Braşov to Bran Castle: Is it Worth Seeing Dracula’s Castle?

If you think of Transylvania, you probably picture Dracula and huge, dramatic castles. And that’s pretty much spot on and they do it really well (but it’s not all that there is in Transylvania just to make that clear!). The castles are seriously impressive, sat in the mountains with pretty ominous backdrop, old wooden beams and tall pointy spires that just scream ‘Romania’. And yeah, they’re pretty amazing and an absolute must-see in our book!

But, we’re the sort of travellers who try to avoid the crowds. The idea of queues, gimmicky souvenirs, and ramped up tourist prices doesn’t really do it for us. BUT and it’s a big but, what if behind all of the gimmicks, it’s actually really cool? We’re into architecture and culture and history, and Bran Castle ticks all of those boxes too, so we just went for it and crossed our fingers.

And was it worth visiting Bran Castle? Yes, yes it was. But you absolutely have to arrive before the gates even open, otherwise the crowds are overwhelming. And if you’re visiting around the end of October, well, you’ll definitely need to get those elbows out!

In this guide, we’ll help you with how to get from Braşov to Bran Castle (as well as from Bucharest), and everything you need to know to make your visit go smoothly.

A Little of Bran Castle’s Back Story

There has actually been a castle on this exact site since the 1200s, but the stone Bran Castle that you see today has been around since the late 1300s (with several later renovations), which I think is dead fascinating! Queen Marie loved this castle, but during communism the royal family was removed and all their property taken. After communism fell, properties were redistributed to their rightful owners, but Bran Castle (AKA Dracula’s Castle) was turned into a museum.

Did Dracula actually live here?

Yeah, this is sad. I was disappointed: Bran Castle actually has zero ties to Dracula. The mix-up is between the fictional Bram Stoker blood-sucking Dracula and the very much real person Vlad Tepes (AKA Vlad Dracul or Vlad the Impaler which you might recognise) who ruled the Wallachia region of Romania in the 1400s.

So, well, it’s not even anything to do with Dracula really. I guess the huge and imposing castle with an eerie backdrop was somewhere that people would envisage the fictional Dracula living and the idea just stuck?

Disappointed? Well, if you were hoping for Dracula stuff at Dracula’s Castle, that’s exactly what they deliver anyway.

And even if you’re not fussed on the Dracula stuff, this is an amazing piece of architecture with beams and spires and hidden tunnels and courtyards with a museum inside dedicated to Queen Romania. It’s very much worthy of a visit regardless of your love for Dracula.

Where is the Bran Castle?

Dracula’s Castle is in the village of Bran in Transylvania, about 25km southwest of Braşov. It makes an easy day or even half-day trip from Braşov on a public bus that only takes about 50 minutes.

How do I get from Braşov to Bran Castle?

Head to Autogara 2 in Braşov city. A public bus leaves this bus station every half hour. We got there about ten minutes early and were able to buy tickets and grab a seat. It is a straight forward journey and will get you there in about 50 minutes. The bus will drop you right outside the castle entrance. Walk through the market stalls selling Dracula souvenirs and enter the castle.

How do I get from Bucharest to Bran Castle?

If you’ve only got time for a day trip from Bucharest, it’s totally doable, but long! You’re looking at a good three hour drive each way, but there are organised day trips like this highly-rated trip here includes Bran Castle, Peleș Castle and time in Braşov.

Otherwise, you can hire a car for super scenic drive through beautiful Transylvania.

Should I buy tickets in advance?

A standard ticket costs 100 RON and they do sell out in the summer, so I’d recommend buying in advance on the official website. There are also options for skipping the queue and additional tours etc. if you fancy. You can also buy your ticket at the gate (like we did) and then just scan the barcode when you enter the castle itself, so make sure you hold on to it until then.

You can actually enter the grounds of the castle, wander round, have a picnic by the ponds, take photos of the castle etc. without paying any fee. It is only entering the castle that requires payment.

How long should I spend there?

We spent about an hour walking around inside the castle, reading the info on the exhibits and taking pictures. Afterwards, wander the grounds around the castle. Maybe even pack yourself a wee picnic and spend some time sat here afterwards. You could probably see everything within 1-2 hours making it a perfect half-day trip from Braşov.

Does it get busy?

Yes! Get the first bus from Braşov that leaves at 8am to get you to the castle before the 9am opening. We arrived about ten minutes before opening and there were maybe twelve people already there. If you see the fella selling Turkish coffee cooked over hot sand, grab a coffee from him while you wait for the entrance to open. He might even let you have a go at cooking the coffee yourself like us!

Get in and visit the castle first as this is where the backlog of people is created. The secret passageway and stairwells are narrow so it could easily cause a queue.

Can I stay in Bran?

Yes! You totally can stay right by the castle in Bran! There are several places offering accommodation with a view of the castle itself. If you’re looking for a unique take on visiting Dracula’s Castle, staying right next his gaff is a great way to do it!

Where to Stay in Braşov

There are plenty of options of accommodation and restaurants, and it has loads of connections to Bucharest. It’s a great place to base yourself to visit Bran Castle.

Where to Next?

Decided that Bran Castle is on your list? You can’t visit Bran without visiting Brașov next door. It’s a beautiful city full of medieval architecture and pastel-coloured buildings with cobbled streets. And it has a great restaurant scene (even for us, vegetarians!).

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