Sibiu Activities: Museums, Lakes and Food

October 30, 2026

Activities in Sibiu

Sibiu is a city of about 150,000 people on the Cibin river, below the Cindrel Mountains. It works well for a few days of museums, food and an easy summer lake day, with the Saxon villages and the mountains within a drive. Most activities cluster in the Upper Town around Piața Mare, Piața Mică and Piața Huet, plus the Lower Town along the river. The Old Town paving is uneven and slick when wet or icy, so wear sturdy shoes.

ASTRA open-air museum

The ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization sits in the Dumbrava forest, about 4 km from the centre, with hundreds of relocated rural buildings. Adult tickets are 50 RON, pensioners pay 20 RON and pupils or students pay 10 RON. From May to September it opens 08:00 to 20:00, and from October to April it runs 09:00 to 17:00. Craft demonstrations and events are seasonal, so check the ASTRA site before you plan around them. Bus 13 from the centre serves the museum and the zoo.

Lacul Binder and the salt lakes

In summer, Lacul Binder is Sibiu’s lake and water-sports complex. It offers wakeboard, water skiing, cable ski, kayak and SUP rental, a beach with volleyball, fishing and lifeguards. The 2026 season opened on 1 May, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00. Swimming was not yet available at opening, so check Lacul Binder for current rules and prices. It is a summer-only option, so skip it from November to April.

The Ocna Sibiului salt lakes are about 15 to 20 km from the city and run a short summer season, 22 May to 30 September in 2026. Adult entry was about 25 RON in late May and September and about 35 RON in peak summer, with parking around 10 RON. Check before you go, since prices change each year.

Food and markets

Telemea de Sibiu is a sheep’s milk cheese with EU protected status, and the region was a European Region of Gastronomy for 2019. Look for ciorbă ardelenească, varză călită, plăcintă and balmoș on local menus. Crama Sibiul Vechi on Strada Alexandru Papiu-Ilarian is a vaulted cellar with most dishes at about 45 RON, and Restaurant Hermania on Strada Filarmonicii serves a Saxon and Transylvanian menu. For fresh produce, Piața Cibin is open daily at the north-west end of Strada Turnului near the Cibin bridge, and it takes cards.

Rainy-day options

The Brukenthal National Museum has several branches with separate tickets, including the Palace (50 RON adult), Casa Altemberger (36 RON), Natural History (20 RON) and the Pharmacy Museum (16 RON). The Palace, Altemberger, Natural History and Pharmacy branches open Wednesday to Sunday 09:00 to 17:00 on the winter schedule, and they are closed Monday and Tuesday. Check the museum site for summer hours. The Council Tower between Piața Mare and Piața Mică is closed for restoration until about the end of 2027, so enjoy it from outside.

Getting around

The centre is compact and walkable. Tursib runs buses only, with a 60-minute ticket at 3.5 RON that you can pay contactless on board. Sibiu has no trams or trolleybuses today. Cards work almost everywhere, but carry some RON for markets, church donation boxes and small kiosks. Check government travel advice before you go, as for any trip.