Should I Go to Sighisoara, Romania?
If you’re looking for a cool weather destination in the summer, Sighisoara, Romania should definitely be on your travel itinerary. The city is renowned for its well-preserved citadel and offers an excellent opportunity to explore Transylvania. With so much to see and do, it’s easy to see why Sighisoara is a popular tourist destination.
When we tell others we are full-time travelers, one of the most popular questions people ask is: “Where should I go?” The honest answer is: “It depends.” The best destination depends on what you want to do on your trip.
Every city is different and has its pros and cons. We can’t say which city is best or our favorite because we like them all (or, at least, most of them) for very different reasons.
When we start thinking about where we will go next, we consider several factors. Some are given more weight than others, but we want to ensure the destination has what we’re looking for and that there are no disqualifying issues (like weather or crowds).
To help you decide if Sighisoara is a good choice, we’ve analyzed a list of factors we consider when choosing a destination and answered the frequently asked questions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Factors to Consider Before Visiting Sighisoara
We spent the entire month of June in Sighisoara and felt like we knew the city well. Based on our experience, we assigned each factor a score from 1 to 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. If the attribute is unavailable or does not apply, we give it a 0.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Sighisoara worth visiting?” hopefully, this information will help you make a more informed decision.
Weather
Hot in the Summer | 5 |
Cold in the Winter | 1 |
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups | 4 |
Few Cruise Ship Passengers | 5 |
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families | 3 |
Pedestrian Only Areas | 4 |
Lines at Attractions | 5 |
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) | 0 |
Beaches with Rough Water | 0 |
Boating Activities/Kayaking | 0 |
Rocky Swim Spots | 0 |
Sunbathing | 0 |
Food and Beverage
Wine | 4 |
Beer | 3 |
Specialty Liquor | 4 |
Specialty Food | 2 |
Seafood | 1 |
Meat | 4 |
Street Food | 2 |
Large Food Market with Restaurants | 2 |
Interests
History | 3 |
Architecture | 3 |
Art | 1 |
Museums | 1 |
Castles | 0 |
Walled-City | 4 |
Palaces | 1 |
Hiking | 3 |
Running | 3 |
High-Fashion Stores/Shopping | 1 |
Nightlife | 2 |
Dog-Friendly | 2 |
Kid-Friendly | 2 |
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores | 4 |
English Widely Spoken | 4 |
Outwardly Friendly Locals | 3 |
American Tourists | 2 |
Accessible by Train | 5 |
Day Trips by Train | 5 |
Clean Streets | 4 |
Noise | 4 |
Costs
Food Cost | 5 |
Accommodation Cost | 5 |
Activities Cost | 5 |
Transportation Cost | 5 |
A Closer Look at Each Factor
Some factors may sway you in one direction or another, depending on your circumstances and interests—for example, the weather. If you like to go to the beach, you may be looking for hot weather in the summer. If you like winter sports, you may be looking for cold weather in the winter. On the other hand, if you want to explore the old town (like us), you may be looking for milder weather in the summer and winter. For this reason, you may need to take your situation into account.
Weather
While there are some exceptions, we assume the weather will be good in the Spring and Fall everywhere we consider visiting. So, we focus primarily on the Summer and Winter weather.
Hot in the Summer – 5
We were in Sighisoara during June, and the weather was very comfortable. The early morning temperature was typically in the mid-50s before climbing into the mid-70s in the afternoon. Historically, the average highs for June, July, and August are 74℉, 77℉, and 77℉, respectively. This cool summer climate makes Sighisoara a great place to escape the summer heat!
Cold in the Winter – 1
We were not in Sighisoara during the winter, and we do not recommend it for most people because it gets very cold. The average highs for December, January, and February are 34℉, 32℉, and 37℉, respectively. But, worse than that, the overnight lows are typically in the low 20s, so the mornings are literally freezing.
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups – 4
Summer is the busiest season for tourists in Sighisoara, specifically in August. We spent the month of June in Sighisoara and saw many groups of tourists, but their numbers did not impede our enjoyment of the town.
Few Cruise Ship Passengers – 5
Sighisoara is in the middle of the country, so there are no tour groups from large cruise ships. However, many smaller riverboat cruises on the Danube shuttle tourists around Romania to the different sites in large groups. We did not feel these groups were numerous enough to lessen the appeal of Sighisoara.
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families – 3
Most of the tourists in Sighisoara were couples or small families. Most were on a day trip or spent a night or two in this beautiful town. There were many tourists in small groups or small families, but their numbers were much less than in the crazy crowded cities in Europe, and they did not impact our enjoyment.
Pedestrian Only Areas – 4
Sighisoara Citadel is not pedestrian-only, but it is vehicle-limited. This does allow for distracted wandering without concern for cars.
Lines at Attractions – 5
The main attraction in Sighisoara is wandering the citadel and enjoying its beautiful towers and architecture. These do not require standing in line.
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) – 0
Sighisoara is in the center of Romania and does not have beaches for swimming or water activities. It does have a river, but it is not used for swimming or boating.
Beaches with Rough Water – 0
Again, there are no beaches in Sighisoara.
Boating Activities/Kayaking – 0
Sighisoara does have a river running through it, but the river doesn’t offer boating activities in the city.
Rocky Swim Spots – 0
Sighisoara is not a destination for swimming.
Sunbathing – 0
You can leave your bathing suit at home for your trip to Sighisoara as it doesn’t offer many, if any, sunbathing opportunities.
Food and Beverage
Wine – 4
Romania is a very large producer of wine and offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy local wine during your visit. The Kauflands grocery store has an impressive selection of Romanian wines and there is a small wine shop in the lower town that sells Romanian wine. The wine shop has maps of the Romanian wine regions and a knowledgeable staff to help guide and educate you. The restaurants in both the citadel and the old town offer Romanian wine to explore and enjoy. For more information on Sighisoara wine, check out our Sighisoara Wine page.
Beer – 3
Romania is a producer of beer, and you can see hops grown in the countryside. That said, the locals enjoy drinking imported beer from the Czech Republic, and you will find these beer brands more prominently offered.
Specialty Liquor – 4
Romania is an avid producer of specialty liquors made from plums, grapes, and other fruits. These can all be purchased at the grocery stores. For a unique tasting experience of specialty liquor, Sighisoara is home to a small boutique producer called Teo’s. We went there mid-day and enjoyed a tasting of their wines and liquors.
Specialty Food – 2
Romania has unique and interesting food, but I wouldn’t say it is a producer of specialty foods. For more information on the local food of Sighisoara, check out our Sighisoara Food page.
Seafood – 1
Sighisoara is not a destination for seafood, and this is seen on its menus. Its local dishes focus on pork.
Meat – 4
Sighisoara is a destination for meat eaters. Many traditional dishes showcase pork, and many local restaurants offer barbeque meats.
Street Food – 2
Sighisoara has a handful of street food shops that offer langos. Langos is fried dough with sweet or savory toppings.
Food Market – 2
Sighisoara has a medium-sized green market that is open on Saturdays.
Interests
History – 3
Sighisoara has a unique story surrounding Vlad Tepes that can be explored while visiting. I also enjoyed learning about the long history of Saxons throughout Romania, why the fortified churches exist, and the unique differences between the counties in Transylvania.
Architecture – 3
Sighisoara has a colorful and unique architectural style that makes this small town memorable.
Art – 1
Sighisoara is not a destination for art museums and art lovers. There are no art museums, and the churches do not hold large amounts of art.
Museums – 1
Sighisoara is not a destination for visiting museums. It has a few small museums (including the Sighisoara History Museum) that can be enjoyed, but the main attraction is the streets, buildings, towers, and walls of the citadel.
Castles – 0
Sighisoara Citadel is on a hilltop and feels like it could hold a castle, but it doesn’t. Throughout Romania, churches were built inside fortifications instead of castles.
Walled-City – 4
The Citadel is the walled historic center of Sighisoara, and many of the towers and walls can be enjoyed today!
Palaces – 1
Sighisoara is not a destination for palaces.
Hiking – 3
There is wonderful hiking all over Romania, but none of its trails cross through Sighisoara. So, there are no hiking trails that can be accessed directly from the town. Instead, you will need to hop on the train and access the hiking trails.
Running – 3
There is a long, flat walking path that runs along the river of Sighisoara that offers great running. The running will be great, but it will be lonely as I did not see a single other runner while staying in Sighisoara for a month.
For more information on Sighisoara’s running routes, check out Map My Run.
High – Fashion Stores/Shopping – 1
There are a handful of small boutique clothing stores in the Citadel, but Sighisoara is not a destination for shopping.
Nightlife – 2
Sighisoara has very nice bars and restaurants but they are not late-night party spots. It’s a have a drink before or after dinner and get to bed at a reasonable time kind of place.
Dog Friendly – 2
Sighisoara is not a very dog-friendly place. We had a difficult time finding a place to stay with our dog.
Kid Friendly – 2
We don’t have kids, but Sighisoara is not a super kid-friendly place. There is a train to ride around the town that kids would enjoy, but other than that, there is not much to entertain children.
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores – 4
Sighisoara has two grocery stores, Lidl and Kauflands, that make excellent grocery shopping in Sighisoara. I enjoyed grocery shopping there and had no problem finding things to make for dinner.
English Widely Spoken – 4
English is very widely spoken in Sighisoara, and we had no problem spending a month there knowing only a handful of Romanian words.
Outwardly Friendly Locals – 3
The people of Sighisoara are not the most friendly in Europe, but they are not unfriendly.
American Tourists – 2
There are few American tourists in Sighisoara, but you will encounter them here and there. The majority of tourists in Sighisoara are German.
Accessible by Train – 5
The train station and overnight trains make Sighisoara accessible by train from all over Europe. We took the overnight train from Vienna and other trains all over Romania, and we highly recommend taking the train to travel around the country.
Day Trips by Train – 5
Again, with the local train station, Romania is your oyster, and so are day trips by train.
Clean Streets – 4
Sighisoara keeps their street pretty clean.
Noise – 4
Sighisoara is a very quiet town. We stayed in the Citadel, except for the church bell, it was very quiet. If noise is a concern, be sure not to stay in a hotel along the main road by the river.
Costs
Food Cost – 5
Sighisoara is a very budget-friendly destination for eating at restaurants and grocery shopping.
Accommodation Cost – 5
Sighisoara is also a very budget-friendly destination for accommodation. It is a great place to get the most for your money and have an extremely memorable time.
Activities Cost – 5
The majority of our activities in Sighisoara were day trips to fortified churches in the nearby towns. We did all these with a private driver, and they were all fairly priced.
Transportation Cost – 5
Since Sighisoara is connected to the Romanian train system, transportation cost to and from Sighisoara is very reasonable.
If taking the train is not your thing, you can use a taxi, private transfer, or rent a car and drive. For taxis and private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of national and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.
FAQs About Visiting Sighisoara
Where to Stay in Sighisoara?
There are many great places to stay in Sighisoara. For the best experience, we recommend staying inside the Citadel. We feel the charm and ambiance of Sighisoara is best inside the Citadel and it is the perfect spot for a unique and memorable experience. The castle marker on the interactive map below is the center of the Citadel. We recommend staying as close to it as you can afford and that meets your preferences.
The below interactive map provides hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.
Book your stay now!
Is it worth visiting Sighisoara?
Absolutely! Sighisoara is a beautiful and historic city located in Transylvania, Romania. It is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and charming old town. The city is also famous for being the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Sighisoara offers visitors a unique glimpse into medieval life with its cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and impressive fortified walls. Highlights include the Clock Tower, which houses a history museum, and the Church on the Hill, with its stunning panoramic views. Whether you are interested in history, culture, or simply exploring a picturesque destination, Sighisoara is definitely worth a visit!
How long to spend in Sighisoara?
The amount of time to spend in Sighisoara can vary depending on your interests and travel preferences. Generally, most travelers find that spending 1 to 2 days in Sighisoara is sufficient to explore the main attractions and get a feel for the town’s unique atmosphere. This allows you enough time to visit the historic Old Town, explore the medieval citadel, and visit the Clock Tower and other notable landmarks. Additionally, taking some time to wander the streets, admire the colorful buildings, and soak up the charming ambiance is highly recommended. If you have extra time or want to delve deeper into the history and culture of Sighisoara, you may consider extending your stay by a day or two. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much time you want to allocate for your visit based on your interests and available travel schedule.
What Are the Best Things to See in Sighisoara?
In Sighisoara, there are plenty of wonderful sights to explore. Here are some of the best things to see in this captivating city:
1. The Clock Tower: This iconic landmark not only offers a glimpse into Sighisoara’s history but also provides panoramic views of the city. Don’t miss the fascinating history museum housed inside.
2. The Church on the Hill: Take a leisurely stroll to the top of the hill and visit this enchanting church. Apart from its intricate architecture, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Sighisoara.
3. The Covered Stairway: As you make your way through the narrow streets of Sighisoara, don’t forget to stop by the Covered Staircase. This unique architectural marvel connects the lower and upper parts of the city and offers a picturesque spot for some memorable photographs.
4. The Vlad Dracula House: For those interested in the legend of Dracula, a visit to Vlad Dracula House is a must. This medieval house is believed to be the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler and now serves as a museum dedicated to his life and times.
5. The Citadel Square: Located at the heart of Sighisoara, the Citadel Square (Piata Cetatii) is a bustling hub of activity. Here, you can immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and admire the beautiful pastel-colored buildings that surround you. Enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the charming cafes or explore the local shops for unique souvenirs.
6. The Saxon Cemetery: Pay a visit to the Saxon Cemetery, located just outside the city walls. As you wander through this tranquil place, you’ll come across ornate tombstones and intricately carved crosses, showcasing the rich heritage of the Saxon community.
7. Monastery Church: The Monastery Church is a Lutheran parish church with a Baroque interior that is classified as a historical monument.
8. Holy Trinity Church: One of the most prominent landmarks of the town is the Holy Trinity Church, a massive Orthodox church located outside the Citadel. The church was built by Transylvanian Saxons in a Neo-Byzantine architectural style and is monochromatic in appearance. It is situated on the north side of the Târnava Mare River and is worth visiting for its historical significance and unique architecture.
9. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church: One of the notable attractions is St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, which boasts a Gothic and Neo-Roman architectural style with a tall belfry.
Is it better to stay in Sibiu or Sighisoara?
It depends on your preferences and what you are looking for in a destination. Sibiu is a larger city with more amenities, restaurants, and cultural attractions. It is known for its well-preserved medieval old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sighisoara, on the other hand, is a smaller town with a charming medieval citadel and a more laid-back atmosphere. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a rich history and beautiful architecture. Both cities offer unique experiences and are worth visiting, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Is Sighisoara touristy?
While Sighisoara is a popular tourist destination and does have souvenir shops, it retains its charm and authenticity. The city attracts visitors from around the world who are drawn to its medieval architecture and rich history, particularly its ties to Vlad the Impaler and the Dracula legend. However, Sighisoara has managed to preserve its unique atmosphere and is not overrun with tourists. It still offers an intimate and authentic experience, allowing visitors to truly immerse themselves in the city’s captivating ambiance. So, while Sighisoara may have some tourist activity, it remains a worthwhile destination for those seeking a genuine travel experience.
What is Sighisoara known for?
Sighisoara is known for being one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. It is located in Transylvania, Romania, and is famous for its well-preserved fortified old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure who inspired Bram Stoker’s character Dracula. The town features colorful houses (including the Vlad Dracul House), cobblestone streets, and a 14th-century clock tower that offers panoramic views of the area. Additionally, Sighisoara hosts an annual medieval festival that attracts visitors from around the world.
Best Cellular for a Sighisoara visit?
Do you need cellular data during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t lose it). Click below for more info.