cafe
Balea Lac Mountain Cafe
A remote alpine cafe at the summit of Romania's Transfagarasan Highway beside Balea Lake, atop what Jeremy Clarkson called 'the best road in the world.'
42 km · about 50 min drive
Sibiu County, Romania · Europe
Sibiu sits on the route: 10 minutes from Şelimbăr, 48km from Râpa Roșie.
Sibiu is a city located in Sibiu County, Romania. With a population of 134,309, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Sibiu sits in Romania, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Bucharest time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Sibiu to your route.
Sibiu ( see-BEW, pronounced [siˈbiw], German: Hermannstadt [ˈhɛʁmanʃtat], Hungarian: Nagyszeben, Latin: Cibinium, Transylvanian Saxon: Härmeschtat or Hermestatt) is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some 275 km (171 mi) north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles theRead more
Cibin River, a tributary of the Olt River. Now the seat of Sibiu County, between 1692 and 1791 and 1849–65, Sibiu was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania. Until 1876, the Hecht house in Sibiu served as the seat of the Transylvanian Saxon University.
Nicknamed The Town with Eyes for the eyebrow dormers on many old buildings, the town is a popular tourist destination. It is known for its culture, history, cuisine, and architecture.
Several fortified villages near Sibiu, such as Biertan and Valea Viilor, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 under the collective listing "Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania". Separately, in 2004, the historical center of Sibiu was added to Romania's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but has not yet been officially inscribed. It was later designated the European Capital of Culture in 2007, alongside Luxembourg City. In 2008, Forbes ranked Sibiu as "Europe's 8th-most idyllic place to live". In 2019, Sibiu was named the European Region of Gastronomy and hosted a European Union summit. In 2021, it also hosted the European Wandering Capital event, the continent’s most prominent hiking and eco-tourism gathering.
Sibiu is also known nationally and internationally for its Christmas market. Renowned personalities include Transylvanian Saxon scientists Conrad Haas and Hermann Oberth, who were both pioneers of rocketry.
As of 2021 census, the city has a population of 134,309, making it the 15th most populous city in Romania. The proposed Sibiu metropolitan area has a population of 267,170. The town also administers the village of Păltiniș, a ski resort located 35 kilometres to the southwest.
During the High and Late Middle Ages, Sibiu was the most important cultural and administrative centre of the Transylvanian Saxons. It is called Härmeschtat in their local dialect, which is close to Luxembourgish, from which it primarily descended during the Ostsiedlung.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Sibiu.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Sibiu.
Sibiu offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Sibiu with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Sibiu as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Sibiu is located in Sibiu County, Romania, Europe. The coordinates are 45.8000 latitude, 24.1500 longitude.
Sibiu has a population of approximately 134,309 people, making it a city in Romania.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Sibiu as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Sibiu. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Essential numbers in Romania
Rovinieta (road tax sticker) required for all national roads.
Full driving guide for Romania6 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
A remote alpine cafe at the summit of Romania's Transfagarasan Highway beside Balea Lake, atop what Jeremy Clarkson called 'the best road in the world.'
42 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
The summit of Romania's spectacular mountain highway, called 'the best road in the world' by Top Gear, with views of Balea Lake and the Fagaras range.
42 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A glacial lake at 2,034m crowning the Transfăgărășan, reached by car in summer or cable car in winter.
42 km · about 50 min drive
mountain pass
Romania's spectacular mountain road crossing the Carpathians - 'best road in the world' per Top Gear
43 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
An 800 m wall of red sandstone ravines up to 125 m high just north of Sebeș, eroded into organ-pipe pinnacles that glow crimson at sunset: Romania's 'little Grand Canyon', visible right from the approach road.
48 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
Romania's highest road reaching 2145m, even more remote and dramatic than its famous neighbor the Transfăgărășan, crossing wild Carpathian landscapes.
60 km · about 70 min drive
Other places to explore near Sibiu.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning