Car Rental in Brasov
Overview
Brasov is where Transylvania stops being a concept and becomes a place. The old town sits in a valley surrounded by Carpathian peaks on three sides. The Black Church — the largest Gothic church in Southeast Europe — anchors the medieval center. Tampa Mountain rises directly behind the main square with a Hollywood-style sign that reads “BRASOV” in white letters. In one direction, Bran Castle (marketed as “Dracula’s Castle”) is 30 km away. In the other, the Transfagarasan highway — that road Clarkson drove on Top Gear — starts 90 km south and climbs to 2,042 meters.
The reason you need a car in Brasov is that everything worth seeing is spread across a wide area of the southern Carpathians. The fortified Saxon churches of Prejmer, Harman, and Viscri are each 20-50 km away on different roads. The Piatra Craiului ridge — Romania’s most dramatic limestone massif — is 25 km southwest. Peles Castle in Sinaia is 50 km south. The ski resort at Poiana Brasov is 12 km uphill. You can see all of this on day trips from a Brasov base, provided you have wheels.
The rental market in Brasov is limited. Autonom has a city office, and a few local operators work from near the train station, but the total selection is maybe 3-5 agencies with small fleets. Prices are marginally higher than Bucharest — 14-18 EUR per day for an economy car in the off-season, 22-38 EUR in summer. Our consistent recommendation: pick up at Bucharest Otopeni Airport and drive to Brasov. The 180 km drive takes 2.5-3 hours via the DN1/E60 through the Prahova Valley. You get better prices, more choice, and a scenic drive that passes through Sinaia, Busteni, and Predeal — three mountain resort towns worth a stop.
Brasov’s new Ghimbav Airport (GHV) opened in 2023 with the promise of becoming a regional hub. As of 2026, it has a handful of domestic and low-cost flights. Rental desks are limited — check current availability. If the airport develops as planned, it will become the obvious pickup point for Brasov visitors.
Driving tips
Brasov itself is easy to drive in. The old town is partially pedestrianized, so you will not drive through it but rather around it on Bulevardul Eroilor and the ring of streets that follow the old walls. Traffic peaks during the morning and evening commute but is nothing compared to Bucharest. The road to Poiana Brasov (12 km, 20 minutes) climbs through pine forest on a well-maintained mountain road — this stretch gets icy in winter, when snow tires are mandatory from November through March.
The drives around Brasov are the main event. Here is what to expect on the key routes:
Transfagarasan Highway (DN7C): The road opens only from late June to mid-October (snow closes the pass the rest of the year). From Brasov, drive south on the DN1 to Curtea de Arges (140 km, 2.5 hours), then north on the DN7C into the mountains. The spectacular section — the part with the switchbacks, the tunnel, and the glacial lake at Balea — is the northern approach from Sibiu. We recommend driving the road south-to-north (Curtea de Arges to Sibiu) for the better views, which means the climb reveals the landscape progressively. Allow a full day. The road is narrow, open to tourist buses, and has limited overtaking opportunities.
Bran Castle route: Take the DN73 west from Brasov through Rasnov (where there is a separate medieval fortress worth a stop) to Bran. The road is 30 km, 40 minutes, and in good condition. The castle itself is a pleasant medieval structure that has almost nothing to do with Bram Stoker’s Dracula but everything to do with Instagram. Crowded in summer. Arrive before 10 AM or after 4 PM.
Fortified churches circuit: Prejmer is 15 km northeast on the DN10 — the most impressive fortified church in the region, with a multi-story defense gallery surrounding the chapel. Harman is 10 km north. Viscri is 90 km northwest — a village that Prince Charles helped put on the map by buying a house here. The road to Viscri leaves the main DN from Rupea and becomes a narrow village road for the last 5 km. Passable in any car but slow.
Prahova Valley (toward Bucharest): The DN1 through Predeal, Busteni, and Sinaia is scenic but heavily trafficked. On summer weekends and holidays, the return drive to Bucharest can take 4-5 hours instead of the usual 2.5 due to traffic jams in the valley. Leave early or late to avoid the worst.
Speed cameras are present on the DN1 through the Prahova Valley and on the approaches to Brasov from both directions. Police radar is common near Predeal and on the DN73 to Bran.
Parking
Parking in Brasov’s old town is the one genuine hassle. The Council Square (Piata Sfatului) and surrounding streets are pedestrian zones — no vehicle access. The nearest proper parking is the underground lot at Livada Postei, about 300 meters south of the square, charging 4-5 RON per hour (~0.80-1.00 EUR). It fills on summer weekends by mid-morning.
The practical alternative is the Schei neighborhood immediately south of the old town walls. This residential area has free street parking on most streets, and the walk to Council Square takes 10 minutes through Strada Poarta Schei and the old gate. This is the approach we use every time.
The Coresi Shopping Resort, 3 km south on the road to Bucharest, has a large free parking area. It is useful as a base if you are visiting on a busy summer day and do not mind a short bus ride (line 51 to the center).
For Poiana Brasov (the ski resort turned summer hiking base), parking is available at the base of the cable car and along the main road. In ski season, lots fill early — arrive before 9 AM on weekends. In summer, parking is ample.
One tip for the Transfagarasan: the parking lot at Balea Lac (the glacial lake near the pass summit) is small and overwhelmed in July-August. Cars queue on the road itself, sometimes for an hour. Consider hiking up from Balea Cascada instead, which has more parking and adds a 2-hour trail through beautiful alpine scenery.
