Brasov, Romania is the gateway into Transylvania with plenty of terrific things to do whether you’re a history buff or a hiker using it as a base for trekking in the Carpathian Mountains.
After I arrived from Bucharest on the train, the pace of life noticeably slowed. The air cooled.
There was a relaxed, romantic feel as I wandered through Brasov’s narrow cobblestone streets. The 13th-century city transports you back in time with a tangible authenticity.
Brasov is not pretending to be a medieval city. It actually is one.
12 Terrific Things to Do in Brasov Romania
Brasov is one of Romania’s most visited cities and for good reason. It’s situated in a Transylvanian sweet spot, making it an ideal base for at least part of your Transylvania itinerary.
With plenty of things to do in Brasov, it’s best to begin here before moving on to other places in Transylvania.
1. Start in the Piata Sfatului, Council Square.
This is the heart of Brasov’s medieval historic center.
The arc-shaped “square” and its ornate rainbow of building facades will have you wondering where to look first. The clock tower from the 13th-century Town Hall chimes, momentarily drowning out the murmur of chatter and clinking glasses from the nearby cafes.
The air feels pleasantly warm. The Piata Sfatului is the perfect place to grab a bench seat and people-watch.
The square gives no hints about its dark past as a place of public trials and executions during the Middle Ages.
In the years of Communist rule, the Council Square was used as a parking lot to discourage city-dwellers from congregating and socializing.
In the Piata Sfatului today, you’ll see local children chasing pigeons and visitors snapping photos of Brasov’s architecture and daily life.
2. Tour the Biserica Neagra, Black Church.
The Black Church sits just off the main square in Brasov. It’s the largest Gothic church in Eastern Europe. As you can see, the Black Church is not black in color.
It earned the name after a fire in 1689 burned the church and the walls darkened from smoke.
The church’s interior is not as striking as other Cathedrals in Europe, but the gothic architecture combined with the collection of Anatolian Carpets decorating the walls calls out the geography and history of medieval Brasov positioned at a cultural crossroads.
These influences from the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Saxons uniquely blend east and west.
3. Hike to or ride the cable car up to Tampa Mountain.
From your first moments in Brasov, you’re likely to notice the Hollywood-like “BRASOV” sign perched high above the city on Tampa Mountain.
Take the cable car or follow one of two hiking paths to the top. If you hike, plan on an hour’s walk-up. When you get there, walk the short path to the big white letters bearing the city’s name.
ProTip – Make sure you have the right hiking essentials before you begin any hiking adventure!
The walk is not difficult, but there are enough rocks on the path along the way. So wear comfortable, sturdy shoes to hike in.
At the end, next to the “V” in Brasov is a viewing platform for a gorgeous birds-eye view of Brasov.
4. Stroll along Brasov’s historic streets.
Cobblestone streets flank away from Brasov’s Piata Sfatului forming a dedicated pedestrian zone.
The streets are lined with busy cafes, shops, and sweet-smelling carts selling delicious kurtoskalacs (see below).
Spend time admiring the city’s medieval architecture. If you’re strolling in the morning, it’s the best time for photos, before visitors arrive and locals go about their day.
If you’d like a guide, every day at 10:30 a.m. you can join a free walking tour from the fountain in the main square. You don’t need a reservation. Just look for the person holding the orange umbrella.
The tour lasts for about 90-120 minutes and walks through the historical Saxon center and out past the old fortified walls into the Schei District.
The guide who led my walking tour told stories and jokes as she explained the history of Brasov. I highly recommend this tour to help you get your bearings and learn some fascinating history.
If you arrive in Brasov in the afternoon, after a stop in Sinaia to see Peles Castle as I did, check this free walking tour page for more choices.
ProTip: If free walking tour timing doesn’t work for you or if the tour is canceled for that day, you could also book a guided Brasov tour instead.
No matter how you stroll beautiful Brasov, remember to look up and notice the artistic details hiding in plain sight. When you’re ready, sit at an outdoor cafe just to be part of the ambiance around you.
5. Take a Day Trip from Brasov
Brasov is an excellent base to explore Transylvania’s castles, villages, and mountains. Because of its central location, Brasov day trips make great use of your time and help you to see places that aren’t that easily reachable without a rental car.
Here are some of the most popular Brasov day trips.
- This castle tour visits Bran Castle, Peles Castle, and Rasnov Fortress. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to take in the Transylvanian Alps and the surrounding countryside.
- Explore the area’s Fortified Churches. Spend a half day visiting 2 UNESCO Heritage sites to learn about Romania’s medieval and Saxon history.
- Interested in wildlife? Romania’s Carpathian Mountains have a healthy bear population. On this bear watching tour, you’ll have the chance to observe brown bears in their natural habitat from a specially built bear watching structure. An experienced forest ranger will also teach you about the area’s natural environment.
Planning to base yourself in Bucharest instead of Brasov or elsewhere in Transylvania?
These experiences are great ways to explore Transylvania from Bucharest.
– Visit 3 Transylvania highlights (including Brasov) on this day trip. This full-day tour lets you experience this beautiful Romanian region with an expert guide.
– Go for this 2-day Transylvania tour to experience more of the region. In addition to popular castles, you’ll spend the night in Sighisoara and visit Brasov and have free time to explore.
6. Visit both the Black and White Towers.
On the opposite side of Brasov’s mountaintop sign, you’ll find a walkway behind the city’s old wall fortifications.
Here you’ll discover both the White Tower and the Black Tower. Comparing both, the White Tower, built in 1494, has kept more of its historic charm.
The Black Tower (also not black..but called that after a bolt of lightning struck it.) was recently renovated to include a glass roof. Both towers have wooden staircases to climb for city views.
7. Search for one of the narrowest streets in Europe.
Strada Sforii or String Street is 53 inches at its widest point and just 44 inches at its most narrow point.
Once you find Strada Sforii, you might wonder how it passes as a street when it looks more like a passageway!
Historically, firemen used it to quickly get between Brasov’s tightly packed houses.
8. Admire Catherine’s Gate and Brasov’s fortified medieval walls.
Catherine’s Gate is the last standing original medieval gate. It was constructed in 1559 and prominently displays the Brasov coat of arms. The Saxons adorned gates such as this with 4 small turret towers in each corner.
Visitors who passed through the gate understood the turrets to mean they were under the rule of the Town Council who had the authority to hand down a death sentence.
As with the citadel of Sighisoara nearby, parts of Brasov’s fortified walls also remain and date back nearly 600 years!
You should walk the pathways around the outer edges of the city for a closer look.
9. Go beyond the Saxon gates to explore the Schei District.
Between the 13th-17th centuries, the ruling Saxons did not allow Romanians to live within Brasov’s fortified walls.
Similar to the Lower Town in Sibiu, settlements formed just outside the city center and evolved into their own communities.
To understand more about Romania’s culture, walk through the neighborhood streets in the Schei District. It’s a history lesson in and of itself when you compare what you see to Brasov’s historic Saxon center.
While you’re in this part of the city, visit the beautiful Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church just off Piata Unirii.
There’s actually a mysterious time capsule stored in the slender tower spire which was discovered, opened by the priests, and returned to its place in the spire. (I’m still wondering what was in it!)
Within the church grounds, you can also visit the first Romanian school.
In the 1500s, the first books in the Romanian language were printed here and, today, a museum contains thousands of valuable books, including the oldest Bible in Romanian.
10. Feast on a Kurtos Kalacs.
Have you eaten a trdelnik in Prague? The Romanian relative of the sweet cylinder cake roasted on a spit and sold from street carts is called Kurtoskalacs. You must have (at least) 1 while you’re in Brasov.
I bet you’re wondering what’s the big deal if other countries in the region like the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia have the same sweet treat. The Romanian Kurtoskalacs stands out for its size. It’s tremendous!
Brush away any guilt over such an indulgence. When in Romania, do as the Romanians do. 😉
11. Take a day excursion to Rasnov Fortress.
Located just a short distance from Brasov’s historic center, you’ll find the 14th-century Rasnov Fortress.
The Saxons built upon an already existing structure 650 feet up above the town of Rasnov. The fortress was perfectly positioned to protect against invasions from nomadic European and Asian tribes.
The fortress had been recently restored when I visited and now is undergoing more renovations until 2028.
It’s the best-preserved historic landmark of its kind in Romania, and even during this current phase of restoration, you can visit the grounds, the gardens, and the place for panoramic photos of the fortress.
When I visited, I saw the fortifications, the outside of an old school, stone houses hundreds of years old, and sweeping views of the countryside.
If you prefer, go to Rasnov with a guide while also exploring other castles like Bran in the Romanian countryside.
On the summer day I visited, there were only a handful of visitors! (Yet another sign you need to visit Romania before everyone else realizes they should, too!)
12. Head into the Carpathian Mountains.
Brasov is surrounded by rural countryside, complete with tiny villages speckled among the rolling hills, tall mountain peaks, and green forests.
The landscape is unspoiled and perfect for multi-day hiking adventures.
If you come upon any people, they’ll likely appear to be from a different time. A lot of people still use traditional agricultural methods like cutting fields of grass by hand with a scythe! I was amazed to see some of these centuries-old practices.
You’re guaranteed to have gorgeous views, pristine nature, and unmatched tranquility even by spending just 1 day in the Carpathian Mountains. It’s a great opportunity to appreciate the untouched landscapes just beyond Brasov.
How to Get to Brasov:
You can easily reach Brasov by train from Bucharest and other points in Transylvania.
The roughly 2 1/2 hour ride from Bucharest can be broken up with a stop in Sinaia to see the fairytale Peles Castle.
When you arrive at Brasov’s train station, taxis wait to take you past the fortified walls and into Brasov’s historic center.
If you need more information about Romania’s train system, visit Seat61. I love this website for detailed route and train information.
Where to Stay in Brasov:
You’ll want to stay as close to Piata Sfatului as possible. From there, you can easily walk to all the things to do in Brasov in this guide. I stayed in a guest house called Kronhaus.
Kronhaus is perfectly located just off the main pedestrian district and just a 5-minute walk to the Piata Sfatului. The house has a home-like openness where guests chat with one another. Each room is unique and the owner was friendly and helpful with tips about the town.
It’s perfect if you’re looking for a more independent, homey stay versus a hotel with a 24-hour staffed front desk and amenities.
Brasov is a must for your Romanian itinerary!
I was so glad that I started my trip to Transylvania with Brasov. It was the perfect introduction to the history and beauty of this area in Romania.
When you visit, don’t miss Brasov!
So, what questions do you have about visiting Brasov?
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