Where to Stay in Transylvania with Kids: Brașov, Sinaia, Sighișoara and Bran

I'll admit Romania had never really been on my radar before we were invited to a wedding there, and I spent the first few days wondering how I had missed this for so long. Medieval cities, mountains that appear out of nowhere as you round a bend and bears crossing the road. We did an eight-day road trip through the region with our then nearly 2 yr old daughter, and the views (and bears) were stunning.

Accommodation in Transylvania is excellent value and there are plenty of unique options like a centuries-old guesthouse inside the citadel walls of Sighișoara, a boutique hotel on the royal grounds of Peleș Castle in Sinaia, a wooden mountain cabin with horses grazing next door. This post covers the best family-friendly places to stay in the four destinations we'd recommend basing a Transylvania road trip around: Brașov, Sinaia, Sighișoara and Bran.

For the full day-by-day itinerary including the Transfăgărășan Highway, bear watching, the Red Ravine and Bucharest, read our 8-day Transylvania road trip with kids. For places to stay in Bucharest at the end of the trip, see our Bucharest accommodation guide.

Where to Stay in Transylvania with Kids: Brașov, Sinaia, Sighișoara and Bran

Property	Location	Price from	Best For
Casa Wagner Brașov	Brașov, Council Square	~£70/night	Families who want the best location in the city on a mid-range budget
Kronwell Brașov Hotel	Brașov, Centrul Nou	~£120/night	Families who want a spa, kids club, indoor pool and all the facilities
Elysian Fields — The Island Tiny House	Sadu, near Sibiu	~£75/night	Adventurous families who want a mountain garden, hot tub and farm animals
Cabana Doi Mesteceni	Bran area	~£75/night	Families who want a mountain cabin with horses next door
Complex La Tunuri — Vila Economat	Sinaia, Peleș Castle grounds	~£90/night	Anyone who wants to wake up with Peleș Castle directly outside their window
Mercure Sighișoara Binderbubi Hotel & Spa	Sighișoara	~£80/night	Families who want a spa for the adults and a pool for the kids
Casa Georgius Krauss	Sighișoara, inside citadel	~£65/night	Those who want to sleep inside the UNESCO medieval citadel walls

Brașov

Brașov is the natural hub of a Transylvania road trip and the city most visitors spend the most time in. Founded by Saxon settlers in the 12th century, it is a proper medieval city with a well preserved Gothic old town. You will find the Black Church, which is Romania's largest Gothic church blackened by a 17th century fire, and a main square where you can sit and eat and watch the world go by. The Rope Street (Strada Sforii) is supposedly the narrowest street in Europe, and you can almost touch the buildings on both sides simultaneously. Bran Castle is 20 minutes away, Râșnov Fortress is nearby, and Poiana Brașov ski resort is a 15 minute drive.

1. Casa Wagner Brașov (from around £70/night)

Best for: families who want to be right on the Council Square with Brașov's best views, at a price that leaves budget for good food and day trips

Located right on Piața Sfatului (the main square) with views directly onto the Black Church from the upper rooms, Casa Wagner puts you in the centre of the Brașov experience from the moment you open the curtains. The building dates back centuries and the rooms are individually decorated with warm, characterful interiors. A breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant downstairs, which also functions as a very good lunch spot throughout the day. The location is unbeatable for families who want to walk everywhere without navigating transport. Family rooms are available, just check cot availability at the time of booking.

2. Kronwell Brașov Hotel (from around £120/night)

Best for: families who want a full resort experience in the city with indoor pool, kids club, spa for the adults, bowling alley, and spacious rooms

About a ten minute drive from the old town in the Centrul Nou area, the Kronwell is the most complete family hotel in Brașov by some distance. They offer over 150 square metres of dedicated children's facilities, a full spa and wellness centre with an indoor pool and sauna, a bowling alley, and spacious family rooms with heated floors. Having a baby cot and high chair ready on arrival without asking is a nice touch. The old town is a taxi or tram ride away, which suits some families perfectly but might frustrate others, so think carefully about whether the location works for your trip.

Sadu and the Mountains

For families doing the wider Transylvania road trip, the stretch between Sibiu and Brașov offers options with stunning mountain views. We spent two nights in Sadu, a small village thirty minutes from Sibiu, and used this as our base to go on a bear hunt whilst driving the Transfăgărășan pass. You can read the guide here on how to do it with kids: Driving the Transfăgărășan Highway in Transylvania with Kids: Bears, Mountains and a Glacial Lake

3. Elysian Fields — The Island Tiny House (from around £75/night)

Best for: cosy family stays with mountain views and a hot tub to relax in after bedtime

This is where we stayed for two nights in Sadu, and it was such a cosy stay from the wonderful hosts Raul and Maria who have several the tiny houses with uninterrupted views of the Carpathian Mountains. Whilst it is a tiny house it comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a private hot tub, and a swing and climbing frame in the garden. Maria even brought out extra toys and books when she saw our daughter. Just note this is a self catering setup in a residential village, so you will need a car to get to restaurants or supplies but for an extra fee Maria will bring you a homemade breakfast delivered to your door.

Bran

Bran is a small town about twenty minutes from Brașov and is famous as the home of Bran Castle, which inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. Whilst Bran itself feels quite touristy, the mountain valley it sits in acts as a good base for hiking. For families who want to combine city access with proper countryside, spending a couple of nights based here and day-tripping to Brașov and the castles is a very good approach.

4. Cabana Doi Mesteceni (from around £75/night)

Best for: families who want a mountain cabin with panoramic views, horses next door and that feeling of being completely away from everything

On a hill above the Bran valley with mountain views in every direction, this wooden cabin feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. The cabin itself is basic with a simple kitchen where you'll use a propane stove for cooking. They don't have any cots available so you'll have to bring your own here. Brașov is a 20 minute drive and Bran Castle is a short distance. My daughters highlight here were the horses in the neighbouring pen which we visited whilst watching the sun set in the mountains behind us.

Sinaia

Sinaia is known as the "Pearl of the Carpathians" and the nickname is well earned. A mountain resort town in the Prahova Valley, it sits at around 800 metres elevation with the Bucegi mountains rising steeply on both sides. Peleș Castle is the main draw which is an extravagant 19th-century royal summer palace nestled in the woods. The town also has a cable car to the Cota 1400 ski area and good hiking in summer. It works as an overnight stop on the drive between Brașov and Bucharest, and a one-night stay here is enough to see the castle properly.

Worth knowing: Sinaia can be busy at weekends and in peak season, when Peleș Castle queues can be long. Arriving on a weekday morning, or booking a timed entry slot in advance, makes a significant difference.

5. Complex La Tunuri — Vila Economat (from around £90/night)

Best for: anyone who wants to wake up with Peleș Castle directly outside their window and have the grounds to themselves before the day visitors arrive

This is the former Royal Guard Office of Peleș Castle, standing on the Royal Domain just 100 metres from Pelișor Castle and an eight minute walk from Peleș itself. This is one of the most extraordinary accommodation locations anywhere on a Transylvania trip. You get a historic villa with castle views from the rooms and breakfast served in a restaurant that makes you feel like royalty. Seeing the castle lit up at night from your window is a special feeling.

Sighișoara

Sighișoara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in the world. It is a fortified hilltop citadel with cobblestone streets, a 64 metre Clock Tower, and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. A carrier is your best bet if you're staying here.

6. Mercure Sighișoara Binderbubi Hotel & Spa (from around £80/night)

Best for: families who want a reliable, comfortable hotel with a pool and a spa

Just a six minute walk from the Medieval Citadel Square, the Mercure has a Tyrolean inspired design with an indoor swimming pool, a small spa, and a restaurant with a warm, cosy atmosphere that works perfectly for families with young children. The location is close enough to walk into the citadel, but calm enough that evenings are quiet. The pool and spa are a nice bonus too.

7. Casa Georgius Krauss (from around £65/night)

Best for: those who want the full medieval immersion experience and don't mind navigating cobblestones with a carrier rather than a pram

A 16th century UNESCO listed building inside the citadel walls, offering individually designed rooms featuring original stonework and frescoes. Staying here means you walk out in the morning onto the same cobblestones that have been there for five hundred years, with the Clock Tower directly above. It is not suitable for families relying on a pram since the steep cobblestone streets require a carrier, but for families with children old enough to walk, this is the most memorable accommodation in Sighișoara.

A Few Final Thoughts

Transylvania is a beautiful region that is perfect for exploring with kids. The accommodation options range from historic hotels on castle grounds to mountain cabins and the best part is that the prices are some of the best value in Europe.

For the full road trip plan, read our 8-day Transylvania road trip with kids. For Bucharest at the end of the trip, see our Bucharest where to stay guide.