While I have indeed been to Brașov (and Transylvania), I never got a chance to write about what to do in Brașov, and that’s a good thing because it has given the chance for a friend of the site, Benji Kriner, to step up and talk about how to visit Brașov and Transylvania. He’s a talented writer and storyteller, and passionate about travel, so it’s a genuine pleasure to give him this platform. You’re in for a treat today, everyone. Take it away, Benji!

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I recently went on a 3 week trip to Europe. My friends asked me, “Where did you go?” My response, “Amsterdam, London and Romania.”

I heard the same response from every single person: “Why Romania?”

Let me explain.

Romania’s history is somewhat hidden and mysterious to the Westerner. In the early first century through the eleventh century, rule over Romania changed frequently. The Romans, Huns, Gepids, Avars and Bulgarians all had their time. Most of the architecture from that time period has been demolished, so most of what comes next is from the Saxon and Hungarian rules (1100s – 1947).

My travels sent me into Cluj-Napoca, one of the cheapest airports to fly into from London, in which I rented a car and drove south to the land of mystery and vampires – Transylvania. As an American, you hear legends of Transylvania and vampires, mostly due to Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the stories inspired by it.

So I decided to go see for myself during the height of costume season – Halloween.

Getting to Brașov, Romania