22-DAY BUDAPEST TO ISTANBUL RAIL ADVENTURE

Day 1 – Welcome to Budapest!

Szia! Welcome to Budapest! A member of our team is already waiting to greet you at the airport and you’ll transfer directly to the hotel. Then it’s time to see why Budapest is nicknamed the “Paris of the East”. 

There’s no better way to get the trip underway than a dinner cruise on the Danube. The river winds its way through the heart of the city, cutting past most of Budapest’s best architecture. Witnessing it aglow at night though? Chef’s kiss – your first taste of traditional Hungarian dishes like spicy goulash is on the menu tonight. Tomorrow you’re off to wine country. 

Accommodation: Atrium Fashion Hotel (or similar)
Included: Dinner

Day 2 – Tokaj, Hungary

You’re off on your first train journey of many this morning! Head to the Keleti Station, a grand introduction to your upcoming rail adventures with its soaring ceilings. Settle in for the three-hour ride east. 

Hungary has been producing wine since the Romans settled on the shores of Lake Balaton – almost a thousand years ago. Tokaj (pronounced as t-okay) is the country’s most famous wine-growing region and you’ll get to sip the good stuff over lunch today. Almost like hobbit holes – except dedicated to wine – the cellars below these vineyards are cut straight from volcanic rock, the same sediment that gives Tokaji wine its distinctive taste. You’ll be asking yourself, “Burgundy who?” after learning about the local history. 

Accommodation: Mercure Tokaj Center (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3 – Maramureș, Romania

Today’s trip needs to be by road, but you’ll do a little happy dance halfway through the five-hour drive because you’re already crossing into your second country. Say bună ziua to Romania! Your first stop is the rural Maramureș region, where wooden spires and half-timbered homes will begin to appear.  When you start sharing the road with horse-drawn carts, you’ll know you’ve arrived! Sheltered from the rest of the world in the Carpathian Mountains, this area has hardly changed since Mediaeval times.

A visit to the Merry Cemetery, one of Romania’s Seven Wonders, is no doubt the pinnacle of today. One look at the headstones and you’ll realise that this isn’t your ordinary graveyard. Each tombstone is decorated in brilliant blue paint, known as sapanta blue, as well as their likeness and poems about their life. These were painstakingly created by a local artisan and his apprentice. Dig a little deeper into the culture tonight through your taste buds at dinner in Sighetu Marmatiei. 

Accommodation: Hotel Gradina Morii or similar
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 – Romanian Culture

Maramures is special. That’s why we’ve devoted two days here. Today is dedicated to uncovering more of this region’s customs and traditions because who knows how much longer they’ll be preserved. From heritage-listed wooden churches to colourful hats and dress, each town has its own style and you’ll witness it all first-hand. Cosy up in one of the local villages for lunch where you might have the chance to try a steaming pot of balmos, a hearty mixture of sheep’s cheese and polenta, or gomboti – sweet plum dumplings. Can you believe you still have nine days left in this country, and you’ve only scratched the surface?

Accommodation: Hotel Gradina Morii or similar
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Day 5 – Cluj Napoca, Romania

Rail lovers are in for a special treat! 

You’ll step back in time today, chugging along the remote Vasser River Valley aboard a narrow gauge steam locomotive leaving behind a trail of clouds. The Mocanita Train snakes its way through conifer forests and canopy tunnels, transporting you to remote countryside scenery that you just can’t see otherwise. This is the last forestry train left in all of Europe – and you’ll be riding it! Lunch will be served at the end of the line before you head back the way you came to the town of Viseu de Sus. It’s a two-hour drive to your home for the night in Cluj Napoca – the capital of Transylvania. 

Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6 – Turda Salt Mine

Exploring a subterranean world of salt might not have been what you pictured for a trip to Romania, but this is the largest salt museum in the world – trust us when we say it can’t be missed! You’ll head underground this morning, walking down a series of tunnels and riding an elevator before emerging into the mine. The difference a few hundred metres makes in temperature and atmosphere is surprising – you might want to take a jacket with you. 

Anyone up for riding a Ferris wheel 119 metres underground? A mini amusement park, complete with ping pong tables, a lake you can row across – and even a spa – are all hidden down here and you can’t miss the opportunity to tell your friends back home that you rode a Ferris wheel underground. 

You’ll have the evening to get out and about in Cluj Napoca, discovering its cathedral core and the Piața Muzeului, also known as Museum Square.

Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere  (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7 – Sighișoara, Romania

It’s Day 7 which means one thing: another train, so get ready to hop aboard the 3.5-hour ride to the city of Sighisoara. 

The steam engine outside the Cluj Napoca train station is a testament to how vital locomotives have been in Romania – and still are. But you’ll be travelling on something a bit more modern as you chug into the Transylvanian countryside.

If there’s one town in Romania to inspire myths and legends – this is it. Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad Dracula himself. After you arrive in town and grab some lunch, you’ll get a grand tour of the Old Town with your local guide. This is one of the most romantic cities in all of Romania with cobblestone streets and brightly-coloured houses – all once featured in your childhood fairytales.

Accommodation: Fronius Residence Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 8 – Villages of Transylvania

Transylvanian villages are calling out – it’s time to go exploring! Drive out of Sighisoara today to discover the fortified church of Biertan and its biblical frescoes. Here’s a hint, climb the wooden staircase to see panoramic views of the whole town from the church’s bell tower! As you’re walking the cobblestoned lanes of the Saxon village of Malancrav you might catch a whiff of freshly baked bread  – this is a clue to your next stop. Lunch is a special treat. You’ll be baking alongside a master, learning their secret recipe that has no doubt been passed down for generations. 

You’ll have time to yourself this evening to rest and relax back at the hotel – or maybe you’d like to track down a local distiller for a nip. After all, Sighisoara is known for its fruit brandy. 

Accommodation: Fronius Residence Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 9 – Brasov, Romania

You might be scratching your head as to why you’re not taking the train to Brasov today. Trust us when we say that the comfortable train doesn’t arrive until 2:00 pm and the earlier ones… well… they’re an experience! Instead, you’ll travel by road and make quick work of getting to Brasov – so you can make a pit stop at the Rupea Fortress. Built in the 1300s by the Transylvanian Saxons, you’ll have time to explore and learn about this Mediaeval citadel perched on a basalt cliff. 

You’ll be happily strolling around Brasov for the rest of the afternoon. Your trusty guide will give you a grand tour including the Black Church, burned by the devastating Great Fire. Gather together tonight for a local dinner to swap stories of your trip so far. The best part? You’re not even halfway through! 

Accommodation: Aro Palace Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 10 – Castles of Romania

You can’t visit Romania without seeking out Dracula’s residence and today you’re off to visit the castle that inspired it all. Aptly built on a rocky hill, Bran Castle is a Gothic masterpiece and the seemingly perfect lair for a bloodthirsty warlord turned vampire. 

We don’t mean to burst your bubble but, while the novel Dracula is based on this castle, Vlad actually never lived here. Still, it’s impressive enough that it’s not difficult to imagine why Stoker was inspired to use it as Vlad’s home base. Walking the timbered halls and grand fireplaces, you’ll certainly feel like a vampire could be lurking around the next corner.

Lunch is at the Azuga Winery, famous for their sparkling rosé. Don’t mind if you do! It’s a free evening to sleep off your afternoon indulgences or wander around Brasov. If you do decide to go exploring, take a spin around the Piața Sfatului and its clock tower.

Accommodation: Aro Palace Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Dracula in Transylvania

Inspired by the legendary warlord, Vlad the Impaler, it’s not difficult to imagine why the famous author Bram Stoker based his book Dracula on this fearsome ruler. In fact, Vlad was actually born in Sighisoara, and never even stepped foot in Bran Castle. Similarly, Bram Stoker himself never actually visited Romania, basing his book on eyewitness accounts of the country – and the man – that entranced him through written word. Still, Transylvania is a country chock full of folklore and mythology. Its misty mountains, pine forests and Medieval and Gothic castles set the scene for a fairytale or two and you’ll leave feeling just as inspired as Stoker himself.

Day 11 – Bucharest, Romania

You’re full steam ahead today to Romania’s capital – Bucharest. Look to your right –  the first hour is beautiful views of the Carpathian Mountains, carpeted in pines. This area is also heavy on the bears, so keep your eyes peeled just in case they venture close to the railway. No doubt the 3-hour ride will fly by with so much to see!

Get the lay of the land in Bucharest with your local guide who knows it like the back of their hand. Try to map out the city in your mind as you go – you may want to go explore later – solo. There’s only one place to go for traditional Romanian food, Caru’ Cu Bere, and you’re headed here for dinner. Open for over 130 years, you’ll nosh on Romanian cheeses and slow-roasted pork knuckle. Seal the deal with a local beer – this was originally a brewery after all!

Accommodation: Europa Royale Bucharest Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 12 – Romanian Parliament

A maze of 1,100 rooms is waiting for you at the Parliament Palace this morning. Walking beneath the chandeliers, you would never know that this was once the seat of Communist rule in Romania. Take the afternoon off to chill – you’ve earned it!

Can you believe you’re already halfway through the trip? If you’re itching to get out, Bucharest is a big city and there’s so much to see. Savour these last moments in Romania by nibbling a covrigi, fresh-baked pretzels, while you meander around town – tomorrow is a new country!

Accommodation: Europa Royale Bucharest Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast

Day 13 – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Dobar den! You’ll step foot in your third country of the trip today, Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo is waiting at the end of a three-hour road trip. Once a Neolithic stronghold turned Byzantine capital, and later a city to rival that of Constantinople, this is Bulgaria’s cultural beating heart. Sometimes called the “City of Tsars”, Veliko Tarnovo used to be the seat of the Bulgarian parliament where 22 different tsars ruled. You’ll get glimpses of this exciting history in the patchwork of architectural styles around town and while treading the cobblestone paths of the Tsaravets Fortress with your specialist local guide.

Accommodation: Yantra Grand Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 14 – Sofia, Bulgaria

Travelling by express train is something you can’t miss out on in Bulgaria and you’ll get your chance today. Make your way from Veliko Tarnovo to Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. The thrills won’t just come from your high-speed journey but also from exploring the city on your own this afternoon. Visit one of the many museums and galleries, like the Socialist Art Museum, or dive nose first into the Central Market Hall and its fresh baked pastries, like banitsa, alongside cheeses and cured meats. Meet back up tonight to share your adventures over more local specialties like shopska salata and kyufte, Bulgarian meatballs.

Accommodation: Rosslyn Central Park Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 15 – History of Sofia

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Your guide will untangle the two-thousand-year web of history today, including bits and pieces from Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. The city’s strategic location was an important crossroads and dozens of civilizations have certainly left their mark, each adding a different ingredient to the ultimate recipe of what makes Sofia the exciting capital it is today. 

The tour ends poignantly at the sombre Red Flat Museum where you’ll see Communist Bulgaria through the lens of everyday life in a Soviet-era apartment. Take a much-needed load off tonight, resting your feet and reflecting on your journey so far. There’s a week left of the trip and you’ll need your energy for exploring mountain monasteries and the colourful streets of Istanbul ahead.

Accommodation: Rosslyn Central Park Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 16 – Bansko, Bulgaria

Bansko is your goal for day 16 and the three-hour drive through the Pirin Mountains is paved with beautiful monasteries. The Rila Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an artwork in itself. Take in the rainbow frescoes and Orthodox architecture, surrounded by peaks and misty forests. Disciples of Saint Ivan of Rila, a hermit who it’s said also happened to be a regular Dr Doolittle, are thought to have built it.

Soon you’ll arrive in Bansko, a ski-lovers paradise in winter, and while you won’t be hitting the slopes, this mountain village is still a wonderful retreat. Take a deep breath of fresh crisp air – you’ll be calling this little alpine town home for the next two nights.

Accommodation: St. George Ski and Holiday Resort
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17 – Okoto Lake

Rise and shine, it’s time to stretch your legs and get a little more cosy with those peaks in the distance! It’s a short drive into the Pirin Mountains for a two-kilometre hike to Okoto Lake. Not so keen on the one-hour trek? You’re more than welcome to get your beauty sleep back at the hotel or lounge at the Vihren Chalet with a warm cup of herbal tea to keep you company. Plop yourself down in Bansko’s Thermal Baths later today. What a great way to unwind after a long walk or to simply rejuvenate after the last two weeks of travel.

Accommodation: St. George Ski and Holiday Resort
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 18 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The rail-obsessed will be drooling over today’s plans. A narrow gauge train ride through the mountains and a high-speed train to Plovdiv – all on the same day- – what a treat! Begin it all by chugging through pine forests, rural outposts and storybook villages on board the Rhodrope Railway. Once you arrive in Septemvri you’ll switch to a train that’s a little more modern. 

Known as the “City of Seven Hills”, Plovdiv has had many names over its lifetime, a reflection of a near-constant change in occupation. Remnants of the Romans are all over town and you’ll have the chance to explore the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis with your guide. Climb to the top of its stone stairs for 360-degree views. Did someone say BBQ? Skewered meats are something of a speciality here in Bulgaria and you’ll get to try the lot tonight. There’s something about the smells of open-flame cooking that just brings everyone together.

Accommodation: Hotel Imperial (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 19 – Valley of Roses

Did you know that Bulgaria is the largest producer of rose oil in the world? Sitting in the heart of the countryside, the village of Skobelevo is where it all started. You’ll get to see how this liquid gold is made and while the flowers won’t be in bloom, the sweet scent still lingers in the air. A brief pit stop in Kazanluk for lunch will have you scratching your head as to why this isn’t as popular as Provence’s lavender fields! Take a chill pill back in Plovdiv tonight. The minaret in the centre of town is a little preview of where you’re headed next. 

Accommodation: Hotel Imperial (or similar)
Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 20 – Istanbul, Turkey

You’ll make the journey over 8 hours by road to Istanbul today. Let’s just say you might want to pack both your patience and a good book – the border crossing can be slow going. Why no train, you ask? It’s overnight… with a 2am border crossing. Not exactly our cup of tea or probably yours!

Istanbul is the perfect place to end the adventure, and it will soon come into view. A new city, a new country and a new continent in sight. Look at you! It’s the last new hello for this trip so brush up on your Turkish and greet the locals with merhaba while you’re walking the streets tonight. Or enjoy some pampering in the hotel’s in-house Hamam.  

Accommodation: Innova Sultanahmet Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast

Day 21 – Istanbul, Turkey

Day 21 – Can you believe your adventure is almost over? Not yet, though – today Istanbul is knocking at your hotel door and begging you to explore.  Head out with your guide to visit the best bits of The Faith District. The Blue Mosque’s call to prayer will render you silent and enthralled. 

After hunting down some delicious lunch we’ve snuck in some chill time for your afternoon. You might like to take a ride through the Marmaray Tunnel and pop up on the other side of The Bosporus Strait – Goodbye Europe, hello Asia!

Tonight’s farewell dinner is a perfect fit for your tight-knit group. It’s time to channel the famed and fabulous of The Orient Express while you dine at its terminus – the former Sirkeci Station! 

Accommodation: Innova Sultanahmet Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 22 – Farewell Friends

There’s no better way to spend your last hours in Istanbul than with a Turkish breakfast amongst friends. The bonds that tie from weeks spent travelling by rail will last a lifetime, so exchange contacts and savour both the food and the last moments with your fellow Mag Railers. You’ll soon be wishing you were back on a steam train instead of flying off into the clouds… but it’s so long for now!

Included: Breakfast