Family Days in Sibiu: Zoo, ASTRA and Lake

October 30, 2026

Family days in Sibiu

Sibiu is easy with children if you plan around the zoo and the open-air museum, add a summer lake day, and keep museum visits short. The Old Town is compact, but the paving is uneven cobbles, which is hard going for strollers and slippery when wet or icy.

Zoo Sibiu

The zoo is at Calea Dumbrăvii 142, in the Dumbrava forest. It was founded in 1929 and now holds over 300 animals of 74 species. Tickets are 20 RON for adults and 10 RON for children from age 3, students and pensioners, and children under 3 go free. The little Dumbrava lake has rowing boats at 50 RON per 30 minutes. Opening hours change through the year, so check zoosibiu.ro before you go. Bus 13 from the centre serves the zoo and the neighbouring ASTRA museum, which makes it easy to combine the two in one day.

ASTRA and the Etno Tehno Parc

The ASTRA open-air museum is a long walk between relocated village houses, mills and workshops, so it suits children who like to roam. Tickets are 50 RON adult, 20 RON pensioner and 10 RON pupil or student. It opens 08:00 to 20:00 from May to September and 09:00 to 17:00 from October to April, so in the off-season it closes at 17:00. Near the zoo gate, the Etno Tehno Parc is an interactive area listed Wednesday to Sunday 09:30 to 16:00 in the off-season. A children’s programme called School in the Traditional Village is listed for June to September, so check the ASTRA visiting page for the current calendar. Local press reports sleigh rides in snowy weeks, but they are not guaranteed.

Natural History Museum and puppets

The Natural History Museum on Strada Cetății 1 is part of the Brukenthal museum. A few dinosaur models stand in the courtyard, and tickets are 20 RON adult and 10 RON pensioner. It is a good wet-weather stop.

The Gong Theatre for Children and Youth is the city’s puppet and youth theatre. Some performances are in German, and some single-price tickets are around 12 RON. Check teatrulgong.ro for the programme.

Summer water days

Lacul Binder has a beach, a floating playground for children under 14, a playground and lifeguards. In 2025 the beach cost 5 RON for ages 3 to 14. The 2026 season opened on 1 May, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00, and swimming was not yet available at the start, so check Lacul Binder for current rules. It is a summer-only stop.

The Ocna Sibiului salt lakes have a children’s salt-water pool, and children under 10 enter free. The 2026 season ran 22 May to 30 September. Check the operator before going, as prices change by season.

Parks and practical tips

Parcul Sub Arini and the Dumbrava forest give children room to run, though there is no verified list of playgrounds, so ask your hotel. Strollers cope better on the pavements near the squares than on the cobbled lanes.

Cards work almost everywhere, but carry some RON for small kiosks. Tursib city buses charge 3.5 RON for a 60-minute ticket, payable contactless on board.