Sighisoara

Day 1: Meet the Citadel

Ease into Sighișoara with a slow exploration of its living medieval core. You’ll get your bearings, learn the Saxon story behind the walls, and time your visits to miss the day-tripper rush.

• Morning: Enter via the Clock Tower to tour the history museum and see the clock mechanism before crowds arrive; on summer weekends, be at opening time to avoid queues. Wear sturdy shoes—the polished cobbles are slippery when wet.
• Midday: Step into the quieter Monastery Church nearby; if there’s an organ recital scheduled, it’s a lovely, cool refuge. Lunch in the Citadel Square with traditional dishes (try ciorbă or mămăligă) and remember homes around the square are lived in—avoid peering through windows.
• Afternoon: Climb the Covered Stairway to the Church on the Hill; linger over fragments of Gothic frescoes, then wander the ivy-draped Saxon Cemetery for atmosphere and views. In winter the stairs can be icy; use the handrail and take it slowly.
• Evening: Walk down to the Lower Town and across the river for the classic panorama back to the citadel at golden hour. Return for a tasting at Teo’s Cellar, then enjoy a lamplit stroll after day-trippers leave; vehicle access inside the walls is restricted, so plan to walk.

Day 2: Guilds, walls and craft heritage

Today traces the guild-built defences and the artisan spirit that shaped the town. It’s a day of short walks, tower-spotting and hands-on encounters with local makers.

• Morning: Follow the path along the interior base of the walls to admire the sequence of guild towers, from the elegant Ropemakers’ to the robust Butchers’ and impressive Tinsmiths’. Bring a light layer—breezes along the ramparts can feel cool even in summer.
• Midday: Drop to the Lower Town market for fruit, pastries and picnic bits, then cross the river for wide-angle photos of the skyline. Back up in the square, pop by the house linked to Vlad’s birth for context—but keep the focus on the Saxon story rather than Dracula souvenirs.
• Afternoon: Seek out small artisan workshops (leather, ceramics, woodwork) signed “Artizanat”; a short chat often leads to demonstrations and more meaningful souvenirs. If you enjoy curiosities, the tiny torture or weapon rooms make a 20–30 minute detour.
• Evening: Check the City Hall cultural agenda for an evening concert (the Monastery Church hosts intimate classical programmes outside festival weekends). Dine in a family-run pensiune; book ahead in July–August when the festival season pushes demand.

Day 3: Slow lanes and living heritage

Use your final day to lean into the everyday rhythms of an inhabited citadel. Aim for quieter streets, repeat favourite spots in different light, and leave time to simply sit and absorb.

• Morning: Pre-breakfast wander through Strada Zidul Cetății, Strada Școlii and Strada Tâmplarilor while the streets are empty; greet residents with a brief “Bună ziua.” Photographers: soft morning light flatters the pastel facades.
• Midday: Café-hop in the square, then do a mini “guild emblem hunt” on façades and towers—spot symbols and inscriptions you missed earlier. Lunch on a shaded terrace; tipping around 10% is customary.
• Afternoon: Revisit the Church on the Hill for a daylight change of mood or explore another stretch of wall; conservation works are ongoing, so respect any cordons around the Ropemakers’ Tower and scaffolding. If mobility is an issue, choose gentler loops within the plateau and avoid steep stair runs.
• Evening: Say goodbye with sunset from the river bridge and a final amble through the lamplit lanes. If you’re here on the last July weekend, the Medieval Festival electrifies the town—arrive early for performances, expect heavy crowds, and book accommodation inside the walls months ahead for the most atmospheric nights.

By Air

• Târgu Mureș (TGM) – approx. 60 km; about 1–1¼ hours by car. Taxi/shuttle to Târgu Mureș city, then bus to Sighișoara (around 1–1½ hours).
• Sibiu (SBZ) – approx. 95 km; 1½–2 hours by car. Direct regional trains Sibiu–Sighișoara take about 2–2½ hours.
• Brașov (GHV) – approx. 117 km; 2–2½ hours by car. Frequent direct trains Brașov–Sighișoara (about 2–2½ hours).
• Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) – approx. 150–165 km; 2½–3 hours by car. Direct InterRegio trains 3–4 hours.
• Bucharest (OTP) – approx. 300 km; 5–6 hours by car. From Bucharest Nord station, direct InterRegio trains to Sighișoara take about 4¾–5½ hours.

By Train

• Main station: Sighișoara (Gara Sighișoara) in the Lower Town; 10–15 minutes’ uphill walk to the Citadel.
• Direct InterRegio/Regional routes (typical times):
  • Bucharest Nord: 4¾–5½ hours (via Brașov).
  • Brașov: 2–2½ hours, frequent daily.
  • Sibiu: 2–2½ hours (via Mediaș).
  • Cluj-Napoca: 3–3½ hours (direct IR).
  • Târgu Mureș: usually 2–3 hours with a change (often at Războieni); buses are usually quicker.
• Tickets: CFR Călători website/app or station; seat reservations recommended for InterRegio services.

By Bus

• Main stop: Autogară Sighișoara (near the railway station).
• Târgu Mureș: frequent minibuses, about 1–1½ hours.
• Sibiu/Mediaș: services available (around 2–2½ hours); trains are often as fast or faster.
• Brașov: limited direct buses; trains are generally the better option.
• Buy from operators/agents or on board; check schedules on operator sites or aggregators (e.g., autogari.ro).

By Car

• Key routes:
  • DN13/E60 from Brașov (approx. 117 km; 2–2½ hours) and from Târgu Mureș (approx. 60 km; ~1 hour).
  • DN14 from Sibiu via Mediaș (approx. 95 km; 1½–2 hours).
  • From Cluj-Napoca via E60 (approx. 170 km; 3–3½ hours).
  • From Bucharest via DN1 to Brașov then DN13 (approx. 300 km; 5–6 hours).
• Parking: cars are restricted inside the Citadel; use Lower Town car parks. Some hotels can arrange temporary access permits.