Major city · Romania
Sibiu
Give Sibiu 2 nights: one full day for the old town squares and towers, one for the ASTRA open-air museum or a Saxon-village drive.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- RON
- Best months
- May–Oct; early Sep for the music festival
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, short days); Jul–Aug weekends are the busiest
- Airport
- SBZ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Romania ↗Romania is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Romanian sources for your passport.
- Romania ↗Drivers need an electronic road vignette (rovinieta) on national roads; rental cars normally include it, but check.
- Romania ↗Brown bears live in the Carpathians and sometimes enter towns and roadsides: never feed or approach them, and follow local warnings.
Sibiu is a compact, walkable Saxon old town in southern Transylvania, 280 km by road from Bucharest, with three linked squares, a climbable council tower and a large open-air village museum 5 km out. It works as a 2-night stop between Brașov and the Saxon churches, or as a base for the Transfăgărășan and Păltiniș.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sibiu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro.Romania-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest.Romania-wide
- Tap waterTap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling).Romania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.Romania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Romania-wide
- SafetySibiu is a calm, walkable city and feels safe day and night in the centre.
- RestroomsUse cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3.Romania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police, ambulance, fire and mountain rescue (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckMany museums close Monday (and some also Tuesday); Peleș closes Monday and has shorter hours Tuesday — check.Romania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckSBZ Sibiu International Airport (6 km west of the centre; bus route 11 to the centre (fare and journey time check), taxi about 25 lei daytime).SBZ Sibiu International Airport (3.7 mi west of the centre; bus route 11 to the centre (fare and journey time check), taxi about 25 lei daytime).
- Getting aroundThe old town is compact and largely pedestrian: Piața Mare, Piața Mică and Piața Huet are 5 minutes apart on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in the old town8–15 lei
- Beerdraught in a pub / bottle from a shop10–18 lei4–8 lei
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, 5 km in townTaxi, 3.1 mi in town20–30 lei
- Metro or bus rideCity bus single ride (contactless card)3.50 lei
- Museum or sight ticketCouncil Tower entryabout 2 lei
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personRON 60
- Mid-range bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per roomRON 320
- High-end bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per roomRON 600
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RON 150 · Mid RON 300 · High RON 600
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SBZ Sibiu International Airport (6 km west of the centre; bus route 11 to the centre (fare and journey time check), taxi about 25 lei daytime)SBZ Sibiu International Airport (3.7 mi west of the centre; bus route 11 to the centre (fare and journey time check), taxi about 25 lei daytime)
Weather and climate
Sibiu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C36°F
−6°C21°F
8 rd
Feb
4°C39°F
−5°C23°F
8 rd
Mar
10°C50°F
−1°C30°F
9 rd
Apr
16°C61°F
4°C39°F
10 rd
May
21°C70°F
9°C48°F
12 rd
Jun
24°C75°F
12°C54°F
12 rd
Jul
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
11 rd
Aug
26°C79°F
13°C55°F
9 rd
Sep
22°C72°F
10°C50°F
8 rd
Oct
16°C61°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
Nov
9°C48°F
0°C32°F
9 rd
Dec
3°C37°F
−4°C25°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is compact and largely pedestrian: Piața Mare, Piața Mică and Piața Huet are 5 minutes apart on foot. City buses take contactless bank cards on board and print a ticket; a single ride was 3.50 lei in 2026. Bus 13 runs to the ASTRA museum. Taxis meter normally; ask the total before a long ride.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Păltiniș
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Car or bus up the road past Rășinari
Small mountain resort at the road end; hiking in summer, skiing in winter.
Ocna Sibiului
goDoor to door: About 30 min (check)
Bus or car 15 km NE (check)Bus or car 9.3 mi NE (check)
Salt lakes formed in flooded old mines; a half-day in warm weather.
Biertan
goDoor to door: 1.5 h
Car about 1 h 15 min; public transport is slow and indirect
Fortified church on the UNESCO list; pair with Mediaș on the same loop.
Mediaș
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Train or car about 1 h
Useful as a stop on the way to Sighișoara rather than a full day out.
Dumbrăveni
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min (check)
Train toward Sighișoara, then walk (check)
Small town on the Sighișoara line; only worth it if you are already passing (check).
Sighișoara
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
Train, infrequent, about 2 h 30 min
The citadel deserves a night, not a rushed return trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Piața Mică and Piața Mare
In the pedestrian old town: bars, restaurants and sights on foot. Priciest, and cars cannot reach most doors.
Around the railway and bus stations
500 m NE of the centre; cheaper rooms, easy arrival by train or bus, 10 min walk to Piața Mare.
Lower Town (Orașul de Jos)
Cobbled streets below the Iron Bridge; quieter, still walkable to the squares.
West side toward the airport
Only for a very early flight; the airport is 6 km out and there is little to walk to (check).Only for a very early flight; the airport is 3.7 mi out and there is little to walk to (check).
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 150–250 lei excl. bed
- Mid
- 250–450 lei excl. bed
- High
- 450 lei+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, guesthouse or small hotel1 × 2 nights × RON 320 | RON 640 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × RON 300 | RON 1,200 |
| Bus 11 airport to centre, one way2 × RON 4 | RON 8 |
| ASTRA museum adult ticket2 × RON 35 | RON 70 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × RON 40 | RON 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RON 200 |
| Trip total≈ RON 550 per person per day, bed included | RON 2,198 |
2026 estimate in lei; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee in the old town | 8–15 lei |
| Ciorbă or a plate of sarmale | 25–45 lei |
| Two courses with drinks for two people2026 estimate | about 150 lei |
| Beer, draught in a pub / bottle from a shop | 10–18 lei / 4–8 lei |
| City bus single ride (contactless card) | 3.50 lei |
| Taxi, 5 km in town | 20–30 lei |
| Council Tower entry | about 2 lei |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Old town is one-way and partly closed to cars: ask your hotel for exact driving directions before arrival.
- Watch for horse-drawn carts on rural roads if you drive to the villages.
- Zero alcohol tolerance at the wheel in Romania.
- The Lutheran cathedral and some museums close for renovation at times: check before you go.
- Card payment on buses works, but keep some cash for small village stops and markets.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance, fire and mountain rescue
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
SibiuSibiu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
La această adresă, vă rogTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue112
Embassy
No embassies in Sibiu; most countries keep embassies in Bucharest, with honorary consulates in Transylvania (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport SBZ → centre, bus 11: about 4 lei, about 20 min
- Airport SBZ → centre, taxi: about 25 lei daytime, 30 lei late night
- Sibiu → Bucharest by bus: about 100 lei, 5 h
- Sibiu → Cluj-Napoca by bus: about 30 lei, 4 h
Say or show
- Bună ziua — Hello (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah)
- Mulțumesc — Thank you (mool-tsoo-MESK)
- Cât costă? — How much is it? (kuht KOS-tuh)
- Pot plăti cu cardul? — Can I pay by card? (pot pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool)
- Unde este toaleta? — Where is the toilet? (OON-deh YES-teh twa-LEH-tah)
- Nota, vă rog — The bill, please (NO-tah vuh ROG)
Tipping is about 10% in restaurants, in cash; round up taxis.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sibiu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct; early Sep for the music festival · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, short days); Jul–Aug weekends are the busiest · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SBZ: last bus 11 and taxi fallback, plus a late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Piața Mare, Piața Mică and the Iron Bridge, Piața Huet and the cathedral, the Lower Town.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Council Tower, Brukenthal, ASTRA, Lutheran cathedral) and eat pages with last orders.
- Car-hire and village-loop fixture for Biertan, Mediaș and Viscri so gate C can go green.
Sources
- officialSibiu City Hall (official site)
- officialSibiu International Airport
- officialASTRA Museum
- officialBrukenthal National Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage: Sibiu, revision 5288482 (CC BY-SA 4.0)