Introducing Braşov

The heart and hub of Transylvania, this pop­ular, Saxon-rich town is an inviting base with a week’s worth of day trips to castles, villages and mountains. Flaunting its medieval glory, Braşov’s historic centre, still largely surrounded by medieval stone walls still not pierced by new-fangled paved roads, cobbles its way around tiny alleys and baroque façades and churches with (legend goes) sword marks on its walls. One new German resident said, ‘It looks just like a German town, just that it hasn’t been perfected yet. It’s actually dangerous to walk under some buildings. I love it.’

There are hills all around – most popularly Mt Tâmpa shooting up outside the city’s medieval walls, now sporting a ‘Hollywood’ Braşov sign that lights up as dusk hits – and plenty of kick-back bars, open-air cafés and fine eateries serving more than pizza. It’s a bit touristy – too much for some visitors – but it’s hard to miss.

See Around Braşov and Prahova Valley for scores of day-trip options including that eye-rolling, must-do ‘Dracula castle’ in Bran.