23 Best Things To Do In Sibiu, Romania (Complete Guide)

Sibiu, Romania is one of those places that catches you completely off guard. I’ve been travelling full-time for a few years, but Sibiu gave me that rare “I could actually live here” feeling. It’s now genuinely one of my favourite cities in Europe. This list of the best things to do in Sibiu will hopefully convince you to give it a visit.

Located in Transylvania (yes, that Transylvania), Sibiu is a compact medieval city of just 134,000 people that feels like it was plucked straight from a German storybook and dropped into Romania. Which is basically what happened 800 years ago when Saxon settlers built this place. The colourful buildings, cobblestone streets, and those creepy roof windows that look like eyes watching you have been so well preserved that Sibiu is working toward UNESCO World Heritage status. It was also named European Region of Gastronomy in 2019, and the food and coffee scene absolutely delivers.

I’ve put together this complete guide to the best things to do in Sibiu including the medieval old town, day trips to castles and mountain highways, plus where to eat and stay.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Best Hotels In Sibiu

Sibiu is a walkable city, its compact size means you can stay anywhere in the city and still be within walking distance from Sibiu’s top attractions.

If you truly want to be in the heart of the city, then staying on Piata Mica is your best option. You will be surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and historical sights.

These are a few of the best hotels in Sibiu for all budgets:

$: Rabbit Hole – overlooking piata mare this hotel is as central as it gets. Rooms are spacious and chic, breakfast is included which guests have highly rated.

$$: Hotel Casa Luxemburg – one of the oldest buildings in Sibiu, this medieval-style hotel has been recently renovated. Some rooms offer a view of Liar’s Bridge and the Evangelical Church.

$$$: ART Hotel – this boutique hotel has cosy and stylish rooms to unwind in. Breakfast is included with all room types.

Best Time To Visit Sibiu

Sibiu experiences a continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters due to its mountain location. Overall the best time to visit is September and October for ideal weather for sightseeing, or If you visit Sibiu in December, the Christmas market is magical.

• Summer (June-August): Peak season with temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F). The famous Transfagarasan Highway opens late June, attracting crowds. Expect higher prices and busy attractions.

• Autumn (September-November): Best time to visit. Pleasant 23°C (73°F) temperatures, pretty orange landscapes, and fewer tourists. The Transfagarasan Highway closes end of October.

• Winter (December-March): Freezing temperatures with heavy snowfall. The Sibiu Christmas Market runs December through January, offering a magical alternative to crowded European markets with fewer tourists, better prices and beautiful decorations.

• Spring (April-May): Cool weather as snow melts but many mountain trails remain closed, and the Transfagarasan Highway stays shut until June.

Getting To Sibiu

Flying To Sibiu

Sibiu’s airport Sibiu International Airport (SBZ) is located just 3km from the centre of Sibiu, a short 10 minute drive. The airport is small with only four airlines operating frequent flights. This makes it a little difficult to fly to Sibiu directly from various European cities. Direct flights include destinations such as London Luton, Vienna, Madrid and, Munich.

From Sibiu Airport, take the #11 bus.

Another option is to fly to Bucharest, and then book a 5 hour train to Sibiu via Romania’s official train website cfrcalatori.ro. There are also many direct buses that take around 5 hours departing daily from Bucharest.

Trains To Sibiu

Usually I use omio.com to book most train journeys in Europe. However, Romanian trains can only be booked on the official train website cfrcalatori.ro.

I found the train network in Romania to be relatively good, there are no high-speed trains but they are clean, comfortable, and in my experience reliable. Some trains are old school with seating consisting of cabins with 6 seats, which does mean you could be facing 3 strangers for the duration of your journey.

Depending on where you are coming from this is the duration you are facing.

• From Bucharest – between 5 – 6 hours on a direct train
• From Brasov – 3 hours on a direct train
• From Timisoara – 7 hours on two trains
• From Cluj Napoca – 5 hours 30 minutes on two trains, sleeper trains also operate on this route
• From Budapest – 11 hour direct train.

Getting Around Sibiu

Being a compact city, most of Sibiu’s attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Bus: Sibiu has a good bus network, the company is called Tursib. You can pay via a Tursib card that you can find here, from street vending machines, on the bus, SibiuBus mobile app and the 24Pay mobile app.

You can purchase 60 minute tickets for 3 lei, which will need to be validated when you board the bus.

Bikes: Sibiu Bike City is the bike sharing network, there are 57 bike stations around the city. Rates are 1 lei for 1 hour and 10 lei for 1 day. The bikes are only available from 1st of March until 1st of December each year due to weather conditions. To use, you download the Sibiu Bikecity city app or pay at kiosks. There are also e-bike rentals available in the city.

Quick History Of Sibiu

Sibiu’s story starts with German Saxons who were invited by the Hungarian King in the 12th century to settle and defend Transylvania’s borders. What began as a small fortified settlement called Hermannstadt quickly grew into one of the wealthiest trading hubs in medieval Europe. By the 14th century, powerful craft guilds like carpenters, goldsmiths, and potters practically ran the city, building the impressive defence towers and walls you still see today. These weren’t just craftsmen making things, they were literally responsible for defending sections of the city walls during attacks.

The city survived centuries of Ottoman sieges, switched hands between Hungarian, Austrian, and Romanian rule, and saw its German population drop dramatically after WWII when many were deported to Soviet labour camps. Today less than 2% of Sibiu’s population is ethnic German, yet the Saxon architecture remains perfectly preserved. The cobblestone streets are straight from a German fairy tale that somehow ended up in the heart of Romania, which is basically what happened 800 years ago.

The city’s former mayor from 2000 to 2014, Klaus Iohannis, was Romania’s president between 2014-2025. He’s the first ethnic German Saxon to lead the country, which says a lot about how Sibiu’s managed to hold onto its multicultural identity.

23 Best Things To Do In Sibiu

1. Piata Mare (The Big Square)

Piața Mare is one of Sibiu’s top attractions and the heart of the old town

This square had grim beginnings, it was once the site of executions. Thankfully its dark days are gone and now the square is dotted with colourful buildings with lively restaurants and cute cafes. You could easily sit here for hours people watching.

Many events are held here throughout the year, so make sure to check out what is on before you arrive.

2. Bridge Of Lies

Legend has it that if you tell a lie crossing this bridge it will creak! Where the name originated from is disputed, some say it’s young couples making false promises while others say it’s from the dishonest merchants that traded.

Built in 1859, this was the first iron bridge in Romania, it features gold embellishments, and at night it is lit up. My favourite view was from below where you have the large brick walls leading to it.

For a fun thing to do in Sibiu, test this myth out for yourself, tell yourself a little fib as you cross it. Whether or not the legend is true, this is a must visit in Sibiu.

3. Piata Mica (Lesser Square)

I promise you this square is lesser in name only! It is a bit smaller than Piata Mare, but is still a large square.

The square is full of colour with some buildings of historical significance, such as the bridge of lies, Casa Luxemburg and Casa Artelor, along with many restaurants and cafes.

Piata Mica is also dotted with many eyes, and makes for an interesting photo.

4. Climb Turnul Sfatului

Turnul Sfatului is a well preserved 13th century tower, that interestingly also served as a prison.

For a small fee of 2 lei (40 cent), you can climb up 7 floors to the top of the tower for views of the city.

The climb is narrow and steep, but each floor has exhibits that you can look at and take a break if you need to.

5. The Goldsmith’s Stairway

Walking back with a coffee on day one in Sibiu, I wandered across this passage without meaning to! It was so pretty that I went back to the airbnb, grabbed my camera and came straight back to it.

Located in the corner of Piata Mica, beside the lovely cafe Arcade, is, at first an unassuming arch, once you get closer you witness a sea of pale pink medieval buildings, some of which are the oldest in Sibiu.

The stairs wind down to a small cute and colourful square, Piata Aurarilor (Fingerlingsplatz), easily one of the most Instagrammable places in Sibiu

6. Pasajul Scarilor (Stairs Passage)

Built in the 14th century to connect Sibiu’s Upper and Lower Towns, Pasajul Scarilor (Stairs Passage) is one of the city’s most photographed spots.

Sibiu’s stairs passage consists of two stairways and two red brick arches that branch out of the Saint Mary Evangelical Cathedral. The arches are 10 metres tall and push against four yellow houses, along a cobblestoned street.

7. Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral

A mix of Byzantine, Baroque and Transylvanian architecture, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the second largest Orthodox church in Romania and is one of the most beautiful things to visit in Sibiu. This Cathedral is also the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania.

Although incredible on the outside, make sure you enter, the interior is striking with plenty of gold, frescoes covering the wall and domed ceiling along with a strong smell of incense. It’s so colourful, and unlike most other cathedrals I’ve visited.

Supposedly it drew inspiration from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and it certainly has the same wow factor. The entrance is free and I recommend it even if you are not religious.

Located across the road is a small passage of Faculty of Theology St. Andrei Şaguna It’s so beautiful covered with colourful paintings, similar to the interior of the cathedral.

8. Walk The Fortress Walls

Little is left of the former defence system that once circled Sibiu, but what does remain is a 100 metre charming addition to this storybook city. The most preserved part of the walls are located on Cetatii Street, which is thought to be the most beautiful street in Sibiu.

To access the old fortress walls you need to climb either Carpenters Tower or Potters Tower. Some of the stairs in the tower are steep, and there is no liff. The towers contain a few photographs displaying information about the carpenters guild and the potters guild in Sibiu.

The entrance fee costs 2 lei (40 cent).

9. Saint Mary Evangelical Cathedral

Also called Catedrala Evanghelica “Sfânta Maria”, this gothic Lutheran Cathedral dates back to the 14th century. It is not hard to miss with its sparkly coloured roof tiles that dominate Sibiu’s skyline, peaking out of many buildings as you walk around the city.

Climbing up to the roof and clock tower is one of the best things to do in Sibiu, you get stunning views of the city and the distant Fagaras Mountains. The climb to the tower is easy due to the newly renovated wooden stairs.

Inside is a simple interior, there is no gold embellishments or colourful frescoes, instead its just raw beauty with tall ceilings, concrete columns, white walls and ornate wooden furniture. There are also many QR codes in various points that you can scan for more information.

Tickets cost 10 lei (€2) for the cathedral and an additional 5 lei (€1) to access the tower.

10. Keep An Eye Out For The Eyes

Did you know that Sibiu is also known as the city of eyes? This is due to the roofs having holes to ventilate the attics. They are now a symbol of Sibiu and, of course a tourist attraction.

However, locals believe the ‘eyes’ keep watch in case anyone causes any trouble! For any fans of the Handmaids Tale this will sound all too familiar, “under his eye”.

They really do look like eyes in person and are very Instagrammable.

11. Parcul Cetatii

Beside the Fortification Walls is Parcul Cetatii (citadel park), a small yet picturesque park lined with trees. There is a lot of history attached to this park; it was once a moat that surrounded the fortification walls, acting as a defence.

The paths have stars on them to represent prominent Sibiu residents; a Sibiu walk of fame if you will.

12. Mitropoliei – Xenopol Passage

For a city as small as Sibiu, there are so many alleys that wander down. It felt like every walk, we were always happening upon more alleys.

A cool one to visit is Mitropoliei – Xenopol Passage, which is said to be the second narrowest street in Romania. The first is in Brasov. It’s a cute street with a white arch.

13. The Guilds Tree

Not so much a tree but a wooden post. Dedicated to the medieval guilds, the myth is that blacksmiths and craftspeople would drive a nail they made into this post when leaving city as a route marker, some even say it was good luck for their onwards travel.

Guilds were important and powerful during 14th century Sibiu, they had critical responsibilities that included defending the city walls and towers. Many towers around Sibiu are named after guilds such as Carpenters’ Tower and Potters Tower.

Located on the small square it’s not the most beautiful or largest monument in Sibiu, it’s large wooden post with nails, hammers and various other tools jolting out of it. But’s it’s an important nod to the guilds who built and shaped this charming city.

14. Muzeul National Brukenthal

For art lovers, visiting Brukenthal is one of the cultural things to do in Sibiu. Hosting a large collection of Baroque-style art, statues, furniture, and historical artefacts from that period of time.

Initially the museum was a collection of 18th century governor Baron Samuel von Brukenthal, personal paintings he acquired. Built in 1778, the palace is one of the most important baroque buildings in Romania.

In the courtyard you will find Antonello and Donatello, two chubby cats that are the museums mascots. So cute!

During December when the Christmas market is on the courtyard transforms to a winter party with a DJ, strobe lights, and food trucks!

Entrance costs 50 lei (€9.84). You can book tickets online via their website, or at entrance of the museum.

Day Trips From Sibiu

Sibiu is an excellent base for day trips. Some require a car whereas others are easily reached by public transport or a tour. These are some of the best day trips from Sibiu.

15. Transfagarasan Highway + Balea Lake

Declared as the best road in the world by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson, this is one of the most exciting things to do in Sibiu, and in all of Romania.

Open between July to November, the Transfagarasan Highway passes through the Fagaras mountains, a 151 kilometre journey of twists, turns and steep drops.

Close to the peak at 2,034 metres is the glacial Balea Lake. In warmer weather, you will be able to explore hiking trails and the Balea Waterfall, or during winter you can go ice skating and snowmobiling. There is also a cable car ride for

Another really cool (literally) thing to do in Balea lakes is to spend a night in the unique ICE Hotel. The hotel and everything in it is made of ice, it gets rebuilt every single year. At 2,000 metres it is only accessible via a 15 cable car car!

The Transfagarasan Highway is a 2 hour drive from Sibiu. You can either rent a car and drive it yourself or, if you prefer not to drive there are plenty of tours to Transfagarasan Highway.

16. ASTRA National Museum Complex

ASTRA Museum is an open-air museum set in the Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park, where you can wander among traditional rural houses, workshops, and windmills from all over Romania. It’s a place that really brings to life how people once lived, and you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for their resilience and way of life.

Plan to spend a few hours here, it’s vast! After 6 pm, bikes are allowed inside the grounds, which is a great way to cover more ground than you could on foot.

Tickets cost 35 lei (€6.90) per adult which you can purchase tickets in advance via their website

Getting Here

Getting to ASTRA from Sibiu is easy. Bus number 13 goes from Thalia Hall every 30 minutes directly to ASTRA. It takes just 20 minutes. Alternatively, it’s an 8 minute drive.

17. Sighisoara

Sighisoara is cute medieval town known as the “Pearl of Transylvania”, with colourful buildings, fortified walls and cobble-stoned streets.

It’s the birthplace of Vlad The Impaler who is said to be the inspiration for Dracula. You can visit his 14th century home house which is now a museum and restaurant. Just maybe stay away from any red sauce.

Getting Here

A few trains go between Sibiu and Sighsoara daily with a duration of 2 – 2.5 hours. Depending on the train you will either transfer in Medias or Blaj. There are also full day private tours which include stops at Biertan and Malancrav.

18. Corvins Castle

Located in Hunedoara, in the west of Romania, Corvin’s Castle is one of the largest castles in Europe, it’s considered one of the most well-preserved in Romania and is also one of the 7 wonders of Romania.

The castles is a massive 7,000 square metres sitting on a rocky cliffside above the Zlaști River. It’s most unique feature is the impressive, somewhat dramatic wooden drawbridge that gave me Hogwart vibes. It also has dungeons, a large courtyard, and grimly, torture chambers.

It is said this is where Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was imprisoned for 7 years but this has been widely debated. This isn’t the only rumour attached to this castle, horror stories and grim tales surround this castle, featuring on Discovery Channel’s “Most Haunted Places” these are some of the most famous:

Tickets cost €23.80 per adult, €14.80 per child and free for up to 5 year olds. You can book these online through the official Corvin’s Castle website. An audioguide is available through an app.

Getting Here

The easiest way to get to Corvin’s Castle from Sibiu is to join a guided tour, which will take you door to door from Sibiu and back. It also includes a stop and Alba Iulia which has a picturesque old town.

Alternatively, you can get there via a train to Deva but it is a bit of a hassle with only 1 train per day going each way. This train leaves at 9:53 AM and takes 2.5 hours. You will then need to take a mini bus from Deva to Hunedoara (get off at last stop) which departs every 15 – 25 minutes, takes 20 minutes, and costs 12 lei. From here, you need to walk 20 minutes and then finally you have reached your destination. The last train back to Sibiu leaves at 5 PM so you need to make sure you leave Corvin’s Castle in time.

19. Dracula’s Castle

Bran Castle in Brasov is often referred to as Dracula’s castle due to the similarities the castle has with the castle described in Bram Stoker’s book Dracula. Stoker has always denied this, he never even visited Romania.

The castle is well preserved, with exhibits on the castles history and myths. The grounds are beautiful, we visited during the snow and it made it so atmospheric with frosty grass, snow capped roofs and headstones.

Located outside Brasov, 150 km from Sibiu, you can either drive here in 2 hours 30 minutes or join a day tour. It may not be the easiest day trip from Sibiu, but it’s one of Transylvania’s top attraction.

20. Moldoveanu Peak

Moldoveanu Peak is the highest peak in Romania at 8,346 ft (2, 544 m). Part of Fagarus mountains in the Southern Carpathians, reaching the top takes approximately 2 days, surely one of the most adventurous things to do in Sibiu?

The guys at SummitPost.org wrote a great guide with everything you need to know to tackle this climb.

Foodie Things To Do In Sibiu

Aside from sightseeing, the food scene in Sibiu is excellent. There are so many good restaurants with a varied cuisine offering, we genuinely did not have one bad meal here.

21. Cafe Wien

Located beside Saint Mary Evangelical Cathedral, Cafe Wien offers Viennese charm in the centre of Sibiu.

Inside is a cosy ambiance complimented by live piano music, or sit outside on the terrace for gorgeous views across Sibiu.

The menu is Austrian, and the portions are huge! I ordered Veal schnitzel, included is a side dish of your choice, I went with rosti. The schnitzel was the size of the plate, accompanied by two rostis, which were deliciously cheesy. My boyfriend ordered the sausage which was also very nice, this came with a side of potatoes and cabbage.

In true Vienna style the coffees also did not disappoint! I recommend Überstürzter Neumann, coffee poured over whipped cream.

Location: Piata Albert Huet 4, Sibiu 550182
Prices: 50 – 80 lei

22. Sia Restaurant

Overlooking the picturesque Piata Mare, this restaurant is amazing, it has a little bit of everything on the menu but it is mostly Asian fusion. I would go as far as to say that this was one of the best restaurants we visited in Romania. If you are a foodie you will not regret adding this to your list of things to do in Sibiu.

We ordered Boa buns, which had thick cuts of pork belly, Pork Ramen with freshly made noodles, and Katsudon (this was my favourite!).

Other dishes on the menu I wanted to try but did not have room was the Crispy Broccoli with peanuts, Italian Aubergine, and Pistachio Tiramisu.

Location: Piața Mică 30, Sibiu 550182
Prices: 50 – 100 lei

23. Crama Sibiul Vechi

Romanian cuisine is equal parts delicious and comforting, Crama Sibiul Vechi execute this perfectly. Located in a cellar the restaurant is cosy and warm.

The menu is full of classic Romanian dishes, we ordered the Sarmale ( stuffed cabbage and polenta), and Mamaliga (cheesy polenta with pieces of pork). Every dish that the waiter walked past up with looked incredible, so I think whatever you order will be good!

Location: Strada Alexandru Papiu-Ilarian 3, Sibiu 550160
Prices: 50 – 80 lei

Thank you for reading this 23 best things to do in Sibiu post, if you liked this post make sure you save it for later ! You might also want to check out the FAQ’s or related posts below.

Cafes In Sibiu

I was not expecting such a small city to have SO MANY amazing cafes. It was hard to pick my favourites but the following I wholeheartedly recommed.

Best Things To Do In Sibiu FAQ

How Many Days Is Enough in Sibiu

Sibiu is quite small so 1 full day is enough to see the city. However, 2 – 3 days gives you time to explore the surrounding areas, or take a day trip. Which, I really recommend.

Is Sibiu Worth Visiting

Absolutely, Sibiu is 100% worth visiting, it became my favourite city in Romania. Sibiu is steeped in history, walking around the city feels like you are in a postcard, the food scene is incredible, and the views of the surrounding Fagres mountains will take your breath away!

Is Sibiu Expensive?

No, Sibiu is an affordable destination, and Romania is one of the more affordable countries in the world. Along with accommodation, food, drink and transport are all much more affordable than other EU destinations. I found €50 a day was a great daily budget for eating out, and sightseeing! Sibiu is a fantastic budget destination.

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