George Enescu Festival small group tour of Romania
Discover the work and world of this neglected twentieth century musical giant on Odyssey's small escorted group tour. Explore Enescu’s native Romania before settling down to a feast of his music performed by a host of international stars in Bucharest and immerse yourself in his work with like minded people. Odyssey hopes to provide the group with the opportunity to attend some 30 concerts over 16 days. The next festival is September 2023.
From $16,188NZD
Highlights
- 1. Listen to more than 30 concerts and recitals in Bucharest.
- 2. Enjoy 5 days exploring and learning about Romania before the Festival
- 3. Tickets to the festival are category 1 or 2.
- 4. Enjoy the company of a Tour leader with a passion for Music
Departure Dates
| Departure Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 01 September 2025 Ends 21 September 2025 • 21 days $16,188 Twin $19,219 Single Available | Selected |
Small group tours George Enescu Festival Small Group Tour to Bucharest, Romania
Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Eastern Europe and beyond. We explore Romania’s incredible natural beauty, its ancient Roman and medieval heritage, World Heritage Sites, and fascinating eclectic cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Romania, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.
The biennial George Enescu International Festival (September 2023) brings to Bucharest and a further seven cities more than 3,000 performers to some 80 events.
For Odyssey Travellers, we are pleased to be able to offer an escorted program that allows you to attend the 2021 George Enescu International Festival, which has been held in Bucharest since 1950. As a biennial (every two years) festival, the next festival will be held in 2023.
This small group tour is limited to 14 people. The tour includes five days touring Romania and Transylvania before the festival starts, and then 16 days in Bucharest (Romanian: București), the capital and largest city of Romania.
About George Enescu
The Romanian composer George Enescu (1881-1955) is considered by many critics as one of the neglected giants of the twentieth century. Prodigiously gifted, composing pieces from the age of seven as he studied the violin and the piano, Enescu's abilities enabled him to study at the Vienna Conservatory from age seven, graduating just before his 13th birthday.
Enescu was best known in America as a conductor (where he was considered as a successor to Toscanini in New York) and in Europe as one of the greatest violinists of the century. But he was first and foremost a composer. Tragically, his mature works - works of extraordinary emotional depth and intricate beauty - remain almost unknown outside his native Romania.
George Enescu Festival Small Group Tour | About the 2021 festival tour
The 2021 program concert series offers almost 40 pieces by George Enescu, played by some of the world's best orchestras. The 2019 program featured the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. For Odyssey Travellers joining this tour, we anticipate being able to offer tickets to the majority of these concerts.
On this 2021 George Enescu Festival small group tour you spend the first five days on a short tour exploring and learning about Romania, before returning to Bucharest for a city tour and for the performances. Typically the program proposed for you would offer some 30 plus concerts, typically attending two performances per day.
Odyssey is finalising the George Enescu Festival small group tour program that should provide you with absolute delight for some 21 days in Romania. Early booking is essential for those who would like to join this tour. The next festival will be in 2023.
You can learn more about Romania with our country profile that lists other departures as well. For more details, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.
Gallery
Itinerary
21 days
Day 1: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
After flying in to Bucharest, we make our own way to the hotel, where we enjoy an introductory dinner and program orientation.
Day 2: Brasov
Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Belvedere or similar
After breakfast in the hotel, we head off for a sightseeing coach tour. Our first stop is Peles Castle, where we enjoy a guided tour of this majestic structure. The Castle is a Neo-Renaissance masterwork nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914. Its inauguration was held in 1883. It was constructed for King Carol I.
We then take a guided tour of the famous Dracula Castle, before travelling to Brasov for an evening walking tour of the city, in which we visit the Black Church, among other attractions.
Later on, we enjoy a group dinner in the hotel.
Day 3: Sighisoara
Accommodation: Overnight Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Sighisoara - Cavaler or similar
After breakfast, we depart for Biertan, where we enjoy a tour of the spectacular fortified church. We then head to Sighisoara, where we enjoy a Citadel tour on foot with a local guide. While here, we also take in the main sights of the museum, and head to the History Museum to see the Clock Tower.
We also visit the Torture Room Museum, along with the Medieval Weapons Museum.
Later on, we enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Day 4: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
This morning, we depart for Bucharest, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant on the way. Once we reach our destination, we enjoy a guided tour of the Mogosoaia Palace. The Palace was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brancoveanu in what is called the Romanian Renaissance style or Brancovenesc style. It bears the name of the widow of the Romanian boyar Mogos, who owned the land it was built on.
Day 5: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
After breakfast in the hotel, we head out for a half-day tour of the city, taking in the main sights and enjoying a tour of the Palace of Parliament, the seat of the Parliament of Romania. Located on Dealul Arsenalului in central Bucharest (Sector 5), it is the second largest administrative building in the world,[1] after The Pentagon in the United States. With a height of 84 m, an area of 365,000 m2 and having a volume of 2,550,000 m3, it is also the fourth biggest building in the world, after the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan, Mexico (and do not forget the Pentagon). In terms of weight, the Palace of the Parliament is the heaviest building in the world.
Later on, we visit the Romanian Costume Museum, as well as the Apostles Church. The remainder of the day is free to pursue our own interests at leisure. We regroup for dinner back at the hotel.
Day 6:
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
Today is the first day of the George Enescu Festival, which we celebrate with several performances.
Day 7: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
Today is the second day of the George Enescu Festival.
Day 8: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The third day of the Festival.
Day 9: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The fourth day of the Festival.
Day 10: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The fifth day of the Festival.
Day 11: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The sixth day of the Festival.
Day 12: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The seventh day of the Festival.
Day 13: Bucarest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The eighth day of the Festival.
Day 14: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The ninth day of the Festival.
Day 15: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The tenth day of the Festival
Day 16: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The eleventh day of the Festival.
Day 17: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The twelfth day of the Festival
Day 18: Bucharest
Accommodation: Athenee Palace Hilton hotel or similar
The thirteenth day of the Festival.
On the final night of the tour, we enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Day 19: Bucharest
After breakfast at the hotel we say our farewells and the tour draws to a close.
Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, moderate walking on uneven surfaces between 3 - 5 kilometers per day. Suitable for most fitness levels
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