A Guide To Brasov A City In The Mountains of Romania

Brasov is a beautiful city in the mountains of Romania, with a picturesque old town. This includes various activities and tourist attractions. Brasov is in central Romania and is the country’s 7th biggest city. The city has an interesting history, fascinating old town architecture and medieval Saxon walls.

Things to Do in Brasov Romania

It is home to the Gothic-style Black Church, a Hollywood style Brasov sign on the mountain overlooking town and bustling cafe culture. Brasov is a great base for those wishing to do a sightseeing tour of Transylvania. I’ve spent about 2 years staying in various parts of the city and is now my home between travelling.

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Guide For Visiting Brasov in Romania

Some hints and tips for visiting Brasov in Romania to enhance your stay. Simple things such details as free ATMs in the city.

Guide To The Top Places of Interest

Brasov City & Old Town

If you are visiting Brasov for a short stay, then these are the top attractions for tourists. Most are in the old town area, thus close together, including easy access to the trails of Mount Tampa. I’ve created a guide for the best things to do in Brasov from my experiences in the city. The most popular sights include.

  • Various Beautiful churches, including The Black Church.
  • Medieval City Walls including Catherine’s Gate and White & Black Towers.
  • Mount Tampa And The Nearby Mountains.
  • The Old Town Centre, including Council Square.
  • The Museums of Brasov including The First Romanian School..
  • Poiana Brasov Ski Resort.

Is The City Good For Outdoor Activities?

Brasov Walks

One of the big draws of Brasov in Romania is the mountains and the beautiful countryside. The mountains start in the city centre and there are many options for hiking routes from the centre. There are many clearly marked trails to follow. Also nearby is Postavarul mountain, which is excellent in the warmer months and has epic views of this part of Romania.

Where To Stay?

Centrum House Hostel Brasov

If you are visiting for sightseeing in Brasov, then the old town area is your best option. This is near all the major places of interest and easily accessible for the main sights. Many guided tours leave from the city centre. You can choose places to suit any budget, from hostels to hotels. You can find various options on Booking.com. There are also many dog friendly places in Brasov.

Getting To Brasov in Romania

Train Brasov to Bucharest

Brasov is on a major train line so possible to visit from most cities in the country. Also, there is a night train from Budapest and Vienna that service the city. Thus is easy to get to while sleeping if coming from central Europe. The city now has an airport with connections to many European cities. You can find out about cheap flights on the Omio Website.

Where To Dine Out

Sub-Tampa Ham

There are many options for places to dine out in the city. The best places for visitors are the eateries in the council square and the side streets of Old Town. There are lots of options for food, including traditional Transylvanian food. There are other types of cuisine on offer too, my favourite being a cosy Georgian restaurant. I have a handy Brasov restaurant guide to help you choose.

Main Street Brasov

For those looking to enjoy a drink or two, there are many good bars in Brasov. Again, many of the popular places are in the old town of the city. There are also many options for places to drink in the suburbs and near the city’s hiking areas.

Getting About In The City

The old town area of the city is walkable, including routes into the mountains. From the centre, there are many bus routes, including those to the ski resorts. A good app for routes and navigation is Moovit. Uber, Bolt and regular taxis are pretty cheap to use for shorter trips. Another way to cover ground quickly is to take an e-scooter.

What If You Need Something?

AFI Mall

Brasov’s old town has many options for places to pick up supplies. There are also various malls a short distance away from the city centre. You can pick up most things, including outdoor wear for adventures in the mountains. There are also many supermarkets that sell pretty much everything.

What Else Is Nearby?

There are many options for day trips from Brasov including to nearby towns and cities. There are also many options for fun in the mountains nearby including the nearby mountain resorts of Sinaia which is also home to Peles Castle. Visitors can also book tours of the area including the UNESCO listed fortified churches and other medieval towns. You can find options for these on the Viator website.

When To Visit Brasov In Romania?

A summary of the best times to visit the city of Brasov and what’s good or bad about them. The warmer months are my preference, however winter sports enthusiasts love it during January and February.

Visit During The Winter

Brasov Christmas Tree

During Christmas and New Year, the city has a great vibe, with loads of festive lights and a market. There are lots of fun things to do in the city during the markets, including ice skating. The Central square has a gigantic tree, and the fireworks for the new year were loud and bright.

Brasov Sign Christmas

The market sells many locally made gift ideas, delicious food and many options for warm alcoholic beverages. There were lots of traditional things happening over Christmas. This included two street dances through the city, celebrating the goat and bear. The region often has snow over the festive period. For a guaranteed white Christmas, you need to head up the mountains. While the snow is pretty, for longer stays the cold gets old very quickly when out and about.

Visit During Spring or For Easter

Parcul Nicolae Titulescu flowers

Brasov is a great place to visit in spring, and the weather is pretty mixed. There are many fine days with the occasional downpour. The mountains are excellent for hiking and it’s not too hot. The parks also come to like with flowers which look great. Outside of the Easter break, prices for holiday accommodation are good too.

Easter Brasov

Orthodox Easter is a very special time in the city and the rest of the country and there’s lots of things going on. One of the most surreal things is to visit the midnight mass in the city. After dark, lots of people are out and about carrying candles, listening to the priests doing the mass.

Summer

Council Square Old Town Brasov

Summer can get hot in Brasov, but it’s a great time to visit and see the city in all its glory. The old town is lovely to hang out, especially in the cooler parts of the day. Most places have shaded areas, including eateries and the various beer gardens in the city. I enjoy heading in to the mountains which are tree lined during the summer and enjoying a walk. As a bonus, there are lots of events on including on the stage in the old town’s main square.

Autumn Travel

Noua Autumn

I really enjoy spending time in the city during autumn as its quietened down a bit but there is still a good chance of nice weather. Autumn is great for walks in the countryside and to enjoy the colourful foliage. One of my favourtie parts of the season is the really epic sunsets. Many places still have outside seating during the autumn with patio heaters and blankets to use while you eat or drink.

Is Brasov City in Romania Worth Visiting?

Colourful Brasov

Brasov is well worth visiting, it is a fantastic city to with many places to visit and keep you engaged. There are plenty of places of interest in the central old town and also on the nearby streets.

Depending on what you enjoy, there are lots of activities, including lots of outdoor options. The black Church, Old Town and Mount Tampa are all must see features of Brasov. The city also has a good nightlife and bar scene, thus can be a great night out.

10 thoughts on “A Guide To Brasov A City In The Mountains of Romania”

  1. We visited Brasov for an afternoon when we spent some time in Transylvania a few years ago but we only really scratched the surface. It’s such a beautiful city, and your post shows that we could easily have spent much more time there. Also, it would have been brilliant to walk in the Carpathians and particularly to go bear watching.

  2. Romania is one of those countries that never really seems to pop up on our travel-planning radar, yet every time I see a post like this I question why. Brasov looks like it ticks all our boxes for history, architecture, and photography. Just finding enough time in the year to travel is the killer.

  3. I love Brasov! I visited the end of November and beginning of December so I loved seeing the holiday lights and snow. From the Black Church, excellent food and charming streets it is a wonderful place to stay. Due to a snow storm I wasn’t able to go up to the mountain but next time that and doing some hikes are priority!

  4. Brasov is one of my favorite places to spend a weekend. In fact, I’m thinking to go to Brasov and see the Christmas market (any excuse in good).
    I didn’t know about the restaurant at the synagogue. As a tip, try the soups at Bella Muzica restaurant 🙂

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