Brasov General Information
Location: Central Romania (Brașov County)
Size: 28.5 sq. miles (74 sq. km)
Elevation: 2,133 ft. (650 meters)
Inhabited since: 100 BC
First documented: 1234 AD (Corona)
Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains and resplendent with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, Brasov is one of the most beautiful and visited places in Romania.
Brasov was founded, in 1211, by the Teutonic Knights, on an ancient Dacian site. In the 13th-Century Brasov was settled by the Saxons and shortly became one of Transylvania's seven walled citadels Siebenburgen.
The location of Brasov, at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and western Europe, together with friendly tax regime, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert strong political influence in the region. This was also reflected in the city's name, Kronstadt (German) or Corona (Latin), meaning the Crown City.
Strong fortifications defending towers were erected and maintained with funding provided the town's craft guilds.
The Rope Street (Strada Sforii) is approximately four feet wide;
it connects Strada Cerbului with Strada Poarta Schei
This street was initially used as an access route by firefighters.
The Old Townhall Square (Piața Sfatului) is lined by colorfully painted and richely ornately baroque structures.
Just south of the Townhall Square, the Black Church (Biserica Neagra) - the largest gothic structure in Romania - got its name from the appearance of its exteriour walls, darkened by the flames and smoke of the 'Great Fire' of 1689. The impressive interior of the church houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe and an unique collection of antique rugs and kilims.
Above the sign there is a large terrace that offers an unique panorama of the city.
The sign - illuminated at night - can be seen from a distance of over 15 miles.
Near Brasov there are towering mountains, rolling fields, thick forests and century-old Saxon villages.
Brașov is one of the Siebenbürgen (German for seven walled citadels) established by the Transylvanian Saxons.
The other Siebenbürgen are:
Bistrita (Bistritz), Cluj (Klausenburg), Medias (Mediasch), Sebes (Mühlbach), Sibiu (Hermannstadt) and Sighisoara (Schässburg)
The Council Square
The Transylvanian Saxons built massive stone walls and seven bastions around the city (still visible today), as well as ornate churches, elaborately decorated buildings and one of the most picturesque central squares in Transylvania, said to be the spot to which the legendary Pied Piper led the children of Hamlin. Located at the heart of old medieval Brasov and lined with beautiful red-roofed merchant houses, the Council Square, known to the Saxon population as the Marktplatz, is a nice place to rest and watch the locals and visitors.
Address: Piata Sfatului 30
Built in 1420, Casa Sfatului served for several centuries as meeting place for the town's council members.
At the beginning of the 17th-Century, the building's watchtower became the place from which a trumpeter announced the top of the hour and hence nicknamed "Trumpeter's Tower".
Today, the Old Town Hall houses Brasov's History Museum
Adults: 12 lei ($3)
Students: 8 lei ($2)
Children 7 y.o. and younger: free
Visitors with disabilities: free
Brasov's most distinctive landmark and Romania's largest Gothic church, the Black Church towers over the Council Square and Brasov Old Town. Built between 1385 and 1477 on the site of an earlier church (destroyed during Mongol invasions in 1242), the construction of the Marienkirche, as it was known in German, was hampered by extensive damage caused by Turkish raids in 1421. The church was given its new name after disaster struck again in 1689, when the Great Fire leveled most of the town and blackened the walls of the church. Restoration took almost 100 years. Of the two towers planned, only one was finished.
The seven-tons bell of the church is the largest - and heaviest - in Romania.
The original gothic interior got a makeover during restorations, and the lofty, light space you see today is mostly baroque. The interior is beautiful, with balconies, stained glass windows, an enormous organ, stone columns and walls adorned with fabulous Turkish carpets. The church windows have recently been fitted out with special UV-filtering glass to protect the 119 Anatolian carpets. Thankful to have survived their trips into the "barbaric" lands south and east of the Carpathians, German merchants donated the carpets to the church in the 17th and 18th centuries. The collection is the largest of its kind in Europe.
The church's 4,000-pipe organ, dating from 1839, is still in function; concerts are offered several times a week.
Ever since Saxon settlers arrived in the early 12th century, invading Mongols, Turks and others gave them a tough time, repeatedly destroying the old settlements of Bartholoma and Corona. Thereafter, the Saxons set themselves to building fortifications around their town.
Most work was done between 1400 and 1650, when outer and inner walls were erected, together with massive defense towers and gates. Part of the defensive wall, once 40 feet high, seven feet thick and two miles long, can still be seen today, though most was taken down in the 19th century to make room for the city's expansion.
Of the original seven bastions, only a few have survived, including the newly renovated Graft Bastion, located in the middle of the citadel's northwest wing. On the west side of the wall, walk along picturesque Dupa Ziduri Street (Dupa Ziduri means Behind the Walls) to catch a glimpse of the 15th century White and Black Towers. The Blacksmiths' Bastion, one of the original seven built and guarded by the city's guilds, is located at the southern end of Dupa Ziduri Street. Follow the city wall southeast to the fairy-tale Catherine's Gate. Built in 1559 and once the main entrance to medieval Kronstadt, it is the only original city gate to have survived the test of time.
Nearby is the classicist Schei Gate, built in 1827. The Weavers' Bastion can be admired on George Cosbuc Street.
The newly restored 16th century bastion (1521) has four levels, accessible through interior staircases.
Levels two, three and four host an array of medieval artifacts exhibits, while level one serves as a rest area for visitors.
Located near Graft Bastion, the semicircular White Tower was completed in 1494.
A wooden staircase spirals up four levels, offering a great view of the old town.
Located high on a hill, you'll have to climb some 200 steps to reach it.
The squared Black Tower, also built in 1494, stands atop a rock on Starja Hill near the Blacksmiths' Bastion.
The tower received its name from a severe fire in 1559 when it was struck by lightning. Recently renovated and boasting a pyramid-shaped glass roof, the Black Tower houses a small war-related artifacts museum.
There are four floors inside, each reached by a narrow wooden ladder.
Climb all the way to the top for a panoramic view of the Black Church.
First attested in 1529, the Blacksmiths' Bastion is now home to the Brasov Archives which hosts more than 100,000 old and rare documents, including 80 valuable 14th - 16th century letters. Among them is the oldest letter in the Romanian language, written in 1521 by Neacsu, a merchant from the town of Campulung.
Catherine's Gate, erected in 1559 by the Tailors' Guild, is the only original gate to have survived from medieval times. The fairy-tale tower we see today was part of a bigger structure, which unfortunately, was demolished in 1827.
The original structure can be seen at the Weavers' Bastion Museum where a large model of 16th century Brasov is displayed. The four small corner turrets (as seen in other Saxon citadels) symbolized the judicial autonomy of the Town Council which could apply, if necessary, the death penalty.
Above the entrance, the tower bears the city's coat of arms: a crown on a tree trunk.
Entry to the Schei district from the walled city was marked by the Schei Gate. Old documents mention it, also, under the name of Porta Valacce (Wallachs'Gate) because it was the only entrance for the Romanians living in Schei. They were not allowed to use any of the other entrances. The structure standing today was commissioned in 1827 by Emperor Franz I and replaced the old Schei Gate which had been heavily damaged by fires. The gate resembles a triumphal arch with three openings. Above the small arches on both sides, you can see Latin inscriptions.
Cetatea Brașovului / Cetatea Brassovia
Address: Dealul Cetății
Tel: (+4) 0268 417.614
Open: Mon. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Strategically located on a hill overlooking the town and the plains to the north, the citadel was part of Brasov's outer fortification system. Built in wood in 1524, it was replaced with a stone structure in the 16th century, only to be abandoned in the 17th century after technological innovations made cannons stronger than the building.
Built during 1421 - 1436 and rebuilt in 1570 - 1573, this is the largest medieval bastion in Brasov and the best-preserved among the seven original watchtowers constructed around the city walls.
Today, the Weavers' Bastion houses an interesting museum that can be visited on the way up Tâmpa Mountain.
Brașov is often referred to as the city at the foot of Mount Tâmpa.
Above the Weavers' Bastion, along the southeastern side of the fortress walls, there is an alley
(Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu), shaded by old trees and dotted with benches.
From here, one can hike to the top of the mountain where the original defensive fortress was built.
When Vlad Tepes (the Impaler) attacked Brasov, in 1458, the citadel was destroyed;
40 merchants who refused to pay trade taxes were impaled, and displayed on top of the mountain.
Walking to the top takes about an hour; just follow the 'red triangle' marked trail that begins at the cable car boarding point or the yellow triangle marked trail which continues from Brediceanu Alley.
Those not in the mood for a little hiking can take the cable car to the peak of the mountain (elevation 3,200 feet).
Tâmpa Cable Car - Brasov, Fast Facts
Address: Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu
Tel: (+4) 0268 478.657
Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(Monday hours may be affected by Regular Inspection & Maintenance work)
|Tâmpa Cable Car tickets:|
|Adult – one way||10 Lei|
|Adult – round trip||18 Lei|
|Child, up to 12 y.o. – one way||6 Lei|
|Child, up to 12 y.o. – round trip||12 Lei|
Start point elevation: 2,100 ft.
End point elevation: 3,151 ft.
Trip duration: 2 minutes and 30 seconds
(it takes a little longer on bad-weather days)
The great: spectacular views of Brasov, from the top of Mt.Tâmpa.
(the end point of the cable car is located 1,400 ft. above the city)
The not so good: Tâmpa cable car (built in 1971) looks a little old.
The area is a nature reserve, home to bear, wild boad and viper.
Hikers are safe as long as they stay on marked marked paths.
At the beginning of the 20th Century several fires have destroyed the forest covering Mount Tâmpa.
The locals used wicker baskets to carry fertile soil, up the steep hillside, then planted over 380 acres with trees.
Mount Tâmpa is home to over 35% of the 782 butterfly species present in Romania.
Best months to see the colorful Lepidoptera are July and August.
The Schei District
During the Saxon rule of Brasov, from the 13th to the 17th century, Romanians were forbidden from owning property inside the citadel walls and so they settled in the southwestern Schei district. Romanians could only enter the town at certain times and had to pay a toll at the gate for the privilege of selling their produce inside the citadel.
Walk up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii and the beautiful St. Nicholas Church; then, wander around the small curving streets that gradually slope upwards against the hill. Continue to the southern end of Schei and you'll end up on the gravel road to the impressive Solomon's Rocks (Pietrele lui Solomon), a popular picnic area for locals during the weekend but relatively quiet all other times.
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church
Biserica Sfantul Nicolae
Address: Piata Unirii 1 - 2
Saint Nicholas' Church dominates the Schei District. First built in wood in 1392, replaced with a stone structure in 1495 and considerably expanded in the 18th century, the church is a true architectural masterpiece.
With a mix of Byzantine, baroque and gothic styles, it features a slender tower and four corner towers.
Like other medieval churches, it is surrounded by protective walls with large wooden gates. The enclosure shelters a small old cemetery where several *prominent people of Romania are buried. The First Romanian School, now a museum, the Library and the Archives of Saint Nicholas Church also are found on nearby grounds.
Nicolae Titulescu (1882-1941), finance minister, foreign minister and president of the Assembly of the League of Nations rests in the graveyard of the church.
The monument near his grave quotes a line from his will: "I wish to be buried in Transylvania. My friends will know to find a place according to my wish."
Address: Str. Sfintu Ioan 7
The monastery was built by the Lutherans in 1725 on the ruins of an old building destroyed by fire. Later, it was given to the Franciscans monks. It houses a 1729 organ.
Saint Peter and Paul Roman-Catholic Cathedral
Catedrala Romano-Catolica Sfantul Petru si Pavel
Address: Str. Muresenilor 19-21
Built between 1776 and 1882 on the site of an old Dominican church, the cathedral is considered to be the most representative baroque style building in Brasov.
Romanian Orthodox Cathedral
Catedrala Ortodoxa Adormirea Maicii Domnului
Address: Piata Sfatului 3
Located on the east side of the Council Square, opposite the Old Town House, the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral was built in a glaring Byzantine style in 1896 and displays some impressive interior frescoes and decorations. On Saturdays, brides and grooms line outside (being careful to avoid glancing at each other - bad luck) to get married here.
Saint Bartholomew Church
Biserica Sfantul Bartolomeu
Address: Str. Lunga 247
Considered the oldest architectural monument in Brasov, this church was built in 1223 in Roman architectural style mixed with early gothic elements. Inside, you can admire an ancient sundial on the southern side of the tower, as well as remarkably well preserved fragments of original frescoes.
Saint Martin Church
Biserica Sfantul Martin
Adddress: Str. Dealul de Jos 12
Not as richly decorated as other churches, Saint Martin Church has preserved its original 15th century form.
Jews have lived in Brasov since 1807, when Rabbi Aaron Ben Jehuda was given permission to live in the city, a privilege until then granted only to Saxons. The Jewish Community of Brasov was officially founded 19 years later, followed by the first Jewish school in 1864 and the building of the Synagogue in 1901. The Jewish population of Brasov expanded rapidly to 1,280 people in 1910 and 4,000 in 1940. Today, the community has about 230 members, after many families left for Israel between World War II and 1989.
The Beit Israel Synagogue - Brașov
Address: Str. Poarta Schei 27
Open: Mon. - Fri.: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Take a historical walk through Brasov's medieval section and discover the largest Gothic church east of Vienna, the Town Council Square and the city's 14th Century fortifications.
The tour ends with a general view of the Old Town from one of Brasov's medieval towers.
April - May: every day at 6 p.m.
June - September: every day at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
October - March: every day at 3 p.m.
Tour starts: at Piata Sfatului (Town Council Square), next to the fountain.
Tour ends: at Turnul Alb (the White Tower).
Duration: two hours and 30 minutes.
No reservation is necessary.
If you liked the tour you can tip your tour guide.
More info: Brasov.WalkaboutFreeTours.com
In the centre of the square stands the Old Town Hall (1420), now home to Brasov's History Museum, while the southeast corner is dominated by the town's most famous landmark, the Black Church.
The square is surrounded by the renaissance-style Merchant's House (now the Cerbul Carpatin restaurant), the beautiful archway of the Orthodox Cathedral and the memorial museum of the Mureseanu family.
Because Brasov is located at the foot of Mount Tâmpa,
there are several hiking trails that practically begin at the edge of the Old Town.
Here are a few options for short hikes from Brasov to the top of Tâmpa (3,133 ft.)
the highest observation point in Brasov:
Trail name: Drumul Serpentinelor (The Crocky Trail)
Trail marking: red triangle
Length: half mile
Aleea Brediceanu - Cablecar – Panoramic Restaurant – Peak TÂmpa
Trail name: Drumul Cavalerilor (Knights’ Trail)
Trail marking: Blue Stripe
Length: 1.5 miles
Bastionul Tesatorilor – Peak Tampa - the trail continues to Poiana Brasov ski town (three hours each way)
Trail name: Dealul Melcilor (Snails’ Hill)
Trail marking: Blue Triangle
Length: 1.5 miles
Dealul Melcilor – Saua Tampei – Peak Tampa
Trail name: Treptele lui Gabony (Gabony’s Steps)
Trail marking: Yellow Triangle
Length: 1.8 miles (one hour)
Bastionul Funarilor – Promenada Tampei – Drumul Scarilor - Peak Tampa
This is the most demanding trail, with two steep ascents including a 167-step climb.
However, it offers more spectacular panoramic views of the city of Brasov than any other trail.
Brasov Art Museum
Paintings by Romanian artists: Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Stefan Luchian, Nicolae Tonitza,
Gheorghe Petrascu, Dimitrie Paciurea, Ion Irimescu, Misu Popp, Constantin Lecca, Hans Mattis-Teutsch, Hans Eder.
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (April 1 – September 30)
Tuesday – Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (October 1 – March 31)
Closed on public holidays
Adults: 7 lei ($1.75)
Senior citizens: 3.50 lei ($0.85)
Children and Students (0 – 18 y.o.): 1 leu ($0.25)
Visitors with disabilities: free
The first and second floors oare home to the National Gallery, a collection of canvases, by anonymous, 18th and 19th-century, Transylvanian painters as well as 20th century artists, including Theodor Pallady, Nicolae Grigorescu, Stefan Luchian and Horia Bernea.
The museum also displays works by Brasov-born Hans Mattis-Teutsch (1884-1960), one of the most influential Romanian artists, as well as sculptures by Corneliu Medrea, Ion Jalea, Frederic Storck and Dimitrie Paciurea.
The basement level features beautiful European crystal and porcelain and a large collection of Oriental vases and statuettes from China, Tibet and Persia.
Muzeul de Istorie al Brasovului
Address: Piaţa Sfatului 30
Housed in the Old Town Hall building, Brasov History Museum displays documents and objects attestings Brasov's long history from ancient to modern times: tools made in stone (Paleolithic age), (Neolithic age) painted ceramics, tools made in bronze and iron, armor, ancient weapons and farming tools. The exhibits also tell the history of the Saxon guilds, which dominated Brasov during medieval times.
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and public holidays
Adults: 7 lei ($1.75)
Senior citizens: 4 lei ($1.00)
Students: 1.50 lei ($0.40)
Visitors with disabilities: free
Brasov Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic Museum exhibits silver jewelry crafted in Brasov during the 16th century, fur and sheepskin coats and other folk costumes; black and white photographs illustrate exactly how they were worn and by whom. The museum also presents the evolution of weaving from an old spinning wheel to a mechanized loom. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.
Prima Scoala Romaneasca
Address: Piata Unirii 2 - 3
Tel: (+4) 0268 511.411
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Housed on the grounds of St. Nicholas Church, this was for centuries one of the leading learning centres of the Romanian people. The printing press that opened here in 1556 produced some of the first books written in Romanian. The museum hosts a compelling legacy: more than 4,000 rare books (many printed or copied by hand right here), several hundreds rare documents, the oldest Bible (printed on goat's skin) and much more.
Muresan Family Memorial Museum
Muzeul Memorial Casa Muresenilor
Address: Piata Sfatului 25
Tel.: (+4) 0268 477.864
Tuesday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Quirky and charming would well-describe this unusual family museum situated across from Brasov's Council Square. Established in 1968 through family donations, the museum features letters, photographs, newspapers, rare books, paintings, sculptures, 19th century furniture, heirlooms and keepsakes of the musical and literary members and in-laws of the Mureseanus.
Its 25,000 documents comprise the largest family archive in Romania. The Mureseanus were the founders and owners of a political newspaper, Gazeta de Transilvania, for more than half a century and corresponded with the most important politicians in Transylvania and other regions of Romania during the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
Muzeul Fortificatiilor din Tara Barsei / Bastionul Tesatorilor
Address: Str. George Cosbuc 9
Tel: (+4) 0268 472.368
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
This small museum, housed inside the bastion, exhibits Middle Age documents, photographs of long-lost bastions, armor, impressive Turkish weapons decorated with Arabic inscriptions, tools used by local artisans, guild flags, a street lamp from the 16th century, pieces from an aqueduct, rare books and much more. Most impressive is the elaborate small-scale model of Brasov circa 1600, made in 1896 for the Millennium Exhibition in Budapest.
Museum Pass Brașov offers a convenient option
to visit most museums in the city:
Brașov History Museum / Old Townhall
The Black Church
Romanian School Museum
Brașov Ethnographic Museum
Urban Civilization Museum - Brașov
Brașov Art Museum
"Casa Mureşenilor" Museum
"Casa Ştefan Baciu" Museum
Săcele Ethnographic Museum - Sacele (8 miles SE)
"Gheorghe Cernea" Ethnographic Museum - Rupea (40 miles NW of Brașov)
Museum Pass Brașov cost and validity:
Adult: 52 lei (approx. $12.50)
Senior citizen: 37 lei (approx. $8.00)
Children (4 - 12 y.o.): 15 lei (approx. $3.50)
Family (two adults and two children): 50 lei
Pass allows one visit to each museum and is valid for 90 days, from the date of purchase.
Where: 5 miles SW of Brasov
Access: Bus #20 leaves every half-hour from Livada Postei bus station
A 15-minute drive or 30-minute bus ride from Brasov leads to Poiana Brasov (3,300 feet), a mountaintop ski and summer resort. During winter months, Poiana Brasov offers some of the best skiing in Romania. In the summer, it is a great place for hikers to launch treks into the Southern Carpathian Mountains. For a panoramic view of Brasov and the more distant Bucegi Mountains, take the cable car to the summit of Postavarul Mountain (5,756 feet).
Where: 9 miles southwest of Brasov
Access: car, bus
Rasnov Fortress info
Included by FatherMag.com in the list of "top 50 destinations in Europe
that every kid and family should experience at least once in their lifetime"
Dino Parc - Râșnov , close to Brașov,
is the place to be for kids that are fascinated by dinosaurs.
While hiking and trekking through the park visitors will see over 100 models of real-size dinosaurs.
There are many playgrounds, treehouses, adventure trails, laser labyrinths, state-of-the-art cinemas
as well as virtual reality interactive areas and an erupting interactive volcano.
Bran (Dracula's) Castle in Bran
Where: 16 miles southwest of Brasov
Access: car, bus (buses to Bran leave from Brasov 's bus terminal # 2 Autogara Bartolomeu - approximate travel time to Bran 45 minutes)
Bran (Dracula) Castle info
The Fortified Church at Harman
Where: 4 miles north of Brasov
Access: car, bus
Harman Fortress info
The Fortified Church at Prejmer
Where: 6 miles northeast of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train
(Prejmer is a short train journey from Brasov on the line towards Sfantu Gheorghe.
Note: Get off at Ilieni halt, which is actually closer to the church than Prejmer station itself)
Prejmer Fortress info
Zarnesti Bear Sanctuary
Where: 23 miles west of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train
Zarnesti Bear Sanctuary info
Racoș Nature Reserve
Rezervația naturală Complexul Geologic Racoș
Where: village Racoș, 44 miles north of Brasov
Main attractions include Racos extinct volcano, the Emerald Lake and the Basalt Organ/ Colums
Visitors traveling from Brasov to Sighisoara can easily reach Racos Nature Reserve, 15 miles detour.
Access: car, bus
The TV series Django, directed by Francesca Comencini and starring Matthias Schoenaerts, was filmed in Racos Nature Reserve.
Rupea Saxon Fortress
Sighisoara Medieval Citadel
Where: 72 miles northeast of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train
Optional stops/ visits: Racos Nature Reserve (15 miles detour), Rupea Saxon Fortress, Crit Fortified Church, village Saschiz
Where: 45 miles west of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train (approx. 1 ½ hours away)
Optional stops/ visits: Town of Codlea
Fagaras Fortress info
Town of Sibiu
Where: 85 miles west of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train (approx. 2 ½ hours away)
Optional stops/ visits: town of Codlea, Fagaras Fortress, Monastery Sambata/ Brancoveanu (14 miles detour),
Fortress Cisnadioara (8 miles detour), village Rasinari (16 miles detour)
Town of Sibiu info
Peles Castle - Sinaia
Where: 40 miles south of Brasov
Access: car, bus, train
Peles castle - Sinaia info
Opera & Ballet
Address: Str. Bisericii Romane 51, Brasov
Tel: (+4) 0268 415.990
Address: Str. Apollonia Hircher 10
Tel: (+4) 0268 473.058
Sica Alexandrescu Theatre
Teatrul Sica Alexandrescu
Address: Piata Teatrului 1
Tel: (+4) 0268 418.850
Arlechino Puppet Theatre
Teatrul de Papusi Arlechino
Address: Apollonia Hirscher 10
Tel: (+4) 0268 475.243
Major festivals in Brasov include:
Brasov's Lads Parade Junii Brasovului
(first Sunday following the Orthodox Easter)
International Chamber Music Festival
Brasov OktoberFest - Beer Festival
International Opera Festival
Brasov International Jazz Festival
Contemporary Drama Festival
Airlines with service to Brasov:
The fastest route from Bucharest to Brasov is E60:
Bucharest - Ploiesti - Sinaia - Predeal - Brasov
|Distance from Brasov to:|
|Belgrade (Serbia)||330 miles|
|Budapest (Hungary)||420 miles|
|Satu Mare||250 miles|
|Sighetu Marmatiei||235 miles|
|Targu Mures||105 miles|
|Vienna (Austria)||590 miles|
Brasov Train Station
Bd. Garii 5
Tel: (+4) 0268 410.233
The train station is located 2 miles from downtown. Bus # 4 runs from the train station to Piata Unirii in the city centre.
There are 3 direct international trains from/to Budapest (Hungary).
One of them continues to Vienna (Austria) and another to Bratislava Slovakia) and Prague (Czech Republic).
For the list of international trains with service to/from Romania please visit
RomaniaTourism International Transportation section
There are daily trains from/to Bucharest connecting Brasov to Arad, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Sighisoara and several other cities in Romania. There is also an overnight train to Suceava.
There is daily INTERCITY (Express) service between Bucharest and Brasov (approximate journey time: 2 ½ hours).
To check train and bus schedules for domestic routes please visit
RomaniaTourism Domestic Transportation section
Note: For departures from /to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.
SNCFR's advance booking office
Agentia de Voiaj SNCFR Brasov
Address: Str. 15 Noiembrie 43
Tel: (+4) 0268 477.018
The SNCFR ticket office offers train schedules information and advance ticket sales.
Tickets for same-day travel can only be purchased at the train station.
Brasov Bus Stations - international & domestic bus service
Brasov Bus Station # 1
Autogara 1 Brasov
Address: Bd. Garii 5
(next to the train station)
Tel: 0268 427.267
Brasov Bus Station # 2
Autogara 2 Brasov
Address: Str. Avram Iancu 114
Tel: (+4) 0268 426.332
Brasov Bus Station # 3
Autogara 3 Brasov
Address: Str. Harmanului 47A
Tel: (+4) 0268 332.002
International Bus Companies Serving Brasov:
Address: Str. Poterasi 20-22
Tel: (+4) 021 330.91.76
Scheduled service to Athens (Greece)
Address: Blvd. Gh. Duca 4
Tel: (+4) 021 222.47.35
Scheduled service to France, Germany, Italy, Sweden
Address: Calea Victoriei 2
Tel: 021 313.36.42
Scheduled service to Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland
Address: Blvd. Al. Ioan Cuza 5A
Tel: 021 210.08.90
Scheduled service to Germany with connections to any country in Europe
Adress: Blvd. Dinicu Golescu 31
Tel: (+4) 021 336.62.15
Daily service to Istanbul (Turkey)
Adress: Calea Grivitei 136-138
Tel: (+4) 021 223.18.98
Daily service to Istanbul (Turkey)
Rent a Bicycle in Brasov
Address: Str. Republicii 50, Brasov
Telephone: (+4) 0727 872.835
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Address: Str. De Mijloc 31, Brasov
Brasov Local Transport Authority
(Regia Autonoma de Transport Brasov - RATBV)
operates 47 bus, 'midi-bus' and trolleybus routes within the city limits.
Brasov local public transport
Schedules and Routes
Urban Routes Map
Transportation between Brasov train station and city centre:
Minibus # 51
[ Brasov Train Station (Gara) – Downtown (Centru) - Pe Tocile ]
The minibus connects the train station with the downtown area and Schei historic district.
Bus # 4
[ Brasov Train Station (Gara) - Livada Postei ]
Bus #4 connects the train station with the bus stop for buses departing to Poiana Brasov.
Transportation between Brasov city centre and Poiana Brasov:
Bus # 20
[ Livada Postei - Poiana Brasov ]
The bus connects the city centre with the beautiful resort of Poiana Brasov.
Transportation between Brasov train station and bus to Bran / Bran Castle terminal:
[ Livada Postei - Stadionul Tineretului / Autogara 2 - Bartolomeu ]
Buses to Bran, Rasnov and Moieciu depart from Brasov's Autogara # 2 (aka Autogara Bartolomeu).
Brasov public transportation fares
Bus / trolleybus ticket cost: 5 Lei (approx $1.10) for two trips.
A 1-day pass: 12 Lei (approx $ 2.50)
valid on all bus lines except Express bus # 20!
One ticket for bus # 20 (Brasov to Poiana Brasov) costs 6 Lei / trip (approx $1.25).
Tickets can be bought from the RATBV kiosks or vending machines.
|Brasov Taxi Companies|
|Tod Taxi||(+4) 0268 321.111|
|Taxi Brasov||(+4) 0745 451.283|
|Martax||(+4) 0268 313.040|
|Taxi 4T4U||(+4) 0722 405.646|
|Cris Taxi||(+4) 0721 692.157|
Address: Str. Alexandru I Cuza 15
Tel: (+4) 0268 415.250
Address: Str. Al. Vlahuta 10
Tel: (+4) 0268 546.137
Address: Strada Harmanului 49 A
Tel: (+4) 0727 373.799
Promotor Services Rent a Car Brasov
Address: Blvd. Iuliu Maniu 27
Tel: (+4) 0740 031.173
Address: Str. Apollonia Hirscher 14
Tel: (+4) 021 94 00 (this is valid short phone #)
Address: Blvd. Republicii 38
Tel: 0268 475.971
Saba Art Gallery
Address: Blvd. Baritiu 4
Tel: 0268 473.438
Dana's Art & Antiques
Address: Str. 15 Noiembrie nr.8
Tel: 0268 474.062
Folk crafts, such as embroidered clothing and linen, painted or beaded eggs, carpets, pottery, woodcarvings and icons, make interesting gifts and souvenirs. Romanian peasants do magnificent embroidery on cotton, wool and leather. Look for blouses, skirts, exotic coats, rugs, tablecloths and lacework. Icons, new and old, painted on glass or wood are outstanding.
Address: Str. Michael Weiss 2
Tel: (+4) 0268 144.455
Address: Blvd. Republicii 48
Tel: (+4) 0268 144.546
Address: Bd. Republicii 35
Brasov Shopping Malls
|Coresi Shopping Center||Str. Zaharia Stancu 1||(+4) 0736 738.787|
|Unirea Shopping Center Brașov||Bulevardul Gării 3A||(+4) 0268 301.030|
|AFI||Bulevardul 15 Noiembrie 78||(+4) 0731 348 300|
Accommodations in Brasov include:
|Schuster||boutique||Old Town Brasov|
|Casa Chitic||boutique||Old Town Brasov|
|Curtea Brasoveana||boutique||Old Town Brasov|
|Upper House||boutique||0.6 miles south of Old Town Brasov|
|Kronwell||four-star / upscale||Brasov Train Station - 2 miles northeast of Old Town Brasov|
|ARO Palace||four-star / upscale||Old Town Brasov|
|Belvedere||four-star / upscale||0.8 miles N of Old Town Brasov|
|Bella Muzica||three-star / midscale||Old Town Brasov|
|Belfort||three-star / midscale||Old Town Brasov|
|Ambient||three-star / midscale||Brasov City Centre|
Brasov Tourist Information Centre
Centrul de Informare Turistica Brasov
Address: Str. Prundului 1 (near Poarta Schei)
Telephone: (+4) 0774 035.072
Mon. & Fri.: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tue., Wed. and Thu.: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat. & Sun.: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Brasov Tourist Inf Centre offers free WiFi, maps and information
(tourist attractions, events, accommodations, restaurants and transportation).
Pharmacies & Hospitals
Pharmacies (Farmacie) open 24 hours a day in Brasov include:
Farmacia Dona - Nicopole
Strada Nicopole 65, parter
Phone: (+4) 0372 407.175
Farmacia Ecofarmacia - Iuliu Maniu
Strada Iuliu Maniu 68
Phone: (+4) 0268 413.044
Farmacia Farmacom - Griviței
Bulevardul Griviței 67, Tractorul
Phone: (+4) 0268 332.143
Farmacia Farmacom - Uranus
Strada Uranus 12 - 14, Zizin
Phone: (+4) 0268 332.143
Brasov Health Care and Emergency
Emergency Clinic Hospital
Spitalul Clinic Judetean de Urgenta Brasov
Address: Calea Bucuresti 25-27
Tel: (+4) 0268 320.002
Brasov Children's Hospital
Spitalul Clinic de Copii
Address: Strada Nicopole 45
Tel: (+4) 0268 415.130
Brasov Military Hospital
Spitalul Militar de Urgenta
Address: Strada Pieții 9
Tel: (+4) 0368 464.210
Railways Company Hospital
Spitalul C F R
Address: Bd. 15 Noiembrie 60
Tel: (+4) 0268 475.949
Infectious Diseases Hospital
Spitalul de Boli Infecțioase
Address: Strada Mihai Viteazul 9
Tel: (+4) 0268 422.464
Brasov City Hall
Address: Bd. Eroilor 8
Tel: (+4) 0268 416.550
Postal Services & Telephone
Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.
Main Post Office
Address: Str. Nicolae Iorga 1
Tel: (+4) 0268 471.260
Mon. - Fri.: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat.: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Telephoning Brasov from Abroad
International Access Code +4 (country code) + 0268 or 0368 (area code) + six-digit telephone number