Brasov Christmas Market 2026: Near Dracula’s Castle

At the Brasov Christmas Market, makers from the town and the surrounding county get first claim on the craft and producer stalls. That’s why the jams, cheeses, wool and painted pottery look like they’ve come from the villages up the valley rather than a warehouse. A mug of mulled wine and a chimney cake still cost far less here than at the big markets further west. Stay until dark, when the giant letters on Tâmpa Hill light up above the rooftops.

Brasov Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Brasov dates: 27th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in March. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via City of Brasov.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Piața Sfatului (Council Square)
Opening times: 11am to 9pm
Christmas Day: Closed

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended tour: Castle tour including Peles and Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle).
Public transport: Buses run frequently but it’s easier to walk if you’re staying in the centre.
Parking: Public Parking Regina Maria is one of the largest parking garages.
Where to stay: Oldern House is 7 minutes from the square.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free
Lights: Tree and lights switch-on: 30th November at Council Square.
Santa’s House: Set days
Ice skating: St John’s Square (Piața Sfântul Ioan)
Reason to visit: Historic town square, Romanian folk crafts, hearty traditional food and castles nearby.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Plenty of options.
Vegan: Limited.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Specialities: Mici sausages, cozonac sweet bread, cabbage rolls, sweet pastries; kürtőskalács (chimney cake).

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.

Convenient Hotels

Brasov Old Town is relatively small and easy to get around. If you stay between Nicolae Titulescu Park and the base of Tâmpa Hill, you’ll be central. Several hotels and guesthouses are available in this area. I stayed at Oldern House, and it gets excellent reviews.

Recommended Tours

A city tour is worthwhile here, because a local guide fills in the stories behind the Black Church, the old town walls and Rope Street, one of the narrowest lanes in Europe. I always ask about good places to eat when I take one. A tour on your first day gives you an overview, and your hotel can point you to local guides.

This part of Romania is famous for its stunning castles, like Peles Castle and Bran Castle. Bran is the one we know as Dracula’s Castle and is interesting to visit, but I found Peles to be more beautiful and decorative. This castle tour from Brasov covers both and is an easy way to see them in one day.

Event Location

What to Expect

Around 50 wooden stalls gather round a real fir tree. The pastel Baroque facades and the dark bulk of the Black Church make the backdrop. Romania has some of the finest folk crafts in Europe, and the hand-woven textiles, carved wood and painted pottery here are very different from what you’ll find at the big markets further west. It’s also very affordable for international visitors. Local choirs and carollers take the stage through the season, and on 1 December, Romania’s National Day, there’s usually a folk show in the square.

Regional Specialties

• Sarmale: Romania’s famous cabbage rolls, stuffed with pork and rice and often served with polenta (mămăligă).
• Piftie: Pork set in its own jelly with garlic, a dish most Romanian families make only at Christmas.
• Pâine cu untură: Thick bread spread with lard, salt and paprika, the cheapest way to warm up at the stalls.
• Cozonac: A semi-sweet bread with swirls of cocoa, walnuts and raisins, sold by the slice or the loaf.

Food at the Stalls

• Vin fiert: Romania’s mulled wine. Look for hot țuică (plum brandy) at the drinks stalls too.
• Kürtőskalács (chimney cake): It’s particularly loved here in Transylvania, where it originates. The dough is wound around a wooden spit, rolled in sugar and roasted slowly over charcoal, so the sugar hardens into a crisp crust around a soft, fluffy middle.
• Mici: Literally ‘little ones’, these small skinless grilled sausages are among the most popular street foods in Romania.
• Cârnați la ceaun: Sausages cooked in a big iron cauldron, usually eaten with bread and pickles.
• Covrigi: Romania’s pretzels, best sprinkled with coarse sea salt or poppy seeds.

What to Buy

• Baubles: Hand-painted glass ornaments.
• Ceramics: Often from Horezu, these pieces are decorated with geometric, animal or bird motifs.
• Embroidered textiles: Romania is renowned for its folk textiles, with floral or geometric patterns stitched onto the fabric.
• Wooden items: Ornate spoons, simple bowls and chess sets are some of the specialties.
• Jams and preserves: Made from local plums, raspberries and blackberries, alongside honey from the surrounding hills.
• Local spirits: For a more spirited souvenir, look for bottles of țuică and pălincă, Romania’s traditional fruit brandies.