Best Day Trips From Sibiu: 7 Places To Visit in Transylvania
Looking for the best day trips from Sibiu, Romania?
We visited Sibiu during our two-week summer road trip around Romania, and we quickly discovered that the charming city is the perfect base for exploring some of Transylvania’s most iconic attractions.
Here’s a guide to places you can easily reach from Sibiu in 90 minutes or less by car or public transport.
Day Trips from Sibiu
1. Marginimea Sibiului Villages
Distance: 15 – 50 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Marginimea Sibiului is a picturesque region located on the southwestern outskirts of Sibiu. It’s made up of 18 traditional Romanian villages known for their rural charm and sheep cheese production.
The 18 villages are: Rasnari, Poplaca, Talmaciu, Talmacel, Sadu, Orlat, Gura Raului, Fantanele, Sibiel, Vale, Saliste, Gales, Tilisca, Rod, Poiana Sibiului, Jina, Raul Sadului and Boita.
How to get there
You obviously wouldn’t be able to visit all 18 villages in a day.
If it were me, I would start with Rasinari. It’s the closest to Sibiu and was named “Best Tourism Village” by the World Tourism Organisation in 2022. Visit on a Saturday morning for the village’s weekly market (and sample all the cheese!).
From there, go to Sibiel. The main attraction here is the Museum of Glass Icons – one of Europe’s largest collections of paintings on glass, a unique form of Romanian folk art.
Stop by Saliste for a traditional Romanian lunch at Magna Villa. If you like hiking, there’s an easy trail to Poiana Soarelui that offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Or skip the hike and continue to the nearby village of Tilisca to see the ancient Dacian Fortress ruins. They’re located on top of a hill with lovely views of the Transylvanian landscape.
🚘 Renting a car is the most convenient way to see the Marginimea villages, which are within 20 – 40 minutes of Sibiu.
There are bus connections between Sibiu and the villages.
- There’s a daily bus from Sibiu and Rasnari that comes every hour. Here’s the bus schedule.
- The local bus company, Transmixt, operates bus connections from Sibiu to the other villages. Here are the bus routes.
You can check for train connections from Sibiu to the villages on the CFR Calatori website.
⚡️ TIP: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even rent a bike and cycle to Rasnari from Sub-Arini Park near the historic centre of Sibiu. It’ll take about 2 hours.
Recommended Tour
👉🏼 From Sibiu: Guided Tour Through The Heart Of Marginimea
2. Paltinis Resort
Distance: 30 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Paltinis Resort is in the Cindrel Mountains southwest of Sibiu. It was built in 1884 and sits 1443 m above sea level, making it Romania’s oldest and highest mountain resort.
There are many scenic hiking trails for nature lovers. A popular trail is the loop to Poiana Gaujoara, Poiana Muncel, Gradina Oncesti, and back to Paltinis (marked by a blue circle).
Visit between December and March for skiing and snowboarding.
How to get there
🚘 It’s about a 45-minute car ride from Sibiu to Paltinis Resort.
Otherwise, catch Bus 22 directly to Paltinis from the Zidul Cetatii bus stop on Bulevardul Corneliu Coposu (near the Old Fortress Wall in Sibiu’s Upper Town). The journey takes about 50 minutes and costs 2 RON. Here is the Sibiu-Paltinis Bus Schedule.
3. Alba Iulia
Distance: 80 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Alba Iulia is home to the Alba Carolina Fortress, the largest fortress in southeastern Europe. Unlike the medieval fortifications you’ll often see in Transylvania, this one was built by the Austrian Empire.
There are many attractions within the fortress’s unique star-shaped walls, including the Union Hall, where the Great Union of 1918 was announced.
Between May and September, there is a Changing of the Guards ceremony in front of the 3rd and 4th citadel gates every day at 12:00 p.m. (and also at 9:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). It’s only a reenactment for tourists, but it’s still fun to watch!
How to get there
🚘 The quickest way to travel from Sibiu to Alba Iulia is by car. The journey is just under an hour.
Several companies offer direct bus connections from Sibiu to Alba Iulia. Search for local bus schedules on the Autogari website. Otherwise, we’ve travelled with Flixbus many times, and they’ve never failed us. Expect to be in transit for an hour and a half each way.
There are direct trains between Sibiu and Alba Iulia, but the journey is over two hours, so I would probably avoid this option.
Recommended Tour
👉🏼 From Sibiu: Alba Carolina Citadel and Corvin’s Castle Tour
4. Biertan
Distance: 70 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Biertan is a quaint medieval village, home to one of Transylvania’s seven UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortified Saxon churches.
The 15th-century church sits proudly on top of a hill and has lovely views of the surrounding vineyards.
Inside the church grounds is a marital prison where the bishop used to send couples wanting a divorce for up to 6 weeks until they resolved their issues. It was very effective, with only one divorce in the 300 years! #MedievalCouplesTherapy
Next to the fortress entrance is a restaurant called Ungerlus Restaurant that serves traditional Romanian food. We had lunch there. I ordered the Transylvanian sour soup, and it was delicious!
How to get there
🚘 The best way to get from Sibiu to Biertan is by car or with a guided tour. The drive takes about an hour. Public transport is limited.
Recommended Tour
👉🏼 Exclusive Tour from Sibiu to Sighisoara, Biertan and Medias
5. Sighisoara
Distance: 90 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Sighisoara is one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe and the second UNESCO World Heritage Site on this list.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that as soon as you enter those city walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale world.
We arrived in Sighisoara at the end of July and just missed the Sighisoara Medieval Festival. It’s when people come from near and far to have a fun weekend dressed up as knights, wizards, and princesses. We would have loved to have been there!
Sighisoara is also famous for being the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, aka the real Dracula. You can eat in the house where he was born because it’s now a restaurant.
How to get there
🚘 The best way to get to Sighisoara from Sibiu is by car or guided tour. The drive takes about an hour and a half.
The local railway company CFR Calatori offers direct trains from Sibiu to Sighisoara three times a day, but the earliest train doesn’t leave until 12:30 pm. So this might be too late in the day to make the most of it. (FYI, this is why I recommend staying overnight in Sighisoara.)
Don’t bother with the bus – the most direct route takes more than four hours!!!
⚡️ TIP: If you have a car, Sighisoara is only a 30-minute drive from Biertan so I recommend combining Biertan and Sighisoara into one day trip. If you’re trying to decide between the two places for lunch, you’ll have more dining options in Sighisoara.
Recommended Tour
👉🏼 Private Tour Exploring Sighisoara, Biertan and Malanclav
6. Corvin Castle
Distance: 130 km from Sibiu
Why it’s worth visiting
Corvin Castle is one of the largest medieval castles in Transylvania.
When people think of Romania, they often think of Dracula’s Castle – as in Bran Castle – but I think Corvin Castle is much more impressive!
The castle is over 500 years old and has pointy towers and a wooden drawbridge just like the ones you envision in fairytales. A Hungarian King once owned it, and legend is that Vlad the Impaler (the real-life inspiration behind Dracula) was imprisoned here.
If you don’t think you can deal with the crowds at Bran Castle (like us!), then Corvin Castle is a great and, dare I say, better alternative. Plus, it’s quicker to travel from from Sibiu to Corvin Castle than to Bran Castle.
Here are the Corvin Castle opening hours and admission prices.
How to get there
🚘 Corvin Castle is in Hunedoara, which is a two-hour drive from Sibiu.
A car is the fastest and most convenient mode of transport to the castle, as there are no direct bus or train connections.
⚡️ TIP: If you’re short on time, it is possible to visit Corvin Castle and Alba Carolina Fortress in a single day trip. Hunedoara is an hour from Alba Iulia by car, so prepare for a long day.
Recommended Tour
👉🏼 Alba Iulia & Corvin Castle: Romania’s Legendary Heart
7. Transfagarasan Highway
Distance: 50 km to Cartisoara (the northern starting point)
Why it’s worth visiting
The Transfagarasan Highway has been named one of the most beautiful highways in the world. It’s a scenic drive through the Fagaras Mountains, with many viewpoints and natural attractions along the way.
It was the top highlight of our road trip around Romania.
We started from the southern starting point in Curtea de Arges, but many people come from the north in Sibiu too.
Highlights along the highway include Lake Balea, Balea Waterfall and Vidraru Dam.
How to get there
🚘. From the north, the Transfagarasan Highway’s starts in Cartisoara, which is a 40-minute drive away from Sibiu.
Renting a car and driving along the highway by ourselves was the most fun experience.
The advantage of driving over a guided tour is that we had the flexibility to explore at our own pace – it took us 7 hours to complete!
Check out my Transylvanian Highway Travel Guide for some road trip travel tips.
⚡️ TIP: The best time to visit the Transfagarasan Highway is between June and October when the entire highway is open. In Winter, the road is partially closed between between Piscu Negrul and Balea Waterfall because snowfall makes it too dangerous for driving, and in our in our opinion, this section was the best bit!
Recommended Tour
If you’re not comfortable driving in a foreign country (understandable!), then here’s a guided tour that you might be interested in:
👉🏼 Transfagarasan Wonders: Journey Through Balea Lake
Day Trips From Sibiu: FAQs
Can I do a day trip from Sibiu to Bran Castle?
It is possible to do a day trip from Sibiu to Bran Castle.
I don’t like to recommend day trips that take more than two hours to get there because, from experience, they’re really exhausting. You’ll be spending half the day in the car.
But if time isn’t an issue for you, check out this highly-rated tour:
👉🏼 Day Trip To Brasov and Dracula’s Castle
⚡️ TIP: A better option is to see Bran Castle from Brasov because they are only a 30-minute drive apart.
And is Brasov worth visiting? Yes, it’s my favourite city! Check out my Brasov Travel Guide.
Do I need to hire a car to do day trips from Sibiu?
Hiring a car is the most convenient option because it allows you to explore at your own pace.
We found car rentals cheaper in Romania than in other European countries. Discover Cars offers a range of cars for rent in Sibiu, starting from £12 a day.
Is Sibiu worth visiting?
Sibiu attracts tourists from all over the world. Whether you’re into history, architecture, food or nature, there’s something for everyone.
Read my 10 Things To Do In Sibiu travel guide to find out how many days you need in Sibiu and the best time to visit.
Final Thoughts: Day Trips From Sibiu
If you plan on exploring Transylvania, then Sibiu makes an excellent base for day trips due to its close proximity to many of the region’s attractions.
If you only have time for one day trip from Sibiu, then I would go to Sighisoara or Corvin Castle because you’ll be pinching yourself to check whether the fairytale world you suddenly find yourself in is real.
If it’s convenience you’re after, head to the nearby villages of Marginimea Sibiuliu which can be easily reached by car or public transport from Sibiu.
In my opinion, the Transfagarsan Highway is best explored by do-it-yourself driving! There are a variety of accommodations along the highway, which helps to break up the journey.
Another city in Romania that is in the perfect location to explore Transylvania is Brasov, aka the “Gateway to Transylvania”. For inspiration on day trips from Brasov, check out my 19 Things To Do in Brasov travel guide.