Why isn’t Sibiu on the travel map? It was a huge surprise when I got here that it was so beautiful. I thought nothing could top Brasov but this is at least 50% nicer.
The old town is large and pedestrianised, organised, clean and lined with pavement cafes and restaurants. Like Brasov though, it’s too hot to be perfect but my Airbnb is the nicest I have ever stayed in. What a find is The Little House in Sibiu.
It’s only a short walk to the old town and in the opposite direction to the huge Shopping City. Here there is the largest supermarket I have seen in my whole life. Can you imagine how I felt walking around it. after so long in Africa and having only small shops. I didn’t go too mad. I bought two croissants for less than 50p total. Food in Romania is seriously cheap.
The first Airbnb I had here was a disaster. It was done without love, it was functional and a very strange layout which did not make it comfortable to stay in. I couldn’t lock the bedroom door and when I left the place I had to lock my valuables in the bathroom. However, the reason I couldn’t possibly stay for the whole duration I had booked, is because there was no functioning WiFi. Well it functioned in the garden but not in the room.
So we agreed to cancel the second night an I moved to this fantastic place. It’s more like a five star hotel. But this country is HOT and they don’t seem to always have air-con or fans. I prefer a fan but it seems the locals can survive without.
Luckily there is A LOT of ice-cream stalls in the old town so I have been feasting on it every day. It’s around £1 per scoop so quite reasonable and cheaper and better quality than in Tanzania.
Finding a bus or train to Hungary has been harder than I imagined and in the end I have decided to stay in Sibiu for four nights in total and go directly to Budapest from here. It should be less than 9 hours on the bus which is much faster than the train.
At 100 Euros it’s not cheap but the bus looks luxurious and for that length of time, that’s what you need. I shall be sorry to leave Sibiu with in spectacular old town, historic buildings and wonderful Shopping City.