romanian royal family, who reigned from 1866 to 1947.
- Secăria - Embark on a day trip to explore this charming rural area in Romania, far from the crowds of mass tourism. Enjoy the stunning landscapes, experience authentic peasant life, and savor a delicious lunch prepared by locals.
- Barajul Paltinu - Marvel at this stunning green-hued lake, situated deep within the verdant forests of Wallachia, and take a brief photo stop here.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tea and coffee
- Parking fees
- Horse-drawn cart ride uphill to an altitude of 1000 meters
- Admission ticket for Peles castle
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tea and coffee
- Parking fees
- Horse-drawn cart ride uphill to an altitude of 1000 meters
- Admission ticket for Peles castle
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Explore the stunning Peles Castle, a harmonious fusion of German and Italian Neo-Renaissance architecture, once the summer home of the Romanian royal family.
- Savor a delightful cup of coffee in the charming summer garden, nestled at the base of the Carpathian Mountains.
- Step back in time with a visit to the picturesque Valea Doftanei, just a…
- Explore the stunning Peles Castle, a harmonious fusion of German and Italian Neo-Renaissance architecture, once the summer home of the Romanian royal family.
- Savor a delightful cup of coffee in the charming summer garden, nestled at the base of the Carpathian Mountains.
- Step back in time with a visit to the picturesque Valea Doftanei, just a two-hour drive from Bucharest, dotted with haystacks, horses, and sheep.
- Discover the authentic lifestyle of a remote sub-Carpathian village and witness how generations of peasants have lived.
- Delight in a horse-drawn cart ride and enjoy a hearty lunch made from fresh, local farm produce.
- Take in the breathtaking mountain views and learn about medicinal herbs and mushrooms.
- Engage with the welcoming locals, learn about their daily lives, and perhaps purchase traditional products like honey and local cheese to support their work.
Location
InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest, an IHG Hotel
Strada Episcopiei
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Desipior
Aug 1, 2025
Fantastic castle and countryside tour - An excellent experience (professional, friendly, knowledgeable). This was an all day event. Laura (our guide) picked us up at the hotel with her driver friend. Both ladies were absolutely lovely and we had a lot of laughs along the way. First stop was Peles castle. The exterior was partially under renovation but you could imagine its beauty. Inside was very impressive - the wood work detail, stained glass windows, chandeliers, mirrors etc. made in Murano. It was filled with the original furniture pieces. Laura provided sufficient history that was not overwhelming.
Next, we headed to Laura’s house in a true Romanian village (small and quaint). We met her neighbors who assisted with making us lunch (cheeses, meats, fresh vegetables, dips, grilled trout, potatoes, polenta), which was delicious. We sat on the deck that overlooked her rose garden and fruit trees and enjoyed the fresh air. The family/neighborhood dog, Carmel, was a delight. After lunch, we headed for the wagon hooked up to two horses, which took us through the village and into the mountain country side. The ride is bumpy but safe - just hold on to your hat as it gets wind gusts. The views at the top were stunning. A few grazing cows posed for pictures. Once we got back to the village, we had dessert at Laura’s house - biscuit salami - the name was deceiving as it had nothing to do with salami and it was sweet and tasty. My husband and I enjoyed this tour immensely. We are early 60s and had no issues walking to the castle (it is uphill) or riding in the wagon (don’t recommend for people with a bad back). A truly unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H7130bulaurac
Apr 25, 2024
Amazing insight in Romanian culture and country life - This tour is one of the best I have ever been on. The tour blends in fact two of the biggest attraction points of Romania: Sinaia, with the royal castle - a must see, a castle emerged from the fairytales, in my view comparable to Hohenschwangau, even though very different in architecture - and the rural charm of Romanian village life. Romania is one of the few countries in Europe where one can enjoy horse drawn carriages (not designed only for tourists, but for daily use) and see small farms supporting the livelihood of the villagers.
Secaria village is not only traditional, but it is set against a breathtaking scenery and every single person we got to meet was extremely nice. Yes, on this tour you actually get to meet locals, not only the guides.
The guide, Laura, is extremely knowledgeable, engaged and eager to make things happen, whenever possible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P4229tucristinag
Apr 2, 2024
Royal and rural Romania - Amazing experience of royal and rural Romania! The exquisite Peles Castle is always worth a visit and this tour was so informative and fun, full of nice little stories bringing about the old times of the kings and queens of Romania.The tour guide Laura is an amazing person, knowledgeable, dynamic and friendly, keeping all of us engaged and entertained throughout the day. The next stop in the quaint little village of Secaria was a great treat, with delicious local food (notably the “bulz” with local smoked cheese “cascavea”) and walks in the forest. A great weekend experience, combining culture and nature, a few hours away from Bucharest. Highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robynjohnk
May 27, 2023
A trip with a differnce - After nearly 5 weeks touring eastern Europe my wife and I were keen to step away from the usual packed tourist spots and were lucky enough to be introduced to Laura of Step by Step who arranged a custom full day itinerary. The morning started with a visit to Pele Castle which, after many other European castles, was uniquely different. This was followed up by the Romanian Village experience. Wow, this was what we had been looking for, away from the crowds of tourists and actually experiencing some of traditional rural life. Starting with sitting down to lunch with Laura and her husband in a rural home environment and eating a Romanian home prepared meal. Perhaps the highlight was the nearly 2 hour cart ride. While probably not suited to fairly elderly or infirm travelers, ( the cart is truly rustic and basic but is representative of what is in daily use) the ride through the village and countryside up to 1000m was truly magnificent. You know when you are off the beaten tourist path when the locals are amazed to see you.
All in all a wonderful day shared with excellent company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mihaela_vezentan77
Dec 23, 2022
Great trip to the Romanian countryside - The landscape is great! The host is very kind, friendly and interested to perpetuate traditions. The food is very tasty, prepared with local organic ingredients. Great expedition by horse-drawn cart!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christiandeibler
Dec 21, 2022
enriching tour in the mountains - We were very fortunate to experience a well-prepared, informative, tasteful and friendly tour in Romania's beautiful Carphatian region. Laura, the organiser is an experienced, knowledgeable and friendly tour guide, very invested in the nature, culture, and food traditions of Romania. She sent us all the information in advance, the schedule was thoughtfully prepared with attention to details. She made the most out of the plan and we were exposed to a rich experience of sightseeing and food tasting. The menu was well planned, it introduced us to several traditional dishes from the region, such as a special type of smoked cheese from that region. So delicious! Another memorable activity was the horse-drawn cart journey through the village, it was very enjoyable and informative to experience a traditional mode of transport, still popular in the rural area.
We strongly recommend this tour that combines engaging activities and delicious food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Iohanroland
Dec 21, 2022
Unforgettable!!! - An unforgettable experience, I honestly did not expect something like this, the landscape, the food, the very passionate Guide, a real adventure that allows you to discover the hidden parts of Romania. I recommend with great confidence.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tudort957
Sep 25, 2025
Beautiful blend of history and tradition - Peles Castle is truly extraordinary - the mix of German and Italian Neo-Renaissance styles is eye-catching. The guide explained the history very well, and the experience of having coffee in the garden of the castle was really great. Going to the village of Valea Doftanei, riding a horse carriage, eating local food and mingling with the villagers made our trip even more special..... The scenery is beautiful, but the journey is a bit long, so I gave 4 stars.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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