After two months of living amongst the locals and enjoying the unique structures and public spaces of Bucharest, we set off to see more of Romania. Next stop was/is Brasov in the beautiful Transylvania region. Unlike metropolitan Bucharest, Brasov is surrounded by lush country and mountains. There is lots to see and explore including castles Bran and Peles which we hope to see in the next couple weeks.
We chose to go by train, for the scenic route and relatively low price of about 70 lei /16 euro per person for first class. The best way to purchase tickets is to go online and buy them from http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/ They advise you to buy them about 24 hours in advance, but we managed with a little wiggle room. The site is not difficult to navigate and offers English as well as Romanian translations.
We were running late to the train station but luckily it is pretty easy to find and board as long as you already have your ticket. There is ample room to store your full size luggage and carryons. There are power outlets to charge your electronics and certain seats offer a table.
Once on board the train is smooth and offers scenic views of mountains and rivers. There is a dining car that offers snacks and sandwiches at reasonable prices but nothing that would beat bringing your own with you. At some point vendors will jump on the train and try to sell you berries in pretty baskets. Being tourists, they will try to get as much as they can from you. It is a safe bet that they will at least double the normal price. I paid about 10 lei for some raspberries but I did notice others paying more and less. Either way, they are trying to make a living so don’t feel bad or try too hard if you can afford the price they quote.
The two hour ride to Brasov went very fast and strangely, I was not ready to get off, but that was it. One final tip. The taxis outside will try to rip you off so either use an app or negotiate. The first guy tried to charge us 20 euro when in reality it was no more than 12 lei /3 euro fare. It is a small town so do not pay more than 15 lei /5 euro if you are anywhere in the city.
That’s it. We have been here for a few days now, taking it in, and enjoying this calm and serene town. We hope to take some trips out of the city later this week
Here are some photos and a hyperlapse compilation from our ride here.
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