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Last updated on July 16th, 2024 at 08:40 am
Bran Castle is one of the best places to visit in Romania’s scenic region of Transylvania and this article about how to get from Brasov to Bran Castle is your go-to guide to plan the perfect day trip to the so-called Dracula’s Castle.
Complete with recommendations for the best guided day tours, a concise overview of the castle’s history and all the best things to see there, this guide on how to go from Brasov to Bran Castle has it all.
Is Bran Castle Worth Visiting?
Bran Castle is the most popular castle in Transylvania as it’s connected to the legend of Dracula. No matter if that’s true or not, this isn’t the only reason to visit Bran Castle. Despite the somewhat plain exterior, the medieval castle’s interior is worth the visit. What’s more, the gorgeous setting makes Bran Castle one of the best Transylvanian castles.
Overall, Bran Castle is worth visiting. However, it might feel overwhelming as it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Romania, especially in the high season when the castle is packed with tour groups.
Best Tours From Brasov To Bran Castle
Before going into detail about all the ways you can get from Brasov to Bran Castle, the easiest way to get there is on a guided tour. This way, not only will you learn everything about the castle’s history from an expert guide, but also you can combine Bran Castle with other nearby attractions on a single day trip.
Here are our picks for the top three guided tours from Brasov to Bran Castle:
- From Brasov: Tours of Castles and Surrounding Area. It includes Bran Castle, Peles Castle and Sinaia Monastery.
- Brasov: Peles Castle, Bran Castle & Rasnov Fortress Day Tour.
- From Brasov: Peles Castle, Bran Castle & Cantacuzino Castle. The latter was the filming location for Netflix’s Wednesday series.
Best Ways To Get From Brasov To Bran Castle
By Car
From our personal experience, if you are on a road trip across Romania, one of the best ways to get to Bran Castle from Brasov is by car. Castelul Bran is only 30 kilometres from Brasov and it takes about 35 to 40 minutes by car to get there.
If your Romania road trip starts in Bucharest, pick up your rental car from Bucharest Otopeni Airport to explore also Peles Castle and Rasnov Fortress on your way to Brasov.
The only problem is the traffic which can be unbearably heavy. Therefore, try to start as early as possible, especially at weekends. Once in the town of Bran, parking is available near the castle entrance.
By a Guided Tour
Joining a day tour to Bran Castle is one of the best things to do in Brasov. It’s also the most hassle-free way to visit the popular castle. You can choose among several organised tours with an expert guide that combine Bran Castle with Peles Castle and Rasnov Fortress.
By Taxi or Riding App
Taking a taxi from Brasov to Bran Castle is also a great option if you’re not driving, especially for larger groups. If you’re staying in Brasov, consider downloading the Bratax riding app. Bratax offers a taxi service in air-conditioned cars with English-speaking drivers. We haven’t used them ourselves but we would if we hadn’t rented a car.
If you are more used to Uber or Bolt, you can also try to find a driver through those apps to get you to Bran Castle.
By Public Transport
Another option to get from Brasov to Bran Castle if you’re travelling without a car is using public transport. You can take the Bran Castle bus from Bus Terminal 2 (Autogara 2 Transbus Codreanu) in Brasov. Buses run every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly at weekends while the bus ride takes about 45 minutes.
Keep in mind that the Brasov bus terminal is outside the city centre which means that you need to take either another bus or taxi to get there.
By Train
Although there is a train station in Brasov, the city is not connected to Bran Castle by rail. You can take the train from other Romanian cities to Brasov. Then, from the Brasov train station, you can get a taxi to Bran Castle.
Bran Castle History
On the site of a former wooden castle erected by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, Bran Fortress was built in the 14th century when the Hungarian King Louis the Great allowed the people of Transylvania and Wallachia to protect their regions from the raids of the Ottoman Empire. It belonged to the people of Brasov until 1920 when they donated it to the Romanian royal family.
Castelul Bran became Queen Marie’s favourite royal residence. She managed to turn the austere medieval fortress into a genuine royal court. Even nowadays, the Queen’s favourite flowers, lilies, decorate the castle’s rooms.
In 1947, the castle became the property of the Romanian state and in 1957 it was turned into a museum. In 2009, Bran Castle was returned to Queen Marie’s grandchildren and has operated as a private museum ever since.
Is Castelul Bran Dracula’s Castle?
You’ve probably heard that Bran is Dracula’s Castle. But how accurate is that?
Before even going into this, let’s set something straight: Which Dracula are we talking about?
Count Dracula is the fictitious main character in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. He was a vampire count living in a remote castle in the Carpathian Mountains.
On the other hand, Vlad Dracula is an actual historical figure. Vlad III was the ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century. He was infamous for his cruelty. The name Dracula means son of the devil and it comes from his father Vlad Dracu, which means Vlad the Devil. Vlad III is also known as Vlad Tepes which means Impaler in Romanian. Vlad III used to punish his enemies by, that’s right, impaling them.
So, the only connection between Count Dracula and Vlad Dracula seems to be that the latter inspired Bram Stoker to create the famous novel. But how are either the Count or Vlad III connected to Bran Castle? Sorry to break it to you but they’re not. Historians firmly believe that Vlad Dracula never set foot in Bran while the Irish writer never visited Romania either.
Then why all this fuss? Bran Castle fits Stoker’s description of Count Dracula’s castle in the novel more than any other castle in Transylvania. People’s imagination took it from there and the rest is history.
Is There a Real Dracula’s Castle?
The answer is yes. Poenari Castle in Romania was the actual residence of Vlad Dracula. It’s located near the point where the Romanian regions of Transylvania and Wallachia meet. The castle stands above Arges River overlooking the entire area from a completely remote location. It is perched on a steep cliff and ruined for the most part.
To visit, you need to climb more than 1450 steps. During our first trip to Transylvania, we didn’t get a chance to visit Poenari Castle, but managed to get a glimpse of the imposing structure from a distance while driving along Transfagarasan Road.
What To See in Bran Castle
As soon as you start walking towards the entrance, the sight of Castelul Bran soaring above the village of Bran will catch your attention. The stone castle is built at the top of a rock and it’s marvellously imposing. On the way, there are a lot of souvenir shops and snack bars, so the ambience is rather touristy.
Right after the ticket office starts the uphill path to the castle. It takes about ten minutes to go all the way up and it’s a bit steep.
As you ascend, you will marvel at the lovely landscape and the magnificent park to your right. Formerly the castle’s garden, the park was created at the request of Queen Maria of Romania herself. It has two lakes and it’s a heaven of flowers and trees.
The castle’s exterior doesn’t resemble other fairytale-like castles across the Transylvanian region. It was initially constructed in Gothic style. Later on, Queen Marie of Romania asked architect Karel Liman to give a more Romantic appearance to her favourite castle.
The interior of Bran Castle reflects mainly the taste of Queen Marie as it has been restored to look exactly the way it did in her time. The various rooms are decorated with furniture and objects from the family’s collection.
Everything is arranged in a way to narrate tales from the personal lives of the royals who inhabited Castelul Bran. We particularly liked the typical Romanian tiled stoves we saw in the rooms.
The castle features narrow corridors, winding staircases and the occasional secret passage. However, the interior courtyard was the most attractive part of the castle.
Seeing the castle leisurely will take you about an hour. The informational signs are easy to read, useful and fun. However, if you want an in-depth walking tour that will let you in on the castle’s secrets, you can book this Bran Castle tour.
Before planning your visit to Bran Castle, check out opening hours, ticket types and entrance fees on the castle’s official website.
Other Romanian Castles From Brasov
Of course, Bran is not the only castle in the Brasov county. There are plenty of places you can visit in the same area such as Peles Castle and Rasnov Fortress.
You can visit all of them on the same day trip from Brasov, as it’s quite interesting to see three completely different castles in one go. The enchantment of Peles Castle and the raw beauty of Rasnov Fortress complement Bran’s unique charm in the best possible way.
We hope this guide on how to get from Brasov to Bran Castle helps you plan your trip to one of Transylvania’s – if not Romania’s – most popular attractions, an unmissable stop on your Romanian adventure.
WORDS & EDITING: Maria
IMAGES: Katerina