Things to do and see in Timisoara

Besides being the capital of Romania’s Banat region, you’ll be amazed by the city’s rich history and monuments, there are so many magical sights to see in Timisoara! Having had so many border changes between Turks, Romanians, Austrians and Serbs, this city has become a charming multicultural paradise. It has a rich historical heritage and a lively cultural life.

The options the city offers to the travellers are vast. That’s why, in this post, we’ll tell you what the best activities are and what important sights to visit in Timisoara. So, if you are thinking of going on a trip to Romania, we recommend that you read it very carefully. Take the opportunity to visit Timisoara and plan your trip following the best tips from Passporter.

What are the best places to visit in Timisoara?

1. The Union Square

This is the oldest square you will find in Timisoara, and certainly one of the most beautiful you will see in the whole country. The Habsburg empire was very present in the entire perimeter of the square. And today, you can also enjoy some beautiful terraces and super-photographable monuments.

We recommend that you take the opportunity to admire the beautifully coloured Brük House, the important Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Serbian Orthodox Church. If you can, you should visit the Baroque Palace of Timisoara on Sunday afternoon, as the ceremony of the handing over of the keys of the city takes place weekly in this beautiful 18th-century building. And finally, at its centre is the Monumentul Sfânta Treime. This beautiful baroque column depicts the Holy Trinity and perfectly reflects why people see Timisoara as “Little Vienna”.

2. Victory Square

This square is also one of the most important places in Timisoara, as it is home to the National Opera House and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timisoara (which we will talk about below). The atmosphere in Victory Square is also very relaxing thanks to the trees and the delicate Art Nouveau palaces of Neuhausz and Szechenyi Palace.

3. Memorial of the Revolution

Timisoara not only has plenty of monuments to see, but it is also where the revolution began. So it’s no coincidence that the memorial museum is located here. We recommend you take a guided tour with one of the survivors, it’s very moving! It’s open Monday to Friday from 08:00h to 16:00h and Saturday from 10:00h to 14:00h and costs 20 RON.

4. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Timisoara

This beautiful Byzantine-style cathedral is one of the most striking gems you’ll see in Timisoara. It has eleven bell towers and, inside, you’ll also be able to enjoy some impressive frescoes and mosaics, especially if you’re passionate about the world of art history. If you are interested in history, you will be interested to know that this cathedral houses a very important Museo Catedralicio (Cathedral Museum). It has more than 3,000 books and very important ecclesiastical objects.

5. Strada Alba Iulia

The Strada Alba Iulia is famous for being the street of umbrellas. As you walk along it, you’ll see the joy of the colourful umbrellas that provide shade along it. It’s almost an obligatory stop because it connects two of the most emblematic points of the city, the Freedom Square and the Victory Square. Besides Alba Iula is a pedestrian street and you can take the opportunity to visit the shops, ice cream parlours and cafes when you go to see Timisoara.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Timisoara

1. The castle of Hunyad

Hunyad Castle is in the Transylvania region, but it is very close and well connected to Timisoara, making it easy to get to. This impressive medieval palace belonged to none other than the King of Hungary. As soon as you arrive, you’ll sense in the air how the ancient building embraces multiple legends and secrets, so we encourage you to discover them first-hand.

What to see in Timisoara in a day

If you only have one day to see Timisoara, we recommend you go to:

• the Union Square
• the Victory Square
• the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timisoara
• Alba Iulia Street.

Where and what to eat in Timisoara

Romanian cuisine is delicious and is famous for hearty dishes with sour flavours. Most of them have meat and vegetables, and you’ll be surprised how much you’ll love them. We recommend you try goulash (a meat soup), hurka (a kind of blood sausage), libamaj (goose liver), or kolbasz (a paprika sausage). However, it is worth noting that there are many other options among the typical Romanian food and that all the dishes are delicious.

Here are some of our favourite restaurants where you can try their gastronomy when you go to Timisoara:

• Restaurant Tinecz: The design here is simply superb, with comfortable chairs and generous tables. Another very positive aspect of Restaurant Tinecz is that they have a very varied menu, where the range of prices is also quite wide and you can choose what best suits your pocket. And most importantly, everything they cook is delicious and the portions are very generous. The average price per person is between 5 euros and 80 euros.
• Restaurant Sabres: Restaurant Sabres is ideal if you prioritise an intimate, homely atmosphere when it comes to tasting typical food from another country. The place and the service are super nice, and you can also try both local and international beers. So, what are you waiting for? The average price per person is between 4 euros and 50 euros.
• Bere Timisoreana: One of the oldest breweries in Eastern Europe, Bere Timisoreana is a must for beer lovers. They also offer a menu that’s good enough to share between four people in a place with character and a lot of history in every corner.

Where to stay in Timisoara

• Del Corso Hotel: This beautiful four-star hotel, decorated in the purest Art Deco style, is particularly central. In fact, it is only a 20-minute walk from the Piata Uniri and has a very large surface car park. All the rooms are super comfortable and the bathrooms are huge. The average price per night for a double room is 80 euros.
• Hotel Continental: Like the above, this beautiful four-star accommodation is impressive. The Hotel Continental is also in the city centre, but this one is very close to the civic park. Indoor pool and spa facilities are highly recommended. The average price per night for a double room is 72 euros.
• Hotel Ambassador: This accommodation is a little further away, about 30 minutes’ walk from the centre. The rooms are complete and meet all the needs of travellers. In addition, the staff is very friendly. The average price per night in a double room is 48 euros.

Tips for your trip to Timisoara

• The official currency of Romania is the Romanian leu (RON). But in many shops and accommodation you can also pay in euros.
• The official language of Romania is Romanian, although in tourist areas it is common to find English speakers, especially in hotels and restaurants.
• We recommend that you travel with insurance that includes adequate medical cover, as free medical care in Romania is limited for foreign tourists.
• If you are a citizen of the European Union, you will only need a valid identity card or passport to travel to Romania. Non-EU countries, however, must present a passport with at least 3 months validity; however, you will not need a tourist visa for stays of less than 90 days.
• Although Romania is a safe country, you should keep your belongings safe and be aware that, as in all cities, pickpockets may be present in tourist areas and on public transport.
• The best time of year to go to Romania is between the months of May and September, as the summer months are when temperatures are at their most pleasant and there are the most daylight hours.
• Tap water in Romania is safe to drink, but we recommend that you avoid tap water and drink bottled water instead.

How to plan what to see on your trip to Timisoara

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app so that you always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documentation…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your own travel tips on the things to do on a trip to Timisoara.
• Enjoy your trip to Timisoara!

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. 

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Timisoara