Sighisoara Medieval Festival: A Weekend in Romania’s Living Citadel

If you never heard of Sighisoara Medieval Festival- keep reading because I can guarantee you that you will add it to your travel list. When we were at the planning stages of the road trip around Romania and Moldova, Sighisoara was very high on my list. As I mentioned in my previous posts, this was my third trip t Romania, but the first two time I vsited long time ago when I was a teenager. I barely remember everythign but I have vivid memories of a few places and Sighisoara is one of them.

Through my hazy memories, I still remember my exitement of being in Transylvania, which I only knew from Dracula stories. But then I learned about Sighisoara Medieval Festival, which wa shappening exactly on the weekend we were planning to visit anyway. This couldn’t be more perfect.

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Sighisoara Medieval Festival: A Weekend in Romania’s Living Citadel

We went to Sighișoara specifically for the Sighisoara Medieval Festival. We would have gone to Sighișoara anyway, as it was on our Romania and Moldova road trip route, but we were lucky to be around during the festival, and it was pretty cool. It reminded me of the medieval festival I attended in Tallinn. While the festival in Tallinn is much bigger and well known, Sigisoara did not disappoint.

We stayed for two nights, from Friday to Sunday. Here’s what the festival is like, the best things to do in Sighișoara, and where to stay, eat and drink.

Why Sighișoara is so special

Sighișoara is one of the few medieval citadels in Europe where people still live. That’s what makes it different from many old towns that have turned into open air museums. Its history goes back to the 12th century, when Saxon settlers built it as a fortified centre that helped protect nearby settlements in Transylvania. The historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, I think. It’s also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the ruler who inspired the Dracula legend. If that’s not good enough reason to visit, what is?

The Sighisoara Medieval Festival

The Sighisoara Medieval Festival is the oldest medieval festival in Romania. It takes place every year in late July, over a weekend. In 2026, it ran from 24 to 26 July, and entry was free.

For three days, the citadel becomes a stage. There are concerts, medieval combat demonstrations, medieval music, theatre and dance performances, and street entertainment. Knights on horseback, period costumes and parades fill the streets. Musicians play rare instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, and reenactors demonstrate historic fighting techniques with axes and spears.

The festival started in 1992, after a first medieval themed street performance in 1991. The founders dreamed of making it as big as the Edinburgh Festival. It once regularly attracted more than 30,000 visitors. I lived in Edinburgh for many years and the Fringe Festival there is massive. While I admire the ambitions of Sighisoara, I don’t think there’s enough space in the city.

Tips for the festival: Book accommodation early, as Sighișoara is small and the festival weekend fills up. If you travel by car, it’s best to choose a hotel outside the old town walls and the centre is restricted to car (you will probably be fine f your hotel has a parking) and the streets are cobbled and narrow.

Things to do in Sighișoara

However, while Sigishoara medieval Festival is such a cool experience, I understand it might be difficult sometimes to adjust your itinerary to be there on the exact dates. We were very lucky. Do not worry, because Sighishoara is beautiful regardless and I am sure you can enjoy it. So here are a few things that you can see and do in Sighisoara:

• The Clock Tower This is the symbol of Sighișoara and the main entrance to the citadel. It’s around 64 metres high, and inside, there’s a history museum. The tower is famous for its clock with wooden figurines that change at midnight, each representing a day of the week. From the top, you get the best views over the red roofs of the citadel and the lower town. We couldn’t do it because waiting in line was not something I enjoy. That’s the downside of visiting a city on one of the busiest weekends.
• Citadel Square This small square is the heart of the old town, surrounded by colourful houses. In the past, it was where markets and public executions took place. During the festival, much of the action happens here. All the concerts took place in this spot.
• The Scholars’ Stairs This covered wooden staircase climbs up to the Church on the Hill. It was built in 1642 to protect schoolchildren and churchgoers from the weather on their way up. It has around 175 steps. It’s a bit of a climb and it rained, so the stairs were perfectly serving its purpose.
• The Church on the Hill This Gothic church stands at the top of the Scholars’ Stairs, on the highest point of the citadel. Inside, there are remains of medieval frescoes. Next to it is the old Saxon cemetery, which is a quiet and atmospheric place for a walk.
• The house where Vlad the Impaler was born This mustard coloured house near the Clock Tower is where Vlad the Impaler is said to have been born, in 1431. Today, it’s a restaurant, Casa Vlad Dracul.
• The guild towers The citadel was once protected by walls and towers, each defended by a different craftsmen’s guild. Several survive, including the Tailors’, Shoemakers’, Tinsmiths’ and Ropemakers’ towers. Walking around the walls to find them is a good way to explore the citadel.
• The Church of the Dominican Monastery This church sits right next to the Clock Tower. It’s known for its baroque altar and its collection of oriental carpets. It sometimes hosts organ concerts.
• Walk the cobbled streets The citadel is small, and the best way to see it is simply to wander. Look at the colourful houses, the small courtyards and the views over the lower town.

Where to stay in Sighișoara with a car

We chose a hotel just outside the old town walls, because staying inside the citadel with a car is very difficult. We stayed at Hotel Central Park, just two minutes from the old town, across the street.

Where to eat in Sighișoara

During the festival there were many food stands all over the old part of town and we samples some of the traditional dishes there (but there was a lot of fried stuff), like intestines, for example if you are brave enough (pictured below). However, Sigisoara has a few cery nice restaurants, so we wanted to enjoy them as much as possible, even if it was for a drink and a small plate. Here are our favourites:

• Joseph T. Restaurant & Wine Bar This restaurant and wine bar serves European and Romanian dishes. It’s ranked as one of the top restaurants in Sighișoara.
• Casa Ferdinand This is another of the highest ranked restaurants in Sighișoara.
• Restaurant La Perla La Perla is known for traditional Romanian food, and it’s one of the most popular restaurants in town.
• Central Park Restaurant This restaurant is inside the hotel where we stayed. Lonely Planet says it’s worth a meal even if you’re not staying at the hotel, and calls it one of the best restaurants in Sighișoara.
• Casa Georgius Krauss This is a guesthouse and restaurant inside the citadel walls, in a historic building that once belonged to Sighișoara’s notary. The chef cooks traditional and international dishes with local ingredients. We really liked this one, but it is very popular, so you might need to book a table.
• Gasthaus Altepost This guesthouse and restaurant is in a building from 1851, serving Saxon and Romanian food, including spicy soups and spätzle.
• Casa Vlad Dracul You come here for the setting more than the food. It’s the house where Vlad the Impaler was born, now a restaurant.

Coffee places in Sighișoara

Sigisoara is a small town and basically we visisted everything in half a day. The rest of the time we wandered around watching the medieval festival activities, stopped for coffe or food (or hid from the summer showers).

• Café International This family run café serves pies, cookies, quiches and sandwiches. Inside, it’s rustic chic, and outside, the tables spill onto the square.
• Casa Cositorarului This small café serves coffee, salads and ice cream sundaes. It’s cosy inside, with a small terrace outside.
• Cafe Martini Habermann This café is ranked among the top places to eat in Sighișoara and is known for breakfast.

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