Headed to Transylvania at Christmastime and wondering what to do? Make sure to plan a visit to the Brasov Christmas Market for a great mix of Romanian and Hungarian Christmas traditions.
We spoke with Cecilia Doiciu from Brasov City Hall to get the best insider tips so you can plan a flawless visit to Brasov at Christmas.
Read Next: 13 Exciting & Cozy Things to do in Transylvania in Winter
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How to Visit the Brasov Christmas Market
Cecilia was kind enough to answer all of our questions about how to visit. Here’s everything you need to know to attend the Brasov Christmas Market.
What are the dates and times for the 2019 Brasov Christmas Market?
The Christmas Market is open from the 1st of December until the 31st of December, but the Christmas lighting decorations and the Christmas Tree will stay at least until the 10th of January 2020.
The working hours of the Christmas market are 11.00 AM to 10.00 PM every day, or at least from 2 PM to 10 PM.
The name of the winter festival is “Brașov – Oraș din poveste“ (translated into English as Brasov, the City from the Tales), and the name of the Christmas Market is “Christmas Fair in Piata Sfatului Square,“ or “Târgul de Crăciun din Piața Sfatului“ in Romanian.
Here is a link to some stories about the fair, including a link to an extended photo gallery on Facebook, and this is a link from the fair opening and the lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony.
Where is the market located?
Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
What kind of entertainment will there be for adults?
The Christmas Fair surrounding the huge natural Christmas Tree offers a lot of souvenirs hand-made by the local craftsmen and artisans.
There is a stage in Piata Sfatului, where there are traditional Romanian Christmas songs and concerts from all historical regions of the country that will take place on the 21st of December, starting from 5.30 PM.
The public New Year’s Eve party will start at 10 PM, December 31st (DJ music, folk music, the pop band Mandinga, Smiley & Live band, DJ Music), including a fireworks show.
But there are a lot of things to do and see around and a lot of cozy pubs and restaurants with Romanian traditional food, live events, and parties, especially around New Year’s Eve.
What kind of entertainment will there be for children?
Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
Children will have the opportunity to participate in the free workshops which are daily kept in Santa’s House, by the artisans and craftsmen from the fair. For the little ones, there is also a classic carousel and a small electric train to keep them entertained.
What kind of goods will be for sale?
Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
Read Next: 10 Romanian Souvenirs You Have to Make Room For in Your Suitcase
What kind of food and drinks will be available?
Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
From Christmas Traditional sweets like home-made jam (dulceață, gem și șerbet), drinks (Pălincă or mulled wine), a lot of meat products (cârnați, slănină, jumări) and cheese (like the unique „brânză de burden“ – bellows cheese), you can see, buy, taste or take home a piece of Romanian soul.
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- Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
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Is there a ticket price to get into the events?
Photo by Andrei Paul provided courtesy of Primaria Brasov.
Are there any other special festivities in Brasov this December or January that travelers might want to attend?
There are many private parties and events that will be organized by the pubs, and also in Poiana Brașov will be some parties linked to the Skiing Season Opening.
Read Next: 11 Delightful Ski Resorts in Poiana Brasov, Romania
Is there anything else you would want a visitor coming to your town this winter to know before they visit?
Brasov has the best skiing slopes in Romania, in Poiana Brasov, Postavaru Mountains. In spite of the technology which makes it possible to build artificial snow through the winter season, we also need a little help from the weather, so you have to check here for the daily state of the slopes. Poiana Brasov also offers outdoor entertainment like sleighing or horse riding, or just a hike to the peak Postavaru.
How can travelers learn more?
We have our recommendations and resources for visiting Brasov below. I want to thank Cecilia Doiciu from Brasov City Hall for answering our questions about this spectacular event! For more detailed information about the market, check out Brasov events and the City of Brasov.
Where to Stay in Brasov
We’re in the process of creating comprehensive guides on where to stay in Brasov. If you plan on visiting the Brasov Christmas Market while visiting Poiana Brasov for a ski vacation, check out our guide to where to stay in Poiana Brasov.
We recommend checking out Booking.com as early as possible. There are some great hotel deals available in Romania, but many of the most popular hotels do sell-out.
What to Pack for Romania in Winter
We have a full Romania packing list, but in case you just want the quick version, here are a few essentials you shouldn’t forget to pack!
A good guidebook: While travel blogs are great, we still think a good guidebook is always handy. We own and recommend Lonely Planet Romania & Bulgaria for travel in Romania and beyond!
One or two swimsuits: While swimsuits may not come to mind for winter, if you’re staying in a resort with a sauna, indoor pool, or steam room — or just visiting Bucharest’s epic Therme spa — you’ll likely want one! We suggest bringing two so you never have to put a cold wet one back on. We love this one.
Plenty of winter clothing: You can check our packing list above for our full winter packing suggestions for men and women. At a minimum, you’ll want to bring a warm winter jacket (I love this North Face parka), cozy snow boots, warm wool socks, touch-screen friendly gloves, a scarf, and a winter hat.
Any ski equipment and clothing, if needed: We’re not skiers ourselves, so we don’t have specific ski gear equipment, but special ski clothes — waterproof pants and jackets, goggles, etc. — and ski gear obviously should be on your packing list, unless you have decided to rent it all when you arrive at your Serbia ski resort.
Moisturizer: Travel will beat your skin up in the best of times — and winter travel in addition to skiing will really do a number on it! If you use a moisturizer at home, bring it. If you’ve never used a moisturizer before, you really should start. You’ll be happy to give your face a boost before heading outside in the cold all day.
Sunscreen: We strongly suggest wearing sunscreen when you spend time outdoors, no matter the weather outside — especially if you’re skiing! The higher altitudes combined with the reflection of the sun off the snow can lead to unexpected sunburns. I love this solid Neutrogena sunscreen – it’s mess-free, works well in carry-ons, is ultra-protective, and blends in well.
Read Next: Essential Romania Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Romania
More Romania Travel Resources
Hanging out in Romania in early November…underdressed!
If you’re going to Romania, we have a goldmine of resources for you to take advantage of! First, check out this guide to planning a trip to Romania. It’s a good starting point for planning your trip.
We also have a specific winter guide to Bucharest, winter guide to Transylvania, and winter guide to Romania already published, and guides to Brasov and Sibiu on the way!
Next, check out all the things to do in Transylvania and things to do in Bucharest. You can also check out our Instagram guides to Sibiu, Brasov, and Bucharest – more are on the way.
You can also read about the best Romanian castles, the Romanian food you should try on your trip, or how to plan some epic day trips from Bucharest.
If this is your first trip to Romania, check out our guide to Balkan currency which goes over how money works in Romania and our guide to tipping in Romania so you’re prepared before you get here!
We publish new content nearly every day! Bookmark our pages on Romania and the Balkans so that you don’t miss out on any new info or resources that we publish before your trip!
Pin this Guide to Visiting the Brasov Christmas Market for Your Trip to Romania!
Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online, appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times, and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.
