Brașov Old Town

Brașov, in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania, is about 185 km north of Bucharest and is among the country's best-preserved medieval towns. The Old Town centres on Piața Sfatului, the Council Square, surrounded by pastel Baroque and Renaissance buildings and dominated by the Old Council House, which now holds the county history museum. Nearby, the Black Church, the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, is known for its collection of Anatolian carpets and its large organ. Visitors can walk along Strada Sforii, one of the narrowest streets in Europe, visit the remains of the medieval fortifications, including Weaver's Bastion and the Catherine's Gate, and reach the Schei district, with the St Nicholas Church. Trains from Gara de Nord run every one to two hours and take 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes, with second-class tickets about 70 to 110 lei. FlixBus and other coaches take roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, and driving takes about 3 hours but meets heavy traffic on Fridays and Sundays. The station is 3 km from the Old Town, reached by bus 4 or a short Bolt ride. A suggested day is to take an early train, walk through the square and Black Church in the morning, have lunch on or near Strada Republicii, then in the afternoon ride the cable car up Tâmpa Mountain or walk the trail for views over the red roofs and the Hollywood-style Brașov sign. Restaurants serve Transylvanian dishes such as sarmale, polenta with sour cream, and grilled meat. The best seasons are May to October, with a Christmas market in December adding a festive option. The long train ride makes for a full day, and the hill walk adds some effort, so the trip is moderate. Brașov also works as a base for Bran Castle and Peleș Castle on longer trips.