Sibiu City

Sibiu

a city that has it all

Sibiu is arguably one of those cities you inevitably and irreversibly fall in love with. This charming medieval Transylvanian town has a little bit of everything, for everyone’s heart desires.

Aerial view of The Large Square

Its stone-cobbled streets, the colors of its historical buildings framing the three central squares, the narrow passageways and animated roofs with their eye-shaped windows are guaranteed to make you feel the exquisite charm of the city proud of its 3 Michelin stars. The city of Sibiu is distinguished through the variety of museums, cultural and sports events and through the Bohemian atmosphere of the terraces in the Historic City Center.

View of The Holy Trinity Cathedral and The Făgăraș Mountains

More than 800 years of history

Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The riches amassed by its guilds paid for the construction of both impressive buildings and the fortifications required to protect them. Sibiu’s Old Town retains the grandeur of its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade. Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it has a distinctly Germanic feeling.

Documentary by Dumitru Budrala

European Capital of Culture in 2007

Pastel-colored and full of history, Sibiu is an outstanding example of multi- and interculturalism. The ability to adapt to changes in the environment has shaped Sibiu into a city that prides itself with its rich cultural and scientific heritage.

Aerial view of The Small Square

Iconic building facade in The Small Square

European Region of Gastronomy 2019

Diversity and heritage can also be tasted – Sibiu’s diverse gastronomy, culinary traditions, and local food culture have gained international recognition. The cohabitation of several ethnic groups and the still intact village life around Sibiu have shaped the city’s food culture.

Local and sustainable dishes served at Transylvanian Brunch

Local and sustainable dishes served at Transylvanian Brunch

Museums, festivals, and experiences

Sibiu is home to the nation’s first museum, library, school, and hospital. The city’s ethnography, history, natural sciences, science and technology museums, art galleries and memorial houses bring together the past, the culture and most particularly the identity of the local communities.

The Brukenthal National Museum

Aerial View of the Christmas Market

International theater festivals, documentary films, rock, jazz or folk music, gastronomic events, holidays, local markets and fairs, open-air parties and sports competitions animate the county all year long.

Aerial View of the Oktoberfest

The Transylvania International Film Festival

The Sibiu International Theatre Festival is the most important annual festival of performing arts in Romania. The programme brings participants from 70 countries into Sibiu, and caters for 62,000 spectators day.

© The Sibiu International Theatre Festival

The festival lasts for ten days, and is attended by famous groups in the performing arts, Romanian and foreign filmmakers, critics, local and foreign cultural tourism operators.

© The Sibiu International Theatre Festival

© The Sibiu International Theatre Festival

The ASTRA Open Air Musem is the most important ethnological institution in Romania, and the largest open-air ethnography exhibit in Europe, rated three stars in the printed edition of the Michelin Guide. The museum was founded in 1963 and is the largest open-air ethnography exhibit in Europe.⁠ It spreads across 90 hectares and encompasses traditional Romanian households, from different regions and periods.

Windmills at The ASTRA Open Air Musem

What makes ASTRA so mesmerizing is the fact that it’s situated in the Dumbrava Forest, and the households are arranged into small villages, giving you the impression you magically time-traveled to a whole different period.⁠