Explore Transylvania: Five One Day Trips from Sibiu You Should Take

Diana Condrea

Diana is a tourism consultant, tour guide, travel writer and amateur photographer. You can find Diana on LinkedIn

Discover our day trips from Sibiu on www.uncover-romania-tours.com

Sibiu easily passes as one of the best vacation destinations in Romania. This medieval-founded city is all you could want when it comes to culture and history and so are its neighboring cities and villages. Like Brasov, taking day trips from Sibiu is a great choice to explore more of Transylvania. Our insider’s guide will offer you the best ideas and tips for a memorable couple of days in this ‘land beyond the forest’.

1. Visit Alba Iulia

Located less than 100 km away from Sibiu, Alba Iulia is maybe the most historical city in Romania if you consider its ancient past, its breathtaking medieval monuments, its imposing Baroque gates, and its role in the unification of Romania with Transylvania from 1918. Recently and wonderfully restored, the citadel of Alba Iulia is a fascinating destination and perhaps the best one day trip from Sibiu you should take if you’re passionate about history.

Alba Iulia Citadel

To add an extra attraction, visit the fortified church of Calnic on your way back to Sibiu and the Evangelical Church from Sebes.

Alba Iulia is included in most of our tours in Transylvania.

2. Tour the fortified churches

The capital of the Saxons of Transylvania, the city of Sibiu was since its very beginning the most important political center of this community for which the fortified church became a symbol of faith, religion, and military defense. Taking day trips from Sibiu is the perfect way to discover this priceless heritage as many of these unique monuments are located across the county.

We recommend the following routes:

Sibiu – Hosman – Altana – Dealu Frumos – Cincu – Carta – Cisnadie – Cisnadioara – Sibiu

Sibiu – Axente Sever – Valea Viilor – Mosna – Alma Vii – Richis – Biertan – Medias – Sibiu

Axente Sever Fortified Church

3. Drive on Transfagarasan or Transalpina

Choose one or both of these panoramic mountain roads, the tallest and the longest high-altitude drives in Romania. Sibiu is located halfway between Sebes where Transalpina begins and Cartisoara where Transfagarasan ends. Either way, you’re in for a great drive above 2,000 meters, but try to leave as early as possible and avoid crowded summer weekends.

Transfagarasan

4. Visit medieval Sighisoara

If you’re looking to uncover more medieval history, then Sighisoara is one of the day trips from Sibiu you should take. Listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site, Sighisoara is one of the best-conserved and still inhabited medieval towns in Europe.

Its centuries-old fortification walls, towers, bastions, impressive churches, and labyrinth of narrow streets offer a unique perspective of what life looked like ages ago. For the best view of the old town, go up to the balcony of the Clock Tower.

Evangelical Church, Sighisoara

We recommend you take the county road DJ106 that passes through Agnita. It’s a scenic choice with many fortified churches and old villages along the way.

5. Take hiking day trips

If you’d like to exchange history for nature, then you’re still in the right place. Cindrel Mountains and Fagaras Mountains are a short drive away. But be sure to prepare your hiking boots because you need the right equipment to ascend to higher altitudes. Paltinis is the closest access point for Cindrel Mountains and Avrig and Porumbacu de Sus for Fagaras Mountains.

Valea Sambetei in winter

If you’re planning longer hikes, organize your trip in detail as there are limited accommodation options in the mountains.

We hope our guide to the top five day trips from Sibiu will help you experience an unforgettable vacation. In the end, Sibiu is one of the must-see destinations in Romania. Spending a couple of days here is the perfect choice if you want to uncover more of Transylvania.