Bran Castle: A Scenic Train Ride to Romania’s Legendary Castle

If you’ve ever visited Disneyland or Universal Studios, you may be familiar with the feeling of living out your favorite movies and TV shows. Long before the days of amusement and theme parks, there existed a real-life counterpart to the fantastical castles and eerie forests of Disney…

Bran Castle is an all too real castle tucked away in the peaks of the Carpathian Mountains. It remains the most distinctive and recognizable castle to tell the story of the History and mystery surrounding Transylvanian folklore.

Often dubbed ‘Draculas Castle’ for its similarities to the castle where the fictional vampire lived, the medieval fortress is a mysterious place for both vampire enthusiasts and history buffs. It’s one of those places where history and legend are intertwined.

I was lucky enough to visit the castle on a day trip from Bucharest without falling victim to a vampire attack. And I’m here to tell the tale.

The Journey to Transylvania

Our journey began at Bucharest Central Station, known as Gara de Nord (Bucureşti Nord) where we caught a regional train from Bucharest to Brasov. Every day, 18 trains Travel between these two major cities. Brasov is the biggest city near Bran, so we took the train to this city and then two local busses to the small town of Bran.

The train Travels 88 miles and takes between 2.15 minutes and three hours, depending on the train you catch. The first departure leaves Bucharest at 6 a.m. and the last one leaves Brasov just after 9 p.m. Train tickets could cost as little as $3, depending on when you book and the time of day you Travel. That said, expect to pay around $20 for a one-way journey.

We didn’t think booking a ticket in advance would be necessary on a random weekday. But boy, were we wrong! While we did manage to secure tickets to board the train, we were not designated a seat, and the train was fully booked. I can tell you firsthand that standing for three hours on a moving train is not very enjoyable. So, do yourself a favor and book a train ticket in advance!

Brasov to Bran

Once in Brasov, we caught a local bus to Autogara 2, a bus station just on the edge of the city. From there, we waited for another bus to transport us to Bran. It cost less than $3 and took 45 minutes to travel from the station to the small village of Bran. This bus runs on the hour between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Luckily, we grabbed seats early, but the bus also had a large portion of standing tickets.

On the way back to Bucharest, we cut our losses and caught an Uber back to the train station. The drive was just 30 minutes, and the cab cost a worthwhile $25 for a warm and comfortable direct journey.

A Bite of History of Bran Castle

Behind the Gothic Architecture and timeless myths that are hidden within its ancient walls, Bran Castle has an all-too-real History dating back to the 1300s. The fortress was one of the first along the Bran Pass, an old trade route that crossed the Carpathian Mountains.

You’ll have to visit the castle yourself to discover the legends and truths behind its association with Vlad the Impaler, the main inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Since it was built, the castle has been a strategic fortress and military stronghold that helped the Transylvanian army defeat the Ottoman Turks. At other times throughout history, it served as a royal summer residence for Queen Maria of Greater Romania. When the queen died, her offspring were forced out of the country by the communist regime, who opened the castle up as a museum in the mid-1900s.

While most think of the castle as the inspiration for Dracula, it is unknown whether Bram Stoker ever even visited the area. Vlad the Impaler, a real-life historical figure thought to have inspired Dracula, never ruled over Bran Castle. That said, the similarities between the castle and the one portrayed in Dracula are eerily similar!

Tickets and Tips

Tickets to visit the castle can be brought online or at the entrance. While we purchased ours at the last minute on arrival, I always recommend buying in advance to avoid disappointment.

An adult ticket costs $15, with an extra $4.30 to access the torture chambers and $6.50 to enter the Time Tunnel (a secret passage that links the historic castle with a futuristic museum). Students with valid IDs, seniors, and schoolchildren get reduced admission fees.

The castle is open from 9 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday and 12 pm to 4 pm on Mondays during winter (between October and the end of March). During the summer months (April through the end of September), the castle and museum are open from 9 am until 6 pm Tuesday through Sunday and from 12 pm to 6 pm on Monday.

Pro Tip: Arrive early. The castle can get crowded, especially between June and August. While it’s still busy in the mornings, crowds are more manageable when the doors first open on weekdays.

Be aware that you will need to climb plenty of steep hills and staircases to enter the caste. After all, it is located on a rocky outcrop that rises from the wild forests.

Exploring Dracula’s Castle

Walking through the castle is a bit like stepping into another era. It’s hard not to think of the castle as a spooky horror film set, which is a common misconception and totally inaccurate. The castle is completely authentic and has an incredible, at times dark, History.

The castle’s interior is a labyrinth of winding staircases, dark passageways, and hidden chambers. It’s hard to get an idea of the castle’s size from inside, and I even felt a bit claustrophobic at times. It’s still decorated with original medieval interiors, from hand-woven tapestries to antique carved wooden furniture and brass kitchen equipment, all telling a part of the castle’s storied past.

Among the twisting alleys and narrow staircases, there is a hidden passageway tucked behind a fake fireplace connecting the first floor to the third floor. It is said to have been built in case of an attack on the fortress and was only uncovered in the 1920s.

Even though the castle is not historically related to Vlad the Impaler or Dracula, there is no doubting the mysterious feeling you get while exploring it.

Pro Tips: We spent around one hour exploring the castle. I recommend you set aside between an hour to an hour and a half to make the most of your visit, admiring the interior rooms, the torture chamber, and the exquisite views of the surrounding forests and mountains.

Bran Village

After visiting the castle, we had some time to explore Bran. The village is known for its charming and traditional Romanian atmosphere, with local marketplaces selling handmade crafts and souvenirs.

The small village is about a ten-minute walk down a cobblestone street from the castle. On our way from the castle to the village, we passed a flea market made up of small wooden houses and buildings housing different shops and stalls. We grabbed a steaming mug of mulled wine at the entrance and browsed the stalls.

The market was a great place to buy local crafts, Transylvanian woolen clothing, jewelry, ceramics, art, and all the souvenirs and memorabilia you might want.

Further down the hill in Bran, we walked the streets of the small village, taking in the Romanian architecture and fall decorations. I must admit that the town was geared for the tourist influx it inevitably receives. Although it was an interesting example of a small Romanian village, it might not have been the most authentic option.

Sink Your Teeth into Lunch at East Village

After a long journey and a few hours taking in the sights of Transylvania, lunch could not come soon enough.

East Village restaurant came highly recommended among just a few options in the small town. They served everything from simple international cuisine to traditional Romanian dishes. A bowl of hearty borscht with homemade noodles costs just $5.40, while an authentic dish of rolled ham, potatoes, and red onion costs $13. The food was tasty, and the atmosphere was cozy, with a wooden cabin-inspired bar section and an eclectic arrangement of decorations.

Another lunch option would be to eat at the Bran Castle Restaurant. Housed in the castle gardens in a building that was once Queen Maria’s Tea House, they serve various local dishes and specialty teas to pay homage to the original purpose of the building.

The entire day was exhilarating yet exhausting, but it was totally worth it to visit one of Romania’s most iconic landmarks. After lunch, we caught our Uber back into Brasov and hopped on the train to Bucharest. Luckily, the train back was not as busy, and we each had a comfortable seat to relax in after a long day on our feet.