How to Visit Bran Castle: Day Trip to Dracula’s Castle
Learn how to visit Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle, from the surrounding areas.
One of the most renown attractions in Romania is Bran Castle, which is better known as being Dracula’s Castle. Whether you’re just stopping in Romania or spending weeks traveling around, it’s worth planning a day trip to Bran Castle to explore this fascinating piece of history.
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About Bran Castle
Located less than 30km from Brasov and less than 200 km from Bucharest, you’ll find Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle. First completed in 1388, Bran Castle is nestled into the steep hillside between Magura and Dealul Cetatii.
It was originally built at the border of Transylvania as part of an attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. Despite it’s deep history, it is best known for being the home of Dracula.
How Bran Castle became Dracula’s Castle
Dracula, the fictional Transylvanian Count made famous by author Bram Stoker, is said to have lived in a castle that matches the description of Bran Castle. However, Bram Stoker never truly visited Romania.
He based the castle description off of one that was available to him at the time of his writing. As it is the only castle in Transylvania that fits the description, it was clearly pinpointed ad the castle Stoker wrote about.
In other iterations of Dracula, images of Bran Castle have been used to further solidify its recognition as Dracula’s Castle.
How to Take a Day Trip to Bran Castle
Visiting Bran Castle is easy and a very popular option for visitors to Romania due to its reputation as Dracula’s Castle. In fact, it’s one of the best day trips from Brasov, or, you can be reach it from Bucharest.
Bran Castle by Bus from Brasov
Sitting just 45 minutes by bus from Brasov, the buses run regularly from bus terminal No. 2 in Brasov to Bran – Moeciu and back. Departures are every 30min on week days and every hour on weekends. A ticket will set you back only 7 Lei (€1.5) per ride.
Bran Castle by Tour from Brasov
The most convenient way to visit Bran Castle from Brasov is to take a tour. As it is a popular destination, there are a lot of tour options – and you can get a lot of bang for your buck with the tours! Here are some of the best options.
Bran Castle by Tour from Bucharest
Details of Visiting Dracula’s Castle
Before planning our trip to Bran Castle, there are some details to know. We’ll go through them one by one to ensure you’re well prepared for your day trip to Dracula’s Castle.
Hours of Operation
High Season (April 1- September 30)
- Monday: 12pm – 6pm
- Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 6pm
- Last Admission: 6pm
Low Season (October 1 – March 31)
- Monday: 12pm – 4pm
- Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 4pm
- Last Admission: 4pm
Ticket Prices
Low Season Tickets (January 1 – June 30 and September 1 – December 31)
- Adults: 55 Lei (11€)
- Seniors (65+): 40 Lei (8€) – Must have ID
- Students: 30 Lei (6€) – Student ID required
- Children 7+: 15 Lei (3€)
- Children under 7: Free
- Free access for disabled and/or institutionalized guests
High Season Tickets (July 1 – August 31)
- Adults: 60 Lei (12€)
- Seniors (65+): 45 Lei (9€) – Must have ID
- Students: 35 Lei (7€) – Student ID required
- Children 7+: 15 Lei (3€)
- Children under 7: Free
- Free access for disabled and/or institutionalized guests
Ticket prices include amateur photo and video. Professional photography and filming requires a contract.
Find the latest details on the official Bran Castle website.
What to Expect of Bran Castle
Bran castle is quite grand from the outside as it sits up on a hill. However, it is not ornate in any way. Being as it is Dracula’s Castle, there are dozens of tourist shops set up throughout Bran so you can get your fill of Dracula, vampire, and Transylvania hats, t-shirts, vampire teeth, magnets, and whatever else your heart could possibly desire.
To add to the fun, the ticket line can be over an hour-long, with the wait completely in the sun. Just saying, Dracula would not have survived in that line… I recommend buying your ticket ahead online to avoid the long wait. That or pack sunscreen!
Once you enter the Bran Castle gates, you’re greeted by a hill leading up to the castle. This is probably the best view of the castle and a brief relief with some shade and the crowd is moderated by how fast they can sell tickets.
The Inside of Bran Castle
Once inside the castle, all bets are off. There are few to no signs directing you where to go, and there are people everywhere with some being very pushy and others taking photos of everything in sight.
The castle tour winds up and down and around with absolutely no logic. There are a few rooms that address Bran and how the Dracula tie came to be. But, it’s important to remember that Dracula is fictional.
Some indications even try to make the relation between Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. However, Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad Tepes / Vlad Dracul, was a Walachian Prince with a castle that is now in ruins. Not the same person or character as Dracula.
Anyway, the castle is beautiful but overcrowded, and in a way over touristy. That said, I had heard that before I went, but I still wanted to visit Dracula. I completely understand if you do too!
Pro Tip: If you want to visit other castles in the area, Peles Castle or Peles Palace, is a stunning castle nearby in Sinaia. It’s a great addition to your Romania itinerary.
Tips for Taking a Day Trip to Bran Castle
As such a popular destination in Romania, you’ll want to plan your trip to Dracula’s Castle carefully to avoid the crowds. Here are some tips to help make your Bran Castle day trip go off without a hitch.
- Arrive early in the morning for shorter ticket lines.
- Pre-purchase your tickets online to skip the long lines.
- The whole trip is about half of a day from Brasov with a 45 minute bus there, ~1 hour in line, ~1.5 hours to tour the castle, and another 45 minutes back. It can easily be added to another side-trip or to exploring Brasov in the same day.
- Check bus times back to Brasov when you arrive because they sometimes run less regularly.
- The town of Bran is mostly focused around Bran Castle and their Dracula tie. There is not a lot else there.
Plan Your Trip to Romania
Visiting Bran Castle is a right of passage when traveling to Romania. I mean, Transylvania, Romania is best known because of Dracula! If you’re headed to Romania, here are some additional resources to help you plan your time there and in nearby Bulgaria.
- How to Spend One Day in Veliko Tarnovo
- How to Spend One Day in Plovdiv
- Backpacking through Sofia: Things to Do and Places to See
- How to Visit the UFO in Bulgaria: The Buzludzha Monument Tour
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