A Short Transylvania Loop From Sibiu

Sibiu is a place to spend two days, and after that it works as the starting point for a drive through Saxon Transylvania. It does not support a five to seven day programme of its own, and padding one out would mean long drives with little to see. Pick the length below that matches your time.

Two days inside the city

On the first day, walk the three squares of the Upper Town, climb the Evangelical Cathedral tower for the view and spend an hour or two in Brukenthal Palace. On the second day, ride bus 13 out to the ASTRA open-air museum and the zoo, then return to the Lower Town for an evening beside the Cibin. Council Tower works run to about the end of 2027, so the cathedral tower is your high viewpoint. Brukenthal branches close on Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep those days for walking and ASTRA.

Three to four days by car: the Saxon churches

A car is the practical way to string the villages together, because trains stop at Mediaș, Sighișoara and Brașov and never reach the churches. A typical route runs like this:

  1. Sibiu to Biertan, 67 to 70 km north-east, a drive of 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 35. Biertan is a UNESCO fortified church village.
  2. Biertan to Sighișoara, whose historic centre is on the UNESCO list. Sighișoara lies about 90 km from Sibiu.
  3. Sighișoara to Viscri, another UNESCO village, which is about 116 km and 1 hour 50 from Sibiu by road, so closer to two hours than one.
  4. Viscri onward to Brașov, about 114 km from Sibiu, for the Black Church and Council Square. From Brașov a direct train back to Sibiu takes about 2 hours 45 to 3 hours 30; check CFR Călători for times.

Without a car, take the train from Sibiu to Mediaș, which takes about 1 hour 15, then a taxi on to Biertan. The UNESCO listing names every village in the group, and the page on Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania gives more background. Sibiu airport has car rental desks, so compare firms before you book.

Mountain roads, summer only

Some drivers add the Transfăgărășan to Vidraru and Curtea de Argeș, then the Transalpina. Both high sections are seasonal, open from roughly June or July to late October, depending on weather. CNAIR closed the Transfăgărășan high section on 27 October 2026 and the Transalpina on 26 October, and either may stay shut until next summer. Check CNAIR and Infotrafic before building a route around them. Cabana Bâlea Lac stands by the lake, so ask them directly about opening dates before booking a night.

Wild bears live along these roads. Feeding them is illegal and fined, so stay in the car and keep food sealed.

Winter version

From December the useful plan changes. Păltiniș, about 35 km from Sibiu, has the Arena Platoș ski area and a Tursib bus on route 22. Pair a ski day with the Christmas Market in Piața Mare, which runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Allow extra driving time when snow falls.

Beds

Base yourself in Sibiu for most nights and add a village guesthouse only if you want a slower pace. Browse rooms on Booking.com . The Sibiu airport transport page lists the Tursib lines that serve the terminal.

Read more: day trips from Sibiu and the Romania 6-day itinerary .