From Brasov: Bran Castle & Rasnov Small-Group Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
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Brasov, Romania
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Designed to delight those fascinated by the Gothic legends of Transylvania, this half-day tour takes you to the heart of the mysterious Romanian region. After hotel pickup in Brasov, tick off top attractions such as the dramatic Rasnov Fortress and Bran’s Castle, whose Gothic turrets and hilltop perch have earned it the nickname of ‘Dracula’s Castle’. If you wish, upgrade your small-group tour when booking to include a visit to Peles Castle, a striking example of Neo-Renaissance architecture.
- Perfect for travellers with limited time in Transylvania
- Visit the imposing ruins of the 13th-century Rasnov Fortress
- Delve into the legends surrounding Bran Castle, associated with Bram Stoker's legendary monster, Dracula
- Small-group tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Brasov
What's Included
- Professional Driver/guide
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned car or minivan
- Hotel (only from Brasov city) pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entrance fee to Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress€42.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
After pickup at your Brasov hotel, greet your guide and board a car or minivan destined for the dramatic ruins of Rasnov Fortress. Built in the 13th century, the striking backdrop of the Bucegi Mountains enhances the beauty of the fortress.
Listen to history-rich commentary featuring tales of medieval warfare and local legend, and opt to enjoy lunch in Rasnov village at your own expense. Then, proceed to Bran Castle, arguably the crowing architectural feature of Transylvania.
The Gothic castle, complete with high stonewalls and rust-red turrets, was used to incarcerate Vlad the Impaler and therefore inspired the creation of Bram Stoker’s bloodthirsty villain, Dracula. Pay the entrance fee at your own expense and then wander through chambers with filled antique furniture and Gothic embellishments.
After enriching your knowledge of Vlad the Impaler’s gruesome legacy, return to your Brasov hotel and bid your guide farewell. Alternatively, if you booked the upgrade, continue to Peles Castle.
Follow your guide through immaculately preserved rooms, decorated with luxurious furniture for the viewing pleasure of Romania’s royal family. Choose to pay an additional visit to the neighboring Pelisor Castle and then conclude your tour with drop-off at your Brasov hotel.
Listen to history-rich commentary featuring tales of medieval warfare and local legend, and opt to enjoy lunch in Rasnov village at your own expense. Then, proceed to Bran Castle, arguably the crowing architectural feature of Transylvania.
The Gothic castle, complete with high stonewalls and rust-red turrets, was used to incarcerate Vlad the Impaler and therefore inspired the creation of Bram Stoker’s bloodthirsty villain, Dracula. Pay the entrance fee at your own expense and then wander through chambers with filled antique furniture and Gothic embellishments.
After enriching your knowledge of Vlad the Impaler’s gruesome legacy, return to your Brasov hotel and bid your guide farewell. Alternatively, if you booked the upgrade, continue to Peles Castle.
Follow your guide through immaculately preserved rooms, decorated with luxurious furniture for the viewing pleasure of Romania’s royal family. Choose to pay an additional visit to the neighboring Pelisor Castle and then conclude your tour with drop-off at your Brasov hotel.
1
Bran Castle
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Rasnov Citadel: Garden and Panoramic View
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Small group tour
- Sturdy hiking footwear recommended
- MONDAY BRAN CASTLE IS OPENED AT 12:00.
- All year round - Try to avoid Saturdays and Sundays, as they tend to be very crowded.
- RASNOV FORTRESS IS CLOSED for the moment! However, we can still visit the outside walls and exterior courtyard as follows: Starting Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Garden of the Medieval Fortress of Rasnov and the Báthory Tower, located at the entrance to the garden, will be accessible only with an admission ticket.
- Please bring your own mask; we provide hand sanitizer. We are cleaning vehicles after every tour.
- The recommendations of our tour guides: We are always eager to make sure our guests have a wonderful time while participating on our tours. Organizing private and small group tours allows us to be flexible with time and always have opportunities for breaks. Usually, we arrive to Bran around mid-day and after visiting Bran castle our guests can have some free time on the premises and nearby the castle grounds for lunch, shopping or photographing the area. In the Tea House, a small restaurant in the castle’s courtyard one can try the Funeral cake, a porridge like dessert with walnuts, raisins, rom and much more. In Romanian called Coliva the funeral cake usually is served at funerals and commemoration of deceased loved ones. It goes well with a good coffee or tea. Nearby the castle entrance a small souvenir market is located, our favorite stall is selling traditional masks and handcrafted objects and textiles. Please ask your guide to point it out to you! Our guests have the option to decide to have a proper sit-down meal or something quick on the move. The same market has food stalls, one of the most popular ones sells Romanian Hot Dogs (local sausage sandwiches) and Hanul Bran restaurant offers a large choice of tasty Romanian cuisine.
- Meeting point: In front of Biblioteca Județeană "George Barițiu", Bulevardul Eroilor 33-35. Please be aware that we provide pick-up and drop-off services exclusively within the city of Brașov, as well as for guests staying outside the old town. The pick-up time will vary based on the location requested. Additionally, we are happy to drop off guests at a different location than the pick-up point for an additional fee.
- Starting August 1, 2025, guided tours inside Bran Castle will be conducted exclusively by the castle's official guides or independently, without the assistance of our tour guide, due to Bran Castle's new policies—more details can be found on their website.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 102 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Ellen_C, Jun 2026
Tudor was a fabulous guide. He was personable and conscientious. He was also very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the history of the country and the Transylvania area. He also gave us recommendations for other things to see in Braşov and other parts of Transylvania.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Ellen! Tudor will be delighted to know that his mix of knowledge, care, and local insight made your day in Transylvania so memorable. Bran Castle and Râșnov Fortress are even more rewarding when the stories behind them come alive, and we’re glad Tudor helped you connect with the history of the region. We also hope his recommendations for Brașov and Transylvania added a little extra inspiration to your trip. Warm wishes from all of us at Active Travel!
Katherine_W, Jan 2026
Dan is a lovely person and so knowledgeable about Romanian history. He also makes fantastic coffee, and he can sing! I really enjoyed spending the morning exploring with him. Highly recommend using him as your tour guide!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Katherine!
We’re delighted to hear you had a great morning exploring Bran Castle and Râșnov Fortress.
Dan will be truly happy to read your kind words — his passion for Romanian history, his love for sharing stories (and songs!), and even his famous coffee are all part of what makes his tours so special.
Thank you for choosing Active Travel, and for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Romania for another adventure someday! 🌄🇷🇴
Sarah_L, Nov 2025
A trip worth doing. I especially enjoyed Peles Castle — by far the most stunning castle I’ve ever visited! Our guide Simon Tiberiu was a pro. He navigated the crowds really well and got us to the sites well ahead of the throngs of bus load of tourists. He also shared a great deal of history and insights about each place we visited, as well as Romanian culture and history in general which provided a good backdrop for a first-time visitor to Romania.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Sarah! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day exploring Peleș Castle, Bran Castle, and Râșnov Fortress.
Peleș truly is a gem — we couldn’t agree more that it’s one of the most stunning castles in Europe! We’re also very happy to know that Simon provided a smooth, insightful, and well-organized experience. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
We hope to welcome you back for another journey through Romania’s rich history and beautiful landscapes!
Phillip_B, Jun 2024
Bran Castle was very interesting, and the grounds/garden were also well kept. The drive by the ski area was also interesting. It would have been nice to see more of Rasnov Fortress. We only looked at the outside for a few minutes and then left. Also I would have like to see Bran Castle from different directions! We really only saw the side entrance area.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for reviewing our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Phillip!
Dianne_H, Jan 2024
Our tour guide was amazing.
Charlie was very professional, very knowledgeable & was extremely attentive.
I was so impressed with this tour & the ease in which we went from one destination to another, we never felt rushed. Charlie explained everything clearly & concisely.
I would highly recommend this tour &, in particular Charlie.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
We thank you so much for your detailed review for our guide and our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Dianne!
Francesca_R, Sep 2023
Dan was amazing! He was prompt, outgoing, and knowledgeable of the history. We loved hearing the history of România and the places we visited. He was accommodating. 10/10 would recommend to everyone that, but especially his guidance for everyone traveling to Romania.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
We thank you so much for reviewing our guide and our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Francesca!
EFFROSYNIARG_M, Aug 2023
The tour was really good value for money. Dan was a very careful driver and knew how to avoid getting stuck in traffic. He was extremely knowledgeable and gave us all sorts of information about architecture, art, history, local tradition, folk legends. I had a fantastic time!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you a lot for your review for our guide and our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit!
nicwhatmore, Jun 2023
We booked our tour through Viatour as we had used them before for a previous vacation. The service provided was excellent. I was messaged 24 hours prior to confirm place of pick up. On the morning, we were greeted by out tour guide Charley. A super friendly guy that made us feel at ease straight away. The drive to the Castle, Charley was full of amazing information of the area and what our day would look like. He answered all our questions and more. Once at the Castle, he was on top form! Again, his knowledge was mind blowing and a great story teller. What made the excursion better, was Charley's personality - really good fun as well as his knowledge of history and area. We would highly recommend this tour and fingers crossed that you get Charley!
Chris_B, Jan 2023
Our guide, Charlie was excellent. Very friendly and good natured. Our group that day was very small, and the 8.30 start got us to the sites before the main crowds, definitely recommended.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
We thank you so much for reviewing our guide and our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Chris!
NIKOLETA_A, Dec 2022
Our guide Dan, was the best guide I ever had. Lots of information about the castles, the area and the history of Transilvania, he made it a very interesting day. He added some stops for photos and food, which was very much appreciated. I initially had booked the tour without Peles castle, but was given the option to add it and decided to do it. It was the right choice, the castle is beautiful. All in all a very nice day and I recommend it to anyone staying in Brasov. Worth it
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Thank you a lot for your detailed review for our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov
with Optional Peles Castle Visit, Nikola! Indeed, the day trip is amazing, especially when you have Dan
as your guide.
FellowTraveler46073, Oct 2019
The Bran Castle is interesting but somewhat over-rated. The castle furnishings are not authentic nor necessarily time-accurate rather they are furnishings and objects donated by local residents to provide something for tourists to look at rather than empty rooms. I had not read anything about the castle before the tour and encourage others to do so - so you are not disappointed in it as I was.
The history of the region and the castle inhabitants is interesting and is available on Wikipedia as our guide indicated.
Also realize that during the off season, there is no need to pay extra for the "quick entry" since there is no que to enter. Plus, we learned after prepaying for the tour, there is a senior entry rate and those with a physical handicap often are admitted free of charge. By prepaying, this information and reduced rates were not available to me.
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Thank you for review Bran Castle, but you supposed to do it on their account! Here you supposed to review the guiding services. Anyhow, please send me your booking number in order to refund the difference of money for the entrance fees. For your information: Skip the line service is providing by the Bran Castle and is free of charge!
dbasden4, Aug 2019
The time and places were very good and the tour guide friendly and with experience about the topics and very patient
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you for your review for Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit!
Glenn_M, Jul 2019
What a great tour. We got to see everything without being rushed at any point. The castle and fortress were both very interesting, and we were lucky enough to arrive at Bran before the crowds. Our guide Tudor was exceptional as well - very knowledgeable and friendly, with flawless English too.
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you for booking with us the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit!
Olivier R, Feb 2019
The tour prices for going to Bran Castle and Rasnov fortress were varied. We spontaneously found this tour including entrance fees for 78 (for 2 persons). Somebody advised us to take a taxi or Uber to go there but it's rather far, and we had a tour guide who is very nice and helpful, came to pickup and drop-off at the hotel. During the visit, our tour guide was telling us the history of Bran Castle. Surprisingly Dracula was not the owner of this castle which is unexpected. However, we had good time visiting the castle and the fortress with our tour guide Charlie. He made our trip very memorable...
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you for your detailed review for the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Olivier!
Zeljka v., Sep 2018
Our guide Karlo was very funny, frendly and full of interesting information. The tour was a great combination of walking and sightseeing by car.
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you for booking with us the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Zeljska!
John_B, Dec 2017
We were picked up from our B and B for a 40 minute drive from Brasov. Out of the city on smooth and rough roads through small villages of plain houses. We arrived in Branov at around 9:30am, with only a few other tourists along the vendor-lined street to the castle. A steep walk up a modern stone walkway, then more steps to enter. Our guide provided interesting info on the castle and Queen Mary, who improved conditions there. Through different rooms bedrooms, music, dinning, etc., towers and walkways. Back down the way we came through a garden with a pond. On the vendor's street, now teeming with people. All sorts of Vlad Tepes souvenirs,honey, walnut jam, cheese and other food vendors. Then a 30 minute drive to the city of Rasnov and the main square. We took it easy and rode the funicular up at a small cost. Continuing on a dirt path to the medieval fortress on the top of the mountain. Passing through a spiked gate into the ruins of the village houses inside. People still live here, selling their hand-made crafts and trinkets. Onward to the highest point of the mountain for incredible views. We returned on a different route through mountain forests and ski resort areas, stopping for a few photo-ops along the way. Our guide gave us a recommendation for a traditional restaurant back in Brasov: Segurina, and dropped us off there for an excellent mid-afternoon meal!
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you so much for your detailed review for the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, John! It represents a valuable help for the future clients when they make the decision to book a day trip when they are in Brasov!
Ashley G, Nov 2017
Dan was the man! We were picked up from our apt, shuffled throughout the city and our stopping points, and dined at a wonderful restaurant to top off the day. If you’re lucky you’ll even get a chance to have Dan sing a bit throughout the experience. Friendly, prompt, and at ease. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jun 2021
We thank you for your review for the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Ashley!
Brittany S, Dec 2016
Tour guide with a dry sense of humour who loves to sing - request a song to make the car trip more fun!
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Thank you for booking with us the Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit, Brittany!
Inmaculada_N, Nov 2021
Recomiendo mucho este tour si de verdad quieres conocer Transilvania. Nuestro guía, Tiberius fue muy agradable y nos explicó toda la historia de Rumanía. Esta era nuestra primera vez en Rumanía y solo conocíamos lo típico sobre el país. Cuando terminas el tour tienes toda una perspectiva de su cultura e historia. Lo que nos contó difícilmente lo encontrarás sin un guía local. Nos encantó tanto el tour como el guía.
Recogida en un punto a tu elección y transporte a Bran (entrada al castillo incluida) y Rasnov en coche privado. Muy recomendado!
Response from Host, Nov 2021
Thank you for your review of our Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress Tour from Brasov with Entrance Fees Included - Optional Peles Castle Visit!
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