EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 54 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Phillip J 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Romanian Private Van Family Tour
My family of 5 booked a private Romanian tour with Transylvanian Tours. Gelu was our guide. The main highlights are listed here - Bucharest, Slanic Salt mine (take warm clothes to the mine - although spectacular, it is cool down the mine) - Sinaia (Peles castle) - Brașov, Bran Castle (Dracula), Viscri Villiage, Sighisoara Fortress, Sibiu, Transfagarasan mountain road - up to Balea Lake Challet and back to Bucharest. This was a 5 day tailored tour to accommodate a family member with mobility issues who enjoyed the tour as much as all of us. This country and its cities and towns are breath taking and exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend Gelu, his driver and Transylvanian Tours to anyone who would like to experience this beautiful country. Love to come back to continue with other spectacular locations in the future! Thank you Gelu for your care, knowledge and humor as you took us through your beautiful country.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Jane S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A Side of Romania We'd Never Find on Our Own
For anyone hesitant to book a fully guided tour: just do it. This was one of our favorite trips, and Gelu is the reason we got so much out of it. We wanted to see rural areas like Maramureș and Transylvania beyond the typical tourist attractions. My husband convinced me to hire a guide and I cannot believe how much it changed the experience. As a former journalist, Gelu has contacts and friends in every corner of the country. Because of that, we experienced a side of Romania we could never have found on our own. We ate meals in family kitchens, drank palincă with locals, and had genuine conversations about their lives today and during communism. It was refreshing to spend days at a time without encountering another American, or even a native English speaker. We really wanted to see the place where the Ceaușescus were tried and executed, but it was closed the only day we could go. Gelu made a phone call, and two women opened the museum just for us! Gelu was incredibly flexible and tailored the trip to our interests and energy level as he got to know us. One day I was sick and Gelu consulted his pharmacist daughter, then showed up at our hotel room with medicine and instructions. He then spoke with the owner of the inn who let us stay in the room as long as I needed past checkout time. My husband and I are in our early 40s and travel internationally a few times a year, normally planning everything ourselves. We love the freedom and spontaneity of independent travel and I worried a fully guided trip would feel too structured, but it didn't. Instead, it made the trip. I encourage everyone to visit before tourism changes some of the places and traditions that make this country special. There is so much more of Romania we want to explore, and we plan to return. Next time, I'll give Gelu the dates and leave the rest up to him.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 RussKr1 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Another great trip with Gelu
This was our second tour with Gelu, and once again, it was an absolutely wonderful experience. This time we explored the beautiful regions of Bukovina and the Danube Delta, and Gelu made the journey truly special. He is an exceptionally knowledgeable guide who has a wonderful way of bringing Romania’s history, culture, and traditions to life. He was always attentive to our needs and took us beyond the usual tourist sights, introducing us to hidden corners and special places we would never have discovered on our own. He also connected us with fascinating local people, which made our experience even more personal and memorable. Traveling with Gelu feels less like being on a tour and more like exploring Romania with a knowledgeable and caring friend. After two wonderful trips with him, we are already looking forward to discovering new parts of Romania together. We can’t recommend Gelu highly enough!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 debpaper 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A walk in Bucharest with Gelu
Transylvanian Tours Bucharest A walk in Bucharest with Gelu 1068950152 Gelu is so incredible. We met him in Bucharest and walked down a major street closed to vehicles (It was Sunday). Besides his great knowledge of history and current events, Gelu knows a lot about his city. We walked to the old town and had coffee and tea in an amazing building that has an enclosed area around a charming, huge building. I can see how the city got the nickname Little Paris. Another highlight was Stavropoleos, a beautiful little church built in 1724. Amazing date to us Midwesterners. Of course, Gelu knew one of the volunteers in the church.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Joseph M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
The Transylvanian Dream Team!
Our group of 8 had a GREAT time in Transylvania! Gelu and Transylvania Tours put together a wonderful itinerary-- Beautiful mountain views, visit to Peles & Bran Castles, lunch in a local's home, cable car ride (Where we saw a bear), and excellent overnight accommodations in Brasov & Sibiu. Gelu, our guide each day, was fantastic-- personable, sense of humor, and he really knew his stuff. I couldn't recommend them more highly!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Michael G 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Making Vacation Personal
Last year my wife and I decided to go on vacation to Romania. After doing research about private guided tours, I found three men with similar and consistent high scores. Being difficult to pick between the three, I read all the reviews and searched Google for other places where their names might appear. Gelu’s name appeared in quite a few places on the Internet…he was a journalist, a hiker and mountaineer, a philosopher, a scout leader, a lover of Democracy, a passionate lover of his country, and a student about anything that piqued his interest. And many reviews cited his compassion towards the clients that had mishaps and flexibility when something happened to challenge the trip. A week before vacation, the airline cancelled our flight. We finally booked with another airline at an increased cost. This required a change in our arrival from Cluj to Bucharest and Gelu tinkering with the order of our journey. After landing in Warsaw for our connecting flight, we were stuck in the Passport line for more than 2 hours. With assurances that our flight was waiting for us, we reached the gate only to find it didn’t wait for us. Instead of arriving at about 2pm, we got to Bucharest at 11pm. Gelu had to cancel one reservation and add a day to another. He moved some challenging activities to accommodate our recuperation from a 25-hour travel day. When he found out I had neuropathy that made walking up stairs or traversing unlevel ground an excuse for a hospital visit, he helped me up and down stairs and became my companion when the terrain got rough. Turning to the more traditional qualities of a guide, he brought us to the most wonderful sights, man made and natural, and put everything in perspective. We talked history, politics, religion, culture, and even the attributes of a fine brewed beer. We ate with people in their homes, had picnics by lazy bubbling streams, and dined at white tablecloth restaurants. Gelu helped make our vacation personal and we are very grateful.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 KL L 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Wonderful Romania a d guide -Oct 2025
Gelu was our local guide for the 10day trip in Romania. We were so lucky to have a local folk who relates very well their country cultures and values, and also an experienced journalist to tell us more about their history, He even shared his personal experience on the street protest during government changing time, that really brought the country history to life to us!! Apart from the beautiful scenery in Brasov he brought us to, and the very special Sibui houses with 'eyes' on the roofs, he told superb stories about the history and meaningful wall paintings in those churches we visited, and the highlight was at the merry cemetery at maramures,. He took the effort to explain or translate those script on the stones to allow us to appreciate the special culture there. We were like a true family during the trip!! We thoroughly enjoyed his tour.í
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Ron M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
The best way to experience the real Transylvania
Having Gelu as our guide in Romania was like travelling with a very knowledgeable good mate. That is a real bonus for the personalised tours he operates. We took this tour whose main focus is in the province of Transylvania. This region is so beautiful with much of the area in an enormous and gentle landscape but bounded by the massive Carpathian Mountain range that transcends the whole country. Its cites including Sibiu, Sighisoara and Brasov are as beautiful, historic, vibrant and welcoming, and well and truly comparable to their Western European cousins (but often without the hoards of tourists). The region's architectural highlights include remarkable sites like Peles Castle, the fortified churches of Carta and Viscri, the renowned Bran Castle, and many outstanding orthodox churches, each part of a unique European heritage. Gelu’s extensive knowledge of Romanian history, including his insights living during the Soviet era, provided a very personal perspective. Also a keen hiker, he guided us on lovely walks to the top of the mountain overlooking Brasov and walks around the stunning Balea Lake. We were treated to safe encounters with wildlife including Romania's famous bears sometimes seen even at the side of local roads. His driver George ensured comfortable transport in his spacious SUV, allowing Gelu to spend additional time commenting about life in Romania and its recent rapid modernization. Another delightful part of our journey was that several times Gelu pleasantly surprised by detouring from the planned itinerary to visit small towns or very recent renovations such as to walled town fortifications that had just opened to the public. Culinary experiences were another part of the tour, with Gelu providing expert recommendations for traditional and modern cuisine at local restaurants and cafes and we even dined with local families. Finally, with Gelu's keen enthusiasm for his job, you might find long travel days so make sure you are well rested before you start your travels! ;o)
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 robi4513 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Extremely knowledgeable guides A VIP experience
One of the best experiences ever. The Trandafir brothers left nothing to chance: from airport pick up to hotel reservations, entertainment, entrance fees.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 huiyliew 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Passionate, Knowledgeable and Truly Dedicated Guide
We were so lucky to have Gelu as our guide in Romania! He is incredibly passionate about his country’s culture and history, and his stories brought every place to life. In Brasov and Sibiu, he seemed to know every nook and corner — from hidden alleys to the best photo spots. At the Merry Cemetery, Gelu patiently interpreted the witty tombstone inscriptions for us, helping us understand the deeper meaning behind this unique tradition. He was always patient, dedicated, and helpful — even assisting us with our luggage without hesitation. Thank you, Gelu, for making our Romania trip so memorable. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to experience Romania with a guide who truly loves and knows his country! 🇷🇴✨
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni was built as a result of the "competition" between the richest among Romanians and their king.

Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino (1832-1913)Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino , nicknamed Nababul (the Nabob), was a conservative politician, mayor of the capital Bucharest, twice prime minister, and a descendant of the Byzantine imperial family of Cantacuzino. At the beginning of the 20th century, Nababul was the wealthiest Romanian. He had already built the Currently undergoing renovation, the Cantacuzino Palace in Bucharest was built between 1901 and 1902 and houses the George Enescu Museum. The building was inherited by Nababul's son, Mihai, who married Maruca Cantacuzino. After his death, Maruca, who inherited the palace, married the great composer and performer George Enescu.magnificent Cantacuzino Palace on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest , which is now the George Enescu Museum.

Arriving in Romania in 1866, King Carol I reigned for 48 years, between 1866—the year of his arrival in Romania—and 1914. the German Carol I was the first king of the Romanians. He modernized Romania (fundamental institutions, infrastructure) and obtained its independence (the war against the Ottoman Empire in 1877-1878). Carol I built Peleș Castle. The construction of the palace at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains lasted from 1873 to 1914, with the castle being opened in several stages.

Resorts' competition: Sinaia vs Busteni

In order to be close to the king, many wealthy boyars also began to build beautiful villas in the area where, in 1883, Carol I established his summer residence. This is how the mountain resort of Sinaia came into being - villas around Peles Palace. But Nababul Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino did not limit himself to a villa. He built a castle—smaller than the king's—which was inaugurated in 1911. However, as he could not defy the king in Sinaia itself, Nababul built his castle a short distance away, in the mountain town of Bușteni, 11 km by road from Peleș Castle. He did not enjoy his castle in Bușteni for long, as Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino died in 1913.

Nababul had a more beautiful view than the King

Nababul did not set out to build a castle larger than Peles. The short time he lived after the inauguration in 1911 did not allow him either to gather art or furniture collections that could rival those of Peles. However, it is said that Nababul liked to boast that he enjoyed a more spectacular view from Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni than King Carol I did from Peleș Castle in Sinaia. This is, in fact, perfectly true: the view of the rocky cliffs of the Bucegi Mountains in Bușteni is truly impressive.

From Nababul residence to Wednesday's school Nevermore Academy

Cantacuzino Castle was confiscated by the communists and turned into a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. The furniture was looted, and the walls were covered with a layer of paint. However, after the fall of communism, it returned to private ownership. With massive investments and European funds, major restoration work was carried out. The splendor of Cantacuzino Castle was largely brought back to life.

Much of the filming for the series Wednesday (based on the Addams Family franchise) took place at Cantacuzino Castle, which became not only the residence of Nabab, but also the boarding school Nevermore Academy.

You can also read:

Peles Castle is a stunning showcase of the beauty of royal Romania!

The Bran Castle

Brasov (Kronstadt)