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December means Brașov’s Christmas market in Piața Sfatului, open until 3 January 2027, and a free New Year’s Eve party in the square. It is cold, with highs around 4°C, lows around −3°C and snow on about 7 days. The first three weeks are calm; Christmas to New Year is among the busiest times, so book early.
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Weather in December
These are the averages for the Brașov-Ghimbav weather station, 2015–2025, from the table in our Brașov weather and seasons guide:
| December | |
|---|---|
| Average high | 4°C (40°F) |
| Average low | −3°C (27°F) |
| Rain or snow | about 21 mm on 5 days |
| Days with snowfall | about 7 |
| Nights below 0°C | about 24 |
| Daylight | 9 h 01 min on 1 December, 8 h 45 min on 21 December |
| Sunrise / sunset | 07:35 / 16:37 on 1 December; 07:53 / 16:38 on 21 December; 07:56 / 16:44 on 31 December |
Sunrise and sunset times are from sunrise-sunset.org.
What it feels like: cold, often grey days with the most fog of the year, and freezing nights. Snow in the city comes and goes, while it lasts longer at Poiana Brașov, about 1,000 m up. Cold snaps are common: seven of the ten winters from 2015/16 to 2024/25 had at least one night at −18°C or below.
The Old Town’s pavements can be icy in the morning, especially on the slopes up to the city walls. It’s dark by about 16:45, which suits the market lights.
For today’s forecast as an outfit, use our weather forecast for Brașov tool, and see Brașov in winter for what to do on the coldest days.
Events in December
The Christmas market
The 2026 market opens in Piața Sfatului on 27 November, the lights go on at the official opening on 30 November, and it runs until Sunday 3 January 2027, according to City Hall. City Hall promises more than 50 stalls in three zones, including Piața Sfântul Ioan. Entry is free.
The 2026 hours weren’t published when we checked; in 2025 the stalls opened 14:00–22:00 on weekdays and 10:00–22:00 at weekends and on public holidays, and mulled wine cost about 15–20 lei. Dates, prices, the programme and parking are in our Brașov Christmas market guide.
1 December, National Day
Romania’s National Day is a public holiday, and in 2026 it falls on a Tuesday, at the end of a four-day weekend, 28 November – 1 December. The 2026 programme hasn’t been published. According to City Hall, the 2025 programme went like this:
- 10:00: the Junii, Brașov’s traditional horsemen, gathered in Piața Unirii in the Șchei district.
- 12:00: a military and religious ceremony on Bd. Eroilor.
- 18:00: a folk show in Piața Sfatului.
Concerts and Christmas
- 4 December 2026: Gypsy Rock Symphony, with Damian & Brothers and the Brașov Philharmonic orchestra at Lux Divina, 19:00 (our guide).
- 10 December 2026: The Nutcracker with the Brașov Philharmonic at 19:00, Patria hall (Zile și Nopți), and a Ștefan Bănică concert at Lux Divina (iabilet).
- Mid to late December: in 2025 the market stage had carol singers and concerts, and live screenings of the Christmas concerts at the Black Church, the Philharmonic and the Opera.
- 25 and 26 December: Christmas Day and the second day of Christmas are public holidays; in 2026 they fall on a Friday and Saturday (Digi24). 24 December is not a public holiday.
New Year’s Eve in Piața Sfatului
City Hall organises a free open-air party in Piața Sfatului every year. The 2026 line-up hasn’t been announced. According to City Hall, 29 December 2025, the 2025 party ran like this:
- The party started at 19:30 at the stage in the square, with Kiss FM DJs through the night.
- At midnight there was a laser show instead of fireworks; City Hall has dropped the New Year fireworks.
- The Christmas market stayed open late: the food and drink area ran 14:00–01:00 on 31 December.
- Buses on 14 lines ran until 01:30, linking the centre with every district, and City Hall asked people to leave their cars at home.
Romania has public holidays on 1 and 2 January; in 2027 they fall on a Friday and a Saturday. Last year’s programme, the night buses and what’s open on 1 and 2 January are in our New Year’s Eve in Brașov guide.
Ski season
Poiana Brașov opens when there is enough snow, natural or artificial. The season started on 18 December in 2024, according to Antena 3, and on 30 December in 2025, when only the beginner slopes opened. The upper slopes followed on 2 January 2026, according to G4Media.
The 2026/27 opening date and prices haven’t been announced; in 2025/26 an adult day pass cost 240 lei. Our skiing guide covers Poiana, Predeal and Sinaia.
What’s open and what’s closed
- Christmas Day: the Black Church is closed on 25 December (and 1 January), and so is the Libearty Bear Sanctuary (also on New Year’s Day). The farmers’ markets have usually closed on 25 December and 1–2 January.
- Peleș Castle reopens after its conservation closure (2 November – 1 December 2026), Wednesday to Sunday (National Peleș Museum).
- Bran Castle: winter hours, Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–18:00 and Monday 12:00–18:00 (last entry).
- Seven Ladders Canyon: closed from December to February because of ice.
- Parc Aventura: closed from December to February.
- Transfăgărășan: closed until the summer.
- Trains: the new national rail timetable starts in mid-December, so check times for trips after that date.
Opening hours over Christmas and New Year
Bran Castle, Peleș, the Tâmpa cable car and the zoo publish only their normal winter hours, with no holiday closures. The Black Church and the Libearty Bear Sanctuary are closed on 25 December and 1 January, and three of the city’s museums close on every public holiday.
In the latest hours the malls have published, for 2024/25, AFI Brașov and Coresi were closed on 25 December and Coresi on 1 January too. In 2025/26 RATBV buses ran on a Sunday timetable on 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 2 January.
In 2026/27, 24 and 31 December are Thursdays, 25 and 26 December are a Friday and a Saturday, and 1 and 2 January 2027 are a Friday and a Saturday. 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January are public holidays; 24 and 31 December are not.
Rows marked 2026/27 apply each operator’s current winter schedule and its stated holiday closures, checked on 16 October 2026. Rows marked 2025/26 or 2024/25 show what applied in that winter and may change. In recent years the malls and RATBV have published their holiday hours in December, between the 12th and the 30th.
Sights and attractions (2026/27)
| Place | 24 Dec (Thu) | 25 Dec (Fri) | 26 Dec (Sat) | 31 Dec (Thu) | 1 Jan (Fri) | 2 Jan (Sat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran Castle | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00* | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00* | 09:00–18:00 |
| Black Church | 10:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–18:00 | 10:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–18:00 |
| Peleș Castle | 09:15–17:00 | 09:15–17:00* | 09:15–17:00 | 09:15–17:00 | 09:15–17:00* | 09:15–17:00 |
| Tâmpa cable car | 10:30–22:00 | 10:30–22:30* | 10:30–22:30 | 10:30–22:00 | 10:30–22:30* | 10:30–22:30 |
| Brașov Zoo | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 |
| Libearty Bear Sanctuary | Tours 09:45, 11:00 | Closed | Tours 09:45, 11:00 | Tours 09:45, 11:00 | Closed | Tours 09:45, 11:00 |
| Ethnography, Urban Civilization and Art museums | 09:00–17:00 | Closed | Closed | 09:00–17:00 | Closed | Closed |
* Regular winter hours: these operators list no closure on 25 December or 1 January, but they haven’t published holiday hours either. Check their sites in December.
- Bran Castle: the times are last entry (Monday 12:00–18:00, 2 November to 31 March). The castle’s page lists no holiday closures, though one-off events do change days: a private event shortens 7 November 2026 (Bran Castle). Getting there: Brașov to Bran Castle.
- Black Church: closed on 25 December and 1 January. Last entry is 20 minutes before closing, and visits stop 30 minutes before a concert starts. These winter hours run from 16 October 2026 to April 2027 (Black Church).
- Peleș Castle: Wednesday 10:00–17:00 and Thursday to Sunday 09:15–17:00, closed Monday and Tuesday; last entry for individual visits is 16:00, and Pelișor has the same hours. The museum’s page lists no holiday closures (Peleș National Museum).
- Tâmpa cable car: the operator’s weekly hours, the only hours it publishes (Telecabina Tâmpa, Panoramic). See our Tâmpa guide.
- Brașov Zoo: 1 October to 28 February, Tuesday to Sunday, last tickets at 17:15, and open on Mondays during school holidays (Zoo Brașov). In 2024/25 the zoo said it would be open daily, Christmas and New Year included, 09:00–18:00 (BizBrașov, 23 December 2024).
- Libearty: closed every Monday, on the first day of Christmas and on New Year’s Day (Libearty). Booking is online; see our Libearty guide.
- Museums: the Museum of Urban Civilization and the Ethnography Museum open Wednesday to Sunday 09:00–17:00 and list public holidays as closed. The Art Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30) except on public holidays. The County History Museum in the Council House opens Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00 (museum) and does not state its public-holiday hours on its website. More in our museums guide.
Shopping, transport and leisure (last season’s hours)
A dash means the source gives no hours for that day.
| Place | 24 Dec | 25 Dec | 26 Dec | 31 Dec | 1 Jan | 2 Jan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coresi Shopping Resort (2024/25) | 10:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–22:00 |
| Cinema One at Coresi (2024/25) | 10:00–18:00 | 14:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–18:00 | 14:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 |
| Auchan at Coresi (2025/26) | 07:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–22:00 | 07:00–18:00 | Closed | 10:00–22:00 |
| AFI Brașov (2024/25) | 10:00–19:00 | Closed | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–19:00 | 14:00–22:00 | — |
| RATBV city buses (2025/26) | Weekday timetable | Sunday timetable | Sunday timetable | Weekday timetable; last departures 21:00, then 14 lines until 01:30 | Sunday timetable, from 07:00 | Sunday timetable |
| Christmas market, Piața Sfatului (2025/26) | 14:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 | Food and drink area 14:00–01:00 | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 |
| Olimpia ice rink (2025/26) | Three sessions (10:00, 12:00, 14:00) | Closed | Six sessions (first 10:00, last 20:00) | Closed | Four sessions (first 14:00, last 20:00) | Normal programme, six sessions |
| Paradisul Acvatic (2024/25) | — | — | — | 11:00–18:00 | 11:00–21:00 | — |
- Coresi and Cinema One (2024/25): from Coresi’s own holiday post (Coresi, December 2024). Coresi posted its holiday hours on 12 December 2023 and on 18 December 2024. See our shopping centres guide.
- AFI Brașov (2024/25): from BizBrașov, 23 December 2024, which lists no AFI hours for 2 January. The Carrefour hypermarket in AFI was closed on 25 December and 1 January.
- Auchan at Coresi (2025/26): Auchan returned to 10:00–22:00 from 26 to 30 December. Sources: BizBrașov, 30 December 2025, Brasov Romania, 23 December 2025 and NewsBV, 24 December 2025.
- RATBV (2025/26): the 14 lines that ran on 31 December were 1, 2, 2B, 4, 5, 6, 16, 17, 24, 28, 31, 34, 36 and 41; line 20 ran through the night. The 2026/27 holiday timetable hasn’t been published. From notices on ratbv.ro: 24–30 December, New Year’s Eve and 31 December – 8 January. Fares and tickets are in our guide to getting around. Both 25 December and 1 January 2027 are Fridays. RATBV’s free Friday travel, which covers Brașov and nearby towns, runs 00:00–24:00 every Friday, and its page gives no end date and no holiday exception (checked 16 October 2026).
- Christmas market (2025/26): the rule published for the whole market was Monday to Friday 14:00–22:00, weekends and public holidays 10:00–22:00, with only the food and drink area open until 01:00 on 31 December (Piețe Publice Brașov). The page names no individual dates, so the 24 December cell applies the weekday hours and the others the public-holiday hours. The 2026 hours aren’t published; see our Christmas market guide.
- Olimpia ice rink (2025/26): sessions last 75 minutes, and from 2 January the rink went back to six sessions a day (Reporter BV, quoting the County Council, 24 December 2025). The 2026/27 season hasn’t been announced.
- Paradisul Acvatic (2024/25): it also opened 12:00–21:00 on 30 December (Brasov Romania, 28 December 2024). The complex’s website says the indoor complex is open 365 days a year.
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Best things to do in December
- The Christmas market after dark, with mulled wine and the tree in front of the Council House. See our Christmas market guide.
- The Black Church, a minute’s walk from the market, on Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 or Sunday and Monday from 12:00; see our Black Church guide.
- Skiing at Poiana Brașov once the season opens, 20 minutes away on bus 20; see our skiing guide.
- Peleș Castle after it reopens on 2 December, or Bran Castle in the snow; see our Peleș guide and our guide to getting to Bran.
- The 1 December ceremonies and the Junii in Piața Unirii.
- Warm indoor days: museums, cafés and the indoor pools in our Brașov in winter guide.
Crowds and prices
The first three weeks are the calmer part of December. Then three things stack up at the end of the month: the Romanian school winter holiday runs from 23 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, with classes back on 11 January, according to Order 3194/2026, via Edupedu, the Christmas holidays begin, and the ski season usually opens.
In December 2024, Poiana Brașov’s tourism employers’ association expected 100% occupancy for New Year’s Eve and about 90% at Christmas in the resort’s hotels and guesthouses, according to Economedia, 19 December 2024.
Prices we can document: market food and drink, where mulled wine cost about 15–20 lei and sarmale about 30 lei in 2025, and ski passes, at 240 lei a day for adults in 2025/26. Room rates vary with the date, so compare Christmas and New Year with mid-December before you book.
What to pack
- A proper winter coat, hat, gloves and a scarf: evenings at the market are usually around or below freezing.
- Boots with a good grip for icy cobbles and snow.
- Thermal layers if you’re skiing or staying out on New Year’s Eve.
- A small bag for cash: some market stalls may not take cards.
FAQ
Is Brașov worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you like Christmas markets and winter weather. The market in Piața Sfatului is compact, with about 50 stalls, but the setting below Tâmpa is one of the best in Romania, and there is skiing 20 minutes away once the season opens.
Does it snow in Brașov in December?
Usually, but snow in the city doesn’t always last. Snow falls on about 7 days in an average December, and there are about 24 nights below freezing. Poiana Brașov, about 1,000 m up, has much more reliable snow.
When is the Brașov Christmas market?
From 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the official opening and lights on 30 November. Entry is free.
What happens on New Year’s Eve in Brașov?
City Hall organises a free party in Piața Sfatului. In 2025 it started at 19:30 with DJs, had a laser show at midnight instead of fireworks, and buses on 14 lines ran until 01:30. The 2026 programme hasn’t been announced yet.
Can you ski near Brașov in December?
Usually from around Christmas. The season at Poiana Brașov opened on 18 December in 2024 and on 30 December in 2025, depending on the cold and on snowmaking.
What is closed on Christmas Day in Brașov?
The Black Church, the Libearty Bear Sanctuary and, in past years, the farmers’ markets close on 25 December. The Christmas market’s 2025 schedule listed public holidays at 10:00–22:00.
Is Bran Castle open on Christmas Day?
Its website lists winter hours of 09:00–18:00, Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 November to 31 March, with 18:00 as the last entry, and no closure on 25 December or 1 January. In 2026, 25 December is a Friday. One-off events can change a day, as with the early closing on 7 November 2026, so read the notices on the castle’s page before you travel. The bus times are in our guide to getting to Bran.
Are the malls in Brașov open on 25 December and 1 January?
Not on 25 December: in the latest hours published, for 2024/25, AFI Brașov and Coresi were both closed, and the one exception at Coresi was Cinema One, open 14:00–22:00.
On 1 January AFI opened 14:00–22:00, while Coresi and Auchan stayed closed; Auchan was closed again in 2025/26. On 26 December both malls opened 10:00–22:00. The 2026/27 hours haven’t been published; see the table above and our shopping centres guide.
Sources
- Climate averages: Brașov-Ghimbav station (WMO 15300), 2015–2025, via Meteomanz, as in our weather guide. Sunrise and sunset: sunrise-sunset.org.
- Christmas market 2026: Brașov City Hall, 9 October 2026; 2025 hours: Piețe Publice Brașov.
- 1 December 2025 programme: City Hall. New Year’s Eve 2025: City Hall, 29 December 2025.
- Public holidays 2026: Digi24. School winter holiday: Edupedu.
- Ski season openings: Antena 3 (2024), G4Media (2025). Occupancy: Economedia.
- Christmas and New Year opening hours, checked 16 October 2026: Bran Castle, Black Church, Peleș, Tâmpa cable car, Zoo Brașov, Libearty, Urban Civilization, Ethnography, Art Museum, Coresi (2024), BizBrașov (AFI, 2024), BizBrașov (Auchan, 2025), RATBV (2025), Piețe Publice Brașov (2025), Reporter BV (Olimpia rink, 2025), Brasov Romania (Paradisul Acvatic, 2024).
- December 2026 concerts: Zile și Nopți, iabilet. Peleș: peles.ro. Other hours and prices: see the linked guides, checked on 10 October 2026.
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What changed
- Added a table of opening hours for 24–26 December and 31 December – 2 January: Bran Castle, the Black Church, Peleș, the Tâmpa cable car, the zoo, Libearty and the museums on their 2026/27 winter schedules, and the malls, city buses, Christmas market, Olimpia rink and Paradisul Acvatic on last season's hours.
