What You Need To Know Before Visiting Dracula’s Castle In Romania

Romania is a country full of old charming castles, but this one is definitely one of the more infamous castles in the country! Dracula’s castle, otherwise known as Bran Castle is a stunning castle with amazing architecture and so much to learn. Keep reading for what you need to know before visiting Dracula’s Castle in Romania!

What To Know

• When To Visit: You can definitely visit this castle year-round. The busiest periods are summer and partially fall – however fall is such an amazing time to visit Romania in general and we would highly recommend this time period! If you can, always try to arrive early or later, and avoid weekends where possible.
• How To Get There: Dracula’s castle or Bran Castle is located in Bran, Romania in the Transylvania Region. It’s about 2.5 hours away from Bucharest (where the international airport is located), and about 30 minutes away from Brasov.
• Where To Stay: We would recommend to find somewhere to stay in Brasov. Brasov is such a beautiful city with so many good restaurants, things to do, and a great nightlife.
• Language: The language spoken here is Romanian. In our experience, alot of people in the tourism industry are able to converse in English but don’t always expect it!
• Money: The currency here is the Leu (RON).
• Costs: Because of the exchange rate from CAD / USD / EURO to RON, things in Romania are very affordable. Travelling around Romania, especially outside of the touristy areas, is pretty cheap. However, in major cities (Bucharest) and tourist hubs (i.e. right outside this castle, Brasov, etc), things are a little more expensive than the smaller towns and less explored places.

Dracula’s Castle Tour

How To Get Into The Castle

When we visited the castle, there was a really long line at the ticket office. That’s why we recommend getting your tickets in advance of your visit online. If you have your tickets on hand, head straight to the gate thats located right beside the road (it’s a bit further down from the ticket office / entrance where all the markets are aswell). There was no line here, and a guard that let us in once he scanned our tickets! The only line we ran into was once we were in the castle grounds, waiting to get into the castle. It wasn’t a long line but definitely be prepared for some waiting.

Dracula’s Castle Tour

To be honest our favourite part of the tour was really how cool the castle itself was – the architecture and design of it all! Although the interior was pretty impressive with how big the castle was and how many rooms there are, the best part is the exterior of the castle.

The tour is self-guided and your ticket gets you admission to the grounds and inside the castle. The castle courtyard is our favourite part as you get a really dramatic view. You start by entering the castle and seeing many different rooms within the castle. Throughout the many windows you can even see views over the forests outside.

Walking through the rooms there are opportunities to learn more about the history of the castle, and even more about Dracula. The original furniture still exists and is set up as if you have been transported back in time.

If you didn’t know, this wasn’t actually Dracula’s castle… the link was made by tourists for tourists and they’re definitely making the most of it. At the end of the tour there are souvenir shops, and different exhibits (that you have to pay a little extra for). We thought the basic tour just walking through the castle grounds was enough for us and gave us a GREAT experience. However, if you’re a history buff or into the medieval times, you may be interested in the additional exhibits to learn more.

Besides the castle there are TONS of markets, restaurants, and even some special events based on the season in the area. Walk around the area to try some of the local food, souvenir shop, and see more of Bran.

Tours For Dracula’s Castle

Here are a few tour options to visit the castle!

• Bran Castle Fast Track Tickets (skip the line): By purchasing these you get tickets to the castle that lets you skip the line – this is what I mentioned earlier when I said we avoided the LONG lines to get into the castle grounds. These tickets actually even get you escorted directly into the castle by a guide so you avoid the line at the top aswell. At this price, it’s definitely worth it to avoid the waits and a great option if you’re planning on sorting out the rest of your day here (driving yourself & spending more time in Bran).
• Bran Castle Tour From Brasov: If you’re staying in Brasov and don’t want to deal with the hassle of driving, parking, and traffic from Brasov to Bran Castle (trust us, the traffic and parking can get hectic on weekends), then take this day trip from Brasov with transport and tickets included. This tour even includes a few extra spots so you’ll be packing in a full day trip with so many sights. Making your money work!
• Bran Castle Tour (PLUS MORE) From Bucharest: Many people fly into Bucharest, so it’s likely you may too. If you don’t plan on renting a tour and want to see the sights during a day tour, this is a great option to see Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), Peeles Castle, and Brasov all in one day. You will be getting a great Transylvania experience. Have someone drive you around whilst you focus on enjoying the sights.

The Best Viewpoint

Our favourite viewpoint of the castle was actually just a short walk away. It gives you an impressive view of the castle with the trees surrounding it.

To get here start at the front of the entrance and walk along the gate until you see a large field with a small bridge towards it. It’s a little trail through the field that will bring you up to a steep hill. At this point you’ll definitely think, am I really climbing up that steep pile of dirt? Yes. You need to climb up the steep hill to get to the rock face which will look over the town and roads below towards the castle. It’s a short and quick walk that’s definitely worth it.

We hope this post was helpful to plan your visit to this castle – its 100% worth it. Feel free to check out some of our other posts for more information on Romania & different destinations around the world!