Day Trip from Sibiu Romania

Barb, have you considered asking your guide about which would be the most unique compared to where else you are going. I think it will be a tough call, though. They both look fascinating from what I can see.

That said, from what I can read about the Transylvania Highlands, it does not really seem like Sighisoara and Viscri. Sighisoara is a very pretty town with some really charming architecture, but I don't think it would be repetitive of the Transylvania Highlands by any means. And we stopped in Viscri on our way from Brasov to Sighisoara and saw one of the fortified churches there, which was really fascinating. It is a Saxon village, although most of the Germans left many years before. I did find a woman that I was able to speak German with, however, which was fun. But again, I'm sure that it's not going to be repetitive of other places. We stopped in a lot of places that had similar places like fortified churches and the painted monasteries and so on, and every one was different.

Honestly, I don't see how you could tire of traditional Romanian villages. The first option sounds pretty wonderful as well, and even though we were in Maramures for 3 nights, it would have been really interesting to go there as well. I think I could travel around the whole country and not feel like I was repeating anything.

Thanks, Mardee. Good to hear you would repeat anything from your Romania trip!

Since we do not plan to drive on the Transfăgărășan or Transalpina, I thought the Mărginimea area would allow us to see the foothills of this portion of the Carpathian Mountains. However, the guide leans toward the Transylvanian Highlands, so maybe this is my answer. :)

I would go with the guide, then. By the way, I don't know if your guide mentioned this, but Viscri is one of the places that has been somewhat adopted by King Charles of England. It was a nice town, and I think we had lunch there at a little place with wonderful soup and bread.

Dear Barb,

It sounds like a great plan you're putting together there. I highly support the guide's choices, too, as she is the local expert in the end. However, I want to make a suggestion. Since you are spending 4 nights in Sibiu, why not enjoy both areas and have 2 day trips or a day and a half, as Marginimea Sibiului is easier to get to?

On the other hand, the Romanian countryside is so diverse and different from one region to another. You will see that in September and agree with me. I'll shortly give here some examples as others might be interested in this subject.

Romania has 9 major historical regions, with their own traditions, crafts, folklore, food and architecture. Romanians speak the same language no matter the region, but local accents and several regional words differ. Also, these regions were part of or under the sphere of influence of different empires, which left their mark on all aspects of life - from language and food to the layout of the villages and the way the houses were built.

. I'll list based on their fame abroad, not on their importance or beauty:

1. Transylvania - part of the Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1, hence the mix of German and Hungarian communities all over the region. Not to mention the deep German (Saxon) influence that shaped all the medieval villages and towns so popular now among tourists coming from all over the world.
2. Maramures - part of the Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1
3. Wallachia - an independent country in the Ottoman Empire's sphere of influence
4. Bukovina - part of the medieval state of Moldova and, later, of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1
5. Moldova - an independent country in the Ottoman Empire's sphere of influence
6. Dobrogea (region in the S-E Romania, delimited by the Danube River and the Black Sea) - province of the Ottoman Empire until the Independence War in 1877
7. Banat - part of the Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1.
8. Oltenia - part of the medieval state of Wallachia
9. Crisana - part of the Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1

I could write a thesis on every one of those regions, focusing only on the differences between them, even though Romania is quite a homogeneous country in terms of the language and traditions.

I had to go back and catch your reply to see you don’t plan to drive the Transfăgărășan Highway from Sibiu, because that would have been my suggestion for the day. It’s amazing scenery.

But if that’s not a good option (CW and I loved it and Mardee had her eyes closed - ha!), I agree I’d go with the guide recommendation as long as they know the rest of your itinerary.

Ha ha!!! That is indeed true and I would not recommend the drive if you have a fear of heights. But TTM is correct that the scenery was gorgeous (I did open my eyes from time to time). 😂