- Brașov
- Bran
Bran
The village of Bran Castle, in the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia: the castle is open all year, and on 1 December 2026 it lights its Christmas tree in the Royal Park.
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What to see in Bran
Things to see, picked to fill a whole day.
1Medieval castleCastelul Bran
The fortress built by the Saxons of Brașov between 1377 and 1388 on a rock in the Bran Pass, turned after 1920 into Queen Marie's summer residence.
Bran, pe stânca din centrul satului, la 500 m de centru- 2History museum
Muzeul Național Bran
Bran's state museum, with furniture and objects from the royal collections once kept in the castle, shown in 11 rooms on three floors.
Bran, pe strada Doctor Aurel Stoian, la 700 m de centru 
3Open-air museumMuzeul Satului Brănean
The open-air section of the Bran National Museum, set up in 1962 next to the castle, with 18 farmsteads and peasant workshops from the Bran area.
Bran, la poalele castelului, la 200 m de centru
4Old churchBiserica Cuvioasa Paraschiva din Șimon
The Orthodox church of the village of Șimon, built in 1791 by the village's shepherds, a category A historic monument with old stone crosses in the yard.
Șimon, la circa 3,6 km pe drum de centrul Branului
5Historic ensembleVama Bran
The customs house at the foot of the castle, where duty was paid on the road between Transylvania and Wallachia; a listed monument together with remains of the medieval enclosure and the Queen's Chapel.
Bran, la poalele castelului, lângă DN73, la 700 m de centru
Where to eat in Bran
Meals worth the trip.
- 1Guesthouse restaurant
Brandeberg
The restaurant of a Tyrolean-style guesthouse with wooden terraces and shutters in the village of Șimon; it serves Romanian and international dishes.
Șimon, la circa 4 km pe drum de centrul Branului - 2Tea house restaurant
Casa de Ceai a Reginei Maria
The tea house designed for Queen Marie in the 1920s at the foot of the castle, now a restaurant with Romanian and European dishes, teas and coffee.
Bran, la poalele castelului, la 200 m de centru - 3Pizzeria and trattoria
Casa Thomas
An Italian restaurant in a converted house about 1 km from the castle, with oven-baked pizza and pasta.
Bran, în nordul satului, la circa 1 km de centru - 4Romanian restaurant
Restaurant Brana
A small restaurant run by a young couple, with a cosy interior and a garden a few minutes from the castle; it serves bulz, goulash and papanași.
Bran, pe strada Doctor Aurel Stoian, la 400 m de centru 
5Inn restaurantHanul Șimon
A family-run inn with a restaurant at the entrance to the village of Șimon, with Romanian cooking: sour soups, hearty main courses and homemade desserts.
Șimon, la intrarea în sat, la circa 3 km pe drum de centrul Branului
Where to stay in Bran
Places to sleep well, picked for comfort and location.
- 1Luxury spa hotel
Matca Hotel Relais & Châteaux
A mountain hotel on a hilltop above the village of Șimon, at 987 m, with 16 rooms and junior suites, 7 private villas, a spa and the STUP restaurant.
Șimon, pe dealul Bălăban, la circa 9 km pe drum de centrul Branului - 2Boutique hotel
Conacul Törzburg
A manor house with large rooms right across the road from Bran Castle, with a restaurant, a bar-lounge and an inner garden.
Bran, peste drum de Castelul Bran, la 300 m de centru - 3Villa resort
Club Vila Bran
A complex of villas and cottages on Aluniș hill above the centre of Bran, with its own Stână restaurant and a valley of fairy-tale cottages.
Bran, pe dealul Aluniș, la circa 900 m de centru - 4Mountain boutique lodge
The Pines Bucegi Lodge
A boutique hotel opened in December 2024 at the foot of the Bucegi mountains, at 1,010 m, with rooms looking towards Piatra Craiului and the Spice restaurant.
Bran, pe strada Rudărița, la 1.010 m, la circa 4 km pe drum de centru - 5Adults-only guesthouse
Nature Nest
A small adults-only place to stay in the hills of Sohodol, with an apartment, studios and double rooms, a sauna, an outdoor jacuzzi and the R.O.O.T. restaurant.
Sohodol, pe strada Muchia Islazului, la circa 5 km pe drum de centrul Branului
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Bran?
We recommend Castelul Bran (medieval castle, Bran, pe stânca din centrul satului, la 500 m de centru): It is the castle legend ties to Dracula, it has more than 114,000 Google reviews, and it is open all year, with Queen Marie's rooms and the Royal Park. Other picks: Muzeul Național Bran, Muzeul Satului Brănean, Biserica Cuvioasa Paraschiva din Șimon and Vama Bran.
Where to eat in Bran?
We recommend Brandeberg (guesthouse restaurant, Șimon, la circa 4 km pe drum de centrul Branului): It holds 4.7 on Google from more than 4,700 reviews, the most of any restaurant in Bran commune. Other picks: Casa de Ceai a Reginei Maria, Casa Thomas, Restaurant Brana and Hanul Șimon.
Where to stay in Bran?
We recommend Matca Hotel Relais & Châteaux (luxury spa hotel, Șimon, pe dealul Bălăban, la circa 9 km pe drum de centrul Branului): It holds 9.6 on Booking from nearly 200 reviews, joined Relais & Châteaux in July 2024 and was named by TIME among the World's Greatest Places 2025. Other picks: Conacul Törzburg, Club Vila Bran, The Pines Bucegi Lodge and Nature Nest.
How far is Bran from Brașov?
About 29 km by road from Brașov.
How do you choose the places?
For each category we pick at most five places and check them: they exist, they are open and they are worth the trip. We take no money to list a place.