Sibiu: a girl's guide to the best shops, hotels and restaurants

Eat

To get a taste of traditional Romanian food go to Sibiul Vechi. Descend downstairs into a wonderful red brick 'cellar’ where you can sample sărmăluţe (mincemeat wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves), mămăligă ( polenta ) or if you’re brave, Ciorbă de burtă ( tripe soup ). cafewien.ro

Cârciuma din Bătrâni is a lovely hidden restaurant located inside the open air Astra Museum. Full hearty meals at a good price. muzeulastra.ro

Drink

Café wien is a small café on Piata Huet, a small square at the highest point of the city next to the beautiful Evangelic Church. cafewien.ro

The Oldies bar is actually suited to those who are young at heart - it’s full of all generations enjoying the retro 1980s and 90s classics. Open into the small hours for those with enough stamina. oldiespubsibiu.ro

Shop

Art-Antik, also on Piata Huet, is full of wonderful treasures from ornaments to paintings and sculptures. Piata Huet, 1

The open-air ASTRA Museum on the outskirts of Sibiu has a fascinating array of Romanian historical artefacts, from 18th century wooden churches to traditional peasant dwellings. The museum shop sells beautiful traditional textiles, hand-painted pots and colourful woven rugs muzeulastra.ro

Do

The Brukenthal National Museum has a vast collection of Romanian, European and Contemporary art located in the palace of Samuel von Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania. If you’re organized enough to book a tour too it is worth doing. brukenthalmuseum.ro

Take a day trip to the Transylvanian town of Sighisoara. This extraordinary place is still one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe and is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, Dracula. (Daily buses and trains from Sibiu)

Spa

For luxurious treatments from massage and facials to saunas and manicures, the Eden Spa is just a short taxi from the centre of town and has a signature treatment of a milk and honey bath followed by full body massage. edenspa.ro

Fly with

Fares with Lufthansa, via Munich, to Sibiu, start from around £149 return