Top Routes & Local Tips

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A large castle with red rooftops stands on a hilltop surrounded by trees and buildings, with a road leading toward it.

Planning a trip to Dracula’s Castle in my home country, but you’re not sure how to get there? Then hop on this super insightful guide on how to get from Bucharest to Bran Castle!

I live in Bucharest and I’ve traveled from the capital to Bran numerous times so I know all the best routes to get to the castle. In this post, I’ve included the main ways you can use to visit Bran from Bucharest, plus lots of tips on how to make the best out of this trip.

You’ll also find some other fun activities in Bran, besides visiting the castle and a couple of hotels in case you want to stay overnight.

Lots to cover today so buckle up, and let’s go!

Quick Overview

Departure point: Bucharest
Arrival point: Bran
Travel time: from 2 to 3h
Ways of travel: car, train & bus
Travel Costs: from US$15 to US$50

Check out this map that shows the route from Bucharest to Bran Castle, as it will give you some idea of how the 2 areas are positioned:

Map showing routes from Bucharest to Bran Castle, with travel options including bus (3-5 hrs), train (2-4 hrs), and car (about 3.5 hrs), along with corresponding costs and landmarks like Peles Castle.

Here’s a little comparison table where you can see all the pros and cons of each way that you can get from Bucharest to Bran:

	Pros	Cons
Car	Comfort & more freedom to explore more places in Transylvania	Might be more expensive and you risk spending time in traffic
Bus	Cheap price & it will leave you near the Castle	Risk of the bus getting canceled 24h before the journey Traffic delay
Train	Cheap price	The train will leave you in Brasov (which is a 35 min drive away from Bran) and you’ll have to take an Uber or bus from the train station

How to get to Bran Castle from Bucharest

A winding road passes through a green, hilly landscape with scattered buildings and dense forests in the background, under a slightly overcast sky.

In this section we’ll go over all the ways you can get to Bran Castle, from Bucharest, the capital city of Romania! Whether you end up using public transport or just going on a tour, you’ll find all the info you need here.

1. By public transport

Let’s start with probably the cheapest option: public transport!

So Bucharest is located in the Southeast part of the country and Bran Castle is set in the Bran commune in Brasov county, around 187 km (118 miles) away from the capital.

The 2 ways you can get to Bran by public transport are by bus and train.

For those of you who want to take the bus, this is a great website from where you can buy your tickets! You’ll find the buses are pretty frequent. They leave from this bus station (map) but definitely double check, and will drop you at this bus station (map) in Bran, which is set around a 20 min walk away from the Castle (there is no Uber in Bran commune but you can check for some local companies on this website).

View of a winding road leading to a hilltop castle surrounded by lush greenery and under a partly cloudy sky. A white van is driving on the road.

The bus ticket costs US$55 and the journey takes around 3h and 30 min. But since there are no special lanes for the buses, they can also get delayed (just as cars can) and you can even have a 2h delay if it’s super crowded, especially in the winter or summer.

NOTE: As you’ll see written on the website, these journeys can get canceled up to 24h in advance. So if that isn’t something that you’d want to risk, I’d recommend getting the train.

For those who want to get the train, you can look for tickets on this website. There is no train from Bucharest to Bran, so you’ll have to take the train to Brasov train station (map), which is one of the bigger cities and from here take a bus or Uber from Brasov to Bran.

NOTE: Not all journeys end in Brasov, so be aware of when you arrive so that you can get off. They usually don’t call the stations since the trains are pretty old so it’s better to look on Google Maps and see when you approach the station.

The train journey from Bucharest to Brasov can last from 2h to 4h, depending on which time you’re leaving, but I’d recommend picking the shorter route (so that you don’t waste a lot of time on the road) and the ticket costs around US$15.

A modern passenger train with white and blue cars travels through a lush, forested area with autumn-colored foliage.

PRO TIP 1: Trains are not so reliable in Romania, especially if the weather conditions are harsh. Like if it’s super hot in the summer or if it’s snowing heavily in the winter. So if you’re visiting during that time try to be as flexible as you can with your schedule and have an extra day at hand, in case you get delayed.

Once you get to Brasov, you will need to get a bus to get to Bran. You can book your tickets from this website and usually the journey will last around 1h and the ticket costs around US$2. Make sure you take into consideration the time that you’ll need to get from Brasov train station to bus station.

There are a couple of bus providers on that website and they have different bus stations so double check that, and if it’s a bit too far to walk you can just get an Uber (it takes around 40 min to get from Brasov to Bran by car). Brasov is a pretty big city so getting an Uber there can be easy.

PRO TIP 2: I’d avoid taking a taxi from a local company in Brasov for a longer distance like this one, so stick to the Uber as the local company drivers might charge you more if they see that you’re tourists. Alternatively, if you’re staying a night in Bran you can ask your accommodation if they offer transfers from Brasov to Bran.

2. By car

A street in a small town with several houses, parked cars, scattered pedestrians, and a green pharmacy sign. The background shows a tree-covered hill.

Alrighty, if you decided to rent a car from Bucharest and just hit the road, then you’re in for an adventure!

The route from Bucharest to Bran is lovely and you’ll get some amazing scenery but the thing is that it can get pretty crowded, especially during the high seasons (winter and summer) when everyone flees to relax in the mountains.

PRO TIP: That’s why I recommend leaving super early, from Bucharest (around 6ish AM) and if possible avoid going there during the weekends, especially during winter time when it gets so crowded that highway.

It takes around 3h to get to Bran from Bucharest, by car if the traffic is good, if it’s too crowded it can last even 5h to get there. The price for renting a car starts at US$15 per day and can go as high as US$50 per day, which is pretty good. But take into account the gas price too.

Here are some things that you should know about driving in Romania and the road conditions here:

We drive on the right-hand side of the road
You will need to pay for a vignette for toll roads (you can get them at most gas stations and read more about it on this website)
The road conditions aren’t amazing, so take extra care
You need to have a driver’s license for at least a year to drive in Romania
You have to be 18 years old to drive a car in Romania and 21 to hire a car (if you’re under 25, it’s likely that the rental firm will apply a young driver’s surcharge)

3. By tour

Street view of historical buildings in Brasov, Romania, with a forest-covered hill in the background, and a BRASOV sign on the hilltop mimicking the Hollywood sign.

If you don’t want to deal with any of the logistics and with planning this trip, then you can just join a day trip tour from Bucharest to Transylvania and visit some other attractions besides Bran Castle.

I found this amazing tour that lasts 12h and costs US$32. The tour starts from Bucharest, from where you’ll get on a coach and then you’ll head to Brasov.

Once you get there you’ll stop at Peles Castle, another gorgeous place that used to be the residence of Romania’s royal family. Then you’ll go to Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s Castle). After that you’ll head to Brasov where you’ll get some free time to explore around. If you’re not sure what to expect from Brasov, check out this post with some of the best things to do in Brasov.

NOTE: The tour does not include the entry fee for the castles, so you’ll have to pay that there, on the spot. The entry fee for Peles Castle is US$12 and for Bran Castle is US$16.

This tour is great for those of you who don’t have much time in Bucharest and want to visit something else besides the city or for those of you who hate all the planning or renting cars and stuff like that.

TOUR PRICE: US$32

Things to know about Bran Castle + Tips

A historic castle atop a hill is surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with red and white flowers in the foreground.

Alright, now that we’ve seen all the ways that you can get from Bucharest to Bran Castle, let’s learn more about the castle!

1. Types of tickets & costs

Here are the main tickets that you can get for Bran Castle:

US$16 for adults
US$5 for children from 7 to 18 years old
US$9 for students
US$11 for seniors (65+ years)

2. Operating times

A bustling outdoor market with numerous shoppers exploring various stalls selling souvenirs, crafts, and clothing under sunny weather. Trees and rustic buildings surround the scene.

Check out the opening times for Bran Castle:

From 1st of April until 30 of September:

Monday 12 AM to 6 PM
Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM

From 1st of October until the 31 of March:

Monday from 12 AM to 4 PM
Tuesday from 9 AM to 4 PM

3. Tips

A display of various souvenir mugs featuring vampire themes and cityscapes, arranged on shelves in a shop.

Here are some general tips for visiting Bran Castle:

Buy your tickets in advance, especially during summer time, especially around Halloween (30th October – 2nd of November) as it gets super crowded
Head there early in the morning if possible to beat the crowds and have a more tranquil experience while visiting the castle
Wear some comfy shoes as you’ll have to climb a little hill to get to the castle

What to do in Bran + the best hotels

People browsing various stalls at an open-air market, featuring handmade crafts, decorations, and souvenirs. Red-roofed buildings line the street.

Although Bran Castle is the main attraction in the area, there are a couple of other things that you can check out in the Bran commune and also around it!

So if you have more time, here are some cool places to visit:

Bran National Museum – where you can see some exhibitions with items that belonged to Queen Marie of Romania
The Castle of Horror (map) – a vampire-themed amusement park where you can go with the kids and have some fun
The Royal Park (map) – set right near Bran Castle, this spot is perfect for a stroll after your visit
Panorama Bran hiking trail (map) – if you’re up for some hiking (make sure you pack appropriate clothing and shoes) then head on this hiking trail and you’ll get some amazing view of the Castle
Bran Monastery (map) – this one is set 20 min away from the town so you’ll probably need a car if you want to go there as I don’t think there are buses, but it’s a very nice place, that’s surrounded by a gorgeous scenery
Bran-Zănoaga Ski Resort (map) – if you want to hit the slopes during your time in Bran, then head to this resort which is the closest one to area (around an 11 min drive away)
Valea cu Povesti (map) – the perfect place to visit with your kids! This park has some playgrounds and Disney-inspired mascots

Where to stay in Bran

Aerial view of a small town with red-roofed buildings nestled among green hills and mountains in the background.

If you’re planning to spend a night in Bran and enjoy the fresh mountain air, then check out the list below, where I included the top hotels in the area, for each price range:

Luxury: Zara Chalet – you’re going to love this place that’s located a 10 min walk away from Bran Castle and which has a stylish rustic design, a spa center, free parking and a sun terrace.
Mid-range: Trattoria Al Gallo – set a 10 min walk away from Bran Castle, this place comes with an on-site restaurant, family rooms and a bar.
Budget: Vila Codreanu – something more affordable that is set a 10 min walk away from Bran Castle and which has a restaurant, a children’s game room, table tennis and darts.

Where to stay in Bucharest

A street scene with historic buildings, outdoor cafes with umbrellas, and people walking on a cobblestone path. A domed building is prominent in the background.

Since you’ll be traveling from Bucharest to Bran you might have or want to spend 1 night or multiple in the capital! I actually live here and I think you should definitely spend at least a day or 2, as there are lots of things to do in Bucharest.

We have a whole post on the best areas where to stay in Bucharest but if you want to have a quick look at some of the best hotels, set in the center check out the list below:

Luxury: The Marmorosch Bucharest – relax in the spa center of this hotel that offers comfortable rooms and a swimming pool.
Mid-range: Hilton Garden Inn – this modern hotel has a great location and it features a restaurant and a bar.
Budget: Rembrandt Hotel – enjoy the city views from the balcony of this hotel that offers family rooms and an airport shuttle.

FAQs about how to get from Bucharest to Bran

Aerial view of a historic castle with red-roofed towers surrounded by lush green trees and nearby residential houses in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

🤔 How do you get to Bran Castle from Bucharest?

You can get to Bran Castle from Bucharest by train, bus or by renting a car and driving there.

🔝 Is Bran Castle worth visiting?

Yes! Bran Castle is a beautiful place rich in history and myths!

🚆 Is there a train from Bucharest to Transylvania?

Yes! You can take a train from Bucharest to Brasov, one of the cities in Transylvania, which is the closest main city to Bran Castle.

Final thoughts on how to get from Bucharest to Bran

A historic castle with illuminated walls stands atop a rocky hill, surrounded by lush trees and a small wooden cabin at the base, under a blue sky.

Well, I hope this guide on how to get from Bucharest to Bran, helped you decide on which way of transportation you’ll pick.

I added a bunch of tips and details in this post but if you’re still not sure or you want more information, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below.

Since this is my home country and I’ve been to Bran numerous times, I’m sure I can help you out!

Have fun exploring Bran!

Safe travels,

Victoria

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