RO
Sighisoara
An inhabited medieval citadel in Transylvania, with a clock tower and guild towers
An inhabited medieval citadel in Transylvania, with a clock tower and guild towers
The 64m tower guards the main gate to the citadel. It houses a history museum, and its balcony gives views over the town. The clock has moving figures.
Photo: Albertdoris, CC BY-SA 4.0
The heart of the old town is lined with painted houses, cafés and the house where Vlad the Impaler was born, now a restaurant with a small weapons exhibit.
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
A wooden covered stairway built in 1642 leads up to the school and church on the hill. 176 steps remain.
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0
This Gothic church at the top of the hill has medieval frescoes. Beside it is an old Saxon cemetery among the trees.
Photo: Sanoi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Nine towers survive along the walls, named after the guilds that defended them, such as the shoemakers, tailors and rope-makers.
Photo: yeowatzup, CC BY 2.0
Try sarmale (cabbage rolls), ciorbă soups and papanași, fried doughnuts with sour cream and jam.
The citadel has cafés and restaurants in historic houses.
Sighișoara is on the main railway line between Brașov and Cluj-Napoca. Trains from Brașov take about 2.5–3 hours; buses and minibuses also run.
The citadel is compact and car-free in parts, but steep.
Romania uses the leu (RON).
Citadel and Saxon villages.
Climb the Clock Tower, the Covered Staircase and visit the Church on the Hill.
Visit fortified churches such as Biertan or Saschiz.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Romania is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Cobbles are steep and uneven.
The medieval festival is the last weekend of July.
Visit early before day-trip groups.
Carry lei for small places.
Quick answers for planning time in Sighișoara.
Yes, the historic centre has been listed since 1999.
Vlad the Impaler, who inspired the Dracula name, was born here in 1431.
176 steps remain.
By train from Brașov or Cluj-Napoca, or by bus.
On the last weekend of July.
Planning a wider trip? Our Romania travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.