Where I come from, places like Sighisoara just simply do not exist.
Ancient churches, a walled town center, thousands of years of history… you just don't find that in the United States.
Which is perhaps why I enjoyed my two days in Sighisoara, Romania so much.
Sighisoara is a small city in the Transylvania region of Romania, with a history dating back to the 1100s. Back then, the Hungarian king was begging Saxons to move to this part of the world in order to help defend his borders. German craftsmen and artisans took him up on it, and what resulted is today a fairy-tale-like fortified city in the heart of Romania.
It's no wonder this whole place is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
With cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and a pedestrian-friendly Old Town, it's difficult not to fall in love with Sighisoara. Yes, it's a touristy place. And yes, it can feel a bit crowded in the summer. But it's still well worth a visit.
5 things to love about Sighisoara
So why did I enjoy this little city so much? Here are just five reasons.
1. The colorful streets
Sighisoara is INCREDIBLY colorful. It's like a box of tropical-colored crayons just exploded all over the town, with bright oranges and yellows and pinks standing out on every street.
Even the windows and doors here are colorful (or at the very least interesting):
2. The size
Sighisoara's walled Old Town consists of roughly 3 main streets — meaning you can easily explore the whole place on foot in one afternoon without any trouble.
3. The historical connections
Along with being an old Saxon city, Sighisoara also has another claim to fame: being the birthplace of Vlad III (also known as Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler, and Vlad Dracula). Vlad's father was ruler of nearby Wallachia, but was in exile in Transylvania when Vlad was born.
Vlad's birthplace is still there, marked with a placard and now home to a very kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.”
In more recent history, Prince Charles has visited the town quite a few times and stayed here:
Sighisoara also has a handful of really good museums dedicated to its history, which include the museum in the Clock Tower, and a torture museum right next door.
4. The views
Climbing up the Clock Tower is an absolute must in Sighisoara! It will cost you next to nothing, and the views are beautiful. Parts of this building date back to the 14th century, and I'm sure you can understand why it was built — as a lookout point over the city walls.
5. The gems among the rubbish
Sighisoara IS a touristy town. Meaning you'll find plenty of kitschy tourist shops all selling the same magnets and Dracula t-shirts. But, if you dig a little deeper, you CAN find some wonderful gems here.
If it's hand-made crafts you're looking for, check out the gallery inside the International Cafe. Here, a family of woodworkers and their friends produce and sell hand-carved wooden products and unique ceramics.
The must-dos in Sighisoara
If you find yourself in this little Romanian city, it may at first seem like there's not a whole lot to do. But you can easily fill a day or so here checking out the following:
- The Clock Tower, which not only has great views, but also a neat little museum inside.
- The Church on the Hill (which you walk up to via a cool Covered Staircase), which is an old Gothic-style church. Also check out the nearby German graveyard. Unlike Merry Cemetery, this graveyard IS a bit overgrown and solemn, but it's alright for a quiet stroll.
- The Church of the Dominican Monastery (and it's cool organ), which is centuries old.
- The Torture Museum and Weapon Museum also both come highly recommended.
Where to stay in Sighisoara
Sighisoara isn't a town you need multiple days to explore, but I do recommend at least staying one night.
The top-rated hotel in Sighisoara is the Georgius Krauss House, while Hotel Central Park has a great central location.
You can check out more Sighisoara accommodation here.
What do you think of Sighisoara after this quick photo tour?
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*Note: Intrepid Travel graciously provided me with a complimentary 18-day tour through Eastern Europe. But all opinions, as always, are entirely my own.
If you're interested in doing the same tour I did, you can check it out here.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
[…] also had time for an escapade to Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site boasting ancient churches, a walled town center, thousands of years […]
[…] to consolidate his power and defend the territory from the Ottoman Turks, Hungarian King Géza II asked German settlers from Saxony to come and settle in the city. Today, the result is a fairy-tale city full of colourful buildings and teeming with […]
Thanks for the tips, next week my family and i are going on roadtrip through transylvania!
Regards
Wouter
Although it’s a small town that you can easily visit in just one day, I think Sighisoara is a “must see” destination for anyone who travels to Romania, especially in the Transylvania region. After all, it’s the only medieval fortress that is still inhabited to this day.
I remember visiting Sighisoara when I was younger, but I don’t recall being such a beautiful place. Your pictures are just amazing, they capture the true essence of this charming town!
Thank you! It’s definitely a gorgeous little town.
I love your pictures and your blog. I went to Romania in April and was blown away by all the history and beauty of the country. Wish I could go back, because I just didn’t have enough time there…one night in Sighisoara was not enough. Same for Brasov and Sibiu. Travelers should plan to spend a minimum of 2 nights in those places.
It’s a great country and definitely underrated when it comes to Europe.
Hello Amanda,
I am very happy that you liked my country.
I live about 100 km from Merry Cemetery
Hope you will come back.
We’ll probably go to Sighisoara this autumn, during a road trip around Transylvania and your post is very Inspiring! We will save it to organize our day in this beautiful small town! 🙂
Definitely be sure to stop by for at least a day!
I also recomend Bigar Waterfall located in the Anina Mountains in western part of Romania.
See for yourself https://www.google.ro/search?q=bigar+waterfall&hl=ro&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMI8bSQvZfMxwIVx88UCh3dSQ45&biw=1366&bih=705
AH yes I’ve seen photos of that before – looks amazing!
Very pretty! We’ve been discovering the Balkans the last 2 months and Romania on our list of places to visit.
Nice post,
Frank (bbqboy)
You definitely should go! It’s one of my favorite countries in Europe!
I was born in Sighisoara and I try to be there every summer. It’s so nice that People find the way to this awesome little city and write about it. If you’re there next time try out the distillery near the stairs up to the cemetry. They got the finest berry spirits 🙂
It’s nice that you try to go back every year! It’s definitely a special little place.
My wife is from Sighi and I have been there many times. Our friend, Mark Tudose lives in Sighi and is an accomplished wood carver (along with his sister and wife) – aka “The SpoonMan.” You can google his name for videos, images, facebook, linkedin, etc.
I think I met the Spoon Man when I was there! It’s such a special little city.
Romania is my favourite European country. It really is an underestimated travel destination, isn’t it? I haven’t made it to Sighisoara yet, but I’m sure I will one day.
Romania is SO underrated! It’s one of my favorite countries in Europe, to be honest.
[…] popular nearby town is Sighisoara, which has many things to love about it. For practical information about visiting this quaint Romanian place, see We Said Go Travel’s […]
Beautiful! I haven´t given Romania enough consideration as a destination but now I´ll definitely have to!
You definitely should! It’s one of my favorite countries in Europe now.