Sibiu with Kids: The Best Family Guide to Transylvania's Saxon City

Sibiu is a Saxon city in the heart of Transylvania, dating back to the 12th century, and it turned out to be one of the best places we visited on our entire Romania road trip with our daughter. The medieval old town has kept an extraordinary amount of its original character with cobblestone streets, Gothic churches, defensive walls, and the iconic "Eyes of Sibiu", the windows that peek out from the rooftops like the city is watching you.

It's easy for families because the old town is almost entirely pedestrianised, the main squares are large enough for children to run around in, and the whole place is compact so it's easy to navigate with kids.

Getting to Sibiu

Sibiu has its own small international airport (SBZ) with connections from several European cities, though the flight options are limited. More practically for most people, it's about a 4-hour drive from Bucharest, 2 hours from Cluj-Napoca, and 45 minutes from Sebeș. If you're doing a Transylvania road trip, Sibiu sits naturally in the middle of the circuit and works well as a base.

We drove in from Sebeș, stopping at Râpa Roșie (the Red Ravine) on the way, which added about 45 minutes to the journey and is very much worth the detour.

When to go: We visited in late August for a wedding nearby and it was very hot (mid-30s for the first part of our trip). Sibiu is a year-round destination, but the most popular times are summer (busy but lively) and the Christmas market season (mid-November to early January), which transforms the city into something magical.

What to Do in Sibiu with Young Kids

Piața Mare and Piața Mică

Piața Mare is the main square and it's a very good one with large, open cobblestone space ringed by pastel-coloured townhouses and medieval facades, with restaurant terraces along the edges and enough room in the middle for children to run around without getting in anyone's way.

There is a water fountain feature in the square where all the kids were playing and my daughter was right in the action and soaking wet within approximately three minutes. Fortunately our accommodation was right on the square, so we were back in the apartment and into dry clothes within five.

Piața Mică (the Small Square) is just a short walk through a passageway from Piața Mare. It's quieter, slightly more intimate, and has the same lovely terrace café quality. The two squares together form the heart of the old town and are where you'll naturally end up spending most of your time.

The "Eyes of Sibiu"

Walk anywhere in the old town and you will start noticing the dormer windows. They're arched, slightly hooded, and set into the terracotta rooftops at an angle that makes them look uncannily like eyes. The effect when you're standing in a narrow street with the rooflines on both sides is a bit eerie, making you feel like you're being watched. The official term for them is "ochi" (eyes), and the legend goes that they were designed so the houses could watch over the streets below.

The Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary

The Lutheran Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in the city, a large Gothic church with a distinctive bell tower. The tower can be climbed for views over the old town.

With a young toddler we kept it to the exterior and the surrounding square, which was peaceful and lovely on a summer afternoon. The cathedral is a place of active worship so visits inside involve a small entry fee and appropriate noise levels.

The Orthodox Cathedral and the Bridge of Lies

Both are a short walk from Piața Mare and both worth finding as you wander. The Orthodox Cathedral is beautiful from the outside and usually quiet enough to step inside briefly.

The Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor) is a small but famous cast-iron pedestrian bridge connecting the upper and lower parts of the old town. The legend is that if you stand on the bridge and tell a lie, the bridge will collapse!

Getting Lost in the Streets

The best thing you can do in Sibiu with young children is simply wander. The streets of the old town are largely car-free, which makes them safe and easy for toddlers who want to walk themselves, and the architecture is interesting enough to keep adults occupied while that walking happens at approximately the pace of a small person examining every single stone in a cobblestone street.

Most of the streets have very little traffic, the city is compact, and you're never far from a café or a square where you can sit down. We covered a lot of ground this way over two days and kept stumbling upon things like a hidden courtyard, a particularly impressive gateway in the old town walls and a cat sitting on a doorstep that we wouldn't have found if we'd been following a map.

Sibiu in Winter: The Christmas Market

We visited in summer, but from everything I have read and been told, it is one of the best Christmas markets in Romania and quite possibly in Europe. The market runs on Piața Mare from mid-November to early January each year and over 100 wooden chalets fill the square, there's a natural ice rink, a Ferris wheel, Santa's Workshop for children, festive train rides, and in the evenings, light projections.

For families with young children wanting an authentic Christmas market experience you will be treated to an ice rink, wooden chalets with and Christmas decorations, and plenty of mulled wine and cinnamon. It's definitely on our list for a return trip. Make sure to check the official Christmas Fair website (targuldecraciun.ro) for the exact annual dates, as they vary slightly year to year.

Day Trips from Sibiu

Râpa Roșie (Red Ravine): About 20 minutes north of Sibiu on the road back towards Sebeș, this is a dramatic geological formation of red and orange rock spires and columns. There's an easy viewpoint trail suitable for young children, and a more adventurous trail to the base that is not. Works very well as a stop-off on the way in or out of Sibiu.

The Transfăgărășan Highway and bear spotting: The start of the Transfăgărășan is about 45 minutes from Sibiu, which makes it doable as a day trip (in fact we did it as a day trip from the village of Sadu, 30 minutes from Sibiu, and it was one of the best days of the whole trip). The highway is open from roughly July to October but check before you go as the snow closure date varies year to year. Full guide: Driving the Transfăgărășan with Kids.

Where to Stay in Sibiu

1. Casa Baciu (from around £40/night)

Best for: families who want old town character at a budget price with free parking on site

Housed in a building dating from the early 1600s, Casa Baciu sits in the historical old town a short walk from Piața Mică and the Bridge of Lies. The rooms are spacious and simply furnished, breakfast is included and served in an intimate dining room, and the inner courtyard has free private parking for up to six cars, which is a useful if you're road tripping through Transylvania. The location lets you roll out of the door straight into the old town cobblestones. Cots are available on request, confirm when booking. For adults, the combination of a historic building, a good breakfast, and a price that leaves money for Hochmeister is hard to argue with.

2. Apartment Green (from around £45/night)

Best for: families who want to be steps from Piața Mare with a kitchen and the flexibility of self-catering

This is where we stayed and I'd book it again immediately. The apartment is 100 metres from Piața Mare and has one bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen with washing machine and a private entrance. It is compact but very well set up, and the location means the whole old town is on your doorstep. Cots are available on request. Book early, particularly in summer and Christmas market season, as it goes quickly.

3. Ramada by Wyndham Sibiu (from around £80/night)

Best for: families who want a full-service hotel with connecting rooms and a central location a short walk from the old town

The Ramada sits 50 metres from the historic centre with a panoramic lift that gives you city views on the way to your room, which is the kind of detail children remember. Free cribs and infant beds are available in every room type, and connecting rooms can be arranged, making it the most practical option if you need to separate sleeping spaces. There is a restaurant, a bar, paid on-site parking, and a fitness centre. For a family who wants a reliable, centrally located hotel with proper baby facilities and the flexibility of connecting rooms, it delivers.

Final Thoughts

Sibiu is a really cosy stop off whilst you're in Transylvania and two nights felt right. It is compact enough to feel manageable with young children, beautiful enough to keep adults completely happy, and has the kind of squares and café culture where you can sit in the evening and soak in the ambiance.

For the full Transylvania road trip itinerary including all the stops we made from Sebeș to Bucharest, read our Transylvania with a Toddler: A Road Trip Guide. And if you're planning your first visit to Romania and want to understand the wider shape of the trip, our full Romania content hub covers Bucharest, the castles, the Transfăgărășan, and everything in between.