Everything you need to know about visiting Brasov, Romania

Is Brasov worth visiting?

Brasov is hands down one of Europe’s hidden gems. This is true of Romania as a whole, which sees relatively few tourists beyond the inevitable stag nights, but Brasov and the surrounding areas are an unknown paradise of fairy tale architecture, spectacular views and cultural treats.

Is Brasov safe?

I found the city to be extremely safe. I travelled alone and experienced no problems. There are the usual potential scams to watch out for, especially around taxis. Always try to find out in advance what your fare should cost, or have your hotel organise your initial transfer if necessary. 

But in general, Brasov was a busy, bustling little town with lots of people out and about until late, making it feel very safe as a single woman. This is backed up by crime stats, which show very low incidences of crime, especially when compared to somewhere like London.

I also took the train from Bucharest, which again felt extremely safe, if a bit chaotic (if you’re British like me, you should be able to relate here).

What to visit?

In the city itself, you will mostly find yourself wandering the picturesque streets, taking in the old world, fairy tale charm. Start in Piata Sfatului, the main square, a triangular expanse focused on the 13th century clock tower in the centre. The square has cafes and restaurants clustered around the sides, some of which catch the afternoon sun, so it’s a beautiful spot to have a leisurely drink and people watch. 

Next, head over to the Biserica Neagra, or Black Church. Just off the main square, this is a pleasant church to walk around, and has a lovely shop just opposite selling local items. 

My favourite activity was visiting the Black and White towers, perched on the hills above the city. 

Check out my guide Top 10 things to do when visiting Brasov for more detail and more Brasov activities.

What to visit around Brasov

One of the highlights of visiting Brasov is, oddly enough, getting out of Brasov. There are myriad activities to help you explore this beautiful part of Romania. 

There are multiple hiking options, while my absolute favourite activity was bear watching. You can either go right out in nature in a bear hide, or at Libearty Bear Sanctuary.

Most famously,  you can also head to two of Romania’s most famous – and different – castles. Head to mediaeval Bran, the inspiration for Dracula’s castle, or to the gloriously Gothic and Neo-Renaissance Peles. 

See my ‘Top 10 things to do when visiting Brasov’ blog for more detail. 

Where to stay

Brasov is not particularly pricey. The best place to stay (in my opinion) is right in the centre of the Old Town. This will keep you close to all the action. You’ll want to try and find somewhere set slightly back from the main streets, as the buildings are old and the soundproofing isn’t going to be the best. While the town isn’t nearly as stag-night focused as Bucharest, if you’re staying on the main streets you will hear noise at night. 

Avoid staying in the New Town – while it’s nearer to the train station, it doesn’t offer any of the charm of Old Town Brasov.

Best time to visit Brasov

Like much of central Europe, Brasov is best visited in Spring or Autumn. This avoids the hot summers, which average out at 25c or 26c, with highs of 30c. While this certainly isn’t the hottest part of Europe, some people find this too hot for comfortable touristing. Spring and autumn are more comfortable, with May coming in at an average of 18c and October a balmy 21c, making it a great shout for some late warmth.

Winter isn’t the worst shout as Brasov itself doesn’t get truly cold. It has an average of 12-13c in January and December, dropping to 9 or 10c. However, the areas around it including Bran castle and the mountains will get significantly colder. This means your options for local sightseeing will be reduced.

How to get to Brasov

By rail:

There are a number of ways to get to the town. Most people will transfer from Bucharest. There are regular trains from Bucharest’s main station, Bucureşti Nord.

Brasov is not far from Bucharest, but trains vary in duration, from just over 2 hours to three and a half. Make sure you take that into account when booking your ticket.

There are sleeper trains as well. However, given the short trip I wouldn’t personally recommend these, as you’d barely be asleep before having to get up again.

From Bucharest Airport, you can take a direct train to Bucuresti Nord and transfer to the train for Brasov. It takes about 20 minutes and runs about every 40 minutes.

It’s really easy to book trains in Romania. The main train company website CFR Calatori has an English-language version and you can see all your travel options quickly and easily. There are two classes on trains in Romania. I recommend upgrading to first class – it’s certainly not a world of luxury but it’s not enormously more expensive either. 

By air

Brasov Airport has only just opened in June 2022 – it wasn’t open when I visited in October 2021. There are relatively few flights going in and out. However, this is likely to change as the town gets more well known. At the moment (January 2023) the main airline flying into Brasov is Wizz Air.

The airport is not on public transport links, so you’d need a taxi to get into town. This is around a 15 minute drive. Uber is available in Romania, but is less frequent in Brasov than in Bucharest, so you might have to wait a bit if relying on Uber from the airport. However, the flip side is knowing your fare in advance. This means not having to negotiate with taxi drivers, so it could be a useful option if you haven’t pre booked a taxi.