Interesting & Fun Day Trips From Brasov in Romania
There are many local places to visit on a day trip from Brasov, making the city a great base camp for exploring Romania. Most of my day trips from Brasov have been by train and, more often than not, have taken under 2 hours each way.
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Some trips are available for organised tours; others require a journey by public transport or a road trip. As a base camp for a Romanian adventure, Brasov has good bus and train links to nearby places of interest.
The Best Day Trips From Brasov in Romania
These are some great options for short trips from Brasov. Some involve public transport, including Romanian trains, and others you need a car.
Sinaia: A Town With Castles & Mountains
The picturesque town of Sinaia is a great option for a trip. It is an hour away by train, and there are loads of things to see, including two castles and a monastery. The major attraction is Peleș Castle, a stunning former residence of the King of Romania. The town is a beautiful place and well worth exploring.
You can also hike or take a cable car into the nearby mountains. I enjoyed a lovely winter walk at the top of Furnica via the Sinia Cable Car and really enjoyed the views from the snow-covered peaks. You can also hike up or down to the town. Taking the train is my preferred method to visit. The train journey only takes an hour each way and passes through the beautiful Prahova Valley.
Bran Castle: A Popular Place To Visit
Bran Castle, famous for Dracula, is a popular tourist destination. Romanian castles are exquisite, and Bran Castle is a great option to visit. Inside the castle, you can learn about the building’s history and some legends associated with it. There are a few fun things to do, geared towards tourists. I thought these were fun, especially for younger people. On a visit, there is a market to peruse, a haunted house, a museum and many restaurants.
Getting to Bran is best by car or on an organised tour. There is also a bus from the main bus station. You can see the timetable here. You could also get the train to Zărnești, then get a taxi for the cheapest option if you don’t have access to a car.
Visit Rasnov and its Citadel on the Hill
Rasnov is half an hour away by train from Brasov and is a pretty town with a fortress in the mountains. The principal attraction here is the iconic fortress on the hill overlooking the town. There are some interesting activities to do at the fortress, including archery and shooting. While visiting, there are hiking options in the nearby countryside. Also, the town has some fantastic places to dine out for lunch.
Sighisoara Citadel
Sighisoara is another beautiful place in Transylvania and can be visited as a day trip from Brasov. You could either enjoy a road trip or take a train; however, the train would be a stretch for a one-day visit. With either option, you get to see the region’s beautiful countryside. Sighisoara is a beautiful town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason.
The town is essentially a citadel with a rich history and many historic buildings. It is also a very colourful place with cobbled streets and many things to see. In the citadel, you can visit museums, tourist-centric attractions, and various towers. The main tower is wonderful to climb and has some special views of the medieval town. There are also some churches to visit, including the church at the top of the hill. A visit wouldn’t be complete without dining out, and Sighișoara has some pleasant restaurants.
Sibiu: A Pretty Medieval Town
Another enjoyable nearby place to visit by train is Sibiu, another picturesque town in Romania. To make this trip viable, an early start is needed to catch the 7 am train, which arrives just before 10 am. The journey is pleasant, and on my trip the trains were pretty empty.
Sibiu is a pretty town with lots of attractions, including churches, museums, and the remains of the Saxon fortifications. They also have an outdoor village museum and host an annual Christmas market. Highlights of my visit were climbing the various towers to enjoy the views and visiting two beautiful cathedrals.
Sibiu has some wonderful bars and restaurants throughout, including some in its big town squares. Another thing to keep an eye out for is the houses with eyes unique to the town. Another top thing to do when visiting is to spend some time at the open-air museum.
Racos and Its Geological Park
The village of Racos in northern Brasov County is a lovely place for a day out. I visited twice, once by car with family and once solo by train. The rail journey takes just over 1.5 hours, which is quite pleasant. My trip was on the 8:54 service, and I returned on the 3:54. This left me with 6 hours to explore, which was plenty of time.
There are lots of things to see when visiting, including Emerald Lake, Racos Volcano and the Basalt Columns. These are all pretty special geological attractions. In the village of Racos, you can also visit the local castle. One note: if you plan to eat or drink out on your visit, avoid Monday to Thursday, as most bars and restaurants are closed in the daytime.
Reach The Peak of Postavarul
Postavarul is a mountain peak that sits above the ski resort of Poiana Brasov. You have options for reaching the peak and enjoying the stunning views. For the more active, you could walk to the top, which will take several hours. Alternatively, a few cable cars can take the strain off the trip to the top. You then need to do a short walk to reach the peak and viewpoint. During the winter, this is more challenging than during the warmer months.
As a bonus, there is a bar and a restaurant near the top. Thus, a nice place to enjoy lunch with a view. There are also things to do, including some adventure activities. This is pretty straightforward to reach from Braşov, as there is a frequent bus from the city centre that takes half an hour. This area is a regular place for me to visit, as it’s beautiful and fun.
The Capital Bucharest
The Capital of Romania, Bucharest, is an option for a day trip from Brasov. You can reach the city by train in two and a half hours, and it costs about £8 each way. There are loads of tourist attractions to visit.
This includes many churches, museums, galleries, and the National Village Museum. The Romanian Parliament building and the architecture of the old town were a highlight for me. They also have a vibrant bar and restaurant scene, so plenty of options for dining out while on a tour of the city.
Overall, Bucharest is a great place to visit; however, I’d recommend a longer stay to see all that the city has to offer.
Busteni
Busteni is a beautiful place in the mountains. The train journey takes about 45 minutes between stations. In Busteni, the train drops you off in the heart of the action, near lots of places to grab lunch. Things to do include visiting the town’s castle. This is an interesting place to visit, and the views from the site are breathtaking.
Another popular place of interest is the monastery, which is picturesque and also has splendid views. For those who enjoy hiking, there is a cable car into the mountains to start your hike. During the winter, there are also opportunities for winter sports. I really enjoyed seeing the autumn foliage in Busteni on my visit.
Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Zărnești
Libearty Bear Sanctuary is in Zărnești, near Brașov, and a great place for a day trip. It’s a bit tricky to reach, but driving and Uber are options. With Uber, you may have a long wait to get back. Thus, one of the easiest ways to visit is by organised tours, which you can purchase on Viator or GetYourGuide. These often come as packages that include other local attractions.
The bear sanctuary is great fun and informative, set over a large site. You get to see plenty of bears and learn their stories, some of which are horrific and others that are quite funny. The bear that was rescued after being taken by train to Ploiesti made me smile. The tours take just over an hour and pass through some beautiful countryside.
The site has several enclosures for bears, including one housing cubs. As a bonus, they also have some rescued wolves, which were nice to see up close.
Seven Ladders Canyon
Popular in the summer months is Seven Ladders Canyon, a mountainous and wooded area. The canyon is easy to reach from Brasov. You can either drive, get a taxi or take public transport. The key feature of the site is the ladders and walkways in the canyon. Climbing the ladders can be challenging for the less able or those with vertigo, but for me it was a fantastic experience.
To get to the canyon from the parking area or bus stop, take a stroll through beautiful meadows, streams, and woodland. This woodland also has a zip line from the top, so it’s an easy, fun way to return to the starting point. The zip line is a fantastic, fun activity at the attraction. You can also extend a walk beyond the canyon into the beautiful mountains. There are refreshments on site; however, it’s also a great place for a picnic.
Fortified Churches in Harman and Prejmer
A fantastic and interesting day trip is to visit the villages of Prejmer and Harman. Each village’s highlight is its impressive fortified church. Both villages are easy to reach by bus or rail, with a bit of walking. You’ll also find bars, restaurants, and bakeries for sustenance.
Prejmer fortified church was founded by the Teutonic Knights, who began construction in 1211. They completed it in 1240. This church is historically significant, and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you visit, you can walk through the fortifications, enter the church, and learn more in the church’s museum. In places, the church walls are 5 metres thick, and it has withstood many sieges since it was built.
Harman Fortified church is in a neighbouring village and is pretty similar. This is a circular fortification with a nice church in the courtyard. There are many historical exhibits, and you can walk along the fortifications. The church is also rather pretty, and as a bonus, you can climb the clock tower. Harman Fortified church dates from the 13th century.
Visit Făgăraş By Train
Făgăraș is a small city easily reached by train, thus making it an ideal day trip. The trains take roughly one and a half hours and leave in the morning. From the railway station to the central areas is a 25-minute walk or a taxi ride. The city’s main attraction is Fagaras Citadel, a beautiful castle with a picturesque moat. The castle is fascinating, and my highlight was the museum, which has over 20 rooms. Visiting the castle takes a few hours to see all areas, and on my visit it was pretty quiet.
There are some other things to see in Fagaras, including some pretty churches and a cathedral. Făgăraș Cathedral is special and dominates the city with its gold dome visible from as far away as the train station. Inside is equally nice, and the walls are covered with Orthodox art.
For a refreshment stop, there are plenty of bars and cafes in the central areas. Some are basic bars for a beer or coffee, and some serve food. I visited a few places, and I was impressed with the service and food at Bistro Story Caffe. Overall, a great place to visit.
Unirea Salt Mine
For something different, we arranged a lift to Unirea Salt Mine in Slănic, Prahova, about 2.5 hours from Braşov. This is the largest salt mine in Europe and was interesting. We learnt about the health benefits of being in salt mines and about the mining. There were also some fun activities underground too.
Enjoying A Barbeque or Picnic In The Mountains
If you want a day out and don’t fancy travelling far, a few barbecue and picnic sites are on the city’s outskirts. You can reach them easily by bus or cheap taxi. These sites have static barbecues and picnic tables in nice scenery nearby. You can combine these with a walk in the woods or just have some social time.
Lake Noua is a pretty place with a lake, nearby bars and lots of barbecues. It’s a popular place for a day out, especially on the weekends. You have various options here for walks into the woods, or you could enjoy some fun at the zoo or Adventure Land.
Solomon’s Rocks are also a quick bus trip or taxi ride from the city centre, and it’s a smaller picnic site with barbecues. The area has some pretty rock formations, as well as hikes in the nearby woods. I’ve visited both a few times and enjoyed some grilled meat and beers. To reach Solomon’s Rocks from the city, take the Number 50 Bus, or Lake Noua is the Number 35. Both are frequent and easy to use; you can buy tickets at kiosks at most bus stops.