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The Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești, 27 km south-west of Brașov, can only be visited on a guided tour. Tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00 and cost 95 lei for adults on weekdays and 100 lei at weekends. Book online.
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Is it worth it?
Yes, if you want to see brown bears without contributing to their exploitation. Libearty is a rescue sanctuary, not a zoo. It was set up in 2005 by the Romanian charity Asociația Milioane de Prieteni (AMP, “Millions of Friends”) with World Animal Protection and Zărnești Town Hall.
Today more than 130 bears live there, in 69 hectares of old oak forest with streams and pools. Many came from cages at restaurants, petrol stations and private homes. The sanctuary says it receives no government funding and runs on tickets, donations and partner charities.
Go with the right expectations. The bears choose how close they come. Some days you’ll see them climbing, playing or bathing near the trail. On other days they stay deep in the forest. The visit is a guided walk with a lot of storytelling, not a photo safari.
It suits families with children aged 5 and over, and anyone interested in animal welfare. It doesn’t suit you if you can’t make a morning slot, or if you are hoping for close-ups: an electric fence separates visitors from the bears at all times.
Where it is
The sanctuary is outside Zărnești, a small town at the foot of the Piatra Craiului mountains, on the road towards Piatra Craiului. Zărnești is south-west of Brașov, 27 km away via DN73A, the same direction as Râșnov and Bran.
This page used to say that Seven Ladders Canyon was “just across the valley”. It isn’t. Seven Ladders is at Dâmbul Morii, south-east of Brașov on DN1 towards Predeal, on the opposite side of the city. Getting from one to the other means going back through Brașov.
Getting there from Brașov
By car (easiest)
About 45 minutes and 27 km via DN73A, according to the sanctuary. Parking at the sanctuary is free. This is the only practical way to combine Libearty with other places on the same day.
By train
Regio Călători runs direct trains from Brașov station to Zărnești in 39 to 55 minutes. On Saturday 10 October 2026 there were 14 departures, including the 08:15, arriving 08:55, which suits the 09:45 tour, and the 09:10, arriving 09:51, which suits the 11:00 tour.
Return trains from Zărnești left at 12:15, 13:15, 14:10 and roughly hourly after that. The sanctuary says to take a taxi or local bus from Zărnești station. Timetable: Infofer.
By bus
RATBV line 140 runs from the Stadionul Municipal stop in Brașov to CEC Zărnești in the town centre, taking about an hour. A Brașov–Zărnești ticket costs 8 lei, under the fares valid from 1 June 2026. On weekdays there is a bus roughly every hour, mostly at half past. At weekends there are only three, at 07:30, 13:30 and 19:30, so the train is better then. Timetable: ratbv.ro.
Organised tours
Tour operators in Brașov sell day trips that include Libearty. If you book one, check that the sanctuary ticket is included and which tour time you’ll join.
For other ways of getting around, see transport in Brașov.
Tickets, tour times and booking
All visits are guided, in Romanian or English, at fixed morning times. You can’t walk around on your own.
Classic tour prices, the same all year:
| Tuesday–Friday | Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 95 lei | 100 lei |
| Child (5–18) | 50 lei | 55 lei |
| Student (18–24) | 75 lei | 80 lei |
| Personal photo or video camera | +50 lei | +50 lei |
Checked 10 October 2026 on the sanctuary’s plan your visit page.
- Tour times: Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00. Another page of the sanctuary’s site gives the second tour as 11:15, so check the time on your ticket. Extra morning tours may be added at busy times.
- Closed: every Monday (maintenance day), Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and New Year’s Day.
- Booking: buy online on the ticket page. Tickets go on sale 10 days before the tour date. Places at the ticket office are limited and not guaranteed.
- Free entry: people with a severe disability, with a permanently valid certificate (tickets issued at the entrance).
- Groups and schools: must book in advance on +40 268 471 202.
- Private and VIP tours: a private tour costs €200 per group plus the day’s ticket. VIP and “Super VIP” tours include areas closed to normal visitors. All three must be booked and paid at least 72 hours ahead (+40 747 262 523).
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What the visit is like
The classic tour lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes and covers around 2 km on a forest trail, which can be uneven in places. Your guide tells the stories of individual bears as you walk along the fenced enclosures. Besides bears, the sanctuary also shelters some wolves and deer.
Tours go ahead in rain, except in extreme weather. Bring:
- comfortable walking or hiking shoes
- clothes for the weather, including a waterproof
- drinking water, especially in summer
- your ticket (printed or on your phone) and ID for children and students
At the entrance there are toilets, a souvenir shop and drinks machines. Access for people with disabilities is limited.
Visiting rules
The sanctuary’s rules are there to keep the bears calm. Not allowed:
- children under 5 (bring a document showing your child’s age)
- smoking
- going near the electric fence
- feeding the bears or any other animals
- loud talking or shouting
- flash photography
- eating inside the sanctuary
- leaving the group or the visitor trail
Photography without flash is fine, but personal cameras carry the 50-lei fee. Silence your phone and follow the guide.
Combine it with
- Zărnești Gorge (Cheile Zărneștiului): the classic way into the Piatra Craiului mountains starts from Zărnești. An easy walk into the gorge pairs well with a morning tour.
- Râșnov and Bran: both are on the way back to Brașov by car. Râșnov’s hilltop citadel is just off the road, and for Bran Castle see how to get to Bran Castle from Brașov.
- Seven Ladders Canyon: possible on the same day only by car. Do Libearty in the morning, then drive back through Brașov to Dâmbul Morii. The canyon’s last entry is at 16:00.
For more ideas, see day trips from Brașov. If you’re coming in winter, check the weather and seasons in Brașov first.
For wild bears, our guide to bears in Brașov covers where they are seen around the city, safety, and how bear-watching hides compare with the sanctuary.
FAQ
How much does the Libearty Bear Sanctuary cost?
The classic tour costs 95 lei for adults from Tuesday to Friday and 100 lei at weekends. Children aged 5–18 pay 50 or 55 lei, and students 75 or 80 lei. A personal camera costs an extra 50 lei.
Do I need to book?
Booking is strongly recommended. Online tickets go on sale 10 days before the tour date, and tickets at the gate are limited and not guaranteed.
What time are the tours?
Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00, all in the morning. The sanctuary is closed on Mondays.
Can I visit with a toddler?
No. Children under 5 aren’t allowed in, and staff may ask for proof of age.
How do I get to Libearty without a car?
Take a Regio Călători train from Brașov to Zărnești, which takes about 40–55 minutes, then a taxi or local bus to the sanctuary. RATBV bus 140 also runs to Zărnești, but has only three buses a day at weekends.
Is Libearty near Seven Ladders Canyon?
No. They are on opposite sides of Brașov: Libearty in Zărnești to the south-west, Seven Ladders at Dâmbul Morii to the south-east.
Sources
- AMP Libearty Bear Sanctuary: plan your visit (prices, hours, rules, directions), tours, about the sanctuary
- Infofer: Brașov–Zărnești trains
- RATBV: line 140 timetable, fares
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What changed
- Rewritten with current prices, tour times, closed days and train and bus options; corrected the claim that Seven Ladders Canyon is 'across the valley'.
