Things to do in Brașov
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Brașov
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Winter ski season and the Christmas market, with skiing peaking in January and February.
Spring, with the Junii after Orthodox Easter and green village walking from May.
Summer hiking peak, Transfagarasan open, terrace season and near daily afternoon mountain storms.
Autumn golden hiking into mid October, harvest, thinner crowds and lower prices.
Mid November is grey and between seasons, with much half closed and the worst value.
What's on
- Brașov Christmas Market late November to late December or early January
The market fills Piața Sfatului with carol concerts, vin fiert, cozonac and kurtoskalacs.
- National Day 1 December
A folk show around National Day in Piața Sfatului during the Christmas market period.
- Junii Brașovului first week after Orthodox Easter, April or early May
Horsemen in embroidered costume from Schei parade to Solomon's Rocks, the best weekend to be here.
- Rockstadt Extreme Fest typically late July to early August
A major regional metal festival at Rasnov, run under the Rockstadt name.
- Brașov Jazz & Blues Festival typically August
A summer festival timed with peak hiking and terrace season.
- Oktoberfest Brașov September
Held in recent years on the Coresi side of the city during autumn.
- Hungarian Days mid-September
Around 50 programmes from folk music to wine tastings, one edition ran 15 to 22 September.
Best things to do in Brașov
Piața Sfatului
The sloping main square ringed by Saxon houses, with Tampa behind it and the lanes of the Old Town all around.
Biserica Neagră
Romania's largest Gothic church, with Anatolian carpets, a vast organ and a scale that surprises from outside.
Muntele Tâmpa
Ride the cable car up for the panorama over the Old Town, then walk down the forest switchbacks.
Walkabout Free Tour Brașov
A tip based two hour local walk through the Saxon, Hungarian and Romanian layers of the medieval centre.
Biserica Sfântul Nicolae
The stone church at the heart of Schei, the historic Romanian quarter outside the Saxon walls.
Prima Școală Românească
The First Romanian School museum, where Romanian books were printed and taught in the 16th century.
Poarta Ecaterinei
Catherine's Gate, the only original city gate to survive, starting point for the bastions and towers walk.
Strada Sforii
One of Europe's narrowest streets, about a metre wide, worth five minutes as you pass between sights.
Where to stay in Brașov
Centrul Vechi
first trip, all-round base
Everything in the Old Town is within a 15 minute walk, with the best restaurants on your streets.
Prund-Șchei
quiet, character and hikers
Cobbled lanes through Catherine's Gate, five to fifteen minutes from the square and climbing toward Tampa.
Poiana Brașov
skiing or summer mountain air
A purpose built resort 12 km up the mountain, right as a ski base and wrong for sightseeing stays.
Centrul Civic
practical mid-range hotels, business and drivers
Larger modern hotels on the boulevard edge by Livada Postei, less charm and an easy flat walk in.
Răcădău
residential value, longer stays
A leafy residential valley south of Tampa with apartments at local prices, 20 to 30 minutes from the centre.
Think twice about
- Brașov railway station and Bulevardul Gării
Traffic heavy, run down feeling and poorly lit in stretches, stranding you a ride from everything you came for.
- Tractorul
Communist era housing and light industry with no visitor infrastructure, long bus rides and few restaurants.
- Strada Republicii, ground to second floor
The main pedestrian and terrace street is safe and central but loud until late in summer for light sleepers.
- Poiana Brașov in shoulder-season midweek
Lifts may be closed and many resort restaurants shut midweek while Brașov below is fully alive.
Best restaurants in Brașov
La Ceaun
The consensus first Romanian meal in Brașov, cauldron stews and bean soup in bread in two Old Town rooms.
Sergiana
A big cellar dining room serving Transylvanian farm recipes, pork knuckle and complimentary cracklings.
Ograda
Local food with a contemporary hand by the Black Church, the calm pick for a couple's best night.
Sub Tâmpa
Romanian rooted cooking with modern technique below Tampa, in the best restaurant setting in the city.
Casa Hirscher
The Old Town splurge, formal Italian international cooking in the historic Hirscher House off the square.
Dei Frati
A family run Italian just off the square, the one locals actually book for fresh pasta and fish.
Bistro de l'Arte
A small bistro gallery mixing Romanian and French leaning plates, live music and art on the walls.
Pilvax
Hungarian Transylvanian cooking and a serious wine bar, with goulash, shank and spaetzle on Michael Weiss.
Outdoor things to do in Brașov
Poiana Brașov
Romania's best known ski resort, 12 km above the city, with lifts for hikers and bikers in summer.
Piatra Craiului National Park
A narrow limestone ridge reached via Zarnesti, with gorge, meadow and village hikes below the crest.
Canionul Șapte Scări
A limestone gorge climbed on metal ladders and walkways past seven waterfalls, Brașov's best cheap adventure.
Parc Aventura Brașov
Romania's largest adventure park, with graded treetop routes and two long zip lines over Noua Lake.
Libearty Bear Sanctuary
The world's largest brown bear sanctuary, over 100 rescued bears in oak forest on guided morning tours.
Wild bear watching Brașov
A licensed small group evening in a forest hide watching wild bears, with no guarantees and no baiting.
Bran Castle
A 14th century border fortress and Queen Marie residence, enjoyable for the castle rather than Dracula.
Râșnov Citadel
A peasant fortress on a hill above its town, worth it when restoration allows interior access.
Best hotels in Brașov
Radisson Blu Aurum Hotel
The city's only international brand five star, in a restored building with spa and seasonal pool.
Aro Palace
The grand old full service hotel facing the Old Town, where Tampa view rooms are worth requesting.
Safrano Palace
Small luxury apartments directly on Piața Sfatului, the view address alternative to Aro Palace.
Hotel Bella Muzica
A historic building just off the square, repeatedly picked as the best value hotel inside the walls.
Casa Wagner
A reliable small hotel on the square's edge, the default centre choice without five star prices.
1910 Boutique
A small boutique a few steps from the centre, with a guesthouse scale and a hotel finish.
Hotel Atria
The stay guides' best central three star, with compact rooms at a cheap in centre price.
Casa Mandl
Serviced apartments on Council Square with Black Church and Tampa views at the cheap tier.
Is Brașov expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | RON 225 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | RON 500 a person |
| Splurge | RON 1,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Walkabout Free Tour Brașov: a few days ahead
- Piatra Craiului National Park: weeks ahead
- Libearty Bear Sanctuary: weeks ahead
- Wild bear watching Brașov: weeks ahead
- Bran Castle: a few days ahead
- Peleș Castle: weeks ahead
- Transfăgărășan: weeks ahead
- Radisson Blu Aurum Hotel: weeks ahead
- Peles Castle needs timed tickets online in advance and closes Mondays, plus Tuesdays in winter.
- Libearty Bear Sanctuary tours are in the morning in practice, book the slot ahead.
- Bran Castle is best at opening or in the last two hours, buy online and avoid summer Saturdays.
- Ski season and Christmas to New Year need Old Town hotels and top restaurants booked weeks ahead.
- Walkabout and Romanian Friend small group days sell out in season, with groups capped at eight.
Is Brașov safe?
- Brașov is safe to walk at night, watch bags in the Bran crush, on crowded buses and at the station.
- Wild bears are present at the city edge, never approach or feed one and carry food waste out.
- Mountain weather changes fast, carry water, a layer and offline maps, emergency 112 and Salvamont.
- Winter driving to Poiana and Sinaia needs winter tyres, by law and in fact.
Brașov travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Bran sold as Dracula's Castle, with a souvenir market and a midday crush at its base.
- Square terrace restaurants with photo menus and hosts recruiting you, pay for location not kitchen.
- Rope Street treated as a destination rather than a passing photo and squeeze.
- Dracula tours from Bucharest giving you only 90 minutes in Brașov.
- Pay by card in lei, decline dynamic conversion and use bank ATMs over station exchange booths.
Getting around Brașov: public transport and more
- Walk the Old Town, everything in Section 1 is inside a 15 minute radius.
- City buses are cheap, buy and validate via the 24pay app or kiosks as drivers do not sell tickets.
- Bus 20 and 100 run to Poiana from Livada Postei, bus 4 links the centre and the station.
- Use Bolt, Uber or metered taxis ordered by app rather than hailing at the station or Bran.
- Trains from Bucharest Gara de Nord take about two and a half to three hours, book Friday and Sunday peaks.
- Buses to Bran and Rasnov run from Autogara 2, and Sinaia for Peles is best reached by train.
Who Brașov suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Brașov your trip
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