Halloween in Transylvania

Join Army Outdoor Recreation for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Dracula's homeland. This is your chance to celebrate Halloween in the misty mountains of Transylvania, walk in the footsteps of Vlad the Impaler, and party the night away at Bran Castle itself.

Our "No Hassles/No Hidden Costs" package is designed for true convenience and value. While some "discount" tours expect you to arrange your own flights and find your own way from the airport to the hotel, our trip is the complete experience. Forget sharing rooms with strangers or arranging logistics; your adventure includes free parking at Pulaski or Smith Barracks, round-trip airfare, all airport shuttles, and your own private 4-star hotel room. We handle everything from start to finish.

While others visit "Dracula's Castle" but skip the party, leave out key sites, or cut costs by not including meals, we make sure you live the legend, not just glimpse it. You will journey to the authentic, UNESCO World Heritage-listed citadel of Sighișoara to the very room where Vlad the Impaler was born. Your trip culminates in Romania's premier Halloween event: a spooky, night tour of Bran Castle, followed by a massive Halloween party in the castle gardens until midnight, or later if you dare!

This trip fills up every year! Adults who book one of the first 22 seats will receive a $200 Early Bird discount. Don't get stuck with a tour that only tells half the story, makes you handle your own logistics, or misses out on the best value. Reserve your complete Halloween adventure with Army Outdoor Recreation today.

Price, Seats 1-22:

• Double Occupancy: $1799 per person
• Single Occupancy: $2099

Price, Seats 23-40:

• Double Occupancy: $1999 per person
• Single Occupancy: $2299

Reservations made on or after Thursday, August 20 - or after the 22nd seat is sold - may be subject to airline fare increases based on the current individual ticket rate.

• Up to two children aged 6-11 in room with 2 paid adults: $899
• Children under 6 sharing existing bedding with 1 or 2 paid adults: $499

Trip Includes:

• Round trip transportation including airfare and local transportation 
• Free parking and airport shuttle to Frankfurt from your choice of Pulaski or Smith Barracks
• 4 total overnights
  • 3 nights at Hotel Cubix Brasov**** or equivalent
  • 1 night at Novotel Bukarest City Center**** or equivalent
• Daily breakfast and dinner
  • 2 Hotel Restaurant Dinners in Brasov
  • Rustic dinner with entertainment at a Traditional Restaurant in Poiana Brasov
  • Farewell dinner at a Historic Restaurant in Bucharest with entertainment
• Guided walking tours of Brasov, Bucharest, and Sighisoara
• Panorama bus tour of Bucharest
• Night visit of Bran Castle (all ages) and Bran Castle Halloween Party (18+)
• Admission to Dracula’s Birthhouse, Sighisoara Clock Tower and Church on the Hill
• Admission to either Peles or Pelesor Castle
• Admission to Prejmir Foritified Church
• Admission to People’s Palace
• QuietVOX Audio Guide
• Souvenir at end of tour
   
• Pay in US Dollars
• Support your local Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs

What to Bring:

• Comfortable, weather appropriate shoes and clothing
• Halloween costume (no weapons, real or fake, are allowed to be part of a costume)
• Credit/Debit card or Romanian Lei
• Military ID and Passport

Departure:

• 6 a.m. from Wagon Wheel Theater, Smith Barracks
• 7 a.m. from Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, bldg. 2905

Return: Monday Night

Any required paper or electronic travel documentation is the personal responsibility of each traveler. 

Estimated Itinerary

Thursday: Flight to Romania & Arrival in Brasov

Your Halloween adventure begins as our comfortable, included shuttle whisks you from Pulaski or Smith Barracks directly to Frankfurt Airport. Upon landing in Romania, your local guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you through the scenic countryside into the heart of Transylvania: Brasov. As you approach, you'll see the dramatic Carpathian Mountains rising around you. An included dinner awaits at your 4-star hotel, giving you a chance to settle in, relax, or take a short taxi ride to get your first glimpse of the city's charming, cobblestone center.

Friday: Sighișoara, Dracula’s Birthplace & Traditional Dinner

Today offers a full day to relax and explore Brasov on your own, or you can join our unforgettable included excursion to Sighișoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the entire walled city is a perfectly preserved medieval time capsule. Your walking tour of the citadel includes admission to the house where Dracula was born, the chance to climb the 64-meter-high Clock Tower, and a visit to the historic Church on the Hill. This evening, the group reunites to visit the mountain resort of Poiana Brasov for a memorable dinner at the Dacian’s Barn. This rustic restaurant welcomes you with friendly hospitality, a cozy atmosphere, live music, and a delicious dinner featuring timeless Transylvanian recipes.

Saturday: Prejmer Fortified Church and Brasov

Your day starts with a journey back in time to the Prejmer Fortified Church. Step inside the massive defensive walls to explore the "village within a village"—a honeycomb of over 270 rooms where townspeople would shelter from invaders. Afterwards, a walking tour of Brasov will introduce you to the charms of Transylvania's capital, from the picturesque Council Square to the imposing Black Church.

Saturday Night: Bran & The Party at Dracula's Castle

This is Halloween! Tonight, you're attending Romania's premier Halloween celebration. The fun begins with a spooky night visit of Bran Castle ("Dracula's Castle"). As you wander its eerie, medieval corridors and secret staircases, you'll feel the weight of centuries of myth and legend. Immediately following, you'll step out into the castle gardens where the pulsating energy of a massive Halloween Party awaits in a heated tent, complete with music, dancing, and a legion of costumed revelers! Although the bus must depart for Brasov at midnight, if you want to party with the vampires until sunrise, returning independently is easy with a taxi or Uber.

Sunday: Peles Castle & The Belle Époque of Bucharest

On your way to Romania’s capital, you'll stop in the mountain town of Sinaia to visit the breathtaking Peles Castle. This stunning neo-renaissance palace, considered one of Europe's most beautiful, offers a fairytale contrast to the gothic fortress of Bran. Arriving in Bucharest this afternoon, you'll check into another modern 4-star hotel. Your evening includes a walking tour of the lively Lipscani district—the heart of the old town, known for its vibrant nightlife and beautiful Belle Époque architecture—which begins the moment you step outside the hotel's front door and finishes with a farewell dinner at one of the city's historic restaurants, complete with traditional music and dancing.

Monday: The People's Palace & Return to Germany

Your final day begins with a panoramic tour of Bucharest, culminating in a visit to the staggering Palace of the Parliament (People’s Palace). As the world's second-largest administrative building, this enormous monument to the ego of Nicolae Ceaușescu will leave you in awe as you tour its vast, ornate chambers. After this memorable visit, you will be transferred to the airport for your evening return flight to Frankfurt, filled with memories of a Halloween adventure unlike any other!