6 Things to Do in Sibiu: A Full Travel Guide
Don’t miss this charming city on your Romania road trip! Along with tips on how to get there, where to eat, and where to stay, here are my top things to do in Sibiu.
Sibiu was our last stop on our week-long road trip through Romania. After a few days, I always get a bit of burnout with sightseeing. By the time we arrived, I didn’t really feel doing more exploring. We’d already seen beautiful cities, castles, nature parks, nice villages … what was there to see in another city?
So we did enjoy Sibiu at a relaxed paced. We enjoyed the sun, slept, and visited the various sights with ease. And we still very much enjoyed this city! Here are all my best tips.
Romania Travel Guide
How to Get to Sibiu
Sibiu is located northwest of Bucharest, west of Brasov, and south of Cluj-Napoca. If you rent a car (I always rent at Sunny Cars because of the All-Inclusive formula), it is about 4 hours and 15 minutes from Bucharest, 2.5 hours from Brasov, and 2hrs 45min from Cluj-Napoca.
With public transport, you will have almost six hours from Bucharest. From Brasov, it’ll take 2.5 hours and from Cluj-Napoca, at least 4.5 hours.
Sibiu does have its own airport, but you may not always be able to fly directly. If you can’t, fly to Cluj-Napoca instead. Rent a car at the airport and continue your journey.
By Tour
If you’re only planning on one day in Sibiu, and you don’t want to rent a car, try this private tour from Bucharest. Just know it’ll probably be quite a long day!
6 of the Best Things to Do in Sibiu
1. Wander around the old center (Piata Mare)
Sibiu is not very big, so you can easily discover its old center on foot. Start at the big square, the Piata Mare. This large square is surrounded by a number of beautiful Art Deco buildings (all protected monuments), and it is also a place where festivals and the like are held. (When we were there, there was a film festival). Since the 15th century, this square has been the scene for markets, and yes … executions.
2. Visit the Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului)
You’ll see the Council Tower in the old center. The white tower of this building is one of the most famous in the city. It was originally built back in the 13th century to protect the entrance of the former town hall. You can climb it to get a nice view of Sibiu.
- Address: Piaţa Mică 1, Sibiu
- Opening hours: daily between 10:00 and 20:00.
- Tickets: 2 lei
3. Climb the Lutheran Cathedral
We also climbed this Lutheran cathedral for a similar view. I did not find the interior of the ground floor of the church so special, but once we went upstairs it became fun. The stairs all looked a bit rickety, but because of that you really felt like you were climbing a bell tower. It was very authentic. And from above you have a beautiful view over the town.
- Address: Piaţa Albert Huet FN, Sibiu
- Opening times: open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 in the summer. Open every day in the winter from 11:00 to 16:00.
- Tickets: 1 lei
4. Cross the Bridge of Lies
Legend states that this bridge has ears and can, therefore, hear when you tell a lie. If it suspected you of lying, it would move and make weird noises. I’m not sure how true any of that is. However, what is fact, is that it’s the oldest iron bridge in Romania and dates back to 1859.
- Address: Piaţa Mică, Sibiu
5. Visit the ASTRA National Museum Complex
I always find open-air museums the best museums there are. It makes you feel as though you’re stepping back into history. In the ASTRA complex, you have a very large park, full of traditional buildings from different parts of Romania. From farms to churches, you really get a good idea of how people lived in different regions. It’s a large park, so put on your walking shoes!
- Address: Strada Pădurea Dumbrava 16-20, Sibiu
- Opening hours: Every day from 08:00 to 20:00.
- Tickets: 17 lei per person
6. Admire the art in the Brukenthal National Museum
Every now and then I find it wonderful to once again admire an art museum. As I get older, I’m able to appreciate art more and more. So when we saw that there was a well-known art museum in the main square, we decided to visit it. The building itself dates back to the 18th century and was once the palace of the Transylvanian governor. The museum has both a European and a Romanian department of works of art and a really beautiful design. I really enjoyed my visit.
- Address: Piaţa Mare 4 – 5, Sibiu
- Opening hours: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Open from Wednesday to Sunday between 09:00 and 17:00.
- Tickets: 20 lei for the European Art Gallery. 12 lei for the Romanian Art Gallery. There are many more parts of the museum for which you can buy tickets, and specific discounts, so look for current information here.
Tours Around Sibiu
If you want a more guided experience, try this three-hour sightseeing tour or this one that will also take you to Sibiu’s surrounding area as well.
Where to Eat in Sibiu
O’sushi Sibiu
Occasionally, the real sushi craving hits me, and in Sibiu, that was the case. I did not feel like eating meat or pasta (the two most common options), so we ended up at this sushi restaurant. When we were there it was not even “officially” opened, and hard to find, but the food was delicious! It should be open now :-) With 2 of us we lost 130 lei.
- Address: Strada Turnului 17
Enzo Ristoranta e caffè
Here we had a delicious lunch, with fantastic pasta, while we doing some people-watching. With 2 of us we lost 74 lei.
- Address: Strada Nicolae Bălcescu 21
Weinkeller
It’s super nice to sit here, under the vines. You can eat traditional Romanian food and drink local wines. With 2 of us we lost 90 lei.
- Address: Strada Turnului 2
Donuterie Sibiu
I am really a snob when it comes to donuts. Usually, I do not like them at all, but on the last day I felt like something sweet, and we went to Donuterie. And omg, there they are so super nice. Highly recommended if you like donuts!
- Address: Strada Nicolae Bălcescu 26
Where to Stay in Sibiu
Maison Elysée: This was my favorite hotel in which I slept in Romania. Such a nice, small boutique hotel just a few minutes walk from the center. We stayed in a beautiful room, with romantic decor, and a modern comfortable bathroom. The people who work here are also so incredibly sweet. Check the current prices here.
Prefer a different hotel? Find a hotel in Sibiu here.
What are your top things to do in Sibiu?
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