Bran Castle: what to see, how to get there and where to stay nearby

Bran Castle is the most visited castle in Romania and one of the reasons many travellers come to the Brașov area. Below you will find, in short, its real story, what else to see in Bran and Moieciu, and where to stay nearby, so you don't have to do the whole trip in one day.

A customs fortress from 1377

The first record is a document dated 19 November 1377, in which King Louis I of Anjou allows the Saxons of Brașov to build a stone fortress at Bran. The fortress guarded the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia, and at its foot stood the customs post for the goods crossing the mountains.

Dracula: the myth and what we know for sure

The fame of “Dracula's castle” comes from literature, not history. Bram Stoker never visited Romania, and the castle was never the residence of Vlad the Impaler. Still, the myth has made Bran one of the best-known places in the country.

Queen Marie's home

On 1 December 1920, the city of Brașov gave the castle to Queen Marie of Romania. The Queen turned it into a residence, with restored gardens and interiors, and after her death it passed to Princess Ileana. The castle was nationalised in 1948, became a museum and was later returned to the heirs of the royal family.

What else to see in Bran and Moieciu

Next to the castle is the Bran Village Museum, with traditional houses from the area (check that it is open before you go). Higher up, the villages of Moieciu, the Bat Cave and the La Chișătoare Waterfall turn Bran into a full day, not just a castle visit. They are all in our local guide, with the driving distance calculated for each one.

Tips for your visit

Opening hours and ticket prices change from season to season, so check them on the castle's official website before you set off. Weekends and the high season are busy, and inside there are narrow stairs and uneven steps: comfortable shoes help. The torture instruments exhibition is paid separately and is not suitable for young children.

Where to stay near Bran

Râșnov is on the way to Bran, so you can stay here and visit Bran, Brașov and Poiana Brașov from the same place. At MAX International you have rooms and apartments, a restaurant, a spa with sauna and jacuzzi, and free parking. On the Accommodation near Bran and Moieciu page you can see the rooms and the places in the area, with the distance calculated from the hotel.

Photos: gip07 / Pexels; Superchilum / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0; Razvan Porumb / Unsplash.