Is Brasov Safe in January 2026?

Terraces in and around Council Square (Piața Sfatului) and Strada Republicii bring unrequested bread, butter or appetisers and bill them as a per-person 'couvert', list some meat and fish dishes per 100g rather than per portion, and bury service charges in fine print. Tourists are surprised when the total far exceeds the menu prices they expected. Some menus shown to foreigners lack clear pricing.

How to avoid: Check whether prices are per portion or per 100g, ask about cover charges and service fees before ordering, and decline bread/appetisers you didn't request. Review the itemised bill line by line and query anything you didn't order.

Touts and online operators sell Bran Castle (often bundled with Peleș and Râșnov) day-tours from Brașov at prices that can run from double to as much as ten times the cost of simply taking the bus and buying entry at the gate. The premium frequently buys little more than transport plus a guide reciting the Vlad-the-Impaler myth, which historians note has no real link to Bran Castle. Door-to-door upselling near the squares pushes inflated 'private' rates.

How to avoid: Compare the all-in tour price against doing it independently (about 13 lei bus + the castle's standard entry ticket). Book reputable operators with verifiable recent reviews, confirm exactly what is included, and avoid committing to tours sold by street touts.

Drivers loiter outside the train station asking arriving tourists 'Taxi?' and quote a flat 50-70 lei or '16 euro' for the short ride into the Old Town, a trip that should cost roughly 10-15 lei on the meter. They often refuse to run the meter or show a phone 'meter' priced in euros instead of lei. Legitimate Brașov taxis display a per-kilometre rate (around 1.35-2 lei/km) on the car door.

How to avoid: Ignore drivers who approach you and instead order a car through the Bolt or Uber app, or phone a known company like MARTAX. Insist on the meter before getting in, and refuse any 'fixed price' or euro-denominated quote. Confirm the rate sticker is on the door.

Exchange booths near the train station and Old Town advertise an attractive headline rate, then apply a commission, a 'different rate' for your transaction type or a minimum fee, so you walk away with noticeably less than the board suggested. Some 'no commission' windows simply use a poor rate far from the real market value, and street money-changers should be avoided entirely. Travelers report handing over cash and receiving well below the expected amount after 'standard fees'.

How to avoid: Never change money with someone on the street. Use a proper bank branch (Banca Transilvania, BCR, BRD) or a casa de schimb that posts the net rate with zero commission, ask exactly how many lei you will receive before handing over cash, and count it before leaving.

In crowded spots such as Piața Sfatului, the lanes around the Black Church (Biserica Neagră) and Strada Republicii, and on local buses, thieves work in pairs to bump, crowd or distract tourists while an accomplice lifts a wallet or phone. Peak season and busy terraces raise the risk. Classic ploys include 'found ring' offers or someone tying a friendship bracelet on your wrist to create a distraction and a sense of obligation.

How to avoid: Keep wallets and phones in zipped front pockets or a money belt, stay alert when someone crowds or jostles you, and don't engage with strangers who 'find' a gold ring or try to put a bracelet on you. Wear bags across the body with the clasp facing forward.