Danube Express Luxury Train: Castles of Transylvania

It is a 6-night, 7-day journey from Istanbul to Budapest. The route runs Istanbul, Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, Sinaia for Peles Castle, Brasov for Bran Castle, Sighisoara, Sibiu, then Kecskemet and Lajosmizse in Hungary before arriving in Budapest. Nights are split between five-star hotels at each end and your en-suite cabin on the Danube Express.

It starts in Istanbul, where you are met on arrival and transferred to a five-star hotel in the Old City for a one-night stay, and finishes in Budapest with a one-night stay at a five-star art nouveau landmark hotel and a farewell reception dinner. Book an arrival flight into Istanbul and a departure flight from Budapest; those flights are not included.

Day two is a full day in the city that spans Europe and Asia. The programme covers a selection of the must-see historic sites, including the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and more than 20,000 Iznik tiles, and Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian and one of the largest basilicas of the Christian world.

Peles Castle at Sinaia is a masterpiece of German neo-Renaissance architecture and, for many, one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, it served as the royal family's summer residence until 1947. Its 160 rooms hold fine European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained glass and Cordoba leather-covered walls.

Yes. A private dinner inside the walls of 14th-century Bran Castle near Brasov is one of the signature moments of this journey, and it is included in the tour price. Bran is inseparable from the history of Vlad the Impaler, the figure behind the Dracula legend, which the day's touring explores.

Sighisoara is a World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved fortified medieval towns in Europe, rumoured to be the birthplace of the figure behind the Dracula legend. A morning walking tour takes in its main highlights, with burgher houses and ornate churches lining the cobbled streets, before the train continues to Sibiu.

Veliko Tarnovo is Bulgaria's ancient capital and the first stop after the train climbs over the Shipka Pass. Its stone houses appear to be stacked one above another on the steep banks of the Yantra River. The tour takes in the superbly preserved medieval Tsarevets Hill and Castle, with free time to wander the narrow alleyways of the old city.

Sibiu is known for the Germanic architecture of its Old Town, a legacy of 12th-century Saxon settlers. Remains of the medieval walls and towers survive around the city, including the 13th-century Council Tower that links the two main squares. The visit comes after lunch on board, and the Farewell Dinner is served on the train that evening.

On the final touring day the train heads from Kecskemet, at the geographical centre of Hungary, to Lajosmizse for a traditional Puszta equestrian show. The Puszta is the Hungarian great plain, and the show displays the horsemanship of its herdsmen, including the famous feats of riders controlling several horses at once. It is included in the fare.

Two classes are offered on the Danube Express: Deluxe Class and Superior Deluxe Class, both private and en-suite, with cabin attendant service including an evening turndown. Superior Deluxe is the more spacious option and tends to sell first. The exact fare for each class on each departure is shown on this page.

You unpack just once and settle into your cabin, with a cabin attendant on hand throughout. The social heart of the train is the first-class Bar Lounge Car, a relaxed place to watch the scenery and get to know fellow travellers, and meals are served in the Restaurant Cars. The pace on board is deliberately unhurried between excursions.

Included are five-star pre- and post-tour hotel accommodation, your private en-suite cabin, cabin attendant service with evening turndown, an experienced tour management team, the services of a UK-registered doctor with medical facilities on board, arrival and departure transfers, all gratuities on and off the train, luggage porterage, the listed meals with inclusive beverages from the standard bar list, and the guided off-train excursions.

Six breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners are included across the seven days. Meals on board are freshly prepared using the finest local ingredients, and the itinerary also includes authentic dining experiences in local restaurants, the private dinner at Bran Castle, a welcome reception dinner in Istanbul and a farewell reception dinner in Budapest.

Yes. All gratuities on and off the train are included, so there is nothing to work out for train staff, hotel porters or local guides, and luggage porterage is covered throughout the journey. Arrival transfer in Istanbul and departure transfer in Budapest are included. International flights are not.

Freedom of Choice means that on certain days you select between two included touring options instead of following one fixed programme, so the journey can suit different interests within the same group. Both options are covered by the fare; you simply tell the tour management team which you prefer, and they arrange the guides and transport accordingly.

The lead-in fare is from EUR 11,800 per person (2026 departure; EUR 13,300 in 2027) sharing a cabin. It covers the hotel nights at each end, your cabin on board, the listed meals, inclusive beverages from the standard bar list, all excursions, transfers and gratuities. The fare varies by cabin class and departure date, and the exact fare for each date is shown on this page.

Yes. A single-occupancy fare is available from EUR 17,600 (2026; EUR 19,900 in 2027) for the journey, depending on cabin class and departure date. Single cabins on a private train are limited, so they are best requested as early as possible. The exact single rate for your chosen date is confirmed in writing before you book.

A deposit of 30 percent of the tour price confirms your cabin and is non-refundable. The balance is due 125 days before departure, and bookings made within 125 days of departure are payable in full at the time of booking. Your written confirmation shows the exact amounts and the dates they fall due.

Departures run from September 2026 through October 2027, with 10 dates currently loaded, concentrated in the spring and autumn shoulder seasons when Transylvania is at its best for touring. The full list of bookable dates, with the fare for each cabin class, is in the departures section of this page.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610 or message https://wa.me/17864080610, and a travel specialist or our AI assistant will help. Every departure listed on this page is bookable directly, and we will confirm your cabin class, the exact fare and what it covers in writing before any payment is taken.