Golden Eagle Danube Express: Castles of Transylvania

With one foot in Europe and the other Asia, this vast, vibrant city has been the capital of no less than three great empires. Overlooking the Golden Horn, an evening in the Pera Palace Hotel’s opulent dining room sets the stage for your adventure.

Simply walking the Bosphorus’ banks is an immersive history lesson spanning thousands of years. The interiors of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia basilica are so sublime they demand special attention. Early afternoon we join our private train, the Golden Eagle Danube Express, to begin our rail journey through Bulgaria and Romania to Budapest.

After boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express and climbing the Shipka Pass, panoramic views give way to red rooftops cascading down to meet the Yantra River in the capital, Veliko Tarnovo. On a walking tour, encounter the imposing Tsarevets Fortress, the cobblestoned medieval old town and local crafts like pottery, textiles and woodwork.

The silver ribbon of the rails snakes through the Carpathian Mountains to Sinaia, home to Peles Castle, and on to Brasov. Here, Bran Castle perches atop a 200-foot-high rock. Often associated with Count Dracula, the dramatic setting makes a commanding location for a gala dinner.

This morning, stroll through Sighisoara, a fortified medieval town steeped in gothic myth and Transylvanian tales. On to Sibiu, where there’s intriguing architecture around every corner, from the folkloric Burgher houses and the homes with eyes to the open-air Astra Museum’s traditional thatched buildings.

After a pit stop in central Hungary and a stroll around Kecskemét’s, travel to Lajosmizse to watch Hungarian cowboys put their steeds through their paces in the Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain’s traditional horse show. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner, giving you the opportunity to reflect on your journey through this fascinating part of Europe.

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.