How many days in Brasov? 3 days: the old town, Bran's castle country and Sighisoara
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Brasov is the most practical base in Transylvania: a Saxon old town of pastel houses and Gothic towers, a wooded mountain rising right behind the main square, and castles, fortified churches and bear forests within an hour's drive. Give it three days. One is for the old town and the walk or cable car up Mount Tampa, one for Bran, Rasnov and Prejmer, and one for a day trip to the citadel of Sighisoara.
Short answer
Two days covers the old town and the castle circuit to Bran and Rasnov. The third day adds Sighisoara, or Peles Castle in Sinaia if you are heading on to Bucharest.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Council Square, the Black Church and Tampa
Morning. Begin in Piata Sfatului (Council Square), with the old town hall in the centre, now a history museum. Walk 2 minutes to the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in this part of Europe, whose name is usually linked to the great fire of 1689 that blackened its walls (entry roughly 25-30 lei; closed on Mondays). Inside, look for the collection of Ottoman-era carpets hanging along the walls and, on some days in summer, organ recitals.
Afternoon. Walk the Strada Sforii (Rope Street), one of the narrowest streets in Europe at little more than a metre wide, then go through Catherine's Gate, a 16th-century gate tower, into the Schei district, the old Romanian quarter. Visit St Nicholas' Church and the First Romanian School museum beside it. Return along the old walls past the Weavers' Bastion.
Evening. Ride the Tampa cable car (roughly 30-40 lei return; check current prices) or climb on the forest path, about 45-60 minutes, to the top, next to the giant BRASOV letters, for sunset over the red roofs. Dinner on Strada Republicii, the pedestrian street, costs 60-110 lei per person.
For the best view of Council Square from above, climb to the White Tower or the Black Tower on the western walls; both are short climbs from Strada Dupa Ziduri, the path along the walls.
Day 2: Bran Castle, Rasnov and Prejmer
Morning. Drive or take a bus about 45 minutes (roughly 30 km) to Bran Castle, the hilltop fortress marketed as Dracula's Castle. The link with Vlad the Impaler is thin and the castle's real story is that of Queen Marie of Romania, who lived here in the 20th century. Arrive at opening time; tickets cost roughly 70-90 lei, and queues build fast from 10:00 in summer.
Afternoon. Stop at Rasnov Fortress on the way back, a peasant citadel on a hill above the town, with walls, towers and wide views over the Barsa plain (about 20-30 lei). If you have a car, continue east of Brasov to Prejmer, a fortified church on the UNESCO list, ringed by thick walls lined with rooms where villagers took refuge during sieges.
Evening. Return to Brasov for a dinner of ciorba (sour soup), sarmale (cabbage rolls) and papanasi, the fried cheese doughnuts served with sour cream and jam.
Public buses to Bran leave from the Autogara 2 (Bartolomeu) bus station in Brasov, about every hour (around 10 lei, roughly 45-60 minutes). For Prejmer you will need a car or an organised tour, as the connections are slow.
Day 3: A day in Sighisoara
Morning. Take an early train or drive about 2 hours (around 120 km) north to Sighisoara, a walled medieval citadel still inhabited today and on the UNESCO list. Climb the Clock Tower, the symbol of the town, with its museum and moving figures (around 20-30 lei).
Afternoon. Walk up the covered wooden Scholars' Stairs to the Church on the Hill and its cemetery, then around the walls to the guild towers. The house where Vlad the Impaler is said to have been born is on the citadel square, now a restaurant.
Evening. Return to Brasov, or stay the night in the citadel, which is quiet after the day groups leave. If you drive, stop on the way at Viscri, a Saxon village with a fortified church, about 45 minutes off the main road.
The train between Brasov and Sighisoara takes roughly 2.5-3.5 hours depending on the service, and delays are common. A car or a guided tour is faster if you want to see Viscri as well.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and the castle circuit on Day 2: Bran in the morning and Rasnov after lunch. You lose Prejmer and Sighisoara.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Peles Castle in Sinaia, the royal summer palace about 1 hour south by car or train (usually closed on Mondays), to the Libearty bear sanctuary near Zarnesti (guided visits only, book ahead), or into the mountains: Piatra Craiului and the Bucegi range have marked trails, and Poiana Brasov, 12 km from town, is a ski resort in winter.
Where to stay in Brasov
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels around Council Square | Dorms and simple rooms in the old town, steps from the bars and restaurants. | 80-200 lei |
| Mid-range | Old town (Strada Republicii, Strada Muresenilor) | Guesthouses in old Saxon houses, walkable to all the sights and to the Tampa cable car. | 300-550 lei |
| Mid-range | Schei district | Quieter streets under the mountain, ten minutes' walk from the square. | 250-450 lei |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels in the old town, or Poiana Brasov | Restored historic hotels in the centre, or mountain resort hotels with spas. | 600-1,200 lei |
Getting around
Brasov's railway station is about 3 km from the old town; city buses (about 3-4 lei a ride) and taxis or ride-hailing apps (around 15-25 lei) connect them. Trains from Bucharest take about 2.5-3 hours, and minibuses and private transfers run from Bucharest's Otopeni airport. Brasov also has its own small international airport, about 15 km from the city, with a limited number of flights. In the old town, everything is within 15 minutes on foot. For Bran and Rasnov there are hourly buses; for Prejmer, Viscri and the mountains, a rental car (roughly 150-250 lei a day) gives far more freedom.
What to eat in Brasov
Romanian food is hearty. Start with a ciorba, a sour soup, such as ciorba de burta (tripe soup with sour cream and garlic) or a bean soup served in a bread bowl. Mains include sarmale, cabbage rolls with polenta (mamaliga) and sour cream, and mici, grilled minced-meat rolls with mustard. The dessert to order is papanasi. A two-course meal with a beer in the old town costs around 60-110 lei, and a lunch menu in local places is cheaper. Try the local palinca or tuica (plum brandy) carefully: it is strong.
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October are best for walking, with highs of 18-25°C and green or autumn-coloured forests. July and August are warm and the busiest months, with outdoor concerts in Council Square. Winter is cold, often below zero, but snowy: the old town is pretty with the Christmas market in the square, and Poiana Brasov opens for skiing from about December.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | 70 lei | 180 lei | 400 lei |
| Food & drink | 80 lei | 150 lei | 280 lei |
| Sights & tickets | 40 lei | 100 lei | 160 lei |
| Local transport | 20 lei | 70 lei | 160 lei |
| Total per person, per day | about 210 lei | about 500 lei | about 1,000 lei |
Approximate 2026 prices (about 5 lei to the euro); the castle and Sighisoara days cost more because of transport, and some hotels add a small local tourist tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Bran Castle really Dracula's Castle?
Only in marketing. Bram Stoker never visited Romania, and historians find little evidence that Vlad the Impaler, often linked to the Dracula legend, spent much time at Bran. The castle is worth visiting for its architecture and for its connection with Queen Marie of Romania. Go early, because it is the most visited sight in the region.
Can I visit Bran without a car?
Yes. Buses leave from the Autogara 2 bus station in Brasov roughly every hour and take about 45-60 minutes. You can stop at Rasnov on the way back on the same route. Prejmer, Viscri and the bear sanctuary are harder without a car, so many visitors take a small-group tour for those.
Will I see bears around Brasov?
Possibly, and you should be careful. Romania has a large brown bear population, and bears regularly come to the edges of Brasov and Poiana Brasov at night looking for food. Never feed them and keep a distance. For a safe view, visit the Libearty sanctuary near Zarnesti or join an official bear-watching hide with a guide.
Is Brasov a good base for Transylvania?
It is the most popular one, with frequent trains from Bucharest, many guesthouses and good connections to Bran, Rasnov, Sinaia and the mountains. For the Saxon villages and Sighisoara, it is a long day trip. If those are your main interest, add a night in Sighisoara or a village guesthouse.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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