12-Nights Budapest to Istanbul - Classic from $2,429

G Adventures

OFFER ID 1532747

Budapest to Istanbul
From pastoral countryside to forbidding forests and fairytale villages, this tour from Budapest to Istanbul is definitely the road less travelled, but absolutely a worthy adventure to take. Over 13 days, you’ll explore the weathered architecture of Budapest, grand Ottoman palaces, "Dracula’s Castle" in Transylvania, and much more. With an intriguing combination of cultural colour and exploration, you'll come away with a real feel for this lesser-explored corner of Europe.

Highlights
Discover the rich and varied culture of Eastern Europe, visit 'Dracula's Castle' and charming Slavic villages, explore the spectacular cities of Budapest and Istanbul

Accommodation
Hotels/pensions (11 nts), guest lodge (1 nt).

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12

Meals Included
12 breakfasts, 1 dinner

What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Nem Adom Fel Café and Bar, Budapest Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group. Budapest orientation walk. Visit to the Balla Géza Winery. Half-day tour of Sighisoara and surrounding countryside villages. 'Dracula's Castle' (Bran). Bucharest orientation tour. Hike to Arbanasi village. Sofia orientation walk. Istanbul city tour with local guide. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.


12 nights from $2,429 per person

Itinerary

G Adventures: Budapest to Istanbul

Day 1: Budapest
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.We recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully explore this breathtaking city.

Day 2: Budapest to Balla Géza Winery
Enjoy a morning free to explore Budapest to get a feel for this charming city. After check out we visit a G Adventures-supported social enterprise café and enjoy a drink and optionally order a bite to eat before we leave Budapest to travel to the Balla Géza Winery for a wine tasting and traditional Romanian dinner. Tonight’s accommodation will be at the winery’s guesthouse on the property.


Day 3: Balla Géza Winery to Sighi?oara
Enjoy breakfast at the Balla Géza Winery before traveling to the enchanting town of Sighi?oara. Use your free time here to explore the cobblestone streets and medieval architecture.
Explore the medieval walled citadel with its cultural attractions and great restaurants and bars. Sample some Romanian cuisine—the Casa Dracula (original home of Vlad, the model for Count Dracula) is now a restaurant specializing in hearty meat and game dishes of the region.

Day 4: Sighi?oara/Brasov
With a local guide, venture into the Romanian countryside to visit traditional villages. Get a true sense of life in this less-visited region. Visit charming Brasov.
Enjoy a half-day guided tour of Sighisoara and nearby countryside. Take in the beautiful rolling scenery and visit medieval villages and fortified churches.In the early evening, transfer to the city of Brasov, the best preserved medieval city in Romania.

Day 5: Brasov
Visit the picturesque Bran Castle and learn the history (and rumours) of this fascinating place.
Impressively situated on a rock outcrop and dominating the valley, this 14th century castle is steeped in history and folklore. Soak in the gorgeous countryside as you learn about the creepier side of Romania.

Day 6: Brasov/Bucharest
Travel to Bucharest and enjoy an orientation walk. Take time to explore the Soviet-esque architecture, the beautiful cathedral, or indulge in Bucharest's international cuisine.


Day 7: Bucharest/Veliko Tarnovo
Enjoy some free time to explore more of Bucharest in the morning before travelling to Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in the world, Veliko Tarnovo. Wander the medieval town, visit the museums, or sample your first taste of Bulgarian cuisine.
Enjoy this charming town and opt to visit the Tsarevets Fortress just outside the city.

Day 8: Veliko Tarnovo
Enjoy the morning in the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo. In the afternoon, visit the hilltop village of Arbanasi. Soak in the views over Veliko Tarnovo.


Day 9: Veliko Tarnovo/Sofia
Travel to Sofia and take an orientation walk of the capital city. Later, wander down the pedestrian street or visit the eclectic Ladies' Market.
A mix of western grandeur and Soviet bulk, Sofia boasts a gold-domed church and delicious international dining.Sample modern takes on Bulgarian and international food, with some great trendy dining opportunities.

Day 10: Sofia/Plovdiv
Travel to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city. Visit the hilly old town, museums, or the Theatre of Ancient Philippopolis, one of the many Roman ruins found here.
Opt to relax over coffee and a Bulgarian baklava, a specialty of the area.

Day 11: Plovdiv/Istanbul
Spend time in the morning exploring more of Plovdiv before boarding an afternoon bus to Istanbul.


Day 12: Istanbul
Enjoy a city tour with a local Turkish guide. Opt to visit the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Hagia Sophia (or Aya Sofya), and the Topkapi Palace.
After getting the lay of the land with a local guide, spend some free time visiting all you can in this eclectic city straddling two continents.In the evening, there are plenty of cool little bars and restaurants to celebrate the end of an amazing journey over a raki or two.

Day 13: Istanbul
Depart at any time.
We highly recommend you book post-accommodation to fully enjoy this vibrant city.Your tour might be finished, but the adventure’s far from over. Pre-book the following activity to experience after your tour ends: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night in Istanbul.And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, or it can be booked upon arrival in Istanbul.

Featured Destinations
Veliko Tarnovo
Sighisoara
Arad
Istanbul
Plovdiv
Sofia
Bucharest
Brasov
Budapest

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
03/23/2025 - 04/04/2025
from $2,599 per person
05/04/2025 - 05/16/2025
from $2,599 per person
05/11/2025 - 05/23/2025
from $2,599 per person
05/18/2025 - 05/30/2025
from $2,599 per person
05/25/2025 - 06/06/2025
from $2,599 per person
06/01/2025 - 06/13/2025
from $2,699 per person
06/08/2025 - 06/20/2025
from $2,699 per person
06/15/2025 - 06/27/2025
from $2,699 per person
06/29/2025 - 07/11/2025
from $2,429 per person
07/06/2025 - 07/18/2025
from $2,799 per person
07/20/2025 - 08/01/2025
from $2,799 per person
07/27/2025 - 08/08/2025
from $2,799 per person
08/03/2025 - 08/15/2025
from $2,799 per person
08/17/2025 - 08/29/2025
from $2,799 per person
08/24/2025 - 09/05/2025
from $2,799 per person
08/31/2025 - 09/12/2025
from $2,519 per person
09/02/2025 - 09/14/2025
from $2,699 per person
09/07/2025 - 09/19/2025
from $2,699 per person
09/14/2025 - 09/26/2025
from $2,699 per person
09/16/2025 - 09/28/2025
from $2,429 per person
09/21/2025 - 10/03/2025
from $2,699 per person
09/28/2025 - 10/10/2025
from $2,699 per person
09/30/2025 - 10/12/2025
from $2,429 per person
10/05/2025 - 10/17/2025
from $2,599 per person
10/12/2025 - 10/24/2025
from $2,599 per person
10/19/2025 - 10/31/2025
from $2,599 per person
10/26/2025 - 11/07/2025
from $2,599 per person
11/09/2025 - 11/21/2025
from $2,599 per person
01/11/2026 - 01/23/2026
from $2,599 per person
02/22/2026 - 03/06/2026
from $2,599 per person
03/22/2026 - 04/03/2026
from $2,599 per person
03/29/2026 - 04/10/2026
from $2,599 per person
04/05/2026 - 04/17/2026
from $2,599 per person
04/19/2026 - 05/01/2026
from $2,599 per person
04/26/2026 - 05/08/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/03/2026 - 05/15/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/10/2026 - 05/22/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/12/2026 - 05/24/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/17/2026 - 05/29/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/24/2026 - 06/05/2026
from $2,599 per person
05/31/2026 - 06/12/2026
from $2,599 per person
06/07/2026 - 06/19/2026
from $2,699 per person
06/09/2026 - 06/21/2026
from $2,699 per person
06/14/2026 - 06/26/2026
from $2,699 per person
06/21/2026 - 07/03/2026
from $2,699 per person
06/23/2026 - 07/05/2026
from $2,699 per person
06/28/2026 - 07/10/2026
from $2,699 per person
07/05/2026 - 07/17/2026
from $2,799 per person
07/12/2026 - 07/24/2026
from $2,799 per person
07/19/2026 - 07/31/2026
from $2,799 per person
07/26/2026 - 08/07/2026
from $2,799 per person
08/02/2026 - 08/14/2026
from $2,799 per person
08/16/2026 - 08/28/2026
from $2,799 per person
08/23/2026 - 09/04/2026
from $2,799 per person
08/30/2026 - 09/11/2026
from $2,799 per person
09/01/2026 - 09/13/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/06/2026 - 09/18/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/13/2026 - 09/25/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/15/2026 - 09/27/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/20/2026 - 10/02/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/27/2026 - 10/09/2026
from $2,699 per person
09/29/2026 - 10/11/2026
from $2,699 per person
10/04/2026 - 10/16/2026
from $2,599 per person
10/11/2026 - 10/23/2026
from $2,599 per person
10/13/2026 - 10/25/2026
from $2,599 per person
10/18/2026 - 10/30/2026
from $2,599 per person
10/25/2026 - 11/06/2026
from $2,599 per person
11/01/2026 - 11/13/2026
from $2,599 per person
11/08/2026 - 11/20/2026
from $2,599 per person
11/29/2026 - 12/11/2026
from $2,599 per person
12/13/2026 - 12/25/2026
from $2,599 per person


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
from $2,429 per person
Length
12 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Moderate
Moderate facilities have modest enhancements to amenities and décor. These hotels or resorts are dependable, comfortable and some may offer standard features, such as select business services, Continental breakfast or coffee service and may have a swimming pool or small fitness center on-site. Guestrooms are comfortable, moderately spacious, in-room telephones, televisions and limited amenities. Moderate establishments provide suitable accommodations and service for budget-minded travelers.
Remarks
Pricing is per person, land only, in US dollars and based on double occupancy. For specific validity dates, discount amount and tour information, please return to the promotion in question. Promotion valid on G Adventures small group tours excluding Independent, MS Expedition or National Geographic Journeys, unless otherwise stated. Promotion applicable to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Does not apply to airfare (unless otherwise stated), pre-/post-accommodation, 'My Own Room' or 'My Own Tent', transfers, theme packs, insurance, polar kayaking & camping excursions or other in-country services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time. Itinerary and map subject to change.  Please click here for a description of the travel style options provided by G Adventures. 

Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
 

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1532747

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Willamette Tours & Cruises

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