Brasov is one of the top travel destinations in Romania for international and domestic tourists. The most well-known city in Transylvania (due to a certain nearby castle), Brasov is also the 3rd largest city in Transylvania and one of the largest in all of Romania.
Of course, people don’t choose to travel to Brasov simply due to its size. With about 250,000 residents (sources vary considerably), it’s not that big. The reason people visit Brasov, aside from the famous nearby castle, is for the fascinating history and cool sights that make up Old Town.
Unlike other famous travel destinations in the region, such as Sighisoara or Sibiu, Brasov doesn’t feel as much like Transylvania. Historically, it certainly is, and there was a sizable remaining minority population of Hungarians only a decade ago.
Today, Brasov feels more like a nice Romanian city. It has a blend of old and new, ranging from medieval remnants in a German and Hungarian old city to Communist era blocks and modern structures, too.
Brasov feels much larger than the official statistics might indicate. Old Town is busy and full of tourists. Areas away from Old Town appear equally as bustling. Outside of the tourist bubble that is Old Town Brasov, it’s unmistakable that you are in modern Romania.
Although Old Town is the shining star, other parts of the city are worth your time. Whether you want to explore real life in the city, eat cheaper or enjoy some hiking, Brasov has a lot to offer.
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Highlights & Best Things to Do
The most notable sights in Brasov are in and around Old Town. There are towers, picturesque squares, famous churches, well-preserved streets of Trasylvanian architecture, shops, food and more.
Old Town Brasov is the center of tourism in the city. It is popular and busy throughout the year. The rest of Brasov is not as quaint or polished, but it does provide an interesting contrast from the tourist bubble.
You can travel to Brasov and enjoy every moment with a healthy dose of wandering nothing but the Old Town, but here are the best things we recommend taking the time to see and do:
Old Town Brasov
Old Town is where most people spend their time when visiting Brasov. This is where you’ll find everything you you’ve heard about, from historic churches to restaurants galore. You’re also likely to find thousands of other tourists.
The center of Old Town is Piața Sfatului, ‘Council Square’ in English. The open square features a photogenic museum, the 600-year-old former Council House, right in the center. The scene surrounding the square is beautiful. There are hills to the west and mountains to the east, sandwiching colorful buildings and orange-tiled rooftops.
At times, it’s hard to believe that this is Romania. It’s certainly not what most people envision when they imagine how the country appears.
Bran Castle
The single most popular tourist attraction in Brasov isn’t even in Brasov. Well, technically, it’s in Brasov County but not the city.
Bran Castle, commonly referred to as Dracula’s Castle, is associated with Bram Stoker’s Dracula and, thus, the Dracula myth itself. Due to the notoriety of Bran Castle, Brasov has even become synonymous with Dracula. The castle is actually about an hour outside of the city.
For this famous attraction, we’ve created an entire guide that covers how to get there, costs, whether it is really worth a visit and more. Check out The Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Visiting Bran Castle!
Medieval Towers of Brasov
Brasov has several historic towers remaining from the Romanian Medieval era.
Strangely, as nice and polished as the old city appears, some of these towers are in rough shape. In fact, I visited two of them that essentially function as canvases for graffiti. From the information I found online, it seems they used to be open. They had small museums or exhibits inside but have since fallen into disrepair.
Despite the poor maintenance, these are still worth a visit. The views from the towers are spectacular. In particular, Turnul Negru and Turnul Alb are in rough shape but remain great spots to see a nice view of Brasov from the west. On the edge of a small park, find a bench or open steps to take in the view for as long as you like.
These towers appear much higher up when looking from Council Square, but the walk up isn’t much of a trek.
Another note: Google Maps says these two towers are permanently closed. While you cannot go inside, the exterior (and the great views) is still very much open.
Narrowest Street in Romania
Strada Sforii is a curious attraction in Brasov. Translating to ‘Rope Street’ in English, this tiny corridor is a street. Not a path or an alleyway, it’s an official city street.
Strada Sforii is the narrowest street in Romania and one of the narrowest in all of Europe. There’s not a lot to see or do here, but you can’t miss this strange attraction. Well, you can miss it rather easily. It’s super small. But you should make a point of seeing it.
The street is tiny. For reference, see the picture above. Yes, I am a large human, but the street is less than four-and-half feet across at its widest point. Strada Sforii is a peculiar sight, indeed, but it’s also a fun, random place to visit and take some fun pictures.
Biserica Neagra, the Black Church of Brasov
Biserica Neagra, also known as the Black Church, is one of the most important and significant churches in Transylvania. The church dates back to the 1300s and supposedly gets its name from a massive 17th Century fire that left the city in ruins and the church soot-covered and charred.
This is the most prominent structure in Brasov. It stands out from every viewpoint of Old Town, and it even rises above the adjacent Council Square, which is the de facto historic city center.
The age of this church sets it apart from most Lutheran churches in Transylvania. Built before the Reformation, Biserica Neagra was originally the Catholic Church of Saint Mary. The Roman Catholic origins are evident in the interior. It is considerably more ornate than the typical Lutheran structure.
Organ Concert
The most impressive interior feature of Brasov’s Black Church is the organ. The 4000 pipe organ is one of the largest in Europe. When it plays, it thunders and roars inside the thick, stone walls.
It’s not often that we are able to experience these large pipe organs put to work in historic churches. If you visit Brasov during Summer, you can do exactly that.
From June to September (exact dates vary), there is a weekly concert on Saturdays. For an hour, you can sit in the church pews and hear a professional organist put on a truly unique, incredible performance.
This is, by far, one of my favorite experiences in Romania. As a musician and lover of history, few combinations are equal. Only a bottle of wine and Romanian charcuterie board could have made this even better, but that may not be church-appropriate.
If you’re in Brasov during Summer on a Saturday, do not miss the Organ concert at the Black Church. An added benefit of this is you can squeeze in a visit to the church before/after the concert. Tickets are 20 Lei (less than $5 USD).
Brasov ‘Hollywood’ Sign
Rising above the old city of Brasov is Tampa Mountain. Atop this mountain is a sign that reads ‘BRASOV.’
Clearly inspired by the Hollywood sign, this sign in Romania has become a notable landmark in Brasov and also one of the best things to do in the city. The view from the top of Tampa Mountain is one of the best viewpoints I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. From Old Town, the sign doesn’t look that big. When you reach the top, that perspective changes. It’s pretty darn big.
You can hike up the hike to the top or take the old cable car. Interestingly, Brasov isn’t the only city in Romania with a ‘Hollywood’ sign. These are popping up elsewhere, too. Look for the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Hiking to the top of Tampa Mountain Viewpoint coming soon!
Eating in Brasov
Eating in Brasov is interesting. There are so many restaurants in Old Town, it truly is difficult to choose where to eat. Many of these are more expensive than they should be, obviously due to the location and high number of tourists.
You can still find cheap food, and you won’t have any trouble finding non-Romanian food. This is a slight challenge for food-focused, international tourists like myself, but I still managed to eat Romanian food whenever that was my goal.
To fully understand and prepare, check out the Hangry Backpacker Guide to Eating in Brasov!
Brasov Transportation
It is easy to get around Brasov. The main train station is a fairly long walk (about 45 minutes), so most people will want to get an Uber to Old Town. Once you reach Old Town, though, everything is within walking distance.
The best way to reach Brasov from elsewhere in Romania is via bus or train.
Trains are slow, but they are cheap and reliable. You can reach Brasov (without transfer) from Bucharest, Sibiu, Cluj and many other cities. There are even international routes from Central Europe.
Buses are more comfortable but generally more expensive. They can be faster. Due to potential traffic jams, buses are less reliable.
An international airport is set to open in June 2023. This has the potential to make a tremendous impact on travel and tourism in Brasov, specifically, and Transylvania as a whole. Direct flights from cities in Europe are already planned, which will likely cut down on the tedious travel that is required to get around Romania.
Personally, I think Romania is a wonderful place to travel. The historic region of Transylvania is the clear-cut favorite for tourists, but the rest of the country is absolutely travel-worthy, too. The new airport in Brasov is a needed advancement in infrastructure, but don’t let it keep you from seeing more of Romania.
Check out our Romania Transportation Guide before you travel to Brasov!
The Best Time to Travel to Brasov
Summertime in Brasov is nice. The weather is warm. Summer is the wettest time of year, but it isn’t really that much. I enjoyed five days of sunshine in early Summer. This is the most popular time of year to visit Brasov, though. In particular, I noticed a surprising amount of domestic tourists. The streets of Old Town become very busy.
Winter is cold. With an elevation of more than 1700 feet, snow is also a regular occurrence. For me, this is not going to be my preferred time to travel to Romania.
There is one exception: Christmas markets. Brasov has a nice Christmas market. Whenever I make a trip specifically to visit European Christmas markets, Romania will absolutely be on my list.
How Long Should You Stay?
Brasov is a popular place to travel in Romania. Depending on how much time you have, you can make a quick visit for the highlights or take it slow.
To see the highlights of Old Town and take a day-trip to Bran Castle, you can do this in two full days. You’ll be moving around quickly, and there won’t be a lot of time to explore, but it is feasible. This is a little too fast for my liking, though.
I stayed in Brasov for five days. This will be too long for most people, but I enjoy the ability to thoroughly explore the historic part of the city, wander away from this area and then leave the option for day trips, hikes, etc.
Three to four days is the sweet spot. This is plenty of time to take a day trip to Bran (or elsewhere), explore Old Town and take your time doing all of this. If possible, try to include a weekday or two to avoid the weekend crowds.
Where to Stay
Backpackers can breathe a sigh of relief. Unlike most of Romania, Brasov actually has a few hostels. I love hostels, so I was thrilled to find these. These range from comfortable to party-centric.
There is a wide range of hotels in Brasov. You can find a place on any budget. Like most of Romania (outside Bucharest), large international hotel chains do not have much of a footprint. I expect this will change in the coming years, especially with the opening of the new airport.
For now, small and family-owned hotels dominate the city. These are excellent options that are affordable, comfortable and friendly. Best of all, I love that these types of hotels benefit the local population directly and much more than chains.
Brasov is one of the most popular travel destinations in Romania for good reason. The historic city has elements of its historic Transylvanian past all the way to 21st Century Romania immediately visible.
While Brasov is most associated with that famous nearby castle, there are better reasons to visit than Dracula associations. Photogenic streets, medieval towers, great food and culture – this is just the start.
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