Location: Southern Transylvania
village Bran Str. Traian Mosoiu 24
Nearest city/ towns:
Brasov (18 miles NE), Predeal (20 miles E), Sinaia (32 miles SE)
How to reach Bran Castle
Bran Castle Hours & Admission
Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker's Dracula.
Built on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, Transylvania's best-known castle was first documented in an act issued on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build a Citadel at the border between Transylvania (central Romania) and Walachia (southern Romania).
Day-trip: Bucharest to
Peles and Bran castles and Old Town Brasov
Itinerary: Bucharest — Sinaia — Bran — Brașov — Bucharest
More information and reservations
Although Stoker never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and his vivid imagination to create the dark and intimidating stomping ground of Count Dracula, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Tepes, ruler of Walachia. While the association with Dracula is sketchy at best, the castle continues to hold a strong attraction for all fans of the Count.
Narrow winding stairways lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armor dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Bran castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, which offers an open-air Ethnographic Museum consisting of old local-style village houses complete with furniture, household objects and costumes.
From 1920 to 1948 Bran served as royal residence, a gift of the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. Bran castle is now a private museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
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How to reach Bran Castle, in Transylvania
Guaranteed-departure Tour, from Bucharest
Day-trip: Bucharest to
Peles and Bran castles and Old Town Brasov
Itinerary: Bucharest — Sinaia — Bran — Brașov — Bucharest
More information and reservations
Travel to Bran Castle by train
Nearest train stations to Bran are Brasov (19 miles northeast) and Predeal (20 miles east).
Reaching Bran castle, by train, from Bucharest, Sibiu and Sinaia:
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Bucharest to Bran Castle, by train
| via/ connection | leg 1 | leg 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Predeal | train, 1 hour and 55 minutes |
taxi, 40 minutes |
| Brasov | train, 2 hours and 30 min. |
bus, 1 hour and 30 min (includes transfer to bus terminal) |
...
Sinaia to Bran Castle, by train
| via/ connection | leg 1 | leg 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Predeal | train, 25 minutes |
taxi, 40 minutes |
| Brasov | train, one hour and 10 min. |
bus, 1 hour and 30 min (includes transfer to bus terminal) |
...
Sibiu to Bran Castle, by train
| via/ connection | leg 1 | leg 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Brasov | train, three to four hours |
bus, 1 hour and 30 min (includes transfer to bus terminal) |
From Brasov, visitors can reach Bran by bus or by private car/ taxi.
Buses from brasov to Bran leave from Brasov bus terminal # 2
(also called by the locals Autogara Bartolomeu).
Frequency: every 45 to 60 minutes, approximate travel time to Bran is 45 minutes.
Visitors planning to reach Bran from Predeal will need to use a private car/ taxi.
Bus to Bran Castle
There is frequent direct bus service from Brasov to Bran Castle
and connecting bus from Bucharest, Predeal, Sibiu and Sinaia.
To check bus or train schedules please visit RomaniaTourism domestic transportation section.
Reaching Bran Castle by car
Car is the fastest way to reach Bran castle, from Brasov, Predeal, Sibiu and Sinaia.
Road distance and travel time to/ from Bran
| Departure town | Distance | Travel Time* |
|---|---|---|
| Brasov | 19 miles | 30 minutes |
| Bucharest | 115 miles | 2 hours and 45 minutes ** |
| Predeal | 20 miles | 40 minutes |
| Sibiu | 90 miles | 2 hours and 30 minutes |
| Sinaia | 32 miles | one hour |
** Travel from Bucharest to Bran can take more than four hours on Fridays (afternoon) and Saturdays.
Travel from Bran to Bucharest can take more than four hours on Sundays (afternoon).
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Attractions near Bran Castle:
Rasnov Fortress (7 miles NE);
City of Brasov (18 miles NE);
Peles Castle - Sinaia (35 miles SE);
Ski towns Poiana Brasov (10 miles E) and Predeal (15 miles SE);
Sighisoara UNESCO medieval citadel (90 miles north)
City of Sibiu (95 miles west);
Bucharest (120 miles south).
Bran Castle in the press
In Transylvania, a Count Invites You to His Castle
(Nicholas Wood - The New York Times)
Step inside – if you dare; Famous haunts
(John Moore - The Spectator )
Transylvania: A Walk in Dracula's Shadow
(Rita Cook - The Travelers Way)
Transylvania: a half-mythical land in Romania
(Justin Marozzi - The National)
More stories about Romania, Transylvania Castles & Fortresses and Bran Castle.
