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Food tours in Sibiu: what to eat and which tour to book
Sibiu is a Transylvanian town founded by Saxon settlers, and its food mixes Romanian, Saxon and Hungarian influences. Romanian classics are everywhere: sarmale (cabbage rolls) with polenta and sour cream, ciorbă (sour soups) such as tripe soup, grilled mici, and papanași doughnuts with jam and sour cream. The villages of Mărginimea Sibiului, the shepherd country to the south-west, supply sheep's cheeses, smoked meats and honey, and the Saxon villages of the region have their own bakes and preserves. The old upper town, around the Large and Small Squares (Piața Mare and Piața Mică), holds most of the restaurants, and Piața Cibin is the main fresh-produce market. Sibiu was named a European Region of Gastronomy in 2019.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in lei and euros (about 5–5.1 lei to €1; rates move). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Sibiu
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage rolls sarmale | Pickled cabbage leaves rolled around minced pork and rice, slow-cooked, served with polenta (mămăligă) and sour cream. | Traditional Romanian restaurants in the old town. | roughly 35–55 lei (€7–11) |
| Sour soups ciorbă de burtă / ciorbă de perișoare | Romania's sour soups, soured with borș (fermented bran) or vinegar: tripe soup with sour cream and garlic, or meatball soup with vegetables. | Almost every restaurant; usually ordered as a starter with bread and hot chilli. | roughly 20–35 lei (€4–7) |
| Grilled minced-meat rolls mici (mititei) | Small skinless grilled sausages of minced beef, lamb and pork with garlic and spices, eaten with mustard, bread and beer. | Grill restaurants, beer gardens and festivals. | roughly 4–8 lei (€0.80–1.60) each |
| Polenta with cheese mămăligă / bulz | Polenta served as a side, or as bulz: polenta balls stuffed with sheep's cheese and baked or grilled, a shepherd's dish of the region. | Traditional restaurants, especially those with dishes from Mărginimea Sibiului. | roughly 25–40 lei (€5–8) for bulz |
| Sheep's cheeses of Mărginimea Sibiului telemea, caș, brânză de burduf | Cheeses from the shepherd villages south-west of Sibiu: brined telemea, fresh caș, and brânză de burduf, a sharp cheese matured in pine bark or sheep's stomach. | Piața Cibin, cheese stalls and village farms in Mărginimea Sibiului. | roughly 40–80 lei (€8–16) per kilo |
| Papanași | Fried doughnuts made with fresh cheese, topped with sour cream and jam (often sour cherry). A dessert large enough to share. | Most restaurants. | roughly 25–35 lei (€5–7) |
| Chimney cake kürtőskalács (Romanian: kurtos) | Sweet dough wrapped around a spit, roasted and rolled in sugar, cinnamon or nuts. Common across Transylvania, especially at markets. | Stalls in the old town and at the Christmas market. | roughly 15–25 lei (€3–5) |
| Sibiu salami salam de Sibiu | A dry, mould-ripened salami that carries the city's name, with a protected geographical indication in the EU. | Butchers, delis and supermarkets. | roughly 80–150 lei (€16–30) per kilo |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Piața Mare and Piața Mică
The two main squares of the upper town, with restaurants, cafés and terraces in old merchant houses. The centre of tourist dining.
Piața Cibin
Sibiu's main fresh market, by the Cibin river, selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey and meat from the surrounding villages.
Lower town (Orașul de Jos)
The streets below the upper town, with cheaper local eateries, bakeries and bars.
Mărginimea Sibiului villages
Shepherd villages such as Sibiel, Rășinari and Jina, with guesthouses serving traditional meals and sheep's cheeses, and farm visits.
Christmas market (Piața Mare)
Annual Christmas market in the Large Square, with stalls selling mulled wine, chimney cakes, sausages and local crafts.
Food tours in Sibiu compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibiu: Romanian Traditions Cooking Workshop and Dance Class | 3.5 hours | from €81 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| SB11 : A Taste of History & Gastronomical Local Experiences | 2 hours | from €50 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Romanian Wine Tasting in Sibiu | 2 hours | from €19 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Sibiu: Sighișoara, Rupea, & Viscri Day Trip w/ Food Tasting | 8 hours | from €184 per person | max 7 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| From Sibiu: E-bike Tour with Local Products Tasting | 4 hours | from €185 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| From Sibiu: Rural Gastronomy & Village Crafts around Biertan | 8 hours | from €184 per person | max 4 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Sibiu: Romanian Traditions Cooking Workshop and Dance Class
On GetYourGuide · run by SC Kontera Design SRL
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €81 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Home-cooked meal & drinks Cooking class with local recipes Folk dance workshop adapted to your level Stories and insights about Romanian culture and traditions A friendly, relaxed setting in a Sibiu home
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- *
SB11 : A Taste of History & Gastronomical Local Experiences
On GetYourGuide · run by Carpathian Travel Center
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €50 per person
- Rating
- 4.2 ★ from 16 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- English speaking specialized guide Tasting of cheese, honey, meat and wine at local producers Entrance to Evangelical Church ( inside visit ) Visit of Cibin peasant market Transportation to and from the food tour
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Piața Huet 1, Sibiu 557260, Romania
Romanian Wine Tasting in Sibiu
On GetYourGuide · run by Wine Not?
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €19 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 16 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Wine tasting of 5 different Romanian wines Duration approximately 1 hour Transportation to the venue Food Sommelier (extra charge)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Wine Not?
Sibiu: Sighișoara, Rupea, & Viscri Day Trip w/ Food Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Cu Drag de Transilvania
- Length
- 8 hours
- Price
- from €184 per person
- Group size
- max 7
- Included
- Comfortable transport from Sibiu Entrance fees to all attractions Professional guide in three languages (Romanian, English, and French) Tasting of traditional Romanian dishes
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- you can easily identify us because it is a small parking lot and we will have either a black and white flag or our uniform with the logo
From Sibiu: E-bike Tour with Local Products Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by MatDan Eco Tours
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €185 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- E-bike rental Local English/ German -speaking guide Helmet Safety and e-bike orientation Local product tasting Bottled water Scenic countryside cycling route Stops for photographs and sightseeing Lunch
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- *
From Sibiu: Rural Gastronomy & Village Crafts around Biertan
On GetYourGuide · run by Agramonia ABF
- Length
- 8 hours
- Price
- from €184 per person
- Group size
- max 4
- Included
- Round-trip transportation from Sibiu Professional local guide Visit to a traditional Roma coppersmith's family in Brateiu Participation in felt making workshop in Copșa Mare Traditional lunch at the locals Entrance to…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Sibiu is limited: covrigi (pretzel-like rings) and pastries from bakeries, mici at beer gardens and festivals, and chimney cakes at stalls. The Christmas market adds sausages, cabbage dishes and mulled wine.
Sit-down meals
Traditional restaurants serve soups, grills and stews at moderate prices. A standard meal is a ciorbă followed by a main and papanași. Many restaurants in the old town are in vaulted cellars. Dinner is from about 19:00; book on summer weekends and festival dates.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes and village food experiences around Sibiu often take place in guesthouses in Mărginimea Sibiului, teaching sarmale, bulz and cheese-making, with a meal and homemade țuică (plum brandy).
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | 100–150 lei (about €20–30: bakery breakfast, soup lunch, simple restaurant dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | 200–300 lei (about €40–60: two sit-down meals with wine or beer) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | 500+ lei (about €100+: fine-dining with Romanian wines) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible but limited in traditional restaurants, where meat dominates. Look for bean soup, vegetable stews, polenta with cheese and sour cream, zacuscă (vegetable spread), and mushroom dishes. During Orthodox fasting periods, many restaurants offer 'de post' (vegan) dishes.
Halal: Halal food is rare. Pork is in many traditional dishes, including sarmale and mici (often a mix). Ask about ingredients; fish, poultry and vegetarian dishes are safer choices.
Gluten-free: Polenta (maize), grilled meats, cheeses and many soups are naturally gluten-free, but bread is served with everything and papanași, pastries and covrigi contain wheat. Awareness is moderate; say 'fără gluten'.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Restaurants on the main squares with higher prices, and menus that list weights rather than portions, so the bill is higher than expected. Read the grammage on the menu, ask the price of daily specials, and compare with places a street or two away.
- Bread, sauces or extras charged separately without warning. Ask whether bread and polenta are included; it is legal if listed but often overlooked.
- Card terminals and ATMs offering to charge you in euros or your home currency at a poor rate. Always choose to pay in lei and use bank ATMs.
Top tours & activities in Sibiu
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
What should I eat in Sibiu?
Try a ciorbă (sour soup), sarmale with polenta and sour cream, mici from the grill and papanași for dessert. Look for bulz and sheep's cheeses from Mărginimea Sibiului, and buy a stick of salam de Sibiu to take home.
Do I need to tip in Sibiu?
Tipping about 10% in restaurants is normal, and some restaurants add a service charge; check the bill. Cash tips are often preferred. On a food tour, a tip of roughly 25–50 lei per person for a good guide is appreciated but not required.
When is Piața Cibin open?
Piața Cibin, Sibiu's main fresh market, is open daily, with the most activity in the morning, when farmers from the surrounding villages bring cheese, honey, vegetables and meat. Some stalls close by early afternoon. Check current hours locally, especially on Sundays and holidays.
How much should I budget for food per day?
About 100–150 lei (€20–30) a day covers a bakery breakfast, soup at lunch and a simple dinner. Two sit-down meals with wine or beer cost roughly 200–300 lei (€40–60). Restaurants on Piața Mare cost more than those in the lower town.
What is Mărginimea Sibiului?
Mărginimea Sibiului is a group of traditional shepherd villages south-west of Sibiu, including Sibiel, Rășinari and Jina, known for sheep's cheeses, smoked meats and traditional crafts. Guesthouses serve home-cooked meals, and some farms offer visits. It is an easy day trip by car.
When is the Sibiu Christmas market?
The Christmas market fills Piața Mare from around late November to early January, with stalls selling mulled wine, chimney cakes, sausages and crafts, plus a Ferris wheel and skating rink in some years. It is busiest on weekend evenings. Check exact dates each year.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.