What to See in Sibiu's Squares, Churches and Walls

October 30, 2026

What to see in Sibiu

Sibiu was European Capital of Culture in 2007. Its historic centre is on Romania’s UNESCO Tentative List, while the listed World Heritage sites in the area are Sighișoara and the Saxon fortified church villages such as Biertan. The sights below are grouped by area, with entry costs where they are known.

Upper Town squares

Piața Mare is the main square, free and open all hours. The Christmas Market takes it over from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Piața Mică is the smaller square next door, with the Pharmacy Museum at number 26.
Piața Huet holds the Evangelical Cathedral.
The Council Tower, between Piața Mare and Piața Mică, is closed for restoration. Works are expected to last to the end of 2027, and no reopening date is published. Enjoy it from the square.

Museums and churches

Brukenthal Palace on Piața Mare houses European and Romanian art. Entry is 50 RON for adults, 25 RON for pensioners and 12.50 RON for students. It opens Wednesday to Sunday 09:00 to 17:00 on the winter schedule. Some paintings are attributed to Jan van Eyck, Memling and Cranach. The museum says it is Romania’s oldest, opened to the public in 1817. See the museum site for summer hours.

Casa Altemberger on Strada Mitropoliei 2 is a Gothic civic house that served as the town hall until 1948. It is now the History Museum, and entry is 36 RON.

Evangelical Cathedral on Piața Huet 1 has a tower of about 73 m. The climb is steep and narrow. Church and tower together usually cost between 5 and 15 RON, and the church closes during weddings and baptisms.

Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral on Strada Mitropoliei is neo-Byzantine, early 20th century and free to enter. Dress modestly.

Bridge, stairs and walls

The Bridge of Lies is the first cast-iron bridge in Romania, about 10 m long, built around 1859 and restored in 2006. Legend explains the name through market women’s tall tales. The Passage of Stairs links the Upper Town with the Lower Town, which is a quiet area of pastel houses along the Cibin.

On Strada Cetății you can visit the Carpenters’ Tower and Potters’ Tower, both open to the public since 2020, and see the Arquebusiers’ Tower. Reported hours are Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 19:00 from April to October, and the fee is small, so check locally before you go.

Jewish and Saxon heritage

The Great Synagogue on Strada Constituției is a listed monument from 1898 and 1899. Visits are by request through the community office. The Friedrich Teutsch Centre on Strada Mitropoliei 30 belongs to the Evangelical Church. Sibiu was the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons. Tens of thousands were deported in January 1945, and most of the community left for Germany after 1989. Visit both places with respect.

Practical tips

Paving is uneven and slippery when wet or icy, so wear sturdy shoes. The Piața Cibin market is open daily at the north-west end of Strada Turnului. A government travel advice check before you leave is sensible, as for any trip.