Brașov
A city Saxon guilds once defended with seven bastions, and inside those walls a street too narrow for a pair of shoulders — cut in the 15th century as a shortcut for firefighters.
- When to go
- October 10° · 6 rainy days
- Per day
- ~34 · 43 · 46 €budget · mid · comfort, per person · checked 21 Sep 2026
- How many days
- 2–3days
- For you
- 6 questions →
- Nearest airport
- 9 km Brașov
- Right now
Brașov is a Transylvanian city at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, with a medieval Old Town ringed by walls and seven bastions. Two days split the city by elevation: the lower part around Council Square and the Black Church, the upper part along the walls towards Tâmpa. A third day, if there is one, goes on a day trip — to Bran Castle or the fortress hill in Râșnov.
The city was fortified in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights, on the order of the Hungarian king Andrew II, to defend the kingdom's border; they were expelled by 1225, but the Saxon colonists they had brought stayed and built a settlement around the Church of St Mary, later renamed the Black Church. That is why the same city carries three names, all meaning 'crown': German Kronstadt, Hungarian Brassó and Latin Corona. Under Saxon rule, from the 13th to the 17th century, Romanians were barred from owning property inside the walls, so they settled the Șchei district outside the city — their only way through was Șchei Gate.
Saxon guilds ringed the city with stone walls and seven bastions, each defended by a different craft; the best preserved is the Weavers' Bastion. Brașov–Ghimbav airport opened in 2023, the city's first of its own, and from 2026 Wizz Air flies from there to about 29 destinations; the A1 bus to the centre takes about 30–40 min, for €5.
Guides for Brașov
Shorter, practical pages for one concrete question each — how many days, how much money, where to sleep, where to escape the city.
Brașov in 2 days
→Day one is the centre around Council Square and the Black Church, day two is the walls, Șchei and the cable car up…
Day trips from Brașov
→Bran and Râșnov go by bus and fit into half a day; Peleș in Sinaia wants a train and a full day, and Poiana Brașov is…
Where to stay in Brașov
→In Brașov the area is chosen by how far it is on foot from Council Square: the Old Town has everything close, Șchei is…
What Brașov costs
→Romania is outside the eurozone, but every price on this page is already converted to euro — a hostel bed is €15–18, a…
Brașov beyond the six main sights
→The Council House in the middle of the square, a triumphal gate into Șchei, the first school to teach in Romanian, and…
What to eat in Brașov
→Tripe soup opens the meal, sarmale and tochitură carry the main course, and papanași with soured cream and sour-cherry…
The best time to visit Brașov
→Brașov sits in a basin below Mount Postăvarul, so summer can run hot and crowded down in the valley, and winter brings…
Getting around Brașov
→Brașov has had its own airport since 2023 (GHV) with the A1 bus line into the centre, and a train that reaches…
Mistakes everyone makes in Brașov
→Romania pays in lei, the citadel's interior isn't open most days, and Rasnov fortress is shut for restoration…
What to see in Brașov
Black Church
A Gothic church begun in the late 14th century as the Catholic Church of St Mary; it only took its present name after the great fire of 1689 blackened its walls. Entry €5.70, open Apr–15 Oct: Sun–Mon 12–19, Tue–Sat 10–19; rest of year until 18; it also closes temporarily during concerts or weddings.
€5.70 · 30–45 min · closed 1 January, 25 December
Council Square
The main square of the Old Town, ringed by Baroque and Gothic houses; at its centre stands the Council House, once the town administration and now a history museum. Walking the square and its side streets takes 1–2 h, entry free.
free · 1–2 h
Tâmpa Cable Car
A cable car runs to the top of Tâmpa, the mountain that rises straight out of the Old Town, to a viewpoint over the whole city and its walls. Return ticket €8.55, open Tue–Sun 9:30–17, closed Monday and occasionally in high wind or storms.
€8.55 · 20–30 min · closed Monday
Rope Street
Romania's narrowest street (Strada Sforii), cut in the 15th century as a firefighters' shortcut between two main streets; at its tightest point it measures 111 centimetres, and it takes its name from a rope factory that once stood nearby. Walking it takes 5–10 min, entry free.
free · 5–10 min
Catherine's Gate
The only surviving medieval town gate; built by the Tailors' Guild in 1559 on the site of an older gate swept away by a flood in 1526. Its four corner turrets symbolised the town's own judicial rights, including the right to pass a death sentence. Entry free, open at any time; a visit takes 10–15 min.
free · 10–15 min
Weavers' Bastion
The best preserved of the seven bastions with which the guilds defended the city, each held by a different craft; inside is a permanent exhibit on Brașov's fortifications. Entry €1.33, open Tue–Sun 10–18 (last entry 17:30), closed Monday; a visit takes 30–45 min.
€1.33 · 30–45 min · closed Monday
Ready for Brașov?
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