What To Do in Sighisoara, Real-Life Dracula’s Birthplace

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Last updated on September 12th, 2024 at 12:58 pm

If you’re wondering what to do in Sighisoara, this medieval gem of a town in the heart of the stunning Transylvania region, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, you’ll read about the best things to do in Sighisoara and find all the practical information you need to plan the perfect Sighisoara trip. Oh, and of course, you’ll learn how Dracula is connected to this beautiful Romanian town.

So, keep reading to find out what to do in Sighisoara and a lot more.

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Where Is Sighisoara?

Sighisoara is part of the historic region of Transylvania in central Romania. It lies 175 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Bucharest, Romania’s capital city.

Is Sighisoara Worth Visiting?

With its rich history and beautiful architecture, the medieval town of Sighisoara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason. Enclosed by once-strong defensive fortifications, Sighisoara Citadel is a celebration of colour and charm. The use of vehicles is restricted inside the Citadel and this is why walking along its stony lanes feels like a time travel like no other.

Moreover, the medieval Old Town is very small yet full of hidden treasures. Therefore, Sighisoara is a stop worth adding to your Transylvania itinerary as it packs a lot of charms in a compact-sized town that is easy to explore and enjoy.

Best Time To Visit Sighisoara

With warm average temperatures and little rain, summer, early autumn and late spring are the best times to visit Sighisoara. From May to September, the weather allows you to enjoy sitting outdoors marvelling at the medieval town’s charm.

How Many Days in Sighisoara?

Most travellers visit Sighisoara on a day trip. Situated halfway between the Romanian cities of Brasov and Sibiu and given its compact size, Sighisoara is indeed an easy day trip from either. However, you shouldn’t visit Sighisoara on a day trip if you want to fully immerse yourselves in the town’s many charms.

The reason is because an overnight stay in Sighisoara is the only way of allowing this beautiful town to unveil all of its secrets right before your eyes.

As a popular day-trip destination, Sighisoara can get disappointingly busy in the daytime. Yet, in the evening, when day-trippers are long gone, the medieval Citadel surrenders to absolute peace and magic. The romantic ambience of the low-lit medieval alleys is captivating and the time travel-like feeling you get is inescapable.

An equally important reason why you shouldn’t visit Sighisoara on a day trip is that slow travel is one of the pillars of sustainable travel. By spending more time in any destination, you help support the local economy in a meaningful why. This is why we recommend spending two to three days in Sighisoara.

Travel Resources To Help You Plan Your Trip To Sighisoara

Sighisoara & Dracula

If you have an interest in all things Dracula, you should know that Sighisoara is one of the best places to visit in Romania as it’s considered real-life Dracula’s birthplace.

By the way, real-life Dracula was Vlad III, also known as Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracul, a Romanian ruler renowned for the cruel methods he used to torture and execute his enemies. He had nothing to do with Bram Stoker’s fictitious character, Count Dracula.

Vlad III reigned for extended periods of time in the 15th century and he was particularly fond of execution by impalement. However, not everyone remembers him as a bloodthirsty, cold-hearted madman. For many, Vlad III was a national hero who did his best to save Romania from brutal Ottoman attacks.

What To Do in Sighisoara

1. Climb The Scholars’ Stairs To Visit School Hill

One of the best things to do in Sighisoara is to climb the Scholars’ Stairs – or Scara Acoperita in Romanian. The latter is an impressive covered stairway that resembles a wooden tunnel and leads up to School Hill. The 16th-century covered staircase was built to facilitate school children and churchgoers during harsh winter days on their way to the school and church buildings that were on the hill.

After climbing the 176 steps of the covered stairway, you’ll find yourselves before the magnificent Church on The Hill or Biserica din Deal. Built in Gothic Style, the Lutheran church is the most important in Sighisoara and the third-largest in Transylvania. Inside the church, you can admire beautiful frescoes and the only crypt in Transylvania.

Apart from the church, School Hill is home to yet another fascinating attraction. Right next to the Church on The Hill, there is a Saxon cemetery, a peaceful place with centuries-old tombstones surrounded by trees and green grass.

After your stroll through the cemetery, instead of heading back to town via the Scholars’ Stairs, take the winding path that starts from the cemetery and leads down to the centre of Sighisoara’s Citadel. That’s a great way to admire the view and enjoy a short walk down a picturesque cobblestone path.

2. Explore Sighisoara’s Gorgeous Citadel

If you’re wondering what to do in Sighisoara, strolling through its Old Town (Citadel) is a must. Founded in the 12th century by German settlers, the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Sighisoara is home to the city’s main attractions and historic sites.

Your first stop should be Piata Cetatii (Citadel Square), the main square of the city, around which life in medieval times revolved. Apart from the occasional market stall, Piata Cetatii also played host to more gruesome activities, such as public executions, witch trials and, Vlad’s favourite, impalements. Nowadays, the picturesque square is the best place to enjoy people-watching over a glass of beer or wine.

From Piata Cetatii, get lost in the Citadel’s colourful narrow alleys. Lined with fairytale-like colourful buildings, the stone-paved streets of Sighisoara are a feast for the eyes.

During your walk around Sighisoara Citadel, you’ll stumble upon many historical relics, most of them dating back to the Middle Ages.

The Bootmaker’s Tower is a fine example of the city’s strong defensive fortifications. It’s just one of the surviving nine out of fourteen guild towers that used to protect Sighisoara from frequent Ottoman raids. A short walk from there, opposite the Clock Tower, the Tailors’ Tower with its two passageways is the second entrance to the Citadel.

A few steps from Citadel Square, next to the Town Hall, the Church of The Dominican Monastery stands. A fine example of Gothic architecture, this massive church dominates the surrounding area. Right next to the church, Vlad’s bust looks desperate for a quick chat with passers-by.

3. Visit Casa Vlad Dracul

Speaking of Vlad, along with the so-called Dracula Castle in Bran, Casa Vlad Dracul is yet another Dracula-related attraction in Transylvania. As mentioned above, Sighishoara is the birthplace of Vlad – or real-life Dracula – and here you can visit the house where he was born and lived until the age of four. Nowadays, the centuries-old building houses a restaurant as well as a tourist attraction, Vlad’s childhood bedroom.

Far from being a museum-like experience though, Vlad Dracul’s House offers more of a tiny horror show with giant spiders coming down the ceilings and vampires sleeping in coffins. That said, it’s worth having a good laugh at your screaming travel partner when the aforementioned hairy spider touches her bare neck. Any similarities to actual people or events are purely coincidental. Not.

4. Spend Time at Sighisoara Lower Town

Although the Citadel represents the medieval heart of Sighisoara that remained almost intact throughout the centuries, the Lower Town is where the heart of the modern city beats and it’s worth spending some time there during your Sighisoara trip.

Leaving Piata Cetatii behind, head towards the iconic Sighisoara Clock Tower. Before continuing your walk, take a moment to appreciate a marvellous view of the new town from the best vantage point: a cosy resting area with several wooden benches, right behind the Clock Tower.

Walk through the clock’s arched base to reach the bustling modern part of the town with its lovely colourful buildings. In the Lower Town, you’ll find some of the finest places in Sighisoara to have a delicious dinner, such as La Perla. Most restaurants in the Lower Town are frequented by locals, the safest indicator that this is the best part of the town for good food.

5. Enjoy Panoramic Views From The Clock Tower

If you’re wondering what to do in Sighisoara on a sunny day, taking in the views from the elaborate Clock Tower is a great idea.

With its colourful roof tiles glistening in the sun, the 14th-century Clock Tower used to be the main gate to Sighisoara Citadel. Before climbing to the top of the tower, it’s worth checking out the on-site History Museum. The small museum is home to an impressive scale model of Sighisoara as well as other crafts dating back to the Middle Ages.

On your way to the top of the tower, keep an eye out for a tiny window at the side of the stairway from where you can catch a glimpse of the clock’s beautiful wood-carved figurines. Once you arrive at the top, enjoy the best views of the medieval city from the tower’s ornate balcony.

How To Get To Sighisoara Romania

By Air

There’s no airport in Sighisoara. The closest airports with international and domestic flights are those of Sibiu and Cluj Napoca. However, either airport lies a two-hour drive from Sighisoara.

By Train

Although Romanian trains are neither the fastest nor the most reliable in Europe, Sighisoara has good train connections to most major cities in Romania, such as Bucharest, Sibiu and Brasov.

Furthermore, there are direct international lines connecting Sighisoara to several cities in Central Europe. For example, you can visit Budapest or Vienna for a few days, alongside your Romania trip.

The train station is a 15-minute walk from Sighisoara Citadel.Visit the official Romanian Railways website for information on train routes, timetables and more.

By Bus

The bus is another way to get to Sighisoara. Unlike the train, the bus is fast and more convenient, connecting Sighisoara to most destinations within Romania as well as some international ones. Plan your bus trip here.

By Car

The best way to get to Sighisoara is by car, especially if you’re planning to explore more cities and the surrounding countryside on a road trip. This way you’ll have the opportunity to visit not only gorgeous towns but also the fairytale-like Romanian castles and fortified churches that are scattered across the region.

You can combine your trip to Sighisoara with a few days in Brasov or a quest to discover the best things to do in lesser-known Sibiu. Sighisoara is about two hours by car from either Brasov or Sibiu. Pick up your rental car from Bucharest Airport and hop on a fantastic road trip across Romania.

Parking in Sighisoara

Vehicles are not allowed inside the historic centre of Sighisoara. Only residents who have a special permit can use their cars in the Old Town. Also, some hotels within the defensive walls of the Citadel have limited parking spots reserved for their guests.

Check with your hotel to see if a parking space could be arranged for you. If not, you must park your car at one of the parking lots outside the Citadel. Have a look here for locations and prices.

Where To Stay in Sighisoara

If you ask us, we’d never consider staying anywhere else but within the city walls of Sighisoara. The opportunity to spend the night inside one of the few inhabited fortified medieval towns in Europe doesn’t present itself so often. Therefore, regardless of the slight inconveniences the uphill location and the vehicle restriction may cause, try not to miss this unique experience.

Casa Cositorarului is a great place for a wonderful stay in Sighisoara Citadel. Housed in a historic building, the atmospheric guesthouse features a central location and Dracula-like ambience that are hard to beat. Moreover, the on-site café is among the most charming in the Citadel. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a hot beverage and dessert from a wide selection.

Day Trips From Sighisoara

Sighisoara is a great base from where to explore the Romanian region of Transylvania on easy day trips. The nearby Rupea Fortress is one of the best castles to visit in Transylvania. What’s more, within less than an hour by car, Biertran and Viscri are two gorgeous villages with fortified churches that are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

So, did we manage to make you daydream of Sighisoara? Who wouldn’t want to spend some time in one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe after all? Now that you know what to do in Sighisoara and how to plan the perfect escape to this beautiful town, there are no excuses. Start planning that trip now!

WORDS & EDITING: Maria
IMAGES: Katerina