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10 Best Things To Do In Brasov Romania

Although I visited Bucharest and a few other places in Romania, Brasov was my favourite out of them all and these are some of the best things to do in Brasov when there.

Brasov and the surroundings has everything. Old town history, castles, churches, wineries, hiking in the mountains, and more.

It’s the best place in Romania to base yourself.

They are not all set in Brasov city itself but also must-see locations nearby such as the famous Bran Castle of Dracula fame.

Bucharest was ok, but in the end, it wasn’t that exciting. Brasov, although being much smaller with a population of around 280,000 people, has a lot of beautiful places around it and has much more charm and a relaxed pace.


Bran Castle

Castle near Brasov Romania

“Let me suck your blood….” some vampire, somewhere… But at Bran Castle it is the most famous vampire of all, Dracula!

Of course, this is mostly fantasy as there is no real strong connection with any of that kind of ‘history’ as the Irish author (Bram Stoker) who wrote Dracula in the late 19th century mostly used his imagination and old folklore tales from Romania when conjuring up the castle images for his book and the story.

But still, it is fun to see ‘Dracula’s castle!

The actual real ‘Dracula’ character of Romanian history is that of Vlad Dracula (1431-1476) also known as Vlad The Impaler for impaling his victims.

This castle is a must-see castle in Romania with 60 rooms accessed by old stairways. The site dates back to 1212 where Teutonic Knights had their stronghold and the area was eventually turned into a citadel and a castle.

The castles open everyday costing 35 LEI to enter and if you want to reach it by public transport then it takes around one hour in a bus that run every hour.

Brasov travel tip: some of the places recommended here are outside of Brasov and make for great days trips. If you rent a car in Brasov (search for rental cars in Brasov with that link) between a group of you it won’t cost that much with the shared costs and make it a lot easier and more fun to visit places near Brasov.

Piata Sfatului (Council Square) & Watchtowers

Piata Sfatului
Piata Sfatului.

This is the main square in Brasov and is where you can see some beautiful Baroque architecture.

Like most squares in the old cities of Europe, it has cafes around the square where you can sit and relax, do a bit of people watching, and watch the world go by.

Walk from the square to the city walls and you will come across the White Tower and Black Tower which are excellent for views across the city. They are 15th-century watchtowers and are worth seeing in their own right.

Biserica Neagra (Black Church)

black church Brasov

The Black Church nearby Piata Sfatului sounds foreboding by its name but it is an excellent example of a gothic church and is in fact the largest gothic church in Romania, dating back to the 15th century.

Inside it’s impressive, and it has one of the largest organs of a church in east-Europe with 4000 pipes!

St Nicholas Church and Șcheii Braşovului

church in Brasov Romania

St Nicholas Church is on the edge of Brasov city in the picturesque old neighbourhood of Șcheii Braşovului and has a distinct mix of baroque and gothic design, with a little bit of Byzantine thrown in.

The church dates back to 1292 so has a lot of history behind it. Inside the church walls, you can see the cemetery and the statue of Coresi.

The church itself is worth visiting but it’s the Șcheii Braşovului neighbourhood that’s the real highlight with old winding narrow streets by small houses near the side of the mountain.

Get lost in the area and enjoy soaking up the atmosphere. Be sure to search out Catherines Gate when there and the First Romanian School.

Free Walking Tour in Brasov

Brasov Romania

As with most places to visit in the world the best way to get around is to set out on foot and take in the streets and all the buildings.

Brasov old town is a paradise for strolling around to enjoy a medieval vibe and there is a free walking tour in Brasov you can join to understand the best of the city.

The tour starts by the fountain in Piata Sfatului (see above) where you can just show up at certain times and it lasts around 2 hours and 30 minutes and is totally free, but of course if you enjoyed it then tip the guide at the end.

It’s best to ask at your hotel/hostel what time the tour starts as they should know and it changes depending on the season.

If you don’t want to join the tour then head out walking on your own and have fun finding the places yourself and learning about them. In fact, one of the best things to do in Brasov is to simply get out walking around.

Go and find the ‘narrowest street in Europe’ Strada Sforii/Rope Street.

Don’t forget to relax at one of Brasov’s great cafes for a coffee or beer while out walking!

Prejmer Fortified Church

churches near Brasov

This fortified church complex is the largest of all the fortified churches in southeast-Europe and is massive with 272 rooms stacked four stories high around the church.

As with Bran Castle it was built around 1212 by Teutonic Knights.

It was built in case of an attack on the nearby villages so the villagers could have somewhere safe to shelter and only fell once to attackers out of many sieges.

It’s 11 miles from Brasov so take the bus to reach there.

Rasnov Fortress

Rasnov castle

Rasnov Fortress is again another place built by Teutonic Knights several hundred years ago not for defence but for refuge from invaders.

It has been restored and is a great place to see situated several hundred feet about the town of Rasnov.

Getting there is easy by bus from Brasov.

Tampa Cable Car

cable car Brasov

Take the cable car from Brasov up to Mount Tampa where you will get great views across the city. The top of the mountain is forested and has some lovely walks to do when you are there.

If you have the energy it takes around one hour to hike up to the top and there are several trails to choose from.

It costs around 10 LEI one way in the cable car.

Peles Castle & Cantacuzino Castle

castles near Brasov
Peles Castle.

Peles Castle is around a one hour drive from Brasov and Cantacuzino Castle is just before it. Peles Castle was finished being built in 1883 in Neo-Renaissance style and was used by the Romanian Royal Family as a summer place to stay. It’s located in the town of Sinaia by the Bucegi Mountains.

It’s a very ornate castle.

Many people have said that Peles is actually a better castle than Bran Castle to visit despite the same extent of history that Bran Castle has. Either way I recommend seeing both when in Brasov.

Cantacuzino Castle is a more modern castle without the medieval lore of Bran Castle but is still worth a visit. It was built in 1911 in Busteni and you can stop and have a look around when on the way to Peles Castle.

Cantacuzino Castle.

If you have your own car then visiting Bran Castle along with Peles Castle and Cantacuzino Castle makes for a great day out of castle history in Romania as they are all not that far from each other.

Otherwise the best way to get there is by train to Sinaia

If you don’t have your own transport and don’t want to mess around with public transport then you can take a tour of the castles.

Day Trip to Rhein Winery in Azuga

wine in Brasov

I didn’t make it out here myself as I’m not much of a wine drinker, but had to include this option for those who do enjoy wine as this winery is one of the best you can visit.

It’s the 4th largest exporter of prosecco in the world and has supplied the Romanian Royal Family with wine for over a hundred years.

You can visit the wine cellar and do some wine tasting.

It’s located in the small town of Azuga in the Prahova Valley around 50 minutes drive from Brasov.

The winery makes a great addition to the Peles Castle and Cantacuzino Castle day trip as it is on the same route.

Extra: Best Cafes in Brasov

Ok, this isn’t a ‘things to do in Brasov’ as in places to see and experiences, but just relaxing at a nice cafe with a good cup of coffee and watching the world go by, especially in an old medieval city like Brasov, is one of life’s little pleasures for me.

So I’ve added a few cafes in Brasov worth taking a look at for a coffee, tea, pastry, or whatever takes your fancy.

Croitoria de Cafea: Regarded as one of the best places for a coffee in brasov.

Kafe Pub: Very cool atmosphere and laid back. Coffee is not the best (it’s still good) compared to some others here but the decor and atmosphere make it good to go to.

Hof Caffe: Some of the best coffee in Brasov and excellent latte, although the atmosphere is more modern and less cool than the others mentioned here.

L’etage: Good coffee, laid back vibe, awesome decor with books and sheet music lining the walls.

Dr. Jekelius: Set in an old pharmacy with laid back vibe and an old-style feel about it makes this is one of the funkiest places you can go for a drink in Brasov.


Things To Do In Brasov Practical Information

Brasov is in a great location in the centre of the country with awesome access to the Carpathian Mountains in the north.

Getting to Brasov from Bucharest is easy by train or car and takes around 3 hours. The train cost around 45 LEI. It also has easy access to the rest of Romania such as Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara. You can check train times etc at the Romanian railway site.

If you’re going from Cluj-Napoca to Brasov, or vice-versa, then I recommend you stop at the beautiful town of Sighisoara on the way as a stopover.

Find places to stay in Brasov here.

Romania is one of the cheaper countries to visit in Europe and the prices in Romania will help your money go a long way there.

For the best guidebooks for Romania and Transylvania, I recommend the Lonely Planet Romania (and Bulgaria) guide.

Also great for a visit to Transylvania is the Bradt Guide to Transylvania.

A lot of people travel through Romania on their way from Budapest to Istanbul, which is what I did. It makes for a great destination and Brasov is the highlight of the cities in the country, in my opinion.

I recommend using SafetyWing Travel Insurance for your trip, just in case, it’s best to be prepared.

Enjoy your time there!

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