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October is a good month for Brașov if you like walking, culture and autumn colour: days are mild at around 16°C, the forests on Tâmpa and around Poiana Brașov usually turn during the month, and the calendar is full, from the Dracula Film Festival (15–18 October 2026) to Halloween at Bran Castle (24 October – 1 November 2026). Nights are cold, close to freezing, and fog becomes common. Several things switch to winter mode: the Black Church from 16 October, the Transfăgărășan around 20 October, and the clocks on 25 October.
Weather in October
These are the averages for the Brașov-Ghimbav weather station, 2015–2025, from the table in our Brașov weather and seasons guide:
| October | |
|---|---|
| Average high | 16°C (61°F) |
| Average low | 4°C (38°F) |
| Rain | about 44 mm on 7 days |
| Nights below 0°C | about 6 |
| Foggy days | 5–7 a month from October to January |
| Daylight | 11 h 46 min on 1 October, 10 h 14 min on 31 October |
| Sunrise / sunset | 07:14 / 19:00 on 1 October; 06:54 / 17:08 on 31 October |
Sunrise and sunset times are from sunrise-sunset.org. The clocks go back an hour on Sunday 25 October 2026 (04:00 becomes 03:00), so from that day the sun sets before 17:20 (Știrile ProTV).
What it feels like: early October is often settled and sunny, like late September. As the month goes on the mornings get colder and foggier, and by the end you need a winter jacket in the evening. The station averages no days of snowfall in October, but the mountain roads are another matter: on 8 October 2025 heavy snow closed the Transfăgărășan for a day (Economedia).
Check our What to wear today in Brașov tool before you head out.
Events in October
Confirmed for October 2026:
| Dates | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10 Oct | Bookfest Brașov book fair (in 2025: free entry, Transilvania University’s main hall) | Venue not published (Bookfest) |
| From 15 Oct | Brașov Philharmonic autumn season, most Thursdays | Patria hall (Filarmonica) |
| 15–18 Oct | Dracula Film Festival, 14th edition; festival pass 90 lei | Cinema Astra (festival) |
| 17, 20, 24, 31 Oct | Faust, Tango Meets Opera, The Lady of the Camellias, Tosca (also 1 Nov) | Brașov Opera (Opera) |
| 22–25 Oct | Hungarian Days festival | Piața Sfatului (City Hall calendar) |
| 23–25 Oct | Trofeul Poiana Brașov motorsport event | Livada Poștei |
| 24 Oct | Brașov Marathon Night Challenge, a night running race | Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu, below Tâmpa |
| 24 Oct – 1 Nov | Halloween at Bran Castle | Bran (castle) |
| 30 Oct – 1 Nov | Halloween fair | Piața Sfatului |
| 30 Oct – 1 Nov | Dracula Fantasy Con, free entry | Coresi Shopping Resort (Zile și Nopți) |
| 30–31 Oct | Vin la Brașov wine festival | Belvedere Events Center (iabilet) |
Halloween at Bran. From 24 to 30 October the visit becomes a themed tour at 100 lei; on 31 October, Halloween Day, tickets start at 300 lei; and the programme closes with a family tour. Tickets are limited (Bran Castle). Dino Parc in Râșnov runs its own Halloween programme from 23 October to 1 November 2026; see our guide to activities for families.
Every year in October: the Brașov Running Festival takes over Coresi and Piața Sfatului on the first weekend (the organisers list 2–3 October 2027 for the next edition, brasovrun.ro), and the Organ Nights concerts at the Black Church end in mid-October (17 October in 2026).
Public holidays: none in October. Romanian schools have their autumn break from 24 October to 1 November 2026 (Order 3194/2026, via Edupedu).
For tickets and programmes, see our guides to the Dracula Film Festival, Bookfest Brașov and Halloween in Transylvania.
More dates and the November listings are on What’s on in Brașov.
What’s open and what’s closed
- Black Church: winter hours from 16 October: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday and Monday 12:00–18:00 (bisericaneagra.ro).
- Transfăgărășan: the high section closes for winter around 20 October; in 2025 it closed on 20 October (BZI). CNAIR had not announced the 2026 date when we checked on 10 October.
- Seven Ladders Canyon: still open, but the administrator’s FAQ gives April to October as the season; in doubtful weather phone the hut on 0746 772 274 before you go. See our Seven Ladders guide.
- Peleș Castle: open Wednesday to Sunday until 1 November, then closed from 2 November to 1 December 2026. Pelișor is closed all month (28 September – 3 November 2026) (National Peleș Museum).
- Bran Castle: summer hours until 1 November (Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–19:00, Monday 12:00–19:00, last entry).
- Libearty Bear Sanctuary: tours Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00.
Best things to do in October
- Tâmpa or the old road to Poiana for the colours. Go on a clear morning; the routes are in our walking guide.
- Peleș Castle before it closes for November. See our Peleș Castle guide for tickets and trains to Sinaia.
- Bran Castle, either on an ordinary day before 24 October or for the Halloween programme. Our Bran Castle guide covers the history, and our guide to getting to Bran covers the bus.
- A film at the Dracula Film Festival or an evening at the Opera or the Philharmonic.
- The museums on a foggy day. Our Brașov museums guide has prices and hours, and the rainy day guide has more indoor ideas.
- The bears at Libearty, a good outing in the quieter season. See our Libearty guide.
Crowds and prices
October is much quieter than summer, with no long weekends. The exception is the last week: the school autumn break (24 October – 1 November 2026) overlaps Halloween at Bran, the Halloween fair in Piața Sfatului and the Dracula Fantasy Con, so that is likely to be the busiest week of the month at Bran and in the Old Town.
The one price change we can document is at Bran: Halloween Day tickets on 31 October start at 300 lei, against 100 lei for the themed tour on the other days of the programme. Room rates vary with the date, so compare the Halloween weekend with other October dates before you book.
What to pack
- A warm jacket, a hat and gloves for the evenings, which are close to freezing by the end of the month.
- Layers for the day: it can still be 16°C or more in the afternoon.
- Waterproof shoes with grip for wet leaves and cobbles.
- A torch or phone light if you’re hiking late: the sun sets just after 17:00 once the clocks change.
FAQ
Is October a good time to visit Brașov?
Yes, especially the first half: mild days, autumn colours, fewer visitors and a busy cultural calendar. The second half is colder and foggier, but it has Halloween at Bran.
What is the weather like in Brașov in October?
Average highs are about 16°C and lows about 4°C, with rain on around 7 days and frost on about 6 nights. Fog becomes more common as the month goes on.
When is Halloween at Bran Castle?
In 2026 it runs from 24 October to 1 November. Themed tours cost 100 lei from 24 to 30 October, and tickets for 31 October start at 300 lei. Tickets are limited.
When is the Dracula Film Festival?
The 2026 edition, the 14th, runs from 15 to 18 October at Cinema Astra in Brașov. A pass for all films costs 90 lei.
Is the Transfăgărășan open in October?
Usually until around 20 October, when the high section closes for the winter. Early snow can close it sooner, as it did for a day on 8 October 2025. Check CNAIR’s announcements before you drive.
When do the clocks change in Romania?
On the last Sunday of October: in 2026, on 25 October, when 04:00 becomes 03:00.
Sources
- Climate averages: Brașov-Ghimbav station (WMO 15300), 2015–2025, via Meteomanz, as in our weather guide. Sunrise and sunset: sunrise-sunset.org. Clock change: Știrile ProTV.
- Dracula Film Festival 2026: draculafilm.ro and Zile și Nopți, 24 September 2026. Bookfest Brașov 2026: bookfest.ro.
- Halloween at Bran Castle: bran-castle.com, ticket page.
- Other October 2026 events: Brașov City Hall events calendar, Brașov Opera, Brașov Philharmonic, Vin la Brașov on iabilet, Brașov Running Festival.
- School autumn break: Edupedu. Black Church hours: bisericaneagra.ro. Peleș closures: peles.ro.
- Transfăgărășan: closure on 20 October 2025, snow closure on 8 October 2025.
