A charming European city often gets overlooked by tourists despite boasting a breathtaking Old Town, budget-friendly attractions and a ‘hidden gem’ of a Christmas market
Whether you think it’s too early to start talking about Christmas or not, there’s no denying that the festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it those beautiful Christmas markets.
There are heaps in the UK of course, but if you’re thinking about heading abroad to check out the stalls, rides and local fare, then you may want to add Sibiu, Romania, to the list.
The charming city is packed with history and culture thanks to its picturesque Old Town with cobbled streets, eye-catching landmarks and pretty parks.
Highlights include the impressive Council Tower, the historic city walls, beautiful churches such as the 14th century Evangelic Church, and fascinating museums including the folkloric ASTRA Museum and the Brukenthal National Museum – the oldest museum in Romania. Tourists also tend to flock to the Bridge of Lies, a pedestrian bridge where legend has it that the bridge will collapse if you sit on it and tell a lie.
However, it’s during the festive season where Sibiu’s popularity has been surging in recent years, with increasing numbers of tourists flocking to its hidden gem of a Christmas market in the winter months.
We’re talking a plethora of stalls serving everything from gorgeous decorations to classic festive food and drink, not to mention that its historic square makes for an Instagram-worthy festive backdrop, especially with the market’s huge Christmas tree that takes centre stage.
It’s therefore no surprise that last year, hotels in the local area saw a surge of bookings for the opening weekend. This year, Sibiu’s Christmas market is expected to run from November 15, 2025, to January 5, 2026, and the good news is that it’s budget-friendly for Brits too.
In fact, you can find return flights from £32 in November on Skyscanner; there’s not a huge jump for December either, with return fares available from £35 with Wizz Air. (It’s worth noting that these fares won’t include a second bag so you’ll need to factor in luggage costs if you want to take more than just a handbag or backpack!). The journey isn’t too arduous either, with an average flight time of three hours.
Oh, and if you want to do a bit of exploring with a road trip, then Sibiu may be an ideal base. According to recent research from the team at Discover Cars, you can find car hire rates from £3 for an entire weekend, not to mention there are hotel stays averaging out at around £128 a night.
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