Arriving by train

Brasov’s railway station is only partly the usual Eastern European shambles. While it offers all your favourite features, such as drunks, tramps, thieves (if your mobile phone gets stolen in Brasov you can buy it back here) and damp, dingy underpasses, it could (and once was) a lot worse. In the main hall you will find two ATMs, a Relay press store, a smart, friendly and helpful Wasteels ticket office, Fornetti for snacks, and even a chemist.

There’s only one exit, which deposits you outside in a big and well organised car park, where taxis and buses await. There are now few taxi sharks in Brasov: most of those who wait at the station are honest, and will take you into the city centre for around 8 lei. Just make sure the taxi displays the name, logo and phone number of a trusted Brasov taxi company, such as Martax.

Cheapskates and lovers of old, crowded buses can take bus No. 4 into the city centre: buy tickets (1.50 lei each) from the newsstand or RAT kiosk next to the bus stops. No. 4 leaves from platform three. It takes around 10 minutes to get to Livada Postei, the main bus stop in the city centre.

It’s from here that you will take No. 20 if you are heading up to Poiana Brasov.