the first monastery 20 minutes from the cabin · 2 days · all year round
The monasteries of Bucovina, including the painted churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list, can be discovered in two days, if you visit them in the right order and sleep in one place. The itinerary below starts from Stulpicani and spares you the classic mistake: moving your luggage from one place to stay to another every evening.
Why it matters where you start from
The monasteries of Bucovina are scattered among villages and wooded hills, and the drive from one to the next is part of the charm of the trip. If you stay somewhere further away, you may spend more of your time on the road. From Stulpicani, the first monastery is twenty minutes away, and the others follow on naturally from one another, along scenic roads.
That means two nights in the same bed, your things left calmly around the house and the same long table to come back to every evening.
Day 1: Voroneț, Humor and a free afternoon
Voroneț, twenty minutes away. Set off early, around half past eight, to reach the church before the coaches and to see the blue in the morning light. One hour.
Humor, a quarter of an hour from Voroneț. Smaller and quieter, with the tower from which you can see the whole village. Another hour.
You come back to the cabin for lunch, and the afternoon is yours: the hot tub, the hammock or a walk through the forest behind the house. Tomorrow is a longer day, so it is worth getting some rest.
Day 2: Moldovița, Sucevița and, if you like, Putna
Moldovița, about 50 minutes away, with the “Siege of Constantinople” on its south wall. One hour.
Sucevița, half an hour from Moldovița, over the Ciumârna pass. It has the “Ladder of Virtues” on its north wall, some of the best-preserved frescoes and fortress-like walls. It deserves an hour and a half.
Putna, about another 40 minutes further on, with the tomb of Stephen the Great. It is not one of the painted churches on the UNESCO list, but it is a stop rich in history. Add it only if you set off early; otherwise, save it for next time.
On the way back, stop at the viewpoint on the Ciumârna pass, where the sunset over the hills is worth the whole day.
Good to know
All the monasteries ask for modest dress, and the rules on photography differ from one to another, so follow the signs at the entrance. The visiting fee is usually paid in cash only. Opening hours change with the season and the services, so check them before you set off.
The quietest times are early in the morning and outside the high season. And if you can come during the week, our Sunday to Thursday rates are lower too.
Frequently asked questions
Can we really see them all in two days?
The four on the itinerary, yes, without rushing. With Putna, the second day gets long, but it can be done.
Can we follow the itinerary in winter?
Yes, if the weather and the roads allow. The monasteries stay open, and the snow makes them even more beautiful; before you set off, check the state of the roads and the monasteries’ opening hours.
How many kilometres do we drive in total?
It depends on the places you include and the route you choose, especially if you decide to visit Putna Monastery as well.
One place to stay for the whole weekend
The whole house, just for your group, twenty minutes from the first monastery. In the evening, after frescoes and winding roads, the fire in the fireplace and the warm water of the hot tub are waiting. At weekends, 1,500 lei a night; from Sunday to Thursday, from 900 lei.
