Sighișoara is one of the most beautiful and touristy cities in Romania, with plenty to see. A small town with a population just over 30,000 residents, it preserves ancient buildings and the secrets of the world’s most famous Romanian – Vlad Țepeș (Dracula). I highly recommend visiting this town, although you only need a few hours to walk around it. But it will be interesting.
What to do and what to see in Sighișoara
The city of Sighișoara was founded by German colonists in the 13th century, then became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and was incorporated into Romania only after the First World War. This is the only city in the country that can truly be called the “homeland of Dracula” – it was here that Vlad Țepeș was born, and later lived for some time in exile. It’s nice to stroll through its ancient narrow streets among the colorful houses, towers, and fortress walls.
Climb the Clock Tower
In fact, this is one of the main and most distinctive landmarks of the city. The tower was built in the 14th century and witnessed with its loopholes the very Vlad Țepeș (known to everyone as Dracula). Its scaly roof glitters in the sun, and the clock still strikes every hour faithfully.
Similar to the Prague Orloj Clock, figures move on the Clock Tower, powered by the clockwork mechanism. The main characters of this play: the Goddess of Peace with an olive branch, next to her is a drummer who strikes the clock on his bronze drum, the Goddess of Justice surrounded by two angels – representing day and night. And they are not here by accident: at 6 am the angel–day replaces the angel–night, and vice versa – the angelic guard changes at 6 pm.
The tower is crowned by a sharp spire with a golden globe, on top of which sits a weather vane shaped like a rooster. Inside the tower there is a museum, but it is also interesting to climb to its top – steep stairs lead upwards, but the challenging ascent is worth the effort – from the upper terrace there is a magical view of Sighișoara. By the way, there is another well-preserved tower – the Shoemakers’ Tower, located near the northern part of the citadel, but it can only be seen from the outside, as entrance is closed.
Walk through the Corridor of the Elderly
It is located at the foot of the Watch Tower. This passage was specially built for the elderly or sick people so they wouldn’t obstruct others on the narrow road.
Visit Dracula’s House
In Sighișoara, there is a house where Vlad Țepeș was truly born and lived, home to the Dracula museum. Essentially, there is nothing special – there’s a man lying in a coffin who jumps out at the most inopportune moment to scare people, and then asks for money for “food.” The whole exhibition is decked out in vampire style and isn’t very interesting.
Climb School Hill via the “Students’ Stairs”
This is a gloomy wooden gallery above the stairs that lead to the church on the hill. For many centuries, schoolchildren have truly walked along it to the school situated right at the exit of the dark staircase. Despite its gloomy appearance, this gallery serves a single, but very functional purpose – children shouldn’t get wet in the rain while climbing more than a hundred steps up. And what these old stairs are made of – is a secondary issue.
Against the backdrop of Sighișoara’s historical details associated with “bloody” Dracula, this construction looks quite appropriate. At the foot of the stairs, souvenirs are sold, there are nice cafes, and at the exit at the top, street musicians often play.
Visit the Church on the Hill and wander the ancient Saxon cemetery
To admire the frescoes and the church’s interior – the church was closed both times we were in Sighișoara. But it contains 16th-century Lutheran frescoes – from the times when local residents were Catholics (nowadays, Romania is mostly an Orthodox country). You can wander the Saxon cemetery and be amazed at the huge number of tombstones in the graveyard . By the way, you also get a nice view of the town below from here.
Photograph the Tailors’ Tower
The graveyard caretaker lives here with his family. From excursions and attractions like this, chills run down your spine. But Sighișoara gives you no choice – here, everything is on the same wavelength, and only the bright houses. Even in gloomy weather, dilute the impressions a little and distract you from thoughts about the inevitable end of life.
What to try in Sighișoara
In the central square of Sighișoara, you can have a rather inexpensive lunch with local dishes – tripe soup, try some spicy Hungarian sausages – the local cuisine is a mix of Romanian and Hungarian dishes. You can buy a souvenir right here – it is a must to bring something back from the homeland of Dracula as a memento of the famous vampire.
What to see on the way to Sighișoara
Don’t limit yourself to Sighișoara alone and explore the surroundings. 20 km east there is a small town of Odorheiu Secuiesc, which looks quite unremarkable, but! In this town, among the hills, there are amazingly beautiful carved wooden gates. I have not seen such gates anywhere else, although in Romania you can often find unusual wooden carved gates at the entrance to a private house. In Odorheiu, these are real works of wooden architecture. Not only are there gates in almost every yard, but they are also painted in various styles – really beautiful!
Peculiarities of tourism in Romania
It is most convenient to travel around Romania by car – this way, you can see more than from a tourist bus. A major advantage of traveling in Romania is the abundance of natural and cultural sites. Especially in Transylvania, old towns and architecture have been preserved, including in Sighișoara. It’s much more interesting here than, for example, on the coast and in the southeastern part.
Sighișoara is not a place you should plan for a whole day and an overnight stay. I have been there twice – in winter and summer, and I included it in an itinerary along with other attractions – for example, 80 km away there is the amazing Praid salt cave, where you can spend at least half a day, descending into huge mines which have now become an entertainment center for adults and children.
You can add the city of Târgu Mureș to the route – stroll through its beautiful center, see the medieval fortress, visit the zoo. In general, before both of my trips to Sighișoara, I planned a busy itinerary, connecting Dracula’s town with other diverse attractions.
Where to stay in Sighișoara:
- Pensiunea Gasthaus Alte Post≫ – Historic building in the city center with great character, beautiful dining room with live flowers, and a wonderful cellar. The hotel offers a great selection of breakfast options. Excellent location for getting to the city center.
- Casa Hermann≫ – The apartments are located almost in the very center of town. Just a few steps from the clock tower, with many restaurants nearby, 5 minutes’ walk to grocery stores.
- Hotel Bulevard Sighisoara≫ – The hotel is conveniently located for visiting tourist attractions. There is a good choice for breakfast, the staff at the hotel is friendly and helpful, and the rooms are spacious with a large comfortable bed.
Useful articles and links:
- Transfăgărășan – the most beautiful road in Romania
- Balkans in winter – budget ski resorts in Romania, Montenegro, Serbia and Bulgaria
- Romania – the best itinerary
- Black Sea beaches in Romania
- Six districts of Bucharest where it is best for tourists to stay
Bus routes and tickets for buses – Omio.com
Traveling medical insurance – HotlineFinance
Hotel bookings and apartments – Booking.com
