Tours & Day Trips in Sibiu

Discover Sibiu off-the-beaten path

Sibiu rewards slow walking - but its best stories aren't written on the info boards. Our guided walking tour covers the historic centre, with Grand Square, the Council Tower (built in the 13th century), the Bridge of Lies, built in 1859 as Romania's first cast iron bridge, and the hidden passages between the squares in about two hours, with a local who grew up hearing these stories.

Want something different? Our Freemasonry in Sibiu tour explores Brukenthal's masonic legacy and urban legends - with special visitation rights to the room where the lodge actually met. You won't find this one anywhere else.

And since Sibiu was European Region of Gastronomy, a street food tour is the tastiest way to understand the city - markets, local producers, traditional Romanian food and regional dishes included.

Best day trips from Sibiu

But is Sibiu worth visiting for more than city stuff? Well, Sibiu sits in the middle of Romania, which makes it a perfect location for day trips across the whole country. It also offers a wide range of accommodation options, with hotels right in the historic centre. Here's what's within reach, closest first - drive times are one way:

Marginimea Sibiului - the villages next door (20-40 min)

18 villages at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains form Marginimea Sibiului - "the outskirts of Sibiu" - one of the best-preserved rural areas in Romania. Rasinari was even named Best Tourism Village by the UN's tourism body. Shepherds, painted icon museums, traditional architecture, home-cooked food and postcard views, all half an hour from your hotel.

This is the easiest half-day trip from Sibiu and the most authentic. Join our Village Life in Sibiu Countryside day trip or the hiking trip if you prefer the more active and picturesque version.

Transfagarasan Road & Balea Lake (~1.5 hrs to the top)

Romania's most famous road starts 45 minutes from Sibiu. Its hairpin turns climb to Bâlea Lake, a glacial lake near the highway's highest point at 2,042 m. Jeremy Clarkson once called it the best driving road in the world on Top Gear. The high section is open for driving from 1 July to 30 October - outside those dates, the cable car takes you up to the lake (and the Ice Hotel in winter!).

On our Transfagarasan Road tour from Sibiu our guide handles the driving so you can handle the views - with stops at Carta Abbey and the Clay Castle included. For other routes, stops and seasonal info, see our full guide to all Transfagarasan Road tours.

Sighisoara Citadel (~1.5-2 hrs)

Europe's best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Climb the 14th-century Clock Tower, be there on the hour to see the 400-year-old wooden figurines move, and wear comfortable shoes - everything is cobblestone.

Keep in mind that Sighisoara is around 2 hours from Sibiu.

Saxon villages: Viscri, Biertan & fortified churches (1.5-2 hrs)

The Transylvanian Saxons left behind over 120 villages with fortified churches, several of them UNESCO-listed. Viscri is the famous one - King Charles III loved it so much he bought a house there. Biertan has the Divorce Room: couples who wanted to separate were locked in together for two weeks with one bed, one chair and one spoon. Only one divorce in 300 years :)

Our Sighisoara & Saxon Villages tour combines the citadel with the medieval villages in 1 or 2 days, including a home-cooked Transylvanian lunch with a local family.

Corvin Castle & Alba Iulia Citadel (~2 hrs)

Corvin (Hunyadi) Castle is one of the largest Gothic castles in Europe and - we'll say it - more impressive and more historically interesting than Bran. Totally worth visiting. You've seen it if you watched "The Nun". On the same day trip you can visit Alba Iulia, the star-shaped citadel where Romania's 1918 unification was signed; time it for the changing of the guard at noon.

Public transport won't get you there, so this one needs a car: our Corvin Castle & Alba Iulia day trip from Sibiu covers both and makes everything easier.

Turda Salt Mine & Turda Gorges (~1.5-2 hrs)

An underground salt mine turned into something between a cathedral and a science-fiction set, with a lake and a Ferris wheel 90 meters below ground. Pair it with a hike in the limestone walls of Turda Gorges for a full day out in nature. Our Turda Salt Mine trip from Sibiu covers both and if you want to get to Cluj this can also be arranged.

Hiking in the Fagaras Mountains (~1.5 hrs to the trailheads)

The Fagaras are Romania's highest mountains - Moldoveanu Peak reaches 2,544m - and the wildest. Trails are marked but deliberately kept rough, and proper hiking gear is non-negotiable. If you're fit and equipped, our Fagaras hiking trip from Sibiu will take you on an adventure to summit 4 peaks in one day. Or if you want to do more hiking in Romania and truly explore the Carpathian Mountains, then transform this trip into a multi-day one and go summit the highest peak in Romania - Moldoveanu!

Walk a stage of Via Transilvanica (~30-60 min to the trail)

The Via Transilvanica trails is Romania's version of the El Camino: a 1,400 km long-distance trail crossing the whole country from Putna to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, passing through 600+ communities. Every kilometer is marked with a hand-sculpted stone milestone, each one unique - which makes it the largest open-air sculpture exhibition in the world.

The good news for you: the trail's Saxon section runs through the villages and rolling hills within day-trip reach of Sibiu. You don't need weeks or serious mountain gear - a guided day walk on one stage gives you the fortified churches, the sheep bells and the "road that unites" experience, then a warm meal at the end.

Book our Via Transilvanica trip to do a stage the easy way, with a delicious home-cooked lunch at the end.

Brasov & Bran (Dracula's) Castle - a full day (~2.5 hrs)

Yes, you can visit Romania's most famous castle from Sibiu - but be honest with yourself about the distance: you'll need the entire day. Our Brasov day trip from Sibiu is fully customisable: you can do an easy hike through the picturesque mountain villages of Magura and Pestera, go see Libearty Bear Sanctuary, visit Bran Castle or Brasov Old Town. Just don't expect "vampire stories" from our guide - Bran's real royal history is better than the myths.

If you have more than a day, Brasov deserves its own base - see our guide on what to do in Brasov for more.