The Sibiu Christmas market 2026 opens on Friday 13 November and runs until 3 January 2027, so it is one of the earliest and longest markets in Europe. It fills Piața Mare, the Grand Square of a medieval Saxon town in the heart of Transylvania, with craft stalls, a big wheel and an ice rink, and it is free to enter. It suits families, couples and anyone who has done the German markets and wants something less familiar.
Why go
Sibiu was built by Saxon settlers from the 12th century onwards, and the old town still looks the part: three linked squares, steep tiled roofs, towers and a Lower Town reached by stairs and passages. At Christmas the Grand Square becomes the market. The organisers count more than 120 artisan exhibitors, and the 2026 edition has the "Excellent European Christmas Market" seal from the EECMA, one of twelve markets in Europe to hold it.
It’s also a generous season: entry is free, it opens every day from mid-November, and it outlasts New Year. Cards are accepted at every chalet.
Sibiu
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Neighbor's goat / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Piața Mare Christmas market
More than 120 artisan stalls, a big wheel and an open-air ice rink fill Sibiu's Grand Square, framed by pastel Baroque façades and steep tiled roofs.
Open daily until 10pm, from 10am at weekends.
7castle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Brukenthal National Museum
A Baroque palace on the Grand Square holds Romania's oldest museum collection, with European paintings including works by Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel.
Winter hours Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
Asurnipal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Council Tower
The old gate tower between the Grand Square and the Small Square is Sibiu's landmark, and its archway is the natural way between the two.
Superchilum / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Piața Mică
The Small Square curves around the foot of the upper town, lined with arcaded houses and roofs whose little dormer windows look like half-closed eyes.
Andrei Stroe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bridge of Lies
Romania's first cast-iron bridge, from 1859, links the upper town to the lower, and local legend says it creaks when someone tells a lie on it.
Andrei Stroe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lutheran Cathedral
The Gothic church of Sibiu's Saxon community towers over Huet Square, a reminder of the German merchants who built the city.
Zubi Travel / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Lower Town and the city walls
Below the squares, steep lanes and passages of stairs drop into the Lower Town, while a long stretch of medieval wall and towers survives along Strada Cetății.
Sibiu Christmas market 2026 dates and hours
The Sibiu Christmas Market runs from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 on Piața Mare, according to the organiser, Asociația Events for Tourism.
- Monday to Friday: 11am to 10pm.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 10pm.
- Entry: Free for all ages.
- Where: Piața Mare, in the pedestrianised historic centre.
The organiser hasn’t published separate hours for Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, so check targuldecraciun.ro if you’re visiting over the holidays.
What’s on the square
- Big wheel: The Roata Panoramică, about 22 metres high, looks over the square and the roofs of the old town.
- Ice rink: An open-air rink of around 600 square metres, with skates to hire.
- Santa’s house: Reached by the "Enchanted Elevator", a short ride up.
- Santa’s Workshop: Creative workshops for children aged five to nine, by reservation.
- The Christmas Chalet: A Tyrolean-style cabin with mulled wine and DJ nights.
- Craft stalls: More than 120 artisans selling decorations, ceramics, textiles and gifts.
Tip: The organiser sells a day pass for unlimited rides on the main attractions. If you have children, it’s worth it on a day when you’ll use the wheel, the rink and Santa’s house.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Walk up from the station, about 15 minutes, to Piața Mare. Browse the craft stalls before lunch, when the square is calmest, then step into the Brukenthal National Museum on the square itself. Its galleries include works by Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel; in winter it opens from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Afternoon: Walk through the Council Tower archway into Piața Mică, the Small Square, and look up at the roofs: the small dormer windows, known as the eyes of Sibiu, seem to follow you round. Cross the Bridge of Lies to Huet Square and the Lutheran Cathedral, the Gothic heart of Saxon Sibiu.
Evening: Return to the Grand Square as the lights come on. Ride the big wheel for the view over the illuminated roofs, then warm up with mulled wine at the Christmas Chalet.
Day 2
Morning: Drop down the stairs and passages from the Small Square into the Lower Town, with its low, colourful houses and quieter streets. Then walk along Strada Cetății, where a long stretch of the medieval city wall survives with its towers.
Afternoon: Head back up for lunch from the market stalls, and spend the afternoon on the ice rink or shopping for presents in daylight.
Evening: Finish with a last walk through the three squares after dark, when the old town is at its most atmospheric.
What to eat and drink
- Sarmale: Cabbage leaves rolled around minced meat and rice, the Romanian Christmas dish, often served with polenta and sour cream.
- Mici: Small grilled skinless sausages, a staple of every Romanian fair.
- Kürtőskalács: The chimney cake, a spiral of sweet dough baked over coals, a Transylvanian classic.
- Cozonac: A sweet Christmas loaf swirled with walnuts or cocoa.
- Vin fiert: Romanian mulled wine, the market’s warming drink.
- Țuică or pălincă: Strong plum brandy, served in small glasses to keep out the cold.
The market’s food stalls and the Christmas Chalet cover lunch and supper; the streets off the three squares have plenty of restaurants serving Transylvanian cooking.
Where to stay
- Around Piața Mare: In the middle of the market. Best for first-timers and families.
- Piața Mică and Huet Square: Quiet lanes in the upper town, a minute from the stalls. Best for couples.
- Lower Town: Calmer streets below the squares, a short climb from the market. Best for longer stays.
- Near the station: Practical for early trains, about 15 minutes’ walk from the centre. Best for short stays.
Getting around
Sibiu’s historic centre is pedestrianised and compact, and the Grand Square, Small Square and Huet Square are a few minutes apart on foot. The Lower Town is reached by stairs and steep lanes, so wear shoes with grip in icy weather.
Getting there: Sibiu International Airport is about 5 km from the centre. Sibiu railway station is about 15 minutes’ walk from Piața Mare. For driving, the organisers point to city car parks including Cazarma 90 and Piața Teatrului.
Good to know
- Dates: The market runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, open daily.
- Free entry: Entry to the market is free for everyone. Rides and the ice rink are separate.
- Council Tower: The tower is due for a major restoration. Check whether it’s open before planning a climb; you can still walk through its archway.
- Brukenthal: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in winter.
- Cards: Accepted at every chalet.
- More markets: For other markets that run into January, see our Christmas markets open in January 2027 guide, or compare cities in our best Christmas markets in Europe. Budapest makes a good pairing; see our Budapest Christmas market 2026 guide.
FAQ
When is the Sibiu Christmas market 2026?
It runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Piața Mare. It opens from 11am to 10pm on weekdays and from 10am to 10pm at weekends.
Is the Sibiu Christmas market free?
Yes. Entry is free for all ages. The big wheel, the ice rink and some attractions have their own tickets.
Is the Sibiu Christmas market open after Christmas?
Yes. It stays open through New Year until 3 January 2027, which makes it one of the longest-running markets in Europe.
How do you get to the Sibiu Christmas market?
Sibiu International Airport is about 5 km from the centre, and the railway station is about 15 minutes’ walk from Piața Mare. The historic centre is pedestrianised.
Is Sibiu a good Christmas market alternative to Germany?
Yes. It runs longer than almost any German market, opens from mid-November and sets its stalls in a medieval Saxon square, with a calmer feel than the big German cities.
