Sighisoara itinerary: the best guide by a native

Last Updated on September 11, 2025 by Ioana

I was born and raised in Romania, and I moved back here in 2024 after living in NYC for almost 14 years. I am from Oradea and I visited Sighisoara many times in my life. Sighisoara is a small town with a rich history. It is one of the main attractions in Romania since it’s one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site. In this blog post I will share the ultimate Sighisoara itinerary to help you plan your trip. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

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Sighisoara is a little town that looks like a fairy tale and my favorite medieval town in the world.

So I think you should spend at least a full day here to properly explore all attractions and to also have enough free time to take everything in and relax at some of the many restaurants and bars in town.

Sighisoara also hosts a medieval festival every year on the last weekend of July. If you want to be part of this unique experience and pretend you’re in the middle ages, make sure you time your trip to Sighisoara accordingly.

Visit the Clock Tower

The iconic Clock Tower is the first stop on the itinerary since it’s the main entrance point to the Sighisoara citadel. It’s 64 meters high, so you can easily spot it no matter where you are in Sighisoara.

It was built at the end of the 13th century and it is the only tower in Sighisoara that was not built and maintained by guilds.

The other 13 guild towers in Sighisoara are all named after the guilds that owned them. For example, the Tailors’ Tower or the Tanners’ Tower.

The tower has 2 clock mechanisms, one facing the old town and one facing the upper town. Each side has different figurines.

On the side facing the citadel you’ll see the Goddess of Peace, a drummer that hits a bronze drum when the clock hits 6am or 6pm, Justice and Righteousness, and two angels representing day and night.

On the side facing the exit from the citadel you’ll see another drummer and a figurine on a rotating platform. There are 7 figurines on the rotating platform, one for every day of the week. These 7 figurines also depict the seven ancient gods, seven planets and seven basic metals.

If you pay the equivalent of 5 euros you can also climb up the Clock Tower to get an incredible panoramic view of the city.

Take a picture at the birthplace of Vlad Dracula

If you continue walking straight after the Clock Tower you will find a yellow house that was the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, the Romanian ruler that inspired Bram Stoker to write his fictional novel Dracula.

It has a plaque that says this, so you can take a picture with it.

There is an indoor museum called Dracula’s Room, but I don’t recommend it. It’s just some vampire decor and one person trying to scare you as you enter the room. It’s not worth it.

Stroll through the cobblestone streets

My favorite thing to do in a medieval citadel is to do a self-guided walking tour. That’s because I love to explore every corner of the town and get lost through the cobbled streets.

There are plenty of bars, cafes, and restaurants in Sighisoara if you want to do some people watching or need a break. You can also find some souvenir shops to get a little gift for you and your loved ones.

Make sure you spend some time in the Citadel Square (or Piata Cetatii in Romanian), the main square of Sighisoara. It has incredible pastel colored houses, the old town hall, shops, restaurants, and a great view of the Clock Tower. 

Sighisoara is a really beautiful city. You feel like you stepped back in time. It’s the perfect place to take in that medieval atmosphere. I love to come to Sighisoara every chance I get because it’s really that special of a place.

Climb the covered staircase

At the other end of the citadel you’ll find the covered staircase, also called the Scholars’ Stairs. It’s exactly what its name suggests.

A wooden staircase built during the medieval times that has 174 stairs that connects the lower and upper parts of the city.

At the beginning and end of the staircase you’ll find live musicians playing guitars, so it’s a very nice ambiance. 

Visit the Church on the Hill

Once you climb the covered staircase you’ll find the Church on the Hill. This is the third largest church in Transylvania and the most important church in Sighisoara.

Next to the church you can find a great observation deck where you can enjoy a nice view of the city. It’s also a great place for pictures, especially during the late afternoon when you can catch the sunset from here.

Stroll through the Saxon Cemetery

Right by the church there is a Saxon cemetery where some of the most important figures of Saxon descent are buried. It’s open to visitors so you can take a quick stroll through it.

Eat at Hotel Sighisoara Restaurant

There are plenty of good restaurants in Sighisoara where you can sample local cuisine. I ate at the restaurant of Hotel Sighisoara and the food was very good.

They have seating outside, inside, and they also have a courtyard inside if you want to be outside, but have more privacy.

I had the chicken breast stuffed with telemea (the Romanian feta cheese) and baked peppers, mashed potatoes, and pickles. It was delicious, so I highly recommend it.

Another great restaurant that my friend recently went to and recommended to me is the Casa Joseph Haydn Restaurant. It’s in the upper town, a bit further from the tourist spots. But she said it has good food and a great atmosphere. 

Sighisoara is a small town, so to get there from the old town it’s just a short walk. 

Tips for visiting Sighisoara

What is the best way to visit Sighisoara: by car or public transportation?

I think renting a car is the best way to visit Romania outside of Bucharest. That’s because you’ll be able to enjoy the scenic drives, explore at your own pace, and not have to worry about navigating the Romanian public transport system.

Should I visit solo or join a small group tour?

It depends on how you like to explore. Romania is a safe country, so you can definitely visit solo. But you’ll have more stress since you have to plan everything yourself.

I am hosting a Romania group trip every year. The tour date is the last week of August – first week of September. Except for 2 days in Bucharest, all other days are spent in Transylvania and the itinerary includes everything listed in this blog post.

It’s a great choice if you’re mid 20’s – mid 40’s and would like to explore with a like-minded group of people.

When is the best time to visit Sighisoara?

All seasons are great, but it depends what types of activities you’re looking for. 

The spring and summer months are great if you want to prioritize exploring the outdoors. Fall is perfect if you want to also see the leaves changing color. And winter is a good choice if you want to see the Christmas market, ski, and snowboard in the resorts near Sighisoara.

Where should I stay in Sighisoara?

I recommend you stay at Pensiunea Sonnenhoff. It’s about a 5-10 minute drive from the city, but the location is a dream. You’ll be in the vineyards and have the most incredible views for sunrise and sunset. 

It’s a family owned hotel and it’s super cozy. The owners are very welcoming and make sure everyone has a great time there. The breakfast food is also delicious. All produce is so fresh and everything they cook is farm-to-table.

Do I need cash for my Sighisoara visit?

Yes, it’s a good idea to have some cash with you. Most places accept credit cards, but if you need to buy something from a village or you want to tip a tour guide then it’s better to have cash.

How many days should I spend in Sighisoara?

If you want to just visit Sighisoara then 1 day is enough. If you want to visit other attraction around it, such as Brasov, Bran Castle, Peles Castle, the Turda Salt Mine, or some of the fortified churches in Transylvania, then 3 days is the perfect amount of time.

I highly recommend you stay for a few days so you can visit these attractions around Sighisoara as well. They are some of my favorite places in Transylvania and I know you’ll fall in love with them too.

Is Romania safe for solo travelers?

Yes, Romania is safe for solo female travelers. This is probably the number one question I’m being asked about Romania, so let me give you the full answer here.

One of the stereotypes about Romania is that it’s not a safe country. A lot of people still avoid visiting because of this.

This was true in the first 10-20 years after the fall of communism (1989 – 2009). 

After the 1989 Revolution everyone was trying to make money and stop living in scarcity. And because there was so much corruption and no systems put in place to help people, some people had to resort to scamming and stealing.

Back in the day pickpockets would steal money from you at the airport, on the street, literally anywhere. There is even a song by Romanian rapper Puya saying something like “when you land in Romania, make sure to keep your money close to you”.

Taxi drivers used to scam tourists as well. They would always ask for more money than what the price actually was.

But things have evolved so much and are so different now. We are part of the EU and Schengen. The country developed tremendously and the economy has been growing consistently. 

So these things don’t happen anymore because people don’t need to resort to scamming and stealing to live a decent life. That’s why debunking myths about Romania is so important. 

I live in Romania again after being in NYC for 14 years and traveling all over Western Europe and I feel safer in Romania than I felt in Western Europe or the US.

How to get cell phone data when visiting Romania from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

What language do people speak in Romania?

The official language in Romania is Romanian. Contrary to popular belief, Romanian sounds nothing like Russian.

The Romanian language is a romance language. That means that it has Latin roots, and it is very similar to Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Catalan. For example, the word “good” is “bun” in Romanian, “bueno” in Spanish, “buon” in Italian, and “bon” in French. Do you see the resemblance?

Romanian has some Slavic influences, so there will be words that don’t sound anything like their Spanish or French counterparts. One example is the word for “snow”, “zăpadă”. This is a Slavic word, and it is quite different from “nieve” in Spanish or “neige” in French.

However, overall, Romanian is very similar to its romance language cousins, and it sounds nothing like Russian.

What is the currency of Romania?

While Romania has been part of the European Union since 2007, it is not in the Eurozone yet. Our currency is lei. 1 euro (or 1 dollar) = 5 lei.

Do I have to tip in Romania?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 5-10 lei (the equivalent of 1-2 euros) as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

You can book tickets online in advance of your trip if you want to have peace of mind, especially for activities that have limited spots and can sell out, like bear watching.

You can buy entry tickets to castles and other attractions from the ticket office on the day you visit. The chance of them being completely sold out is very small.

Do people speak English in Romania?

Yes, they do. Pretty much everyone speaks English in Romania nowadays, especially the younger folks.

Most people also speak a little Spanish because Latin-American soap operas were very popular in Romania at the beginning of the 2000’s. And since Romanian is similar to Spanish we all picked up Spanish. 

That’s how I learned Spanish. And I am also able to understand bits and pieces of all other romance languages.

What Romanian words should I learn before my trip?

• Buna (pronounced boo – nuh) = hello 
• La revedere = goodbye
• Multumesc = thank you. But you can also say merci (the short form of multumesc, pronounced exactly like the French word).
• Da= yes
• Nu = no
• Card = credit card

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