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Are you planning some solo travel to Romania? Chances are you’ve probably never heard of Sighisoara. Am I right? Now let me ask you, have you ever heard of Transylvania? I thought Transylvania was a make-believe place dreamt up by the creative cartoon makers. Transylvania is real, and it’s a vast region in Romania. And one of those towns within the area is Sighisoara! Sighisoara is a teeny tiny village town and creepy as hell. For all you thrill-seeking vampire chasers, here are the 7 BEST things to do in Sighisoara!



Photos edited Adobe Lightroom preset!
Most Important Things to Know for Sighisoara
Quick Facts:
Currency: RON Romanian Leu
Average Summer Temperatures: 26 / 12 degrees Celsius
Average Winter Temperatures: 1 / -7 degrees Celcius
Language Spoken: Romanian
Closest Airport: Sibiu ( 1 1/2 hours)
Crime Report: according to Numbeo
7 Best Things To Do in Sighisoara
#1. Visit the birthplace of Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler.
Vlad III was born in the year 1431 and died in 1477. Ruler of Wallachia between the years of 1448 and 1477, and died in battle. The reputation for Vlad’s cruel and torturing punishments earned him the name vampire count Dracula. According to Wikipedia, this did not serve as the inspiration for the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker in 1897. In other theories, the inspiration was drawn from Irish mythology, pointing to a character named Abhartach.
Today you can visit the childhood home of Vlad III in the center of the old town of Sighisoara. Visiting this house is very poorly reviewed on TripAdvisor. And I would have to agree. The experience could be vastly improved. There is a restaurant on-site and upstairs, a room decorated in red curtains, and an empty coffin. And that’s it!
As cheesy and lame as it is, you still have to go. My hope is over time, and when tourism increases, more attention will be paid to upgrading this exhibit.



#2. A Solo Climb Up The Sighisoara Clock Tower
I have been fortunate in my life to have traveled to numerous places. The clock tower in Sighisoara was one of the most impressive sites I have ever seen. It has a very distinctive look that goes along with the overall spooky vibe of the town.
Once you see it for yourself, you will understand why it’s one of the most popular things to do in Sighisoara. There is a minimal entrance fee to climb the old wooden stairs to the peak of this clock tower. At the top, you will have sweeping views of the town and the Romanian countryside.
Built-in the 14th century, this tower was once the entry point to the citadel. In 1964 the clock underwent restorations and functions to this day. In 1999 the whole area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Free Google Map of Sighisoara
#3. Visit the Church on the Hill
This church, as in the name, is on a hill. To get there, you will climb the “covered stairs.” As it sounds, the covered stairs are the massive tunneled staircase. The journey to the church will surely take some of your energy, but it’s worth it.
When you step into this Romanian church, you feel like you are walking into a piece of history. The Gothic church formerly replaced the Romanesque basilica between the 14th and 15th centuries. It became a Lutheran church in 1547, serving the German Saxon inhabitants.
The cemetery contains tombstones from the 1600 and 1700s of the mayors, friars, and guild masters. If you visit in October, it will be as spooky as you would expect.



#4. Citadel Sighisoara
This collection of medieval buildings are all within the walls of the citadel, Sighisoara. There are several towers, such as the Bootmakers Tower, Tailors Tower, Blacksmith Tower, Tinsmiths Tower.
There are a couple of ways to see this citadel. You can self-tour via buying tickets directly on-site or join a tour. I would recommend joining a group tour, as it’s a great way to meet other travelers. Also, you get an in-depth history lesson from a local.
Visiting in October set the mood will undoubtedly set the mood for visiting a place like Sighisoara. During the days, it was a bit cloudy, adding a layer of gloom. The nights were fresh and crisp, smelling of wood-burning stoves. There is no better time to visit Transylvania than in the autumn!



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5. Shop The Local Shops
Sure, this isn’t exactly a “spooky” thing to do. But I added to the list of 7 spooky things to do in Sighisoara because I like to shop! What will scare you is just how CHEAP everything is!
In the streets of the old town, you can find little shops selling everything from Dracula-themed gifts to high-quality goods. I bought some of the most beautiful handmade pottery from Sighisoara. The prices in Romania are simply unbeatable.
Since the country has been benefiting more and more each year by tourism, I do expect prices will increase. As of today, it remains one of the least expensive places I have ever visited. If you are looking to go somewhere to stretch your dollar, then Romania is the place for you.



#6. City Walking Tour & Dracula Home Visit
This tour is perfect for you if you are only visiting Sighisoara for a few hours. Embrace the history of this spooky village and join this city walking tour & Dracula home visit.
This is the fastest way to see all the main attractions, with a knowledgeable guide! The entrance fees are covered by the cost of this tour. See all 7 spooky things to do in Sighisoara in one shot!
#7. Visit the Viscri Fortified Church
The previous six activities are the most popular things to do when visiting Sighisoara. If you have a car or have time to do a day tour, here is an idea for outside Sighisoara. Visit the Viscri Fortified Church.
If you plan to travel by car it takes just under 1 hour to reach the church. At the time of my visit, I didn’t see any public transit options. It is worth researching this further closer to your arrival.
I didn’t have enough time to see this place in person and definitely regret it.
Where Should You Stay Solo in Sighisoara
As I mentioned, Romania is cheap! I stayed in the most delightful boutique-style hotel in the center of the old town for less than $100 a night! If you are looking to treat yourself, you should consider staying at Fronius Residence!
The hotel serves a delicious breakfast, included in the room price. A special thanks to the staff at the hotel, they were exceptional! The staff member knew I needed help getting to the bus station. She not only offered to drive me but helped me buy the ticket.
Best Hotel Deals for Romania: Here



Is Sighisoara Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
I often felt safe when traveling solo all over Romania. The language barrier can be an issue, though. Not everyone will speak English, which can sometimes make some aspects of the journey frustrating.
I did not experience any theft or shady people trying to take advantage of me as a tourist. If you search online, you find that it does happen, but evil people are everywhere. Just consider your surroundings, act appropriately, and you will be fine.
Leave your flashy expensive purses at home. The advice I give to all travelers is just to blend in. My travel style is plain Jane, boring black clothes, and comfortable shoes. If you are walking around with a Fendi bag, making it evident that you are a tourist, you can attract attention. When I am solo traveling, I want to avoid that.



Transportation To and From Sighisoara
I am going to be really honest with you here. The transportation in this country is far from convenient or somewhat function-able. Be prepared to deal with many inconveniences when it comes to public transit.
There was no reasonable train transit option from Sighisoara to Sibiu, but there was a “bus.” I have the bus in quotations, as it was not a bus but an oversized minivan.
Right before the “bus” arrived, people started swarming in a little circle and getting pushy. Once the door to the van opened, we all crammed in. It was like riding in a tight sardine can that smelled of cigarettes and stale beer.
It was an awkward ride, and there was no place for luggage. My carry-on suitcase sat on my lap for about 2 1/2 hours. The trip itself was pretty chill, driving through the countryside. There is little chance of traffic unless there is an accident.
The drive was reasonably picturesque, with lots of green valleys and small villages in the distance. If I were to make this trip all over again, I would rent a car. Hands down, definitely look into it.



More Solo Travel In Romania


Now that you have seen all 7 spooky things to do in Sighisoara, it’s time to move on! As I mentioned, I traveled from Sighisoara to Sibiu. Sibiu is also in the Transylvania region of Romania, and I would highly recommend it! By car, you can reach Sibiu from Sighisoara in about an hour and a half.
What I loved so much about Sibiu was that it had a city vibe but in a village setting. Sibiu only has a population of about 147,000 people and is located 171 miles (275 km) northwest of Bucharest. I found a couple of great places to eat. You can expect a hearty and potato-heavy style cuisine. If you are searching for vegan food, it is a little more complicated. But, not hard to find some vegetarians.
Sibiu has cool craft bars and cute artesian coffee shops. I would suggest you plan to stay no more than three nights here. In that amount of time, you will have pretty much done it all.
Just like in Sighisoara, everything is very affordable. I chose to stay in an Airbnb. It was wildly stylish and crazy affordable. My nightly rate was $45, by far the cheapest accommodation on the whole trip.



READ MORE: Medieval city of Lviv, Ukraine – Solo Female Travel
Solo Travel in Sibui, Romaina
Another hidden gem in Transylvania is most certainly, Sibiu! Full of medieval charm and dark, seedy history, this place is a must! Transportation around Romania isn’t as developed as I would personally hope. So doing plenty of research is key here!



Where To Go From Sibiu
If you want to continue exploring more Romanian villages, then visit Brasov! Here are 16 fun things to do in Brasov! From here it is easy to visit Bran Castle & Peles Castle! Bran Castle is the castle in which Bram Stroker’s Dracula movie was filmed. Peles Castle reminded me of something out of a fairytale!
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Vicky says
Love the quick facts section, very helpful! Thanks for putting all this together, seems like a spooky place!
Josy A says
Sighisoara looks like a great fun (if slightly spooky) area to explore. The ‘bus’ ride in does sound like a bit of a nightmare, so thanks for the tip! I would really love to visit Romania… I’ll be sure to hire a car when we do!
Jen says
Ahh I love places like this! I especially love the looks of that hotel! I’m definitely adding this place to my list and I’ll save this post for when I go ? love your photos!
Melissa Byron says
Thanks! I took these pictures with an iPhone a couple of years ago! I need to go back as soon as we are allowed to travel!
Alexandra Booze says
I am a sucker for spooky places!! The hotel is right up my ally. Thank you for sharing these!