# How do you get from Bucharest to Brașov?

> Bucharest to Brașov by train takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes on InterCity and InterRegio trains from Gara de Nord; buses take 3 to 4 hours.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/bucharest-to-brasov-train-bus-transfer-guide
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-07-29

**Take the train from București Nord: it is the fastest and the best for most people.** The quickest **InterCity** trains take about **2 hours 15 minutes** and **InterRegio** trains about **2 hours 25 to 2 hours 40 minutes**, with direct trains on average more than once an hour. Second class on an InterRegio was 64.5 lei at the last published fare (December 2023) and has risen several times since, so check CFR Călători for today's price. **Buses** such as FlixBus take **3.5 to 4 hours** and are often cheaper but get stuck in Prahova Valley traffic. Flying into Otopeni? Take the airport train to Gara de Nord and change. We spent 4 days in Brașov from late October 2022, 2 nights in Sinaia, then 4 days in Bucharest in November 2022, so we cover the Sinaia stop too.

## Train from București Nord (best for most)

All trains leave from **Gara de Nord (București Nord)**, about 3 km north-west of the old town and on metro lines **M1 and M4**. Romanian media reporting on the 2026 timetable say the fastest InterCity trains between Bucharest and Brașov take **under 2 hours 14 minutes**, while slow **Regio** trains take over 3.5 hours, with a direct train on average **less than an hour apart**.

**Train types:** IC (InterCity) is fastest; IR (InterRegio) is the everyday long-distance train and stops at Ploiești, Sinaia, Bușteni and Predeal; R (Regio) stops everywhere. State operator **CFR Călători** runs most trains, and private operators such as **Softrans** and **Astra Trans Carpatic** also run some. Their tickets are not interchangeable, so buy from the company that runs your train.

**Price:** Romania's IR second-class fare from București Nord to Brașov was 64.5 lei after December 2023, and fares have risen since: about 4.6% in December 2024, up to 3 lei with the August 2025 VAT rise, and **9.88% from 14 December 2025**. Expect IR second class to cost somewhat more than the last published 64.5 lei; Regio is cheaper and IC slightly dearer, with a compulsory IC seat reservation of about 6 lei. Check the exact fare on CFR Călători's site or the official app.

**How to book:** CFR Călători's website and app sell e-tickets, with a small discount for buying online and a bigger one for buying more than 10 days ahead. At the station, CFR has ticket machines and counters; the desks for private operators are not always clearly marked, so allow 15 minutes. Outside Friday afternoons and holiday weekends you can usually buy on the day.

## What the train ride is like

The line climbs the **Prahova Valley** through the Bucegi Mountains. After Câmpina the views open up: sit on the **left-hand side going north** for the Bucegi cliffs above Bușteni, where the mountain wall rises right beside the track.

Trains reach **Brașov station** on the north side of the city, about 2 to 3 km from Piața Sfatului and the old town. Local buses and taxis wait outside; a ride-hailing car or taxi takes about 10 to 15 minutes. If you are staying in Schei or near the Black Church, get dropped at the old-town edge: streets inside are narrow.

Trains are not luxurious and delays of 10 to 30 minutes happen, but the line is the most-used intercity route in the country and runs all year, including winter, when the road can be slow with snow.

## Stop in Sinaia on the way

Sinaia is on the same line, a stop for InterRegio trains before Predeal, and **Peleș Castle** is the main reason to stop. It is closed on Mondays, so check our [Peleș Castle guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/peles-castle-sinaia-tickets-hours-closed-mondays-guide) before timing the stop, and the [Sinaia guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/sinaia) for the town.

The easiest plan is to spend a night there, as we did between Brașov and Bucharest, or to buy separate tickets Bucharest to Sinaia and Sinaia to Brașov and keep a small bag. On Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons every train through the valley is busy with Bucharest weekenders.

## Bus and minibus

Aggregators list around two dozen bus departures a day, the first around 05:00 and the last around 22:30, with **FlixBus** among the operators. FlixBus leaves Bucharest from **Militari** (Calea Făgărașului 8), in the far west of the city. The fastest listed run is about **3.5 hours** and the average about **4 hours**.

Fares are often lower than the train, but the bus uses the **DN1**, which is two lanes for much of the climb and heavily congested on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings and in ski season. The bus only makes sense if a departure suits your hotel's location better than Gara de Nord.

## From Otopeni airport (OTP)

There is no confirmed direct airport train to Brașov in the 2026 timetable. Take the CFR **airport train** from the **Aeroport Henri Coandă** station to Gara de Nord: it runs about **every 40 minutes** and takes about **21 minutes**. Then change onto a Brașov train. Allow at least 30 minutes for the change.

Some shuttle companies run airport-to-Brașov minibuses, but their schedules change often; check the operator rather than an aggregator. A private transfer quoted for a 2026 date costs about **€130 (≈ $145) or more** for a car, so it only pays off for a group of three or four with luggage.

## Driving

It is about **170 km**. The **A3** motorway is still not complete between Ploiești and Brașov, so you drive the DN1 through Sinaia, Bușteni and Predeal: about 2.5 hours on a quiet weekday and 4 hours or more on Friday or Sunday. Romanian national roads need a **rovinietă**; rental cars normally have one, but check. See our [rovinietă guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/romania-rovinieta-toll-guide).

A car is worth it if you want [Bran Castle](https://clevertourists.com/resources/bran-castle-tickets-hours-from-brasov-guide), Râșnov and the fortified churches around Brașov without bus connections, but it is a poor choice for the transfer alone.

## Our route and how long to stay

Our Transylvania loop ran Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Sibiu, Sighișoara, then **Brașov from 29 October to 2 November 2022**, **Sinaia for 2 nights**, and **Bucharest from 4 to 8 November**. That reverse direction, ending in Bucharest for the flight out, works well: you do the mountains first and finish near the airport.

Three or four nights in Brașov covers the old town plus day trips to Bran and Râșnov. For Bucharest, see our [Bucharest guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/bucharest) and [day trips from Bucharest](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-bucharest); for timing, see the [best time to visit Romania](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-romania). Romania joined Schengen fully in January 2025, and our [Romania visa page](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-romania) covers entry.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long is the train from Bucharest to Brașov?

About 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest InterCity trains and about 2 hours 25 to 2 hours 40 minutes on InterRegio. Regio trains take over 3.5 hours.

### How much is the train ticket from Bucharest to Brașov?

The last published InterRegio second-class fare was 64.5 lei (December 2023), and fares have risen several times since, most recently by 9.88% in December 2025. Check CFR Călători's site for the exact fare.

### Is the bus or train better from Bucharest to Brașov?

The train. It takes about 2.5 hours from central Gara de Nord, while buses average about 4 hours on the congested DN1 and FlixBus leaves from Militari on the city's western edge.

### Can you go from Bucharest airport to Brașov by train?

Yes, with a change: take the airport train to Gara de Nord (about 21 minutes, every 40 minutes) and then a Brașov train.