Get a Taste for Transylvania in Brasov
A Medieval Saxon Town and a Gateway to Transylvania
Brasov is a well-preserved, enchanting Saxon (German) medieval city that is large enough to be atmospheric and small enough to never be overwhelming. It’s known as a gateway to Transylvania because many travelers stop here first on their way up from Bucharest - and because it offers a good base to explore the area through day trips. If you’re only exploring the city, one day is enough to see everything.
Explore the Old Town
I found Brasov thoroughly charming because of its general fairy-tale like atmosphere - but I didn’t find any single building particularly memorable. I recommend walking down Strada Republicii, the main pedestrianized boulevard, relaxing in Piata Sfatului, the main square, and then walking around the Black Church - an imposing gothic cathedral that is the largest in Eastern Europe. The Old Town will feel German because it was settled by the Saxons, so if you want to see the section that feels more Romania, you will have to go just west of the city walls to Schei - where the Romanians lived.
If you want to check out the most common tourist sites, you can go to Beth Israel Synagogue, Catherine’s Gate, the First Romanian School Museum, the White and Black Towers, and Weaver’s Bastion (Bastionul Tesatorilor). They’re all nice - but I don’t think a trip to Brasov would be lacking if you missed any of them.
Go for a Hike
Brasov has a small mountain, Tampa, that you can hike or take a cable car up. The most popular route is to see the Brasov sign (like the Hollywood sign, but you can stand behind it) - but I also went along the white / blue marked trail to get a taste of the mountains in Transylvania. I recommend wearing shoes with some grip because some of the trail is very steep.
Take a Day Trip
Brasov is a good base to explore Transylvania if you want to do it by day trips. Here are some of the most common destinations:
Bran Castle: Known as Dracula’s Castle, this is about 30 minutes outside of Brasov and you can get there using public transit (bus 41 or 16 - and then a shuttle to the castle).
Rasnov Citadel: About halfway between Brasov and Bran, this citadel is larger than Bran Castle and has some stunning views of the nearby mountains. It’s easy to combine this with a day trip to Bran Castle - either via public transit or a tour.
Transfagarasan Highway: The most famous road in Romania, this highway zigzags through the mountains in Transylvania. If you schedule this as a day trip, it will most likely be combined with some of the surrounding natural attractions.
Sibiu: Similar to but smaller than Brasov, this German medieval settlement is about 2.5 - 3 hours away from Brasov.
Sighisoara: About 1.5 - 2 hours away, this small walled village is known for pastel colors and cobbled roads.
Bear Sanctuary: Not far southwest of Brasov, Libearty Bear Sanctuary has about 70 rescued bears who previously lived in zoos or private residences.
I only spent one day in Brasov - so I didn’t go on any day trips. If I was spending more time in Transylvania, though, I think Brasov would’ve made an excellent base to explore the area from.
