Are you looking into joining a Bucharest to Bran tour? Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about visiting the beautiful Bran Castle from the Romanian capital.
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If you’re staying in Bucharest for more than one day, you should go on a day trip to Bran Castle. The renowned Dracula’s Castle is one of Romania’s main tourist attractions, but it’s not just the spooky legend that makes it a place worth visiting.
While Bran Castle may not have anything to do with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the castle is a gorgeous place to visit. If you’re flying the Bucharest, you can easily visit Bran Castle on a day trip, either on your own or with an organized tour.
Below I’ll get into more details about Bran Castle and the various ways you can visit from Bucharest. But if you’re just here for the tour options, here are the two most popular guided tours you can join from the capital:
About Bran Castle
Bran is a small town in Transylvania, a short drive southwest of Brasov. The town lies in a natural mountain pass in the Southern Carpathians, providing spectacular mountain landscapes. The presence of this pass was decisive in building what would become the famous Bran Castle.
In the 13th century, Teutonic Knights settled in the region and decided to build a fortress in Bran, which the Mongols later destroyed. In 1377, the Hungarian King Louis the Great allowed the people of Brasov to start the construction of a stone castle in Bran.
By 1388, the castle was complete. Standing tall at the top of a cliff, Bran Castle overlooked the surrounding hills. The castle functioned as a fortress and was instrumental in the attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire from expanding.
During the following years, soldiers and mercenaries inhabited the castle. The King chose the lord of the castle, whose role grew in importance to the point of holding the title of Vice-Voivode of Transylvania (local ruler).
In the 15th century, the Voivode of Wallachia Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, passed through Bran on his way to attack Brasov. This is pretty much the only relation between Bran Castle and the historical figure who would later inspire the fictional character of Dracula.
Dracula’s Castle
But while we’re on the Dracula topic, maybe you didn’t know the fictional character was inspired by a living, historical figure. Vlad III, or Vlad Tepes earned himself the title of Vlad the Impaler due to his favorite execution method, which he reserved for his Ottoman enemies.
Vlad Tepes was already known as Vlad Dracula in the 15th century. His father was known as Vlad Dracul after becoming a member of the Order of the Dragon. However, Dracul means “the devil” in Romanian, so you can see how that contributes to his reputation.
Long story short, Dracula was inspired by Vlad the Impaler, who had little to do with Bran Castle. Nevertheless, sometime after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, word started circulating that Bran Castle was the source of inspiration for Dracula’s residence in Transylvania. I’m sorry to say that was just a tourism-driven rumor. But it worked!
Bran Castle is among the most renowned landmarks in Romania. While the iconic character may have initially driven tourists to visit the castle, the landmark is pretty impressive, even without any relation to Dracula. So be sure to add it to your itinerary!
Visiting Bran Castle from Bucharest
You have a few options for visiting Bran Castle from Bucharest, including renting a car, using public transportation, and joining a tour. If you’re short on time, the easiest option is to join an organized day trip from Bucharest, which usually includes Bran Castle, Peles Castle, and a tour of Brasov. More on that in a minute.
Rent a car
If you want to visit Bran Castle on your own, the fastest way is to rent a car in Bucharest and make a day trip out of it. Renting a car in Bucharest can be quite affordable, depending on the time of year you visit and when you book your rental.
Discovercars has a wide range of choices, with prices starting as low as 7$ per day. With full coverage, you can rent a car for just over $20 a day, which can be very convenient if you’re traveling with a partner or in a small group.
The trip from Bucharest to Bran by car takes just under three hours. Check out rental car options on Discovercars.com.
Use public transportation
There is no public transportation from Bucharest to Bran, but you can travel to Brasov and catch a bus to Bran from there. You can get to Brasov from Bucharest by either train or Bus. The train ride takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to get to the central station in Brasov. The train ticket costs between 7€ and 16€ for one way, depending on the train. You can buy tickets online on CFR Calatori.
Alternatively, you can get a bus from Bucharest to Brasov, but I don’t really recommend it. Buses take at least 2.5 hours if there is no traffic. Furthermore, they depart from bus stations far from the city center, so they aren’t so convenient. Not to mention they cost way more than trains (around 100 RON, or 22€). I highly recommend the train instead. While it’s not so fast, you enjoy beautiful views around Valea Prahovei.
From Brasov’s train station, you can catch a local bus or taxi to the bus station (Autogara 2) and then hop on the bus to Bran. You can get the tickets to Bran directly on board the bus for less than 2€ (between 7 and 9 RON). Be sure to have cash, as there’s no way to pay by card. The bus stops in the center of Bran, a short walk from the entrance to Bran Castle.
Keep in mind that the entire trip can take well over four hours from Bucharest to Bran. I recommend spending a night in Brasov for a more relaxing experience. Plus, Brasov is a gorgeous city (and my hometown, but I promise I’m not biased). If you need more convincing, check out these 15 reasons to visit Brasov.
Bran Castle Tours from Bucharest
Whether you travel solo or with a small group of friends, one of the best ways to visit Bran Castle from Bucharest is to join a guided day tour. Not only is this option stress-free, since you don’t have to worry about catching trains and buses, but you may also meet new people and learn more about the castle and the area from your guide.
Most tours departing from Bucharest include a stop at Peles Castle, one at Bran Castle, and a quick visit to the historical center of Brasov. These tours are quite packed, but you get to explore a few highlights of Transylvania in just one day. Here are two of the most popular tour options:
Bran, Peles, and Brasov Tour 1
Bran, Peles, and Brasov Tour 2
Both tours have virtually the same itinerary and price, so just check the one available on your desired date. You’ll depart from Bucharest early in the morning and get back in the evening. The arrival time can vary depending on traffic, which tends to be an issue during the weekend and holidays, so if you can avoid these times, please do!
I only chose the most popular tours to include here, but there are countless more. Check them out on GetYourGuide.
Is Bran Castle worth visiting?
Bran Castle is absolutely worth a visit. Aside from the basic castle visit, you can try out a few more activities in the castle and the surrounding area. Firstly, check out the other activities within Bran Castle. These include the visit to the Medieval Torture Machines exhibition and access to the Time Tunnel. But let’s see these one at a time.
While touring Bran Castle, you’ll walk through different rooms with original furniture and learn about the history and owners of the castle. You’ll also enjoy stunning views of the surrounding valley and even climb a narrow stairway, once a secret passage.
The Time Tunnel includes an elevator ride (the Stone elevator) that takes you to an underground passage lined with screens you can interact with. I wouldn’t say this is a must-see in the castle, but it’s a nice activity if you want to spend more time inside the castle.
Lastly, you can check out the various shops around the castle and buy your favorite souvenirs. Each shop sells specific items. For instance, the Regina shop is the go-to place for books, chocolates, and posters, while the Rotonda shop sells t-shirts, magnets, mugs, and more. There are five shops in total.
Note that after you take the elevator ride, you’ll exit the castle, so be sure to tour everything before and leave the elevator at the end. You will still be able to explore the castle gardens and check out the view from below.
Just outside the castle, there’s a small market with stands selling souvenirs, food, and drinks. You can have lunch or a snack here before or after the visit. However, if you want to try some authentic Romanian street food, I recommend La Trăsura cu Bucate, just outside the castle grounds.
Bran Castle Special Events
Halloween is a special time to visit Bran Castle as there is always some event going on. If you’re traveling there in late October 2023, check out their Halloween Special Tour and Party. The special activities take place on October 28, when the castle will be decorated with a Halloween theme and feature special projections and props.
Check out all the details regarding the Halloween event on the Bran Castle website, and be sure to book your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out on this cool event.
Bran Castle Tickets
You can get your Bran Castle tickets online or on-site. When you buy them online, they are valid until the end of the year, so you can also change the date you visit. However, buying the tickets on-site is also easy as they have automatic machines, and it just takes 2 minutes. The last time I went there was in July 2023, and there was a short line that moved very fast.
The ticket price is the same whether you buy online or on-site, which is 60 RON (roughly 13$ or 12€). The other activities have separate tickets that you can buy from on-site machines. The elevator ride is 25 RON (around 5.3$ or 5€) while the torture machines exhibition is 10 RON (roughly 2$/€).
Note that most tours don’t include the tickets, so you need to factor these in addition to the cost of the tour. However, as I mentioned, getting tickets on-site is super easy and quick.
What else to do in Transylvania
While you’re in Transylvania, I recommend also checking out Cantacuzino Castle. For the fans of the Netflix show Wednesday, this is one of the filming locations, and it’s a gorgeous place in Valea Prahovei with stunning mountain views. You can easily get there from Brasov. Check out this guide on visiting Cantacuzino Castle.
As I mentioned above, visiting Brasov is an absolute must. I have told many friends who traveled to Bucharest that they should head to Brasov instead (or in addition), and they all agreed Brasov is so worth it. You can even find more affordable accommodation. I always check Booking.com for accommodation, and I consistently find great options. Check them out below.
Also, in case you weren’t aware, since June 2023, Brasov has its very own international airport. You can now fly directly to Transylvania and visit all the wonderful places this region offers. Check out the best flights on Skyscanner.
Travel tip: Get travel insurance
Whether you travel to Romania or anywhere else, you should always be prepared for unexpected situations. Traveling also comes with risks, and it’s important to think about safety before venturing anywhere.
Romania is a safe country to travel to, but unexpected issues can happen. I always do my best to check local newspapers and ask for local advice to avoid dangerous situations. I also have travel medical insurance, so if something happens to me while abroad, I know I’ll have assistance.
If you travel a lot, I recommend Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing since it’s so flexible. It works in 185 countries, and your policy extends automatically every month, so you don’t end up without coverage. Plus, you can stop your coverage at any time. You can find out more about the insurance coverage and sign up here.
That’s all for this Bran Castle guide. Let me know if you found it useful or if you’re looking for more information. Happy travels!
