Day Trips to Dracula's Castle from Bucharest

Bran Castle, which is a medieval building that went down in history as the site chosen by Bram Stoker to house Dracula in his popular novel, is located on the outskirts of Bucharest and is one of the main attractions in Romania, so you can not say you have really known this destination until you visit it. Therefore, there are many alternatives you have to get there and here I will tell you what each one consists of.

Whether you plan to visit it on an organized tour, or on your own by train, bus, cab or car, touring Dracula's Castle is one of the best activities you can do in Bucharest, so here I will tell you about all the transportation options offered by the Romanian capital.

Visiting the Dracula Castle is one of the best activities to do from Bucharest, so an organized excursion will be the most complete and comfortable alternative you can find during your trip. These options, which have an approximate duration of 12 hours, will allow you to discover the medieval building located in Bran with the assistance of an expert local guide, which will maximize your experience.

Bran Castle is a medieval building located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains that has become world famous for being the site that inspired Bran Stoker to create the home of Count Dracula. Also, the collective imagination associated the character of the novel with Vlad the Impaler, one of the cruelest princes of Transylvania, who is believed to have inhabited the castle, which raised the interest of tourists in the building.

However, during your tour you will most likely visit not only Bran Castle, but also Sinaia and Brasov, two nearby cities that are characterized by their medieval landscapes and also have castles, Gothic churches and some very particular records, such as the narrowest street in Europe, which is located in the historic center of Brasov next to the Watchtower.

The guided tours will not only allow you to get to know several sites during the tour, but also to delegate the organization and have the assistance of a local guide, who will allow you to travel through the mysteries of Transylvania while discovering, from the advantages of the castles, some of the best panoramic views of the Carpathian Mountains.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 37 euros per person.
• Duration of the trip: approximately 12 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to see Dracula's Castle and the surrounding medieval towns in a full day trip where you won't have to think about logistics and transportation.
• Disadvantages of this option: although it is a full day experience, you will have little time to explore the sites on your own, due to the fact that it is a very intense tour with many stops.

Bran Castle is located about 180 kilometers from Bucharest and if during your trip you plan to rent a car, you can use it to reach this site in a drive of about 2 hours on routes DN1 and E60. This alternative, although not as popular as the full-day tours from the Romanian capital, is usually chosen by tourists who decide to tour the Eastern European countries by car.

On the other hand, visiting Dracula's Castle from Bucharest by car will provide you with a flexible alternative, where you can include in the itinerary other nearby and equally interesting cities to Bran, such as Brasov, Peles and Sinaia, which is located halfway between the two destinations and offers some of the best wide views of the Carpathian Mountains.

Keep in mind that although the roads are in good condition, the route between Bucharest and Bran Castle winds through mountainous roads, so you should be cautious with your driving and consider the recommendations of the authorities, especially if you plan to visit Bucharest in winter, when the roads may remain icy or snowy.

On the other hand, consider also that the price of car rental usually varies according to the age of the driver and if you are under 25 years old you might have to pay higher rates. Nevertheless, visiting Bran Castle by car can be an ideal option if you plan to visit Bucharest in 3 days or in a shorter stay and need to save time and maximize your tour.

Interesting details

• Price: renting a car in Bucharest has an initial cost of approximately 39 euros per day, to which you must add the cost of fuel and tolls.
• Duration of the trip: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to build your travel itinerary and tour the nearby cities at your own pace.
• Disadvantages of this option: driving on the mountainous roads of the Carpathian Mountains could be difficult during snowy or icy days.

If you are planning to visit Bucharest on a tight budget or want to save money, one of the best alternatives you can find to visit the Dracula Castle is to travel by train. This option is the most economical among those available and will allow you to go from Bucharest Central Station to Busteni, where you must continue the journey in a cab to Bran Castle.

There are many companies that provide this service, among which CFR, Regio Calatori and Astra Trans Carpatic stand out. All of them offer tickets for an initial price of approximately 4 euros and the cab to Bran Castle costs about 14 euros, so you can reach your destination with an approximate price of less than 20 euros per leg. In addition, the frequency of trains is very good, and you will find options at all hours.

Keep in mind that Bucharest Central Station is located in the center of the city, so you can combine these experiences with other activities in the city, as is the case of the best guided tours of the Romanian capital. You will also have the opportunity to visit the mountainous circuit through which the train tracks run, giving you panoramic views of the Carpathian Mountains.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 18 euros per person per leg, including train ticket and cab ride.
• Travel time: about 2.5 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is the cheapest alternative and the trains have a very good frequency.
• Disadvantages of this option: the route is not direct and you will have to make a combination with a cab when you arrive in Busteni.

If you are looking for an exclusive and comfortable alternative by car but don't want to drive, then you can opt to use a cab to travel from Bucharest to Bran Castle. Although the distance between the two destinations is approximately 180 kilometers, this option is widely used due to the fact that the mountainous roads of the itinerary may entail certain difficulties.

In addition, if you plan to visit Bucharest during the winter, you may encounter snowy or icy roads along the way, which will complicate your driving experience. The cab, then, presents itself as a perfect option for those who want to take full advantage of the comfort of a car but without assuming the risks of driving or the costs associated with renting a car.

Likewise, a cab ride can also be ideal for those tourists who plan to visit the city with family or small children, or for those who need to carry a lot of luggage. Keep in mind, therefore, that a cab may not be an economical alternative, since you will have to pay for the entire trip and also for the wait while you are touring Bran Castle.

However, the cab alternative will also be useful if you want to visit some of the villages near Bran, especially if you plan to visit Bucharest during Christmas, when Brasov or Siania show their best face with Christmas markets and Christmas Eve decorations.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 110 euros for the round trip.
• Travel time: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is an exclusive alternative in which you will be able to build your own itinerary and choose the schedules of the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is an expensive alternative, since you will have to pay for both parts of the tour and also for the wait during the tour of Bran Castle.

While there is no direct alternative to visit Bran Castle from Bucharest by bus, you will find a combined option that includes a train ride from Bucharest Central Station to Brasov, and from there a bus ride to the medieval building located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains.

This alternative, due to the inconvenience generated by the transfer between both transports, is not usually chosen by tourists, except for those who decide to also visit Brasov, a medieval town famous for its historic center, its Gothic church and for having the narrowest street in Europe. In addition, if you plan to visit Bucharest during Christmas, here you can find one of the best Christmas markets in the region.

There are many companies of both means of transport that provide this service, but the most flexible alternative with the schedules and with better price offers you will find in the train service of CFR and in the buses of Transbus Codreanu.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 22 euros per person per leg, including both transfer services.
• Travel time: about 4 hours for the full journey.
• Advantages of this option: it is the ideal alternative if you want to visit Brasov as well and want to do it at an affordable price.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will have to transfer and, although both transports have good frequency, you could suffer delays during your trip.

The best time to visit Bran Castle will depend largely on the individual preferences and desired experiences of each traveler. However, a popular choice is to do so during autumn, when the vibrant colors of the surrounding forests create a perfect backdrop for taking some of the best photographs of your trip. In addition, temperatures are usually pleasant and the tourist crowds are moderate.

On the other hand, some choose to visit Dracula Castle during the winter, when the region is covered in snow and takes on a magical atmosphere. The towers of the castle stand out against the winter landscape, providing a unique experience. Also, during the low season, it is possible to enjoy a quieter atmosphere with fewer visitors.

Spring also has its charm, as the gardens surrounding the castle bloom with an explosion of colors. The longer days and pleasant temperatures offer the opportunity to explore both inside and outside the castle in greater comfort. Finally, summer attracts those looking to make the most of outdoor activities, although crowds can be very annoying and create delays.

The answer, as usual in these cases, will depend on the conditions of each traveler and the expectations that each one has during the tour. If what you are looking for is a pleasant and comfortable option, you can opt for the organized excursion, which is part of the best tours to do from Bucharest. This alternative will allow you to relax and delegate the logistics to the service providers.

However, if what you are looking for is an economical option and you do not mind organizing the tour on your own, you can choose the train trip, which will allow you not only to save money and take care of your budget, but also to know a different circuit from the road and contemplate the panoramic views from the cabin of the transport. Besides, these alternatives are flexible and have a good frequency.

On the other hand, you can also opt for individual alternatives, either renting a car or hiring a cab tour. Neither of them are economical, although both will allow you to set your own itinerary, manage the pace of the tour and include intermediate stops. Cabs are also ideal if you plan to visit Bucharest during the winter and don't want to drive through the snowy mountain trails.

The best of each of the alternatives