Located right in the center of the country, halfway between Brasov and Sibiu, Sighisoara forms with the two medieval cities a top of the most beautiful places in Romania.
The fortress with narrow and cobbled streets, colorful houses, defense towers, and walls witnessing important fragments of the country’s history, is a jewel worth discovering. There are plenty of things to do in Sighisoara on a trip of at least one day.
It’s a small town, so you can easily visit the most important attractions in Sighisoara in only one or two days. Sighisoara is one of the last inhabited fortress-cities in Europe.
This feature, along with the obvious beauty, made the historic a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most tourists who visit Romania choose to stop for at least one day in Sighisoara, in search of the beauties of the past. The best time of the year to come here is during the Medieval Festival of Sighisoara, the one that takes place at the end of July each year.
What I use every time I travel:
- To book hotels: Booking.com
- To book tours: GetYourGuide.com
History of Sighisoara
Sighisoara was founded by the German settlers called Saxons. The first documentary attestation is from 1280 when it was only a small fortress and was called Castrum Sex.
The Romanian name of Sighisoara appeared in 1435. The history of Sighisoara is full of events, some beautiful, others tragic. The settlement went through battles, plagues, fires, but managed to survive and maintain quite well, as we can see today.
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Best things to do in Sighisoara, Romania
Visit the prison (torture chamber)
If you choose to enter the citadel through the main entrance, where the Clock Tower is, you will easily find the torture chamber. It’s a very small room, but full of various torture techniques for evildoers.
The ticket costs 4 RON (≈$1).
Go up to the Clock Tower | Best things to do in Sighisoara
The building that stands out in the landscape of Sighisoara is the symbol of the city, the Clock Tower. It has a height of 64 meters and 6 levels. The Clock Tower hosts the History Museum, after in the past it was the headquarters of the city hall in Sighisoara.
It’s a veteran of the fortress, being built in the 14th century, in order to protect the entrance to the Sighisoara citadel. The name of the Clock Tower comes from the huge clock on the building, with an impressive diameter of 2.4 meters. Those interested can study the complicated mechanism on the 5th floor of the tower.
To reach the top of the Clock Tower, and to enjoy a 360 ° panorama of Sighisoara, you will have to spend 15 RON (≈$3). You also have to put some effort, because you will have to climb 110 steps.
But the effort is well worth it because the view you will be rewarded with at the end is gorgeous. In my opinion, is one of the best things to do in Sighisoara, Romania.
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The History Museum
The entrance ticket to the Clock Tower also provides you with access inside the History Museum, where you will find some exhibitions of weapons, archeology, medieval pharmacy, old pottery, but also the former mayor’s office. It’s worth spending at least half an hour here from your trip to Sighisoara.
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The Weapons Museum | Best things to do in Sighisoara Citadel
Go hunting for souvenirs
Unfortunately, in many places in Romania, you can’t find souvenir shops, except in the big cities. Sighisoara is an exception. Here there are plenty of shops where you can buy a nice magnet with the most beautiful places in Sighisoara, an ie (Romanian traditional blouse), a hand-decorated chair, or maybe a musical instrument carved by craftsmen, or an object of ceramics.
You will find a lot of such shops both before entering the fortress and inside it, and the prices are quite affordable. Souvenir hunting is definitely one of the best things to do in Sighisoara Citadel.
Have lunch in Citadel Square | Best things to do in Sighisoara
The central point of the fortress, but also the most colorful and vibrant is the Citadel Square. Where the houses in pastel shades invite you to take a seat at the tables placed in front of them and to serve a hot drink. Or even a traditional dish. I recommend the delicious chicken goulash with polenta.
In addition to the medieval style, you will find here a piece of Asia. The red tuk-tuks are ready to take you on all the alleys of the fortress, especially if you have little time and want to get to the best places in Sighisoara faster.
Citadel Square is also the perfect place to book a hotel in Sighisoara since it’s extremely close to all the tourist attractions you will want to see. An accommodation recommendation is the famous Casa cu Cerb. I also added it at the end of the article, in my accommodation recommendations for Sighisoara.
Take a walk on the colorful streets of the citadel
If I were to characterize Sighisoara in one word, that would probably be color. Each street is lined with colorful houses, and you will not find two adjacent buildings that have the same shade.
We can even include Sighisoara in the list of Instagramable places in Romania because your photos here will be very successful on the Social Media platform.
Go to the Dominican Monastery Church | Best things to do in Sighisoara
Although I was unable to visit the fortified church because it was closed for renovation, I wish I could do that. It’s very old, dates from 1298, and is one of the first buildings in the Sighisoara citadel.
Those who put the foundations were the Dominican monks, but a strong fire devastated it in 1676. So, what we see today is a newer version rebuilt after the unfortunate event.
The most important patrimony objects of the Dominican Church from Sighisoara are the collection of 39 old oriental carpets. The church is one of the best places to visit in Sighisoara, and I will definitely see it on my next visit.
Climb the Schoolers Ladder
An emblematic view from Sighisoara is that of the covered steps leading to the Josef Haltrich high school. The staircase was built between 1660 and 1662 and aimed to protect students from the bad weather, especially in winter.
Initially, there were 300 steps, and their climb was a kind of morning training for students. Nowadays, only 175 wooden steps remain. The walls are made of the same material, and the roof is made of shingles.
Visit the birthplace of Vlad Tepes | Best things to do in Sighisoara
Although there is no very clear evidence in this regard, it is believed that Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vad Tepes (Dracula). Specifically, there is a house in Sighisoara that belonged to Vlad Dracul, Vlad Tepes’ father.
It is said that the ruler was born in this house in 1431 and lived here until the age of 4. The house is marked with a plaque placed on one of the exterior walls and can be visited.
Admire the Roman Catholic Church
Although it is often overshadowed by other tourist attractions in Sighisoara, St. Joseph’s Cathedral is very beautiful and part of the hidden gems of Sighisoara.
Visit the Shoemaker’s Tower | Best things to do in Sighisoara Citadel
Being built as a fortress city, Sighisoara had a total of 14 defense towers. Each of them had a well-defined role, but currently, only nine are still standing and can still be admired: the Shoemaker’s Tower, the Furrier’s Tower, the Tailors’ Tower, the Blacksmith’s Tower, etc.
If you spend at least two days in Sighisoara, I recommend you go on a tour of these towers and discover them one by one. My favorite is Shoemaker’s Tower, located near St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Although you can’t get inside it because it hosts the local radio station, you can admire the exterior.
Like other buildings in Sighisoara, the Shoemaker’s Tower was affected by the fire in 1676. Therefore, its original shape changed in 1681 when it was rebuilt. The Shoemaker’s Tower marks the northern end of the fortress walls.
Visit the Evangelical Cemetery and the Church on the Hill
It may sound macabre, but I suggest you take a short walk through the evangelical cemetery in Sighisoara. That’s because it’s quite old and full of monuments. It is also called the Saxon Cemetery and dates from the eighteenth century.
The contrast between the old crosses and monuments with the green of the tall trees and the location on the hill in the fortress make it an intimate, secluded, and full of mystery place.
Next to the cemetery is the Church on the Hill, which you will immediately notice as you finish climbing the last step of the covered staircase.
It is one of the largest churches in Transylvania and can be seen from all corners of the city, due to its location on the highest hill. If you want to visit, you will have to pay 8 RON (≈$2).
Admire the doors of Sighisoara | Best things to do in Sighisoara Citadel
I have a real fascination for doors, especially since they are old and full of details, something that we can rarely see nowadays when the architectural elements are characterized by simplicity.
In Sighisoara, the wooden doors are real works of art and fit perfectly with the pastel walls of the buildings.
Go on a guided tour of Sighisoara
If you are a fan of guided tours, with the help of which you not only enjoy the beauty of the city but also find valuable information from a professional, then you should know that there are such tours that you can do in Sighisoara. One of the most appreciated is a tour of the fortress that includes visiting the most important attractions.
Is it worth visiting Sighisoara?
Sighisoara is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, with a rich history, colorful and preserved streets for hundreds of years. So, it is well worth coming here and enjoying the best things to do in Sighisoara.
It would be best to arrive during the week and spend at least two days to have time to check the most beautiful places in Sighisoara.
How to get to Sighisoara
Sighisoara is situated approximately in the center of the country, so it’s quite easy and fast to reach it from anywhere. You can opt for a train, bus, or personal car.
From Bucharest to Sighisoara the distance is about 300 km, which you can cover either in 5 hours or maybe in 5 and a half hours. The nearest big city is Targu Mures. Airports close to Sighisoara are in Cluj, Sibiu, and Brasov.
The best hotels in Sighisoara
There are many beautiful places where you can stay in Sighisoara, right inside the citadel or in the immediate vicinity. I recommend three of them, depending on your budget:
- budget Sighisoara hotel: Casa Hermann– excellent location, free wifi, free parking
- mid-range Sighisoara hotel: Casa cu Cerb– perfect location, right in the center of the fortress, pet friendly, free wifi
- luxury Sighisoara hotel: Fronius Boutique Residence– free parking, free wifi, bar, fabulous breakfast, very good location
Day trips from Sighisoara
Being so well located, right in the center of the country, it’s easy to get almost anywhere from Sighisoara. So, if you spend a few days at the citadel, you can add in your itinerary some day trips from Sighisoara to the following destinations:
- Day trip to Biertan Village or Viscri Village; I have already written an article that includes these two villages in Transylvania. The distance to them is a maximum of one hour. Each of them has a special charm, and you can find more details about them in the dedicated article.
- One day trip to Sibiu; only an hour and a half separates Sighisoara from another beautiful destination of the country, Sibiu. Therefore, you can add this city to the list of day trips from Sighisoara, especially if you haven’t seen it yet. Here are 20 pictures to inspire you.
- Day trip to Transfagarasan; You can also go further from Sibiu and see the spectacular Transfagarasan Highway. There is no exaggeration, the mountain road will leave you breathless at first sight.
- Day trip to Brasov; You also have the option to pack Sighisoara with the city at the foot of Tampa, the beautiful Brasov. Find out from the article what you can visit in Brasov.
Good restaurants in Sighisoara
There are so many places with good food in Sighisoara, but if I were to recommend only three of them, these would be the winers:
- Joseph T. Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Restaurant Michelangelo
- Sanmarco Sighisoara
How many days in Sighisoara?
Considering it’s a small town with many great things to visit, I would say you should spend a minimum of two days in Sighisoara. However, if you are planning to do some day trips from Sighisoara, then you could extend your Sighisoara itinerary up to a week even. Everything depends on what you are willing to explore from this wonderful citadel.
So, how many days in Sighisoara? I don’t know exactly, but I think a day wouldn’t be enough to tick off the best things to do in Sighisoara.
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