Bucharest to Sibiu and Alba Iulia: Private day trip

Founded in the 12th century by German Saxons, there had probably been a settlement here for many years prior. By the late 1300s the city had become home to 19 registered trade guilds, and more than 40 by the end of the 1500s. The wealth accrued by the guilds allowed for the construction of regal buildings and the fortifications required to protect them. Even today, these robust fortification survive, and visitors can visit 3 15th century towers, or the 16th century Great Tower, where Sibiu's first theatrical performance was staged in 1778. At the heart of the old town, the Great Square is the flanked by the Roman-Catholic church, the city’s only Art Nouveau building, and the Brukenthal Palace, which houses one of Romania's most important art collections. A passage beneath the Council Tower connects to the Little Square, which was home to the town's most prestigious master craftsmen.

One of the oldest settlements in Romania, Alba has been one of the leading wine growing regions since the 1st century AD. During Roman rule, the city served as the region’s military and economic center and was rendered a copy of Rome in miniature. The city reached its heydey between 1542 and 1690 when it served as the capital of the independent Principality of Transylvania and seat of the Transylvanian princes. The peasant revolt on February 28, 1785 turned the city into a symbol of justice and freedom. Today, visitors can explore the wide, tree lined boulevards of the Habsburg Citadel - a massive 18th century fortress with baroque elements, or visit the oldest monument in Transylvania - the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The city’s rich history is embodied by its regal estates, such as the Apor Palace and the Princely Palace.