Brasov

The lectures and workshops on 9th and 10th of December take place in Braşov, in Events & Conferences Center Lux Divina, 96, 13 Decembrie Str.

Travel instructions

How do I get from Bucharest airport(s) to the facilities in Brasov?
Henry Conda international airport (also called Otopeni) from Bucharest is the country’s largest airport, where most tourists coming to Romania land. The other smaller airport in Bucharest is called Baneasa. You can also fly to the airport in Tg. Mures and Sibiu from several European countries. Currently Braşov has no civilian airport, so one can either get there by car, train or bus.

Getting to Braşov by train:
Getting to Braşov is very easy, because it is a major Romanian railway hub. From the capital city Bucharest there are more than 10 trains daily and there are also frequent trains from other cities, as well as daily connections to Budapest, Hungary (via Oradea) and an EuroNight (fast night train) connection to Budapest via Arad. Another international overnight train arrives daily from Vienna.
Also due to its affordability and comfort, train is the best way of reaching Braşov. Even though all Romanian trains are increasingly comfortable, try to take the InterCity (IC) trains, of which there are two or three per day. These are very modern and comfortable, as they are an initiative of the state railways to reinvigorate Romania’s transport sector. Rapid trains are also comfortable and almost as fast as the InterCity trains. Accelerat or InterRegio trains are a fast alternative, lacking the kind of comfort an InterCity or Rapid train would provide. The cheapest is the local-train, labeled as Regio (abbreviated R before their route number), but they take nearly twice the time to get there, since they stop at every minor station. Train tickets for the Regio trains are very cheap, while the ones for the InterCity are the most expensive.

Will someone pick me up from the airport?
People coming to the congress will have to make their own arrangements for getting to Brasov. There are no shuttle buses from the airport. But, as Braşov is located in the center of the country and is an important railway hub, it is pretty easy to get there. Details about how to get to Braşov you find in the respective section above.
How do I get from railwaystation/busstation in Brasov to the Lux Divina Conference Centre?
Taxi is the easiest and most convenient way to get from the railway station or bus station to the conference center, which is not very far. The cost of the trip by taxi between Braşov railway station and Lux Divina Conference Center is the equivalent of about 2 to 3 Euro. There are also buses stopping 50 m from the railway station on the right side (between the railway and a big H&M store). The busses usefull for you have the numbers 2, 7, 8, 9, 11.
How do I get there from other airports: Timisoara/Sibiu/Arad/Budapest (Hungary)/Varna (Bulgaria)/… ?
The nearest airports to Braşov are those in Tg Mures and Sibiu. The easiest way to get from both these cities to Braşov is by train. Tg. Mures airport is an important hub for the low cost airline Wizz Air. They operate flights to: UK (Londra Luton), France (Paris), Germany (Dortmund, Frankurt Hahn, München West), Italy (Milan, Roma), Spain (Barcelona, Madrid), Hungary (Budapesta).
Sibiu airport is destination for fewer flights as you can see below – UK (Londra Luton) – WizzAir, Austria (Vienna) – Austrian Airlines, Germania (München, Stuttgart) – Tarom/ Lufthansa, BlueAir.
From Timisoara/ Arad/ Cluj Napoca airports, there are daily trains – from Timisoara to Bucharest, via Braşov. For people coming from Budapest, Hungary, there are daily connections (via Oradea) and a EuroNight (fast night train) connection to Budapest via Arad. Another international overnight train arrives daily from Vienna.
How do I get around in Brasov? Is there public transportation? How much is a taxi ride?
Braşov is a touristic city and it has a good public transportation system. Also going around by taxi cap is pretty cheap – only 1,39 lei/ km (approx. 0.30 Euro/ km).
Where can I exchange money in Brasov? Is there an ATM? How is the exchange rate?
Most of the major European banks have branches in Braşov – BRD Societe Generale, BCR Erste, Unicredit, Raiffeisen, OTP, ING etc. All banks have offices downtown and in all major areas of the city. There are ATM’s everywhere and most of the modern shops accept payments by card. Payments are made cash only in small shops. The official exchange rate is approx. 1 Euro = 4.5 lei. It can be checked every day on the web site of the National Bank of Romania. The exchange rate of commercial banks are a little bit lower or higher (they buy Euro at a lower rate and sell it to a higher rate), but can be asked at the front desk of each bank.
Is it possible to make payments with foreign money or with credit/debit/EC/maestro card?
The only currency accepted in Romania for payments is the national currency – leu. All major cards are accepted for payments.
Is a visa needed to travel in Romania?
No visa is needed for Europeans and North Americans. For other nationalities, please consult the web site of the Romanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Should I wait with booking flights and hotels for prices to drop?
Best is, if you book flights and hotels as early as possible, as prices usually rise in time.
What do I need to bring with me to the congress?
If you want to participate to yoga sessions and workshops, it would be good if you bring some light clothes and your own yoga blanket or mat for practice. Furthermore you can bring your own radio-receiver (with headphones) or smart phone for translation transmission if needed. If you are accommodated with Lux Divina you will be provided with all you need for sleeping and you can chose to sign up for breakfast and/or lunch in the Hotel/Hostel.
Are there certain reception hours in the Lux Divina Hostel/Hotel that I should be aware of for my check-in?
The opening hours for your check-in at Lux Divina Hostel/Hotel you find here.
Speaker’s accommodation is organized separately – you will receive information via e-mail.
Where will I stay? How much do I pay for accommodation and food?
Apart from hotels and pensions around Braşov the Lux Divina Hostel and Hotel make some special price offers for participants to the International Yoga Congress. Prices are:
A. Hostel 2 pers./room: 40 Ron (€ 9,50)/night per person
B. Hostel 3 pers./room: 35 Ron (€ 8,-)/night per person
C. Hotel 2 pers./room: 50 Ron (€ 11,50)/night per person
For accommodation in Lux Divina please click here.
What kind of food can I purchase in the congress? Can I buy food or ingredients for cooking in Brasov? Do I have possibility to cook for myself?
On site of the congress you will have access to some selling points to buy healthy snacks and natural juices (but no cooked food) all vegetarian. In the city of Brasov you find a variety of supermarkets and smaller shops as well as restaurants to purchase foods and meals.

If you are a guest of Lux Divina Hotel or Hostel you will be provided with breakfast and lunch on demand and payment.

Neither Lux Divina Hotel/Hostel nor the Yoga Centre provide facilities for cooking yourself.

Lux Divina

Brasov at a glance

General Information – Braşov

Location: Central Romania (Braşov County)
Size: approx. 74 km2
Elevation: 650 meters
Population: approx. 320,000
Inhabited since: 100 BC
First documented: 1234 AD (Corona)

A city with many historical attractions and a center with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, Braşov is the 7th large city of Romania and one of the most visited places in the country.

Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains, the city was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels. The location of the city at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence in the region. This was reflected in the city’s German name, Kronstadt, as well as in its Latin name, Corona, meaning Crown City (hence, the coat of arms of the city which is a crown with oak roots).

What to see in Braşov – a selection of places to visit:

The Town Hall Square (Piata Sfatului) colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures can be admired downtown.

The Black Church (Biserica Neagra) is the largest gothic church in Romania. Its name derives from damage caused by the Great Fire of 1689, when flames and smoke blackened its walls. The interior is impressive and well-kept and houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe.

The First Romanian School – Impressive collection of documents and artefacts. The guide is an Encyclopedia, capable of telling lots of stories and answering all the questions.

Braşov is home to what is said to be the narrowest street in Europe. The Rope Street (Strada Sforii) is approximately one meter wide and links Cerbului Street with Poarta Schei Street. The street was initially used as an access route by firefighters.

Nearby are towering mountains, rolling fields, thick forests and villages with fortified churches.

The seven walled citadels populated by the Saxons of Transylvania were known in German as the Siebenbürgen. The other Siebenbürgen citadels were: Bistrita (Bistritz) – approx. 4 hour drive from Brasov to get there, Cluj (Klausenburg) – approx. 5 hour drive to get there, Medias (Mediasch) – approx. 3 hour drive, Sebes (Muhlbach) – approx. 3 hour drive, Sibiu (Hermannstadt) – approx. 2 hour drive, Sighisoara (Schassburg) – approx. 2 hour drive.