The city of Brasov is one of Transylvania’s, and Romania’s, most popular destinations and we sure understand why. Pretty streets filled with the most colourful buildings, surround by stunning mountains that offer mind-blowing viewpoints, and not too far from the city you can visit some of Transylvania’s most popular castles. Brasov is a city that could keep you busy for days, and after leaving we sure wished we could have stayed longer, but sadly many of us are on a time crunch! So, to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the most beautiful sights and places in Brasov we have created the ultimate Brasov itinerary, perfect for those who will have a day or two in the city and are interested to see what else there is to do in the nearby surroundings. Brasov quickly became one of our favourite destinations in Romania, so without further ado, keep on reading to find out how to spend 2 days in the city of Brasov…
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Day 1 in Brașov: Explore the City
Brasov Council Square – Piața Sfatului
Start your first day by making your way to Piața Sfatului, the main square in Brasov. You will find most sights situated around the square, making this a perfect spot to start your day. If you haven’t had any breakfast yet then this is the perfect place to be as it is filled with an endless amount of cafes and restaurants, simply sit back and enjoy your breakfast while admiring one of the most colourful squares of Europe. Piața Sfatului has actually been around since the 13th century and was once the heart of Medieval Brasov. The council square is one of the most liveliest places in the old town of Brasov and offers some of the best views over Tampa Hill and the sign that spells Brasov, as can be seen in the photo below, but be sure to not hang around here for too long as there is so much more to see in Brasov!
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The Black Church – Biserica Neagra
From Piața Sfatului make your way to the Black Church, which can easily be spotted from the square, but be sure not to search for a black buildings as this church is not actually black. The church was built in the late 14th century by the German community and is a prime example of Gothic architecture and with the tower being 65m high it will be hard to miss this building while roaming around the city centre. You might be wondering how the church got its name though, as so did we. In matter of fact, the church wasn’t always called the black church, it was a name that was given after the fire of 1689 that destroyed the churches roof and interior and scorched the walls of the church completely black. So even though the church had been restored to all its glory, it never lost the name of the Black Church.
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Catherine’s Gate – Poarta Ecaterinei
After exploring the beautiful Black Church of Brasov make your way to Catherine’s Gate, the only city gate that has survived the medieval times and the gateway to the Schei District. During the Saxon Rule Romanians weren’t allowed to buy property within the walls of the fort so instead they settled right outside the walls, in the Schei district. In matter of fact Catherine’s Gate was the only way that the Romanians could entered the walled city as they weren’t allowed to use the other four entrances. Nowadays, Catherine’s Gate houses a museum and is one of the most popular touristic sights in Brasov, so make sure to add it to your Brasov itinerary!
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St. Nicholas Church – Biserica Sfântul Nicolae
From Catherine’s Gate make your way further into the Schei district, and be sure to look around as this area is often overlooked by tourists and travellers. A short walk into the Schei district you will find the beautiful St. Nicholas Church, a church that has been around since the 13th century. While this church was actually built in the gothic style but had later been covered by more baroque style elements. The Orthodox is another beautiful piece of architecture that can be found in the city of Brasov. After seeing the St. Nicholas Church be sure to take a different route back through the Schei district, as there is so much beauty to see here, to make your way to the next stop of the day…
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Rope Street – Strada Sforii
This stop might be one of the uniquer sights you will find in Brasov. Strada Sforii, or rope street in English, is one of the narrowest street of Europe, making it thus the harder to find. When wandering the street be sure to keep your eye out for the small sign above the entry way. Rope street was created as a shortcut for fireman, and the street, with a total length of 80m long, width varies from 111cm to 135cm. As this is one of the most touristic spots of Brasov it will be a rare occasion that you will have this little street to yourself! But that is enough of wandering around the city for now, it is time to head up for the next stop on our list…
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Tampa Hill
If there is one sight that must be on your Brasov itinerary then it must be the view from Tampa Hill. You will have undoubtedly seen the large hill that is home to the sign of Brasov by now, but don’t worry you don’t have to climb all the way up. For those who are in great shape, there is a path that leads to the top, the climb should take you roughly an hour, however, another option is to take the cable car. The ticket for the cable car is 18 lei for a round trip ($4.20) and will take you to the top in a matter of minutes. However, as this is one of the most popular things to do in Brasov be sure to go a bit earlier in the day so you won’t have to stand in line for too long. Once you reach the top turn left for the view behind the Brasov sign and be amazed by the spectacular view over the city. However, be sure not to return from there but to walk a bit further up the hill for the best viewpoint as is pictured below. The view from Tampa Hill over the city of Brasov must have been the highlight of our time in Brasov!
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Coffee at Typografia
After you have awed at the beautiful view over Brasov it is time to head back down again. You got the option of either hiking down, or just taking the cable car down, the latter will be fastest if the lines aren’t too long. After all this wandering around and sightseeing it is time for a break, our personal favourite: Typografia. A cafe that that serves the most delicious coffee in the heart of the centre, and food as well should you be hungry. Just sit back and relax while enjoying your cup of coffee before exploring the rest of Brasov.
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Roam the colourful streets of Brașov
Now that you have had a break from the sightseeing, and perhaps even had a nice coffee, it is time to keep on exploring as this day hasn’t finished yet! One our favourite things to do in Brasov is to just simply roam the colourful streets. When looking for sights you sometimes forget to look around, and Brasov is one of these places were getting lost could be the highlight of your day as you will never know what beautiful alley or street you will stumble upon. In our opinion this is the perfect way to not only end your day, but also end your time in Brasov. However, should you have some time left then be sure to add visiting the White and the Black Tower to your Brasov itinerary if you are keen on visiting more viewpoints over the city.
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Day 2: Go on a Day Trip from Brașov
Visit Dracula’s Castle – Bran Castle
While Brasov itself is absolutely stunning, so are the surroundings of Brasov! One of the most famous day trips from Brasov must be visiting Bran Castle, also widely known as Dracula’s Castle. Now, Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) actually never lived in Bran Castle, but as this castle is closest to the description that Bram Stoker gave of Dracula’s Castle, it has earned this nickname. However, if you are planning on visiting, you will see that in Romania it is simply referred to as Bran Castle.
Viewpoint of Bran Castle: if you are planning on visiting the castle and are looking to get a good shot of the castle, like the photo below, keep on reading for the instructions on how to get there. When you are at the castle simply keep following the gate around the gardens of the castle until you see an open field on the other side of the street. At the beginning of the open field you will see a little bridge, cross the bridge and keep on walking towards the hill. Before you start climbing do know that this is not an official track so climbing is at your own risk, the hill is extremely steep and slippery (especially if it has rained), so please please be careful. Before you start climbing look for the cross on the hill, as this is the viewpoint you want to end up at. Simply follow the hiking tracks up the hill, it will take you roughly 10 – 15 min to reach the cross, where you will be rewarded with the following view!
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Rasnov Fortress
Near the town of Brasov you will find Rasnov, a town that is home to one sight in particular that deserves a spot on your itinerary: the Rasnov Fortress. The fortress, that is over 700 years old, is surrounded by the greenest hills, and when standing in the town of Rasnov itself it will be easy to spot as it is located right above the Rasnov sign on the hill. While the fortress itself is rather touristic and filled with little shops selling souvenirs and activities such as axe throwing, it does offer a great view over the surrounding area. So should you have some time left in your itinerary consider adding the Rasnov Fortress to your planning. Compared to the Bran castle the Rasnov fortress is a perfect activity for those who are on a budget, as the entry fee is only 12 Lei, $2.80, (in august 2019) per person!
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Where to stay in Brașov
If you are planning your stay in Brasov you might want to try to stay as centrally as possible, so many of the sights will be within walking distance. As we booked a place last minute we ended up at an Airbnb right out of the city centre where we were warmly welcomed by our host. It was the perfect place to stay on a budget: a simple but spacious private room with a private parking spot for our car. However, if you prefer something a bit more luxurious then you might want to check out the map below to find a place to stay in Brasov that suits you!
Parking in Brasov: Parking in Brasov can be quite the challenge, and after driving around for half an hour we found the perfect parking spot. So, if you are coming by car and prefer to stay at a hotel in the city centre then check out the parking on Strada Pictor Pop called “parcare publica cu plata regina maria”. In august 2019 it was only 1.5 lei (0.35$) per hour to park here, a much more affordable option then many of the parking spots in the city centre.
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Where to go after Brașov
While Brasov might be one of Transylvania’s most beautiful cities, there is actually so much more to explore. Taking a road trip through Romania is the ultimate way to explore some of the most beautiful sights of Romania: head over to the town of Sighisoara to roam another city filled with the most colourful building, or perhaps continue the search for the most beautiful castles in Romania and head over to Corvin’s castle. Are there any sights we have missed in Brasov? Be sure to share it with us in the comment section down below!
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2 Comments
I can simply say this: excellent photos! They are so sharp and full of vibrant colors. Brasov does look splendid through your eyes.
And to answer your question, yes, you did miss a few sights near Brasov. The first one is Peles Castle in Sinaia, which is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe (as many travelers say) and the first in Europe to be electrified. Just google it and you will see.
Prejmer Fortified Church is also worth visiting. It’s close to Brasov and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Thanks Robert! I will definitely have to add those to my list for my next visit to Brasov!