Bucharest to Brasov Train (plus mistakes not to make!)

Probably Romania’s two most famous cities and they couldn’t feel more different even if they tried! Bucharest is gritty and harsh and grey with Brutalist architecture and a coldness.

Brașov is cute and colourful with cobbled streets and fresh mountain air. And we LOVED both! If you have time to visit both of these amazing cities, absolutely do. And the easiest way is to take the Bucharest to Brașov train.

And it seems like it should be straight forward, right? Go to the station, get on the train, arrive in Brașov. Yes, in theory it is simple. But Romania has a few quirks when it comes to train travel and this route is not an exception.

So, we’ve been there, we’ve travelled the route and we’ve of course made the mistakes (been fined and kicked off the train but more on that later!). Here’s everything you need to know!

How to Get to Gara de Nord Train Station

The metro will be the most convenient way to reach the train station, but depending on the time of day and traffic etc. there are also buses or a taxi (Uber or Bolt) is obviously an option too.

First mistake not to make: if you’re getting the bus, make sure that your ticket is validated.

Now, I know this may seem obvious, but we got done. We had taken several buses in Bucharest before this and had zero issues – jumped on the bus and just tapped our bank cards.

This time, however, when we got the bus early in the morning, the machines to tap our cards on the bus weren’t working. It was like they hadn’t been turned on yet: black screen, just nothing. We tried the other machine on the bus and it was exactly the same.

The driver’s area was completely cordoned off so there was no ability to chat to him, and there were other locals on the bus who just shrugged in agreement, so we figured we should just sit tight. Wrong decision.

Of course, the next stop is when the bus ticket inspectors decide to jump on, play with the machines and then come straight over to us without hesitation or questioning anyone else. We explained the issue and they essentially said ‘tough shit, you have to pay a fine’.

So, after a bit of back and forth and some serious and unnecessary intimidation from them, we were each fined 80 RON (£13). Not a single other person on the bus was questioned, just us foreigners. Anyway, just be aware in case you experience something similar!

Book Your Tickets in Advance

The Bucharest to Brașov train is a popular route, so you’re best off booking your tickets in advance. There are several departures each day but I’ve heard stories of people turning up at the station hoping to buy a ticket for the 8am and only being able to get on the 3pm as an example. We actually booked our tickets at the station at the machines and it was fine, but still not something I would recommend specifically for this route, and particularly during the peak summer months.

The other thing is that some of the trains will get you there in 2h 15m for 81 RON (£13ish), and others will get you there in 4h 9m for 40 RON (£6ish). The speedier trains have first class carriages too, whereas the others only have second class available. And the later departures in the evenings actually have sleeper class.

But it gets more complicated…

There are Different Train Companies

This is another mistake not to make right here!

Romania’s trains have different companies/providers which take the same or similar routes. So, it’s not just a case of being like, ‘this is the next train, I’ll jump on it because I have bought a ticket to Brașov’.

No, you have a ticket to Brașov with a specific train company which may not be the same company as the one sat at the platform right now. There may also be delays which means that trains from different companies going to the same destination may end up leaving at the same ish times. So always check the train number on your ticket, not just the time and destination!

Yep, us and several others (not just us I promise!) had tickets for a train that had become delayed. A train turned up going to the same destination at about the time that our delayed train was expected, we all jumped on and then got kicked off a couple of stations later because it was in fact not the right train!

I’m fully aware that this blog post makes us sound like absolute novice travellers, but honestly, we are experienced users of public transport all over the world from Paraguay to Kyrgyzstan to India.

How to Get from Brașov Station to Brașov City Centre

Jump on the number 4 bus or grab a Bolt or Uber taxi.

Don’t Fancy the Train? Here are your other options:

Bucharest to Brașov with Car Hire

We have not personally hired a car in Romania but it was what locals recommend! And it makes sense because there’s no awkwardness in navigating the stations or making sure you’re on the right train.

You have full flexibility in seeing anything and everything en route instead of being limited to where the train stops. And also who doesn’t love a good road trip?! Transylvania would be the ultimate scenic road trip destination.

Bucharest to Brașov Day Trips

Many tourists visiting just Bucharest want to get into the mountains or Transylvania even just for the day and a tour is the best way to maximise your time. You can get a flavour of some of Transylvania’s highlights all in just one day!

Bucharest to Brasov by Bus

The bus is the least attractive option but still not bad. Flix Bus runs this route from Bucharest Militari Bus Station to Brasov in 3.5-4.5 hours depending on your departure time for about £4-5.

We’ve travelled with FlixBus before, just not this route, and they were reliable and the buses were comfortable. It’s definitely the budget option for this route, but also the least exciting! Again, get your tickets online in advance.

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.

Plan more of your trip with these:

• 13 Unique Things to Do in Braşov (not just day trips!)
• Braşov to Bran Castle: Is it Worth Seeing Dracula’s Castle?
• 9 Things to Do in Sighișoara: Romania’s Fairy Tale Town