Essentials
- City
- Sibiu, Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania
- Population
- 147,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available; 500-1000 Mbps common (Digi/Orange)
- Currency & Banking
- Romanian Leu (RON). 1 EUR ≈ 4.97 RON, 1 USD ≈ 4.58 RON
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, but many locals prefer filtered or bottled water for taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Vodafone, Digi. Pre-paid cards from 5 EUR with high data volume
- Banking for Expats
- Banca Transilvania, BCR, Raiffeisen, Revolut (highly popular)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, local sites like OLX.ro or Imobiliare.ro
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments accepted in almost all shops/restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (City Center), Nomad Apartments (Strada Turnului)
- Budget Accommodation
- B13 Hostel (Strada Bălcescu), PanGeea (Piața Mare)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Town (Piața Mare, Piața Mică, Piața Huet)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Terezian or Hipodrom for lower costs; City Center for walkability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Nook Coworking (Strada Avram Iancu 11) - approx. 15 EUR/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Hug the Mug (Strada Nicolae Bălcescu), Nodes Coffee (Strada Mitropoliei)
- Networking Events
- Sibiu IT Community meetups, events at Habitus Bookstore
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Sibiu Facebook Group, couchsurfing hangouts at Geea Cafe
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt, Uber, or local 953 Taxi
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Sibiu Bike City (public sharing), Lime/Bolt scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ocna Sibiului (Salt Lakes), 15km away - 'The Sea of Transylvania'
- Top Regional Airline
- TAROM, HiSky
- Top International Airline
- Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Wizz Air (SBZ Airport)
- Highway Access
- A1 Motorway connecting to Deva and Bucharest (partially)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gara Sibiu (Piața 1 Decembrie 1918)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tursib (2 RON per trip, 5 RON day pass via 24pay app)
- Regional Travel
- CFR Călători (train), private bus companies like Fany
Business
- Corporate Tax
- 16% (Standard) or 1% or 3% for Micro-enterprises
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 8%
- Tax System
- Residents taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on local income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% flat personal income tax (one of the lowest in EU)
- VAT
- 19% (Standard), 9% or 5% for food/pharmaceuticals/books
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive rules apply
- Property Tax
- Local tax between 0.08% and 0.2% of property value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Notarization fees approx 1-2%, plus 1-3% tax on transfer for high values
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa available with 0% tax on foreign income if requirements met
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €76,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €56,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €108,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €78,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,750 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €140,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,250 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €100,000)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Polisano MedLife (Private), County Emergency Hospital Sibiu (Public)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Samsara Yoga (Strada Ocnei), Aria Wellness Center
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Stay Fit Gym (Promenada Mall), Baia Populară (Historical Spa/Gym)
- Laundry Services
- Self-Wash (Strada Lungă 55), Nufărul
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo, Tazz, Bolt Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bulz (Polenta with cheese), Ciorbă de burtă (Tripe soup) at Crama Sibiul Vechi
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- She's Green (Strada Tipografilor), Kombinat Gastro-Brew
- Best Dessert Spots
- L'Amande (Gluten-free), Pasticceria Giovanni (Strada Bălcescu)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Piața Cibin (Fresh local market), Lidl, Kaufland
- E-commerce/Online Store
- eMAG.ro, Fashion Days, Amazon.de (ships to Romania)
- Grocery Delivery
- Freshful by eMAG, Bringo
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Piața Mică (Geea Cafe, Oldies Pub)
- Local Brewery
- Bere Sibiu (available at local pubs like Music Pub)
- Wine Bars
- Weinkeller (Strada Turnului), Wine Not?
- Street Food Stalls
- Covrigi (Hot pretzels) from Simpa or Petru
- Popular International Cuisine
- Benjamin Steakhouse, Max (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Council Tower, Bridge of Lies, Piața Mare
- Museums & Art Venues
- Brukenthal National Museum, ASTRA Museum of Folk Civilization
- Historical Sites
- The Medieval Walls and defense towers (Potters, Carpenters towers)
- Religious Sites
- Lutheran Evangelical Cathedral, Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), ARTmania Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Upper Town (Piața Mare), Lower Town (Strada Ocnei)
- Theater Venues
- Radu Stanca National Theatre, Gong Theatre
- Local Markets
- Sibiu Christmas Market (November-January), ASTRA Harvest Festival
- Music Scene
- Oldies Pub, Imperium Live
- Street Art
- SISAF (Sibiu International Street Art Festival) murals across city schools
- Cooking Classes
- Available through My Transylvania (local food workshops in nearby villages)
- Art Galleries
- Contemporary Art Gallery (Brukenthal), Dragoste Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Altemberger House (History Museum), Blue House
- Local Heritage
- The Houses with Eyes (roof vents in the Old Town)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Păltiniș Mountain Resort (30km away), Dumbrava Sibiului Forest
- National Parks Nearby
- Făgăraș Mountains, Cindrel Natural Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sub Arini Park, Cycle path to Rășinari
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Council Tower View (5 RON), Lutheran Cathedral Tower
- Birdwatching Locations
- Olt River reservoirs near Avrig
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Curmătura Ștezii (designated camping and picnic area)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Fan Courier, Sameday (Easybox lockers are everywhere), DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- MobiStore (Promenada Mall), various small shops on Strada Lungă
- Table Tennis Spots
- Aria Wellness complex, public tables in Sub Arini Park
- Language Classes
- Cultural Center Habitus, private tutors on Preply/Superprof
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Astra County Library (Strada George Barițiu)
- Community Centers
- Centrul Cultural German Sibiu
- Gaming Lounges
- The Dungeon (Escape room/gaming vibes), local PC cafes
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Game World (Shopping City Sibiu), Admiral