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If you’ve been scanning maps of Eastern Europe, wondering whether Brașov deserves a spot on your itinerary, you’re not alone. Tucked into the heart of Transylvania, this fairy tale city often flies under the radar compared to Europe’s more famous destinations. But after spending time there in October 2022, I can confidently say: Brașov isn’t just worth visiting—it’s a place that surprised me in all the best ways.
I’ll never forget the moment I saw my first bear in the wild. It was dusk, and I was huddled in a bear hide when the bears came into view, ambling near the forest’s edge, massive and majestic. That kind of unforgettable wildlife encounter isn’t something most European cities can offer, but Brașov isn’t most cities.
Beyond the bears, this charming Romanian town feels like it’s been lifted straight from the pages of a storybook. Between exploring the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, standing in the shadow of the legendary Bran Castle, and exploring the majestic Peles Castle,the best things to do in Brașov offer a unique blend of nature, history, and myth.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly what to do in Brașov—whether you’re in search of Dracula lore, bear encounters, or a quiet escape from the usual tourist crowds. Let’s dive in.
Is Brașov worth visiting?
Brasov is a beautiful city that is relatively unknown to western tourists, with picturesque squares and lively café scene. Brașov has a new airport, making it an emerging must-visit European city break destination alongside countries like Montenegro and Slovenia. The city is dripping in history, and is a haven for anyone looking for that European fairy-tale vibe.
The surrounding beautiful countryside is also a paradise for history and nature lovers, as you can visit Dracula’s castle, make friends with rescued bears and hike across the mountains. I visited in October 2022 and absolutely fell in love.
In this guide, I’ll go through the best things to do both in the beautiful city centre, and in the stunning countryside surrounding it.
History of Brașov
Brașov was founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights, to defend the border of the Kingdom of Hungary. While they didn’t last long, leaving in 1225, the German colonists who came with them stayed in the city, giving Brasov its German feel. They formed a big part of the city’s history, as it became a major trade hub.
The 17th century saw Brașov was a centre for cultural and religious activities, particularly for the Romanian community in the Șchei district. The first Romanian-language newspaper, “Gazeta Transilvaniei,” was published in Brasov in 1838, highlighting the city’s role in the national awakening movement.
Following World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, Transylvania, including Brașov, united with Romania in 1918. Post-war, under communist rule, Brașov underwent rapid industrialization. Notably, between 1950 and 1960, it was renamed Orașul Stalin (“Stalin City”) in honour of the Soviet leader. The city also played a pivotal role in anti-communist movements, with the 1987 Brașov strike marking significant resistance against the regime.
So much of this can be seen in Brașov today, although the medieval elements of the city’s history are a particular highlight. In this guide, I’ll go through some of the most important historical sites in Brașov.
What to do in Brasov – inside and out of this beautiful medieval city
Map of Brasov attractions
Use this interactive map of the best things to do in Brasov to plan your stay!
1. Relax in Piata Sfatului, Brașov’s main square
Cost: free
Start your time in Brasov in Piata Sfatului, the main square, a triangular expanse focused on the Council House, which was built in 1420. The beautiful tower on the building, which now features a clock, was originally for defensive purposes and was built from 1521 onwards.
Originally a market square during Brașov’s bustling medieval trade years, the square now has cafes and restaurants clustered around the sides, some of which catch the afternoon sun. It’s a beautiful spot to have a leisurely drink and people watch.
2. Marvel at the Biserica Neagra
Cost: 25 RON (c.$5.50)
Next, head over to the Biserica Neagra, or Black Church. It was constructed during the 14th century by the local Transylvanian Saxon community and finished in 1476. It’s one of the main Gothic buildings in the region, and is similar in style to Bath Abbey in England and the later additions to Porto’s cathedral in Portugal.
Legend has it that a child was immured in the walls – a more common practice in medieval times than we would like to think. However, there’s no evidence to support this, and we’ll have to hope that all local children made it through construction unharmed.
It’s just off the main square and steps away from the clock tower. There’s a lovely shop just opposite selling local items like soap and candles where you buy your tickets.
3. Climb the Black and White Towers for a panoramic view of the city
Cost:
- White Tower – 7 RON (c.$1.50)
- Black Tower- 7 RON (c.$1.50)
Brasov is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been, and one of the best ways to appreciate this is from above.
Make sure to climb the Black and White towers, perched on the hills above the city. Like Kotor in Montenegro, Brasov was once surrounded by fortified walls. The Black and White Towers were originally watch towers along the city walls, with the Black Tower gaining it’s name when a fire scorched the walls after a lightning strike.
The climb to the Black Tower is pretty easy, but you’ll really feel like you’ve earned your next coffee break after tackling the stairs to the White Tower. It’s worth it though – once you’re there, Brașov is laid out before you like a town out of a fairy tale.
4. Explore one of the narrowest streets in Europe
Take a few minutes to head to Strada Sforii, Brașov’s narrowest street. First mentioned in the 17th century, it was originally built to help firefighters move more quickly around the city.
It’s allegedly one of the narrowest streets in Europe. This tiny, graffiti covered alleyway is surprisingly long. If you’re unlucky, you’ll have to squeeze past visitors coming the other way – it’s a tight fit!
5. See Brown Bears up close at a forest bear hide
Cost: varies depending on tour
Practicalities: You need a guided tour to access the bear hide
Timings: towards sunset, exact timings depend on season
My absolute highlight when visiting the town was bear watching. Romania is home to one of the largest bear populations in Europe (only beaten by Russia), with an estimated 8000 bears living in the wild. I’ve since seen bears in Borneo and Luang Prabang, and Romania bears are definitely much bigger!
There are different ways to view these beautiful, majestic friends around Brașov. One of the best is to take an evening tour to a bear hide for a bucket-list view of wild bears from a (very safe) bear hide.
You’ll need to do this in an organised way and the easiest is to book a tour. You’ll join a group of tours heading to the bear hide, deep in the forest – while there will be other tours at the hide, numbers are limited as the buildings aren’t big. The bear hide is a hut with wide windows at the front, and tiered seating inside so that everyone gets to see.
Once you arrive, you’ll sit waiting quietly for bears to arrive. When I visited in 2022, forest rangers provided food at both this site and others across the forest, so that the bears didn’t only associate food with humans.
This tour is highly rated and a great way to see bears in the wild! As the bears appear, your tour guide will share knowledge about the bears, helping you learn about this wonderful creature.
6. Support rescued bears at Libearty Sanctuary
Cost: 85 RON (c.$18.50) for entrance without transport
Practicalities: You can do this independently by hiring a car or with a guided tour
Timings: 8.30am or 9.30am tour. Book in advance as numbers are limited.
While you’re in Brasov, you can also visit bears at the amazing Libearty Bear Sanctuary, which is just outside of town. The sanctuary rescues bears from across Romania, as well as neighbouring countries such as Ukraine.
Unlike more commercial wildlife experiences, such as Longleat in England, the sanctuary only allows two trips a day, first thing in the morning. Tours are limited because so many of the bears have had traumatic experiences with humans. Bears come to the fences during the morning tours for breakfast, and then have the rest of the day to go off and be unbothered by humans in the huge expanse of the sanctuary.
On your tour, a guide will talk to you about how the bears live and where they were rescued from. For example, I learned about Bolik, who was rescued at the beginning of the Ukraine War. He was such a cheerful bear that the keepers paired him up with other bears experiencing trauma to try and encourage them to play.
If you’re a solo traveller, this Get Your Guide option is essential return transport to the sanctuary. It might work out cheaper than Uber – check before booking. You’ll need to buy your Libearty ticket independently in advance.
7. Explore medieval Bran Castle, famous for having nothing to do with Dracula
Cost: 70 RON (c.$15)
Practicalities: Bran is not easily accessible by public transport. You can rent a car, or book a guided tour.
One of the most popular trips from Brasov (and in Romania as a whole) is to visit Bran Castle.
Bran Castle is a mediaeval fortress, built in 1377, originally by the same Teutonic Knights who founded Brasov. It played a major part in Romania’s history during this period, defending the strategically important Bran Plain against attackers. By the 19th century, it had declined in military importance, but became one of the favourite residences of Queen Maria of Romania in the 1920s and her influence is still clear today in the way the castle is decorated.
However, it is most famous as The Dracula Castle. It was picked by Bram Stoker from a postcard, as he thought it gothic and impressive to be a home for his vampire villain – even though Vlad the Impaler (the inspiration for Dracula) never actually visited!
Despite this, Bran Castle has leaned into its literary heritage. In addition to interesting displays about the castle’s actual history, including the legacy of Queen Maria, there are displays about Dracula. This includes an interesting exhibition on how it has been portrayed in Hollywood – I found out at Bran Castle that Dracula holds the record for most TV/movie adaptations ever, with over 62 across TV, film and stage.
If you’re keen to visit Bran Castle and the Libearty Sanctuary, consider this highly-rated tour option, which doesn’t have the best description, but does have higher ratings than other similar tours.
8. Marvel at the ornate Peleș Castle
Cost: 50 RON (c.$11)
Practicalities: Accessible by public transport – there are trains to the town of Sianaia from both Brașov and Bucharest. The castle is then a 40 minute walk uphill, or you could take a taxi or local bus. You can also take a guided tour.
Peles Castle is the other major historic monument within easy reach of Brasov. It was built by Romania’s first King, Carol I, from 1873. With over 170 rooms, including 30 bathrooms, it’s an absolute confection of a castle – with rooms in different themes like French, Florentine and Turkish, spanning dark wood to ornate gold scrollwork. It truly looks like something out of a fairy tale. The gardens are also beautiful, and give you the opportunity for fabulous photos of the castle.
It’s a complete contrast to Bran Castle, and together, these two castles present very different views of Romania’s (and Transylvania’s specifically) past. For me, it was a monument to the excesses of wealth – but it is certainly worth seeing.
If you want to visit Libearty, Bran Castle and Peles on the same day, as I did, try this highly rated tour on Viator (my provider isn’t available online). My combined tour was a long day, but it was an incredible way to fit a lot into a short trip.
Honourable mention: Hiking
If you are a hiker – which I am definitely not – there are hikes in the Carpathians to suit different abilities. The easiest is hiking up to the famous Brașov sign above the town, which is in the same style as the iconic Hollywood sign. There are full day and multi-day options available as well for people who want to really get out into the beautiful Romanian countryside.
Where to stay in Brasov
Brașov is not a particularly expensive destination for accommodation. The best place to stay is right in the centre of Brașov 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 Brașov Old Town.
- For a high-end hostel, try SECRET Boutique Hostel (9.5 from over 800 ratings), which has pod style bed with blackout curtains (not closable airport-style pods). It’s only a couple of minutes from the main square, and has access to a lounge and shared kitchen.
- Casa Sforri offers apartment-style accommodation, which can be a real plus if you prefer to cook or have breakfast in your room. It’s also very central, and has a 9.5 rating from over 400 reviews.
- Magic House Brasov is marginally further away from the main plaza, and guest reviews note that the area is quiet. It also offers studio style apartments and has access to a lovely garden. It has a 9.4 rating from over 200 reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Brasov
Brasov is a small city in Romania, about 2 hours north of the capital Bucharest by train. It is ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, making it both very picturesque and also a haven for bears. Brasov is just over 2 hours east of Sibiu, another famous tourist town in Romania and around 4 hours drive south east of Cluj-Napoca, one of the other major airports in Romania.
Romania is in eastern Europe, and shares borders with countries including Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. It has been a member of the EU since 2007 but uses the Romanian Leu rather than the Euro.
Is Brasov safe?
I found the city to be extremely safe. I traveled alone and experienced no problems. Whiile the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) does warn against theft, this is more targeted to Bucharest than Brasov.
There are the usual potential scams to watch out for, especially around taxis which the FCDO also warns about. Always try to find out in advance what your fare should cost, or have your hotel organize your initial transfer if necessary.
But in general, Brașov was a busy, bustling little town with lots of people out and about until late, making it feel very safe as a solo female traveler. 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.
How many days should you spend in Brașov
You should spend at least 2 full days in Brasov to experience everything this fascinating city has to offer.
This gives you a day to explore Brașov Old Town, and a day to travel out of the city to sights like Bran Castle and Peles Castle. However, I recommend adding another day to enable you to enjoy the Old Town at a more peaceful pace.
When is the best time to visit Brașov?
Like much of central Europe, Brașov, Romania is best visited in Spring or Autumn.
✔ Avoid hot summers, which average 25°C or 26°C, with highs of 30°C. While this isn’t the hottest part of Europe, some people find this too hot for comfortable exploring.
✔ Spring and autumn are more comfortable, with May coming in at an average of 18°C and October a balmy 21°C, making it a great option for some late warmth.
✔ Winter isn’t the worst time to visit, as Brașov itself doesn’t get truly cold. It has an average of 12-13°C in January and December, dropping to 9 or 10°C. 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 Brașov by Train
There are regular trains to Brasov from Bucharest’s main station, București Nord.
Trains vary in duration, from just over two hours to three and a half. Make sure you take that into account when booking your ticket. Avoid the sleeper trains, as the journey is too short.
From Bucharest Airport, you take a direct train to București Nord and transfer to the train for Brașov. The train from the airport takes about 20 minutes and runs about every 40 minutes.
How do you book trains in Romania?
Booking trains in Romania is easy. 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 is not much more expensive, but you do get more comfort and space.
How to get to Brasov by air
Brașov Airport only opened in June 2023 – it wasn’t open when I visited in October 2022. 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 (March 2025), the main airline flying into Brașov is Wizz Air.
The airport is not on public transport, so you need a taxi to get into town. This is around a 15-minute drive. Uber is available in Romania, but is less frequent in Brașov than in Bucharest, so you might have to wait a bit if relying on Uber from the airport. However, with Uber, you know your fare in advance. This means not having to negotiate with taxi drivers, so its a useful option if you haven’t pre-booked a taxi.
From wandering the medieval streets of the old town to standing in awe at the foot of Dracula’s Castle, Brașov is a destination that captures both history and imagination. Whether you spend your days exploring majestic castles, sipping coffee in Piata Sfatului, or coming face-to-face with Romania’s incredible wildlife, this city leaves a lasting impression. With its mix of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, Brașov is a must-visit European destination that deserves a spot on every traveller’s itinerary.
Em is a travel writer with a passion for uncovering lesser-known European gems. She visited Brașov in October 2022 and fell in love with its fairy-tale charm, castle history, and unforgettable bear encounters. From solo travel tips to immersive wildlife experiences, she shares honest, experience-based guides to help you explore confidently and meaningfully.
✅ All photos featured on this blog are from my personal travel experiences. No stock images are used.
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