‘Enchanting' European city is a hidden gem with £1 pints and new £18 flights

It's barely even summer, but if you're already eyeing up an autumn getaway, Wizz Air has just announced a new route that won't break the bank.
The budget airline is launching twice-weekly flights from Birmingham to Sibiu, an 'enchanting' medieval city in central Romania, this October – with fares starting at just £17.99 one-way.
The historic city lies in the heart of Transylvania, a region famous for its vampire legends and Count Dracula.
The bloodthirsty character, popularised by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, is based on Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia.
The 15th-century prince displayed 20,000 of his enemies impaled on sticks and happens to be a distant relative of King Charles III.
With fairytale streets, gothic architecture and an eerie atmosphere, it's essentially the perfect Halloween getaway.
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
And if the culture doesn't tempt you, the price of a beer might. Romania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe for alcohol, with pints in Sibiu costing as little as £1 in some bars, putting the UK's £5 average to shame.
So, what does this hidden gem actually offer?
Compared to other Romanian cities, like its capital, Bucharest, Sibiu is relatively small. And, despite attracting plenty of visitors, it is generally considered a hidden gem.
The medieval city is divided into two areas: the Upper Town and the Lower Town. The Upper Town is perched on a hill and was once home to aristocrats and the religious elite.
You'll find grand squares and palaces, and Saint Mary's Evangelical Cathedral, an imposing Gothic-style cathedral. The Lower Town was home to Craftsmen, Merchants and artists and is known for its colourful houses and cobblestone streets.
Transylvania's ties to Dracula often draw people to the region, and you can find links to the tale in Sibiu. The city is said to be the burial place of Dracula's son, 'Cel Rau' (the Evil One).
It's a secret that very few people know when visiting, according to Visit Sibiu. It's said he was assassinated outside Sibiu's Evangelical Church in Piata Huet and buried there.
Visitors have described Sibiu as both enchanting and eerie, and a large reason for this is its architecture.
Across the town, you'll find dozens of houses with small dormers that look like half-open eyelids. The unique feature has earned Sibiu the nickname 'The City with Eyes'.
Most were built in the 19th century; however, some date back to the 15th century. Legends say they were built to frighten people, making them believe they are being watched. But they actually just act as a ventilation system for the houses' attics.
Either way, they're definitely a little unsettling and Big Brother-esque.
After all that exploring, you'll likely want to get off your feet. And there are plenty of bars and traditional restaurants to do so.
Eastern Europe is known for having affordable beer prices compared to Western Europe, and Sibiu is no exception. Recent research by Finder ranked Romania as the tenth cheapest place to enjoy a pint in Europe.
The price of a glass of beer costs just £1.85, significantly lower than the average London pint at £6.75.
If you're after some sunshine, the best time to visit Sibiu is between May and October, when the weather is pleasant.
Temperatures can reach up to 30 ° C during the summer months (July and August), however, these are the busiest months. So, if you don't like sweltering crowds, perhaps consider a different time.
The shoulder seasons (April and May) and autumn (September and October) can offer tourists some respite from crowds. The weather is still pleasant, but there are typically fewer people visiting.
So, maybe bag yourself some Wizz Air flights for October.
Sibiu is a great destination for those looking for a cheap city break. You can find accommodation for less than £40 per night.
The Ibis Styles is a budget-friendly option for travellers, with prices starting at £35 per night on Booking.com.
But, if you're looking for something a bit more luxe, the four-star Continental Forum has rooms for £70 per night, set in a historic building in the centre of Sibiu.
There are also plenty of options in the city's old town. The Pension Casa Frieda, an 18th-century building converted into a guesthouse, has rooms for £35 a night, while Hotel Casa Luxemburg, located amongst Sibiu's medieval streets, has rooms for £60 a night. More Trending
Sibiu is a great place to tick off when exploring the wider Transylvania region, so many travellers will stay for 24 hours or less before heading on to other destinations.
If that's the kind of break you're after, it's a two-hour drive from Brașov, another medieval city located in the Carpathian Mountains, that's known for its Saxon walls and Gothic churches.
Sibiu is also close to Bran, the ultimate Dracula destination. The commune is just two hours away and is the home to the gothic Bran Castle – a popular tourist destination famously marketed as 'Dracula's Castle' despite the fact it has no real connection to Bram Stoker's novel.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Major European holiday destination opens e-gates to British travellers just in time for summer
MORE: Devastated and broken, I headed to the Himalayas to heal my heartbreak
MORE: I was cabin crew for 26 years — here's how we handle emergencies at 30,000 feet

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

South Wales Argus

11 hours ago

• South Wales Argus

Do you have to pay to sit with your children on a flight?

The answer is yes, and no, and it depends which airline you fly with. There's no legal right to sit next to your family on a flight - not even your children - so not paying does carry a risk. The big airlines all have their own policies, but they all largely follow the Civil Aviation Authority guidelines that they should aim to seat children close to their parents or guardians. Its guidance - which aren't the same as a law - say young children and infants accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row, or an adjacent row if this isn't possible, so you could be in front of or behind, or across an aisle from your kids. Hi there! We'll always do our best to ensure families are seated together, wherever possible. We'll try and seat families with children under 12 years old together, free of charge, when check in opens before departure. ^ Fran — virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) June 19, 2025 A 2023 study by Which? Travel found that most major airlines were likely to sit you with the people you booked with automatically even if you don't pay for seat selection It also depends on the airline, with budget firms Ryanair and Wizz Air the most likely to split you up, the research found. British Airways and Tui both guarantee that children under 12 will be sat with at least one adult from their booking, even if they don't pay or check in early. Jet 2 says it will "always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults". EasyJet says its system will always try and seat families together, but if this isn't possible, it will make sure children under 12 are seated "close" to an adult on the booking - not necessarily a parent or guardian though. Wizz Air says an adult and child aged up to 14 will automatically be assigned seats next to each other during the check in process. Ryanair, however, has different rules. If you're travelling with a child on a Ryanair flight, it's compulsory for at least one adult to pay for a seat reservation. @Ryanair trying to book a flight with a child and you keep trying to charge me 100 quid to pre select my seats because the family zone only has a few random ones happens if I put my 2 year old sitting on his own?? I'm tempted... — EricaP (@EricaPerris) May 19, 2025 Seats can then be reserved for up to four children per adult. Other adults in the booking can take a free seat - but they'll likely be split from the rest of their family. Recommended reading: Some airlines offer free seat selection, but it tends to be for the pricier options, rather than budget airlines. These include: Qatar Airways (except for Economy Classic customers) Virgin Atlantic lets passengers select a seat for free as soon as check-in opens British Airways offers a free seat selection when checking in a hold bag Singapore Airlines says economy passengers can select a seat in advance for free "depending on the fare type you choose" It's also worth noting that the likelihood of being seated with other members of your party increases on most airlines if you get checked in early.

Daily Mirror

14 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Beautiful island less than 5 hours from UK boasts 13 hours of sunshine every day

We're walking in the sunshine in the footsteps of kings and queens, pashas and sultans in the ancient city of Amathus. One of the kings had a bloodline to Cleopatra and would have bathed in the stone baths heated by furnaces so he could choose a medium or very hot tub, or even a steam room before plunging into cold mountain water. After bathing, Royal Highnesses were massaged with expensive aromatic oils and sprayed with perfumes imported from the East. All of this pampering happened 3,000 years ago on coastal cliffs on the southern coast of Cyprus where unwashed sailors, farmers and merchants were not accepted into the perfumed inner city before bathing to become socially acceptable. Archaeologists have spent decades chiselling and digging to expose the ruins of royal palaces and temples for worshipping the gods of love and fertility, war and hunting. Amazingly, we touch these once-impressive structures built on hills with views of the Mediterranean Sea to spot Arab invaders. In the main square under a cloudless, blue sky, our guide Rose Marie vividly transports us into the past to imagine maritime traders arriving from the now sunken but still visible port. They were there to buy and sell, chat and argue under a covered shopping arcade that doubled up as a newsroom where stories were exchanged from Lebanon, Syria and mainland Greece. We take a 10-minute drive to Limassol to check in at Louis Hotels' Royal Apollonia where we indulge in a modern-day tribute to Apollo, God of sunlight, music and poetry. The property blends old-world charm with up-to-date amenities, including a swim-up bar in one of the three pools, three restaurants, and beach loungers attended by waiters. The hotel has replicated the rejuvenation treatments of the kings and queens with its own temple of wellbeing where soothing scents calm and a couples' massage relieves our tired muscles in the tranquillity of the spa. Feeling suitably relaxed, we enter the peaceful setting of Apollonia's Japanese fusion restaurant Akakiko for hot and sour tam tam soup with Thai-style prawns, pan-fried golden brown chicken and vegetable gyoza dumplings, followed by tempura duck. Looking for life outside of the hotel, we drive into the foothills to Restaurant Agios Epiktitos – named by the owner after his village in the north was captured by Turkish troops in 1974. We soon find Wednesdays are party nights and families are carrying presents and birthday balloons to long tables seating up to 30. Meze is the only choice and it comes in a mouth-watering rush of blood sausage, pork belly off the grill and in red wine, tahini, tzatziki, chicken souvlaki, couscous, halloumi, lamb, stifado, kleftiko, salad and chips. Our waiter says there's no choosing the amount of plates, estimating there are about 23 – even he doesn't seem to be sure. Then the real party begins. A keyboard player and singer with bouzouki (an oval-shaped instrument similar to a guitar) start belting out tunes for Greek line dancing. The place erupts in a lot of singing, whooping and tapping of feet. With appetites renewed from energetic dancing, there comes a delicious finale - deep-fried and crispy Bourekia pastry with sweet goat's cheese inside and the outside covered in icing sugar. A couple of nights later, we decide to go for a more sober and manageable affair in Apollonia's Alati Greek restaurant, which serves a six-course meze which we enjoy on the outside terrace in November's very pleasant 23C. For a Sunday drive, the lower Troodos mountains are calling just as a storm is brewing. We take in some spectacular countryside views for 16 miles until we arrive in Lofou village. The gods are with us, the clouds part, the rain stops and the sun shines. We enjoy a stroll around narrow cobbled streets before rolling thunder threatens another downpour. Our refuge is the community cafe with blue gingham tablecloths over old wooden tables on a covered veranda. I'm corrected when asking for a Greek coffee. Schoolboy error! A very proud and fortunately smiling lady insists her brew is 'Cyprus coffee' and is best served with village ladies' sweetly preserved walnuts, quince and citrus apple. An excellent recommendation and all for a few euros. Having a car is essential for the full Cyprus experience. At Limassol Salt Lake we tentatively follow others driving on to the salt flat called Lady's Mile, named after a horse called 'Lady' who belonged to a British colonial governor. It is a little adventure on the smoothly packed salt surface, and in the distance, there are hundreds of flamingos from Africa searching for shrimp. Our next journey is to Coral Bay. En route we take in another archaeological park, which echoes the once-thriving city kingdom of Kourion, with spectacular sea views from the magnificent Greco-Roman theatre still used for summertime musical and theatrical performances. In the Gladiator's House a beautifully restored mosaic depicts the valor and bravery of two fighting men wearing armoured helmets and facing each other with shields, clubs and swords – probably commemorating a famous battle to the death but there are no signs of who prevailed. Coral Bay's sweeping crescent-shaped 600 yards of soft sand, enclosed each end by limestone headlands, makes it easy to walk into the sea to swim safely in crystal water. Blood-red sunsets are spectacular. Locals run the publicly owned value-for-money beach cafes serving sandwiches and salads, Cypriot coffees (I get the order right this time) brewed with pride, cold beers and ice-creams. Two sunloungers and a parasol cost €7 a day. There are showers for €1 but I am caught out when the water supply turns off. With shampoo in my hair I have to go to the bar to get change for the slot. Not a pretty sight. Cali Resort & Spa, our accommodation near Paphos, is a short walk from the beach and the lively Coral Bay strip of bars, pubs and restaurants. Cali is an adults-only place, beautifully renovated, exuding serenity to rejuvenate mind and body around the large pool and spa. There's lavish buffets in Aria all-day dining for alfresco breakfast, lunch and dinner with show cooking stations where chefs use fresh Cypriot ingredients. Different cooking themes are provided each evening. In nearby Paphos old town, Koutourou restaurant is in a splendid building. It is full of old relics with a basket bike hanging from the beamed ceiling and very battered travelling cases. There are pedal-powered Singer sewing machines, old serving trays and hefty black typewriters. Demetris Nicolau, the owner and chef, along with two ladies, creates wonderful Mediterranean dishes for diners in three rooms where every marble-topped table is crammed. While walking through the narrow streets we can hear live Greek music which draws us to the Tavern Pagkratios where Lakis is playing the bouzouki and Michalis the guitar as they sing about love and world travel. The meze looks delicious. We return another night and have a great time. The orange-soaked cake for dessert is heavenly, so the gods are still with us.

Time Out

17 hours ago

• Time Out

These are the 20 best things to do in San Francisco's Chinatown

What is it? A Gothic revival Catholic church built in 1854. Why go? It's the oldest cathedral in the state, and all its bricks were imported from China (can you imagine how low that boat must have sat in the water?). It survived the 1906 earthquake but the associated fire gutted it, leaving just the brick walls and the bell tower (the bells melted in the heat). It was renovated in 1909 and again in 2011. The church is perhaps best known for the distinctive clock on its tower, where these words are printed in gold: 'Son, observe the time and fly from evil.' Lore says that this advice was specifically aimed at men heading towards area brothels in the 1850s. Time Out tip: Just across the street, you'll find St. Mary's Square, which underwent a renovation and expansion in 2017. The public park now includes a 6,000-square-foot rooftop park (it's street level, but also a rooftop: thank the underground garage for that anomaly) with landscaped seating and an open plaza.