Where is Dracula’s Castle? How To Get To Bran Castle in Romania!
Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula transformed the gothic literature scene and changed cinematic horror. The phenomenon of Dracula, and the real Dracula legend, has attracted hundreds of thousands of fans to the region of Transylvania in Romania. (I’m one of them)!
If you’ve ever wondered about the real Dracula castle, and where is Dracula’s castle located, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve put together a guide on how to get to Bran Castle Transylvania, the alleged home of Count Dracula. I’ve also included some myth debunking and fun facts about Bran Castle Romania and the stories.
Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no extra cost to you, I may earn commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you see a link or banner, this could take you to that product/service website. For more information, see my Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Jump (out of your skin)…
Contents (jump to)
Discover More of Romania
Traditional Food You Must Eat in Romania
Where is Dracula’s Castle in Romania?
For the purpose of pop culture and this article, the Dracula Castle is called Bran Castle and is located in Transylvania, near a city called Brasov which is one of the best places to visit in Romania.
Transylvania is not a country but a region in Central Romania, located in Eastern Europe. Bram Stoker used this real region in his novel Dracula as the Dracula mansion. Stoker made several mentions of a castle where Dracula lived, and when Jonathan Harker (the London real estate agent) visited Dracula’s castle in Transylvania.
Read on for how to find the castle of Dracula in Romania! But first…
Is Dracula’s Castle Real?
The name of Dracula’s castle is Bran Castle.
A bit of history of Bran Castle: It’s is a 14th century stone castle built under the rule of Hungary.
Given that the author of the horror classic based his protagonist on Vlad Dracul the Impaler (read more below about him), it would make sense that Poenari Castle in Wallachia, located right on the famous Transfăgărșan Road, could be the real Transylvania Dracula castle as this was Vlad’s castle but this has not caught traction the way Bran has. Stoker also described Count Dracula’s home as being located in Carpathian Mountains (which Bran is).
You won’t be disappointed with the hype in Bran Castle over Dracula, myth, magic and vampires within the castle and city of Brasov. It’s so heavily featured and focused on that we may as well say yes, Dracula’s castle is real!
Who Was Vlad the Impaler?
Vlad III of Dracul also known as Vlad Tepes was the infamous ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century, known for the brutal murders of thousands and impaling their heads on spiked poles on entrance to his land to warn enemies away. (This is actually also contested and said to also be a publicity stunt from Vlad that he didn’t actually do this but spread the rumours to increase fear).
Regardless of these, you can’t deny the similarities in the stories of Vlad and Count Dracula, the same name that Stoker has used and the same setting of Transylvania. Once you visit Romania Bran Castle, you will see why it has been labelled as the real Dracula castle.
Busting Myths About Dracula
- I’m not sure there’s any relation between the author ‘Bram’ and the castle ‘Bran’ but it does fit together quite nicely.
- Bram Stoker never visited Bran Castle.
- Vlad of Dracul either only visited the castle a handful of times or was imprisoned here. The fact that this was his residence is a famous Dracula myth.
- The whole Bran Castle Dracula connections could be a tourism ploy. A good one at that because you can’t do a Dracula literary tour without visiting Transylvania Bran Castle.
How to Get to Bran Castle in Transylvania
The closest airport to Count Dracula Castle is Brasov International Airport and the closest train station is in Brasov so if you’re taking a flight or train then you need to figure out how to get to Bran from Brasov.
- Parking at Bran Castle is 4 Lei per hour
- When booking transportation, use the Romanian names in the systems
- To book a train in Romania use this website and check train schedules here
How to See Transylvania Draculas Castle from Romanian Cities:
From Brasov
By car is only 30 minutes via route DN73/E574 so you can rent your own vehicle and gives you the most freedom.
Get a private taxi for up to 150 Lei per way. Perhaps arrange for the same driver to pick you up at a certain time or take their number to contact them for pick up.
You can get to Brasov by public bus from Auto Gara 2 Bus Station in Brasov which costs 8 Lei per person per way, departing every 30 minutes (every hour on weekends) and takes around 50 minutes.
Join a guided tour with transportation to visit the Dracula castle.
From Bucharest
I visited Bran Castle from Bucharest by going on this guided tour and it was easy, fun and very informative. Find some guided tours for how to go to Bran castle from Bucharest here:
If you prefer to get there yourself, by car takes about 2.5 hours from the capital city via route DN1/E60. Getting a taxi will be approximately 350 Lei per way.
Take the train from Bucharest Gara de Nord (North) train station to Brasov taking between 2.5 and 3.5 hours and then find a way from Brasov to Bran Castle. A one way ticket between Brasov and Bucharest costs between 28 and 59 Lei per person.
From Timisoara
By car is quite far to visit Dracula’s castle from Timisoara and will take roughly 5 hours via A1 but ideal if you’re on a Romanian road trip.
Get the train from Timisoara North to Brasov which will take between 10 and 14 hours (majority likely include changing trains in Bucharest) and costs between 100 and 155 Lei per person, per way.
Take a guided tour from Timisoara:
From Cluj-Napoca
Driving from Cluj-Napoca to Bran Dracula castle Romania will take around 4 hours via DN1/E68.
Train journeys to Bran from Cluj-Napoca will take about 7 hours and cost on average 90 Lei per person, per way depending on time of day and route.
Private tours from Cluj-Napoca mainly come in multiple-day packages to include a visit to Bran Castle:
My Thoughts On How to Get to Dracula’s Castle
I personally recommend taking a tour to Bran from wherever you are in the country because it’s guided, you get transportation straight there and back, skip-the-line is included and you usually get another excursion within the tour.
I loved this tour from Bucharest to Bran Castle which included visiting Peles Castle and free time in Brasov and I can highly recommend booking with this company.
Using public transport to reach the castle is not that straight forward, the journey usually takes 2 or more legs / types of transportation and can be delayed.
Essential Info On Bran Castle Transylvania Romania
Address: Str. General Traian Mosoiu, nr. 24, Bran, Romania
Opening Times: Mon 12pm-6pm, Tue-Sun 9am-6pm (last admission to castle is 6pm)
Website: http://www.bran-castle.com/index.html
Entry Price: 45 Lei per adult (discounts available for students, children, seniors and groups)
You May Like: Horror Themed Bar in Prague Guide
What To Do At The Bran Castle in Romania
Arriving at Bran Village, at the foot of the castle, you feel as though you’ve stepped into a tourist haven full of vampire-themed restaurants, over-priced coffee and so many souvenir shops you wouldn’t need garlic to put Dracula himself off this place.
But if you like the hype surrounding Drac then you’ll love all the thematic places in the village before getting to the real castle of Dracula.
Once you pay entry, just follow the steep path that leads you right to the castle. If you walk past this on your right, follow the path until you see more steps to your right and this is the entrance to the castle.
There are several things to do inside Draculas castle such as starting with a walk through the viewing rooms that give the history and information about the real owners, residents and events that have occurred over the past few centuries.
I was lucky on my visit as it was the start of an exhibition about Dracula, Bran Castle, Bram Stoker and Vlad the Impaler which was presented on info boards. It was interesting to read the history and back story as well as see some of Bram Stoker’s research about Vlad and Romanian legends and myths. There’s also exhibitions about the movie adaptations of the novel including facts, props and costumes.
Next, make sure you walk through the centre of the castle for the scenic views of Carpathian Mountains and the courtyard of the pretty castle for an epic photo opportunity.
Throughout the top floor rooms you’ll find information boards, props and CGI on walls of the different mythical tales and beasts in Romania. This part was very interesting especially if you’re here for Dracula to learn more about real legends and inspiration for the world’s most famous vampire.
There’s also a torture chamber you can visit but this is at an extra cost of 10 Lei where you can see dungeons, torture devices and learn about the methods used in the past. As you exit the castle you’ll walk through the gift shop where you can, of course, buy a copy of the Dracula novel that this is all about.
Lastly, explore the grounds around the castle which have great views of the fort, a lake, gardens, a secret tunnel and in my opinion, the best spot for a picture with the castle.
Note: In the height of summer queues can be so long you may have a few hours wait ahead of you so plan your visit accordingly and decide if you want a skip-the-line ticket, a guided tour and whether you’d prefer early in the morning or last thing (last entry is 6pm).
FAQ and Reflections
…not that there are any mirrors near this castle 😉
Where is the castle of Dracula in Romania? Bran Castle in Transylvania
Where is Bran Castle? Near Brasov
Best time to visit Bran Castle? Bran Castle is as beautiful to see in the snow as it is in the sun so any time of year is great to visit Dracula castle.
Closest city? Brasov
Romanian name: Castelul Bran
What is the legend of Dracula based on? Either the novel Dracula or based on the ‘real-life Dracula’
Who is Romania Dracula? Vlad the Impaler is who Bram Stoker based the character on
What is Draculas real name? Either Count Dracula or the ‘real’ one is named Vlad of Dracul / Vlad the Impaler
What is another castle of Dracula / castle of Vlad the Impaler? Poenari Citadel is where Vlad lived or Târgoviște Fortress where he reigned
Is there a Draculas grave? Vlad the Impaler is buried in Snagov Monastery near Bucharest
Closest Accommodation to Transylvania Castle of Dracula
For a Dracula themed hotel, stay in House of Dracula Hotel in Brasov for the ultimate immersive literary experience in Romania. This accommodation is medieval-themed with a restaurant (called the chamber of torture), spa, bar and wine cellar. House of Dracula promises to bring the legend of Count Dracula to life in this unique stay among the Carpathian Mountains. Click here for latest prices and availability of House of Dracula Hotel. Alternatively, find a deal below:
Booking.comFurther Reading
Hope you loved sinking your fangs in this castle Dracula guide and helps you decide how to visit Bran castle in Romania!
Draculas Castle Romania Guide: Don’t Bat it Away, Pin it!
