Brașov (pronounced Bra-shov in Romanian) is a city in Transylvania, Romania. It's set in the Carpathian Mountains in the centre of the country, 180 km (110 mi) from Bucharest. It's mostly a modern industrial city with a population of about 250,000, but the reason to visit is the well-preserved Old Town. It's also an alternative base for skiing at the nearby resort of Poiana Brașov.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
In the Middle Ages Transylvania had Hungarian rulers, who brought in Saxon settlers. They developed the walled town known in German as Kronstadt and in Hungarian as Brassó. Later development was further out so this old centre was largely preserved. It has good tourist facilities and is well worth an extended stay: perhaps because it lacks a well-connected airport, it's not as well known to westerners as similar old towns such as Sibiu and Cluj Napoca. Shop, restaurant and hotel staff often speak English and German. For the visitor therefore, the core of Brașov is the old town (largely pedestrianised) and adjoining Șchei district.
The old town, and westward extension of Șchei, are compact and walkable - indeed they're mostly pedestrian precinct. The new town and burbs stretch a long way. Bike rental is available in the central square Piața Sfatului, 4 lei per hour. Buses in Brașov are run by RATBv (Regia Autonomă de Transport Brașov). They mostly run weekdays 05:30 to midnight, weekends 06:30 to 23:00; there's no night service. Most bus stops have real-time digital displays of what's coming. Google Maps usually plans perfect routes via public transport in Brașov. The biggest city bus interchange near the old city is 5 Livada Poștei.
In the Middle Ages, Transylvania's Hungarian rulers brought in Saxon settlers, to defend and develop the area. They built up the walled city of Kronstadt, which today forms the Old Town of Brașov. Most of the city sights are here, in the pedestrianised zone centred on Council Square (Piața Sfatului) and along the spine of Republicii street. Main sights include the Piața Sfatului, the Black Church, and the former Council House. Around the walled city, you can see the Șchei and Catherine Gates, Weavers' Bastion, Black Tower, and White Tower. To the south lies Șchei district, described below.
Zilele Brașovului (Feast Days of Brașov). Held in the week leading up to Orthodox Easter. It has several fairs with craftsman, wine, food, etc. It ends with the Parades of Juni on Easter Sunday (Duminica Tomii), which in 2019 will be Su 28 April, one week after the western Easter. (updated Apr 2018) Cerbul de Aur (Golden Stag) music festival. In 2018 it celebrated 50 years of existence (though only 18 editions were held in this period). It is held in the main square, bringing lots of pop artists and musicians (but also cluttering the square with tons of heavy iron scaffolding and stage for about one month). Oktoberfest (Beer Festival / Festivalul Berii).
Since there are lots of tourists, there's more upmarket choice, but mid-range prices are higher. Fornetti is a Hungarian pastry chain with many outlets, eg at the railway station and downtown. They sell small pastry pieces stuffed with cheese or jam. Prices are fair and the quality is very high. Ando's, Bvd 15 Noiembrie 6 (On main road 200 m E of old centre), ☏ +40 268 410 588. Daily, 24 hr. Fast food place with menus and sandwiches (chicken and fish) at low prices. (updated Apr 2018) Panini - Also on 15 Noiembrie (nr. 40) is a 24/7 fast food restaurant, with great sandwiches for incredibly low prices. STAR supermarket, nearby at Strada Nicolae Bălcescu 62, has decent cheap food.
1 For Sale Pub, Bvd 15 Noiembre 24 (100 m east of old town). Daily 13:00-23:30. Friendly long-established pub. (updated Apr 2018) Hirscher12 - Cocktail Bistro (formerly Gott Pub), Strada Hirscher 12 (On corner of Poarta Șchei). Daily 08:00-01:00. Scottish themed pub. Nice atmosphere, rugs covering everything. It has darts and a big plasma TV screen for football games. Wide selection of beers and they also serve breakfast. (updated Apr 2018) Deane's Irish Pub & Grill, Strada Republicii 19. Daily 10:00-03:00. You can get Guinness, a host of Irish coffees and an Ulster Fry. (updated Apr 2018)
Brașov is very safe for visitors, and the main tourist areas are well-policed. As in most Romanian cities, be on your guard against pickpockets and scams. Keep your valuables close, especially in the crowded tourist areas in the city center, on buses, and in restaurants If you plan to get a taxi, make sure it belongs to a company, and prices and phone number are written on the door. Especially avoid taxis that stand in the first line (near the sidewalk) on the right as you exit the train station. Exchange bureaux have a bad reputation for scams: see Romania article.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €79 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Jul, Brasov typically sees ~27°C daytime highs and 13 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-07-27. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy