Brasov
The gateway to Transylvania - a beautiful medieval Saxon town of a grand central square, pastel merchant houses and a great Gothic church, ringed by the Carpathian mountains.
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Brasov is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Transylvania, a former Saxon stronghold set dramatically at the foot of the Carpathian mountains. Its charming old town centres on the grand Council Square, ringed by colourful pastel merchant houses and cafes, and is dominated by the great Gothic Black Church, the largest in the region. With its old walls, towers, the narrowest street in Europe and a cable car to a mountain viewpoint above, it is the perfect base for exploring Transylvania.
What you actually see
- The Council Square - the grand central square of pastel houses.
- The Black Church - the great Gothic church, the largest in the region.
- The old walls and towers - the medieval fortifications and Rope Street.
- Mount Tampa - the cable car to the mountain viewpoint above the town.
When to go
May to September for the best weather; the town is lovely year-round, with Christmas markets in winter and colour in autumn. It is an easy and scenic train ride from Bucharest and the ideal base for Bran and Peles castles nearby.
Honest expectations
It has become a popular base and can be busy in the centre in peak season, but retains genuine medieval charm. It is best used as a hub for the wider Transylvania region, the castles and the Carpathians, rather than a destination in itself, seen in a day. The mountain setting and Saxon architecture, though, are genuinely lovely.
Nearby
Bran and Peles castles, Sighisoara and the Carpathians are within reach.
What to pack for Brasov
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
