Where to Stay in Sibiu: the Best Areas

Sibiu is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Transylvania, and how much you enjoy it depends a great deal on the neighbourhood you sleep in. The historic centre is compact and walkable, so you don't need a car to reach the main sights, but the differences between areas matter: some put you in the heart of the postcard, others give you quiet, and others are built for people who arrive by car and use the city as a base for the mountains. Here's how to choose.

The Upper Town (Orașul de Sus)

The Upper Town is the Sibiu of the classic photographs: the part built on the hill, around the Large Square (Piața Mare) and the Small Square (Piața Mică), with the Council Tower, the Evangelical Church and the famous roof "eyes" that seem to watch the street below. It is the most central and most spectacular area, and the obvious choice for a first visit.

• You're a few steps from almost every sight: the squares, the Bridge of Lies, the cathedrals, the Brukenthal museums.
• Everything is done on foot, over cobblestones, past colourful façades and cafés.
• The evenings are memorable, especially when the squares are lit up.

On the other hand, it is also the most sought-after and most expensive area, and on weekends and in high season it can stay lively late into the night. If you want to wake up inside the postcard, this is the place.

The Lower Town (Orașul de Jos)

The Lower Town is the old craftsmen's quarter, spread out below the defensive walls along the Cibin river. It's a maze of narrow lanes, inner courtyards, stairways and vaulted passages, lined with low, colourful houses that keep a genuine, less polished charm than the Upper Town.

• A romantic, photogenic atmosphere, ideal for couples and for travellers who love the details.
• Quieter and usually more affordable than the square-side streets.
• Only a few minutes' climb from the historic centre, up picturesque stairs and passageways.

It's the right pick if you want to feel the "real" city beyond the tourist flow and don't mind a short walk uphill to the main attractions.

Around the centre, near the squares

If you want all the convenience of the centre without being right on the square, the streets immediately around it are a well-balanced choice. The blocks around Piața Mare and along the main avenues put cafés, restaurants and shops at your door, but with a little more calm at night.

• Quick walking access to every sight, without paying the "square-view" premium.
• Plenty of good restaurants and terraces a few steps away.
• A solid compromise between buzz and rest, good for families and longer stays.

This is the ideal area if you want to explore the centre morning and evening but retreat to a calmer corner when you need a break.

On the edge, for drivers

Sibiu's historic centre has restricted car access and limited parking on the cobbled streets, so if you arrive by car it's worth thinking through the logistics. Many central places to stay have no parking of their own, and the spots around the squares are few and costly.

• Places on the edge of town or towards the outskirts more often offer their own parking, free or cheap.
• From there the centre is a short hop away, by car or on foot.
• It's the practical solution if you're using Sibiu as a base for trips around the region.

Sibiu is an excellent launch point for the Transfăgărășan, the spectacular road through the Făgăraș mountains, and for the villages of Mărginimea Sibiului, with their shepherding traditions, old churches and rolling landscapes. For all of these, a place with parking on the way out of town makes your mornings far easier. See our Sibiu destination guide too for itineraries and day-trip ideas.

Choosing, in short

• First visit: the Upper Town, to be in the heart of the postcard and do everything on foot.
• Romance: the Lower Town, with its atmospheric, quiet lanes.
• Families and long stays: around the centre, near the squares, for a balance of convenience and calm.
• Driving and road trips: on the edge of town, with parking, as a base for the Transfăgărășan and Mărginimea Sibiului.

One last tip: book the Upper Town early, especially during the December Christmas market and the summer festivals, when Sibiu fills up and the best rooms go fast.