Brasov is one of the prettiest cities I’ve visited across Europe. But choosing the right neighborhood and accommodation could be the difference between a good trip and a great trip to this gem of Transylvania.
If you’re curious about where to stay in Brasov, this article will help you make the right decision.
Best Areas to Stay in Brasov
There are only a couple neighborhoods to choose from if you’re staying in Brasov.
Old Town
Old Town is the best place to stay in Brasov. Mount Tampa to the south makes for a jaw-dropping backdrop to this medieval neighborhood that’s retained so much of its beautiful architecture. Old Town also has most of the best bars and nightlife in Brasov, along with the many of the best restaurants and cafes. Simply put, it’s by far the most convenient area to stay.
Looking at the map of Brasov below, the red circle encompasses Old Town Brasov and places just outside if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option.
Below, you’ll see a slightly more zoomed-in photo of Old Town Brasov, with the green circle representing the core of the area.
Another way to quickly deduce whether your Brasov accommodation is a good place to stay is by seeing the distance to Council Square (“Piata Sfatului”). This is the main square of Brasov, so you’ll probably want to be within a 15-minute walk or so to Council Square.
Centrul Nou (“The New Center”)
If you want to live like a local in Brasov, you can opt for Centrul Nou, or “The New Center.”
The buildings here are more modern, which can be good or bad. You’ll see evidence of brutalist architecture from communist times, newly built apartments and office buildings, and some German-looking Art Nouveau sprinkled in.
More locals live in these parts, whereas Old Town has many more apartments that have been transformed into AirBnBs, boutique hotels, or guesthouses.
I sometimes choose these more residential neighborhoods when I visit a new city, but I felt that Brasov’s Old Town was too charming to pass up. Looking back, I’m glad I choose to stay in Old Town.
Poiana Brasov
Poiana Brasov is where locals go to ski in the winter. In the summer, it turns into the hub for outdoors activities like hiking and mountain biking.
If you’re traveling across Romania solely for its wonderful nature and adventure activities, you could consider staying in Poiana Brasov for conveniency reasons.
But it’s only about 15-20 minutes by car from Old Town, so it’s pretty easy to get there from the core of the city anyway.
Best Place to Stay in Brasov
When it comes to accommodation in Brasov, I can only recommend the place where I stayed: Vila Katherina.
Vila Katherina
Vila Katherina is a boutique hotel. From my research, it had looked to be the nicest hotel in Brasov.
The location is prime. Vila Katherina is a 5-minute walk to the Black Church, a 5-minute walk to Council Square, and a 10-minute walk to the trail that takes you up Mount Tampa. If your plan is to stay in Old Town Brasov, you’ll never have to walk more than 15 minutes in any direction from Vila Katherina to get where you want to go.
The service was very, very good. The hosts were incredibly friendly. Toward the end of our stay, we realized we’d put off doing laundry and could use it being done. They graciously got it done for us on short notice for a small fee.
They offer breakfast, though we opted for Brasov’s many wonderful breakfast and brunch options.
In-Summary: Where to Stay in Brasov
Old Town Brasov should be at the top of your list of neighborhoods to stay in Brasov. There are seemingly endless guesthouses, boutique hotels, and AirBnBs in the area, so you’ll have your pick of the litter.
I strongly recommend Vila Katherina as the best place to stay. However, I noticed a plethora of a highly rated, conveniently located places when doing my initial research.
Centrul Nou (“The New Center”) is home to many great local bars and restaurants and offers a more local vibe. However, it’s far less charming than Old Town and I’d consider it fairly inconvenient if you’re hoping to get to all of the best places to see in Brasov.
If you’re in Brasov for adventure reasons, you could even explore getting a place in Poiana Brasov up in the mountains. This is home to the city’s ski resort, and in the summer, the base for many adventure activities. But honestly, Old Town is still pretty darn convenient for this, as the trail up Mount Tampa is right at your doorstep and Poiana Brasov is a short 15-minute Uber away.
With all of this in mind, my pick for the best place to stay in Brasov is unquestionably Old Town!
