Timisoara city romania. Timisoara

Timisoara is a city rich in history and culture, the historical center of the Banat region. The area of ​​Timisoara is 130 square kilometers. In 2011, its population was 303 thousand people. The city is located near the Hungarian border, which affected its history and architecture. Due to the many baroque buildings, Timisoara is often called the "little Vienna".

The name "Timisoara" comes, according to some sources, from the river Timesh, which flows 10 kilometers from the city. Historians believe that earlier at this waterway the channel ran next to locality and later the river changed its direction. The rest of the word "Timisoara" was used in the concept of "castle". Therefore, Timisoara literally means a castle on the river Timesh. The name Temeswar-Josefstadt was used until the middle of the 19th century, while the city was part of Austria. The modern name appeared after these regions became part of Romania.

The first mention of the city appeared in 1213, when it was entered into official documents by the Hungarian king Andrew II. The warriors of the Roman Empire living here used the settlement as a citadel, located at the fork of several roads. But in the XIII century, after the invasion of the Tatar-Mongolian troops, the city was completely destroyed. After some time, here is the residence of the Hungarian monarch Karol Robert, who, according to historical information, built a fortress. In the 15th century, there was the court of the voivode of Transylvania, the regent of the Hungarian kingdom Janos Hunyadi, whose son later became the Hungarian king Matthew Korvin. For the first time in the whole kingdom, the city had its own coat of arms, where a dragon was drawn.

In 1552, Timisoara was captured by the Ottoman troops, led by Ahmed Pasha, the vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent. Now the city is increasingly acquiring a Muslim flavor. And next to European buildings and Catholic cathedrals, mosques began to be built. In 1716, Turkish domination came to an end when the famous commander of the Roman Empire, Eugene of Savoy, recaptured Timisoara and other cities from the Ottoman sultans. For the next two centuries, these places were under the rule of the Habsburgs, who began to rebuild Timisoara, giving the city more and more European features. Now in architecture, the dominant style has become baroque. And in 1884, for the first time in Europe, electric lighting appeared here.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Timisoara became the target of the Serbs, who decided to include this territory in their kingdom. But since 1919, the city has been part of Romania, becoming the big center of Banat. The city of Timisoara became famous at the end of the 20th century, when anti-government unrest began here. In 1989, a movement against the communist party led to an uprising and the overthrow of Nicolae Ceausescu. On the city walls, as a reminder of those events, there are memorial plaques with the names of the fallen participants in the revolutionary events.

Timisoara is a city in which eighty percent of the buildings are historical monuments. There are many attractions here, but modern shopping malls, theaters, and sports facilities have also been built.
And although the city of Timisoara is more than one hundred years old, it is considered very young. After all, seven universities are located on its territory, and the number of students annually reaches 50 thousand people. And this can be seen by how many young people are found on the street. In 2016, the restoration of the old center of Timisoara took place, many streets and squares were equipped. The city with such a young audience hosts many events: festivals, concerts, performances. This is facilitated by the Opera House located here, as well as three national theaters: Hungarian, German, Romanian.

How to get there

Near the city of Timisoara is the Traian Vuy International Airport, which was named after the Romanian aircraft designer. The airport is located 11 km from the city center. The terminal opened in 1935, and acquired its current appearance in 1960. Until 2008, only domestic flights were made here. And later the airport received international status.

Timisoara has air links with cities in Germany, Italy, Moldova and Ukraine. The airport is also connected with different Romanian regions. The terminal building has comfortable waiting rooms, cafes and restaurants. From here you can take bus number E4 to the city center and bus number E4B to the train station.

Timisoara also has a large train station, from which the city center can be reached on foot in 20 minutes. The station building is not the newest, it was built in socialist times. The amenities here are the most necessary: ​​ticket offices, a cafe, a kiosk. The city has direct communication with many cities in Romania, with Bucharest, where trains go in two ways: through Sibiu or Craiova. Two night trains leave for Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Bucharest. Through Timisoara there are also many trains across the border to the east.

Bus service connects Timisoara with various cities in Romania and neighboring countries. From some directions it will be more convenient to get to the nearest cities by plane or train, and from there transfer to the intercity bus to Timisoara. So, it will take three and a half hours to get here from Budapest.

The roads in Romania are not bad, you can rent a car to travel along them.

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Climate and weather in Timisoara

The climate of Timișoara is temperate and warm. The city receives sufficient rainfall throughout the year. Most of them happen in June - approximately 78 mm. March is considered arid, when the amount of precipitation drops to 37 mm.

The coldest month in these places is January. The thermometers drop to an average of -2 °C. Nighttime temperatures can reach -4°C, occasionally dropping to -11°C. Spring comes with a gradual increase in temperature: an average of 5°C in March, 10-11°C in April and 16°C in May.

Summer in Timisoara is quite warm. Hot days are in July and August, when temperatures can range from 24 to 27 °C. There is little rain in these months compared to June. The first half of autumn here is warm and dry, and only by mid-October it begins to get colder. The temperature drops to zero in November, and in December a permanent snow cover begins to set in.

Transport

Timisoara's public transport is represented by buses, trams and trolleybuses running on different routes. And although tourists do not deny themselves the pleasure of walking around the historical part of Timisoara on foot, it will be useful to know the schedule of public transport. locals For some reason they prefer the tram. The city has 10 tram lines, which run modern transport models. There are in the city and 20 bus routes and 8 trolleybuses.

Vouchers for travel in all modes of transport are unified, one ticket will cost 1.3 lei. Travel cards are also sold for a certain number of days: one, a week, two weeks, a month. Coupons are purchased before the trip in special stalls, tobacco kiosks, vending machines at bus stops.

There are several people transportation companies operating in Timisoara. The price of a taxi ride depends on the cost of one kilometer. This data is usually indicated on the machine itself. If there are none, then you will have to negotiate with the driver. And in any case, it is better to ask in advance how much the trip will cost.

What to see in Timisoara

Timisoara - incredibly beautiful old City, located near the border with. No wonder it is called the gateway to Europe. alone historical monuments there are 14 thousand here. The city's turbulent history has left marks on its exterior. Many architectural styles intertwined here, such as baroque, eclectic, modern, art nouveau. Each of the next rulers of Timisoara tried to bring something of his own to the city, building temples, palaces, houses.

The multinationality of the city manifested itself in various temples: Orthodox and Catholic churches, Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques were built here. Cathedral of the Three Saints Today it is a functioning Orthodox church. This is a new age church. And although its construction began in 1936, the lighting took place only in 1946 due to a delay associated with the Second World War. But for another ten years, finishing work continued here. The cathedral has a main tower 83 m high and several smaller ones. In the basement of the church there is a museum of religious art of the Middle Ages. It contains ancient manuscripts and ancient icons, and the New Testament of 1648 stands out among the rare unique books.

Timisoara's main square is square of victory, where the Cathedral of the Three Hierarchs is located. It was here that the revolutionary unrest began in the city center, which led to the overthrow of the Communist dictatorship. In the square there is a monument to the Capitoline she-wolf, which reproduces a similar sculpture installed in Rome. The building of the Opera Theater of the 19th century overlooks Victory Square; it is not without reason that this place is sometimes also called Opera Square. The city center is decorated with many flower beds, a fountain and baroque buildings located around the perimeter. In the eighties, they were removed from here tram lines and the square has been turned into a pedestrian zone.

Where to stay in Timisoara

Timisoara offers its guests a choice of more than a hundred hotels, hotels, pensions and other accommodations. One of the most prestigious holiday destinations is Villa Vitoria, which is located in a quiet corner of Timisoara. It offers cozy rooms with modern furnishings, a swimming pool and a free fitness center. There are courts, a sauna, a playground on the territory. The Ambassador Hotel 3 * is located almost in the historical center of the city. Other on-site facilities include a conference room, a 24-hour bar and a sports centre.

You can also stay in one of the hostels arranged in the center of Timisoara. Dream in Hostel Timisoara and Exit Routine Hostel are located in small houses. They have several rooms with a shared kitchen. Free luggage storage and ironing services are provided. Many apartments in Timișoara are open in separate apartments with one or more bedrooms. Bastion Residence Apartament 5 are located in

Timisoara - big and Old city, the third largest in the country, with a population of over 300 thousand people. It is both a young, student policy and at the same time a major industrial center. In addition, forced construction during the reign of the Habsburgs made the old center of Timisoara look like the sophisticated baroque cities of Europe: the Romanians proudly call their city little Vienna. And at the same time - the most cosmopolitan city in Romania.

How to get to Timisoara

10 km from Timisoara is the second largest airport in Romania, Traian Vuia, the main transfer point for the second Romanian airline Carpataire. By regular flights "Carpatair" you can get to Timisoara through Dusseldorf, Lviv, Munich, Rome, Stuttgart, Venice. Same austrian airlines fly here from Vienna, and about five flights daily connect the city with Bucharest. From Budapest you can get to the city by direct trains (about 5 hours), as well as from Belgrade (4 hours) or Vienna (8 hours). Finally, from the Serbian border Vrshak you can take a bus.

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A bit of history

It is not known exactly when Timişoara (or Temesvár in Hungarian) was founded, but Royal Palace the Hungarian monarch was built here at the beginning of the 14th century. The city was ravaged by the Tatar hordes and captured by the Turks, who ruled over it for more than a century and a half. Then the Habsburgs drove the Turks away, demolishing most of the mosques and building new baroque buildings in their place. In the early 20th century, Serbs claimed the city, but to no avail; and during the Second World War, Timisoara was badly damaged by air raids. Finally, in 1989, it was here that the historic popular assembly took place, which resulted in a revolution throughout the country and the overthrow of Ceausescu.

Timisoara was the first European city to have horse-drawn trams in 1869. And 20 years later, it became the first to have electric lighting on the streets.

Entertainment and attractions of Timisoara

Up to the most interesting places in the city you can walk: the most important points are located on the two main city squares. Or you can rely on public transport: the city has buses and trolleybuses, quite modern, and also old trams of German models. At stops, in the modern European manner, there are boards with a schedule, but, alas, Romania is far behind the rest of Europe in terms of punctuality.

There are two types of taxis in Timisoara: those licensed by the city government have an oval black sticker on the rear doors. Taxis of local companies that do not have such a sticker (but just the inscription "Taxi") are half the price, although they are also quite legal.

The central square of Timisoara is the Victory Square (sometimes it is also called the Opera Square). Today this square is one of the symbols of the Romanian Revolution, during which the communist regime was overthrown. Here stands the Cathedral of the Three Hierarchs, the main Orthodox church of the city. This is a rather austere brick and concrete building, built right before the Second World War: then they did not have time to finish the interior of the cathedral and finished it 15 years later. For Russian tourists, the cathedral may seem outwardly completely “non-Orthodox”, nevertheless, its architecture is typical of Moldovan and Romanian churches: it is narrow, tall, with 4 small and 9 large towers. The cathedral is over 80 meters high, making it the largest in the country and one of the tallest Orthodox churches in the world. Also on Victory Square you can see the Opera House, built in the second half of the 19th century by architects from Vienna, the City Hall, the Philharmonic. Beautiful residential mansions of the 19th and 20th centuries are also located here.

Timișoara stands in a swamp, so it took about 5,000 oak beams to lay under the cathedral so that it would not sag.

Union Square in the center of the Old Town was built up during the Habsburg era, mostly with beautiful private mansions, in which many coffee houses are open today. The first attraction of the square is the Roman Catholic Cathedral, which stands opposite the Serbian Orthodox Church. The first one was built in the middle of the 18th century in a classical architectural style and received an elegant baroque interior decoration. The second was built around the same time and is an ornate mint green episcopal residence with extravagant trim and white stucco. In addition, the building of Nicholas Lenau College, built in 1761, is located on the square: the first city theater was opened here.

And on the south side of the square you can admire the impressive baroque palace of the 18th century, formerly the residence of the city's governor, and now the museum of fine arts. The museum's collection contains works by German, Flemish and Italian artists. Finally, on the northwest corner of the square, you can see a beautiful Art Nouveau building, typical of Hungary in the early 20th century, the Skont bank, very picturesque due to the curved lines of the facade, decorative elements of wrought iron and turquoise mosaic tiles.

3 things to do in Timisoara:

1. Spend an evening in the hipster bar "Skartz" on the street. Zoe, 1. It's a little away from the very center, but young people prefer to hang out there. The “chip” of the institution is in ice cream, which is sold in a bar and eaten on beds, sofas and hammocks.
2. Find the Timisoara Capitoline she-wolf - an exact copy of the Roman one.
3. Photograph a house with peacocks, built in 1905 on Plevney Square: its facade is decorated not only with peacocks, but also with swans, owls, squirrels, bunches of grapes, etc.

Between Victory and Union Squares there is Freedom Square - small, but with old buildings. Here you can admire the building of the old Town Hall and the beautiful sculpture of St. Nepomuk. And behind the Union Square is the Museum of the Revolution with free admission and a small but high-quality exhibition that allows you to understand what exactly happened during this week, which Romanians are so proud of.

Hunyad Castle is also noteworthy, built in the 14th century during the reign of Carol Robert, Duke of Anjou, and rebuilt in its own way by the Habsburgs in the 18th century. Today, the palace building houses the Banat Province Museum. The museum is considered one of the oldest in the country, and its expositions are dedicated to local history, nature, culture and folklore. The old protective city walls are also of interest - more precisely, what is left of them. Namely, the bastion of the 18th century, which is located near Union Square, if you walk along Palanka Street. Inside the bastion today is the ethnographic department of the Banat Museum.

Traian Square is also part of the old city, although this quarter is more like a separate ghetto. Often this place is called the Factory because of the old factory buildings that create more than a colorful entourage. The surroundings, however, are created not only by buildings: once at the Factory, watch your pockets, and in the dark, it’s better not to appear here at all. But during the day you can admire one of the most beautiful buildings in the city in the Factory quarter - the new synagogue built in 1899, built in the traditional Moravian style. There is also a local brewery nearby.

There is also an old synagogue in Timisoara, although it was built only 30-odd years earlier than the new one. This oriental-style building, which replicates the great synagogue in Oran, Algeria, is one of the largest synagogues in Europe.

In Romania, Timisoara is sometimes called the city of parks. Near Union Square is the most beautiful of them - Botanical. Not far from the Victory Square is the Rose Park and in the same place, behind the cathedral - the Central Park. And at the institute campus there is a Children's Park. Near the Green Forest is the Village Museum, where you can get acquainted with the traditional life of the Romanian inhabitants. In the same area is not Big city zoo zoo.

Popular hotels in Timisoara

Neighborhood Timisoara

The small Swabian town of Zimbolia is located 40 km west of Timisoara, on the border with Serbia. The town is quite old, with a rich history and a number of interesting sights. Gimbolia's symbol is the statue of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters. The Roman Catholic Church and traditional Swabian houses are also beautiful. There are also several interesting museums in the city: the museum of the artist Stefan Jaeger, the museum of firefighters Florian, the house-museum of Dr. Karl Diel and the museum of the press.

And about 20 km east of Timisoara are the Rekas vineyards. Here they conduct tours of the wine cellars, which end with the opportunity to taste white, red and rosé wines of classic local varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Kadarka, Feteaska.

Did you think about Timisoara when you heard about Romania? Me not. And if Tmisoara is still not on your list of places you would like to visit, then I strongly recommend reconsidering your views.

Timisoara for Romania is something like a cultural center, born as a result of the Romanian-Hungarian Union. I was recommended to see this city by good Romanian writer friends who often go there to present their books. Timisoara is a cultural center located in the western part of the country on the border with Hungary. The city was founded by the Hungarian state, was often a disputed territory, which was fought over not only by Romanians and Hungarians, but even by Serbs and Turks. And until 1919, the city was part of Austria-Hungary, after which it finally came under the wing of Romania. In view of the events that have taken place, this special atmosphere is clearly felt here, which is different from the rest of Romania. The city is still imbued with the spirit of old Hungary.

The first thing that caught my eye was the architecture and unusual aura of the city. Timişoara is a sophisticated cocktail that brings together the kingdom of Hungary, decadence of the 60s, Soviet brutalism, medieval gothic and baroque. Add a touch of folklore and a modern globalized lifestyle to this, and you get this very cocktail, where all carefully matched ingredients are perfectly combined with each other, forming a beautiful ensemble called Timișoara.

How to get there

From Moscow, the most comfortable and fastest way to get to Timisoara is, of course, by plane. There are no direct trains, but, as an option, the train can be reached through Poland. With buses, the situation is similar, which I will discuss below.

You will need a visa to cross the Romanian border. Despite being a full member of the EU since 2007, it is still not part of the Schengen area. However, if you already have a valid Schengen visa, you can safely go, but not vice versa: with a Romanian visa, you will not be allowed further than Romania. Therefore, if you had plans to visit some other European country, for example, Hungary, since it is not far away, you need to apply for a Schengen visa.

By plane

Although in Timisoara international Airport Yes, there are no direct flights from Moscow here. But there is a change in Bucharest. You can take a ticket with a two-hour transfer or stay longer and walk around the sights of Bucharest.

With a change in Bucharest, Otopeni Airport

The waiting time between flights varies from 2 to 9 hours depending on how lucky you are with the flight. Free time, as I said, can be devoted to exploring Bucharest or just relaxing in one of the superior rooms. The flight time between Moscow and Bucharest is 2 hours, and between Bucharest and Timisoara about 1.5 hours.

A full ticket to Timisoara will cost about 230–250 EUR. The cost of the flight is constantly changing, so I recommend checking the current prices

Timisoara Airport is considered the third busiest in Romania after Bucharest and Cluj Napoca. Be prepared to meet large crowds at the terminal.

How to get from the airport to the city center

From the airport to the city, I got by express bus number 4, heading straight to the center. The journey took no more than 20 minutes and cost 0.6 EUR (2.5 Romanian lei (RON), about 38 rubles). You can buy tickets at the box office located inside the domestic terminal.

If you want to get to the main train station of Timisoara (Gara De Nord), then you need bus number 4B, which leaves the airport every hour.

A taxi from the airport costs about 7 EUR (30 lei). I myself got only by bus, as the buses in Timisoara are quite comfortable, they travel quite often and rarely when they are clogged to the eyeballs. However, just in case, I was told that through online service YATTAXI can be found inexpensive options taxi in the city.

By train

I would not consider taking a train to Romania from Russia as a possible option, and I do not recommend it to you. Unfortunately, this method will turn out to be almost the most thorny and inconvenient. There has been no direct train from Moscow for several years, and alternative options are accompanied by certain inconveniences. You can get from Chisinau (Moldova), but also with a change in Bucharest. Or you can drive to the border town of Iasi (about 2 hours from Chisinau) and there you can already take a direct train to Timisoara, the ticket price will be from 17 EUR (80 Romanian lei).

Moldova can also be reached by direct train or bus from Moscow and St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg the road will take 1 day and 12 hours. This is in case there are no delays at customs. From Moscow, the travel time is reduced by about 8 hours. Tickets cost from 90 EUR or 5,800 rubles (reserved seat) to 150 ERU or 10,000 rubles (compartment).

Through Warsaw, the path lies even more thorny. You have to cross the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. Ideal route if you wanted to tour Eastern Europe. The whole journey will cost no less than 100 EUR, it will take 25 hours in time, but there will be impressions for one more trailer. If such a tour was not included in your plans, then there is nothing left but to take a plane.

The railway station is located almost in the center of the city: 20 minutes walk along the Republican Boulevard and you are already in the heart of Timisoara.

If you do not want to walk, you can take bus number 1 or number 8, get off at the piata libertatii stop - this is one of central squares cities.

All other attractions are concentrated around this zone.

By bus

Buses are the same as trains. I took a direct bus from Chisinau when I traveled for the first time. An alternative way is a bus from Iasi and Bucharest or Budapest.

It will take 3 and a half hours to get from Budapest, and it will cost 29 EUR. From Chisinau, the bus leaves from the northern bus station Gara De Nord and from the southern bus station Gara De Sud. The journey will take 11 hours and the trip will cost 27 EUR. The bus runs every day. There are also daily flights from Iasi from central bus station: to Timisoara on the way 7-8 hours, the cost is 20 EUR.

Which path to choose is up to you. You can take a plane to Bucharest and then a bus to Timisoara. Not so stressful and more economical than taking a plane ticket - Timisoara, as a rule, tickets for such short distances are more expensive. A bus ticket will cost 18 EUR (much lower than a train) and the journey will take 11 hours. Along the way, you can admire the beauties of the Romanian land. There is something to look at. The bus leaves every day except Tuesday and Sunday at 19:35. The plane flies to Bucharest quite often, the ticket price is from 100 EUR.

How to get from the station to the city center

All buses arrive at the Autogara International Bus Station, located close to the train station, on the other side of the canal. How to get to the center from the station, I said above.

By car

For me, this is the most convenient and economical way to get to Timisoara, since the way from Chisinau is not so long, which cannot be said about the way from Moscow. Thus, the car becomes the most, perhaps, the most complex and ambiguous way.

If you still decide on this, then keep in mind that the distance from Moscow to Timisoara is 2083 km. On the way, you have to cross the whole of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, as the city is located in the westernmost part of the country, almost on the border with Hungary. The cost of gasoline in Romania is 1.07 EUR for 95 and 1.15 EUR for 98.

I personally traveled by private car from Moldova. The distance between Chisinau and Timisoara is 825 km, and the journey took 13 hours with stops. For those who do not live in Moldova, it is more difficult, the road from Moscow to Moldova will take at least a day - a pleasure for everyone.

From Chisinau we spent about 56 EUR on gasoline. There were almost no stops along the way, so all expenses were limited only to lunch and a toll road (4 EUR). You can buy a vignette (toll road pass) at Rompetrol, Petrom, OMV gas stations or on the ROVINIETE website.

From Moscow, the journey is much longer, so you will most likely have to stay overnight in Ukraine or Moldova. In Moldova, spending the night will cost you 15–20 EUR. Have a hearty lunch, about 5 EUR. Keep in mind that without a special invitation, you can stay on the territory of Ukraine for no more than three days.

Clue:

Timisoara - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Yekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season. When is the best time to go

In fact, I don't have a definitive answer to this question. Timisoara has something to offer in any of these seasons. My favorite time to visit is winter. The city looks like given time year is very beautiful, especially noticeable during the preparation for Christmas and New Year. Snow-covered medieval streets decorated with garlands, luminous figurines and other Christmas paraphernalia create a mood of celebration and magic. And on the streets you can buy hot mulled wine - without which it is impossible to imagine a single winter in Europe.

In spring, everything here blooms very beautifully: cherries, chestnuts in one of the many gardens and parks of the city. In summer, all this greenery wraps one of the greenest cities in Romania in its cool shade. All sights and historical sites are always open, regardless of the season. So the season does not affect the tourist side of the trip too much. Just choose for yourself what you like best. A frosty Christmas with mulled wine and snow-covered landscapes, a blooming warm spring that smells of chestnuts and wine, or a hot green summer with bright sunshine and cold Romanian beer.

Timisoara in summer

Summer in Romania is traditionally hot, up to + 30–35 ° С. At noon, most people try to hide in the shade or under the canopy of the terrace, cooling off with soft drinks and ice cream. If you are not afraid of the scorching sun, then you will see how beautiful Timisoara is in summer.

There are a lot of trees, ordinary flower beds, gardens and parks. From this, one breathes in the city somehow more freely, despite the temperature. But the inspection of fortresses and castles, it seems to me, can tire. It is hard to climb the endless stairs and slides in extreme heat.

Timisoara in autumn

The noir season makes the city a real find for photo shoots if you want to capture the melancholy atmosphere of the old medieval city, immersed in golden gray tones and wrapped in thick fog. Best time for romantics and writers.

But be prepared for changeable weather. This season is contraindicated for people who are sensitive to sudden changes in weather and pressure, since in Timisoara, and in general in Romania, the weather changes several times a day. Personally, I constantly suffered from headaches. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of autumn Timișoara is very attractive.

Timisoara in spring

In spring Timisoara blossoms literally and figuratively. The main attraction of this season is the flowering chestnut trees and the gardens of the city. It is almost like a visiting card of the city, like sakura for Japan. The scale, of course, is smaller, but this does not make the atmosphere less comfortable. It's time to walk in parks and botanical gardens.

Timisoara in winter

Winter in Romania is very mild and Timisoara is no exception. Of course, there are frosts down to -30 ° C and knee-deep snow, but these are more isolated cases than the norm. Usually in winter here the temperature constantly balances between +5 °С and -5 °С, leaning one way or the other. Be prepared for ice and sleet. Closer to the middle of December and, especially, to the beginning of January, the weather more or less stabilizes. The snow is no longer in a hurry to melt and the temperature stops at a mark just below zero.

Under the snow, the city looks very beautiful. All these medieval castles, historical buildings and churches look different in winter: fresh and new. They acquire their own winter charm. And, as I said, all this white beauty is emphasized by Christmas decorations and New Year trees. Definitely, winter in Timisoara is my favorite season.

Timisoara - monthly weather

Clue:

Timisoara - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

Upon arrival, we were immediately placed in a rented apartment near the center in the Iosefin area. It was a small but cozy studio with a pleasant renovation and a large bed. The only disappointing thing was the shower instead of a bathtub.

In general, the Iosefin area can be called a golden seridine. It is not far from the center, there is a canal nearby, but this is not the very center and the prices are lower here. Now I will tell you about the districts of the city and housing in them in more detail.

Cetate

central District, all the main sights of the city are concentrated here. It is the main part of the old city. Prices here are high for everything from cafes to rental housing. But everything is within walking distance: entertainment venues and museums. And yes, it's just beautiful. It's nice to go outside in the morning and immediately find yourself in the historical part of the city, sit on the terrace of a nice cafe and drink morning coffee. If there are no restrictions on money, then it is best to stay in the city center.

There are quite a few hostels and hotels in the area. But there are apartments, albeit quite expensive. For a month in the center, an apartment will cost you 300–500 EUR (1300–2260 lei). A day in a hotel from 80 EUR, a place in a hostel from 10 EUR.

Cartierul Fabric

Once an industrial area of ​​the city. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, factories were located here, now they are closed, repairs are underway throughout the area. Including the Jewish synagogue. There are also old buildings and beautiful lanes, there are several clubs, including the largest alternative music club. However, it is dangerous to appear on the street here late. If you are staying in this area, then in the evening it is better to stay at home, or get to the apartment or hotel by taxi. Accordingly, prices here are lower than in the center.

Here the rent is an order of magnitude lower, but I warned about security in the evening. A one-room apartment for a month will cost 176–200 EUR (800–900 lei). Hotel room from 30 EUR per day.

Cartierele Iosefin

The area is adjacent to the center, located along the canal. It is also considered part of the old city. Until 1716 it was not inhabited, it is believed that the so-called Romanian wall was located there. Now it is one of the most attractive areas in terms of proximity to the center and real estate prices. Everything you need for life is here. If you're lucky, you'll find an apartment or hotel overlooking the canal.

A hotel room in this area will cost 30-50 EUR per day. Renting an apartment is very different, you can find it for 200 EUR (904 lei), if you try. The hostel is standard 10 EUR per bed and 25 EUR for a full room for a day.

Tipografilor

The area located north of the city center. One of the quietest and greenest areas of the city. There are a lot of trees here, there is a park. An ideal choice for those who appreciate fresh air, peace and quiet, the center is within walking distance.

The situation with housing is exactly the same as in Iosefin, the prices do not differ too much, and the areas are somewhat similar.

Girocului

It is located on the south side of the city, was built during the communist period, ranks first among the districts in the city according to surveys of residents of Timisoara, as the most reliable and sought-after place to live. There are a lot of residential buildings and typical buildings. In fact, it is a sleeping area of ​​the city, respectively, the cost of housing here is an order of magnitude lower than in the historical part. There are direct buses to the city center, they go often, you won't have to wait long.

Finding apartments here is not easy, as they are quickly snapped up, and the turnover is not as high as in other areas. However, sometimes there are options. An apartment for a month will cost 200–300 EUR. Hotel, as in the Iosefin area, 30–50 EUR.

How to look for accommodation in Timisoara

Hotel rooms, like everywhere else, can be booked via the Internet, while many allow you to pay for the reservation not immediately, but upon arrival. This is already at your request, you can pay with a credit card and forget about this expense item. If you want to find an apartment, it’s easier to do it on the website, there are many housing options in all areas, you can pay immediately with a card. On, local bulletin boards or Facebook, you can also find different offers: rent an apartment or a room in a private hotel (of which there are many), but most often you can’t book there, only on the day of arrival. But there are more cheap options, but not always. You can compare prices for rooms by.

I was helped to rent an apartment by Durzya, they themselves live in Romania and called the owner of the apartment in advance, found him through Facebook. If you at least somehow understand Romanian and are ready to rent an apartment on the day of arrival, then you can try this option.

What are the prices for holidays

Despite the fact that Timisoara is a popular tourist destination, the prices here are quite low, especially by the standards of Europe, which pleasantly surprised me. Even for Romania, Timisoara is not the most expensive city. For comparison: in Bucharest, the cost of housing and the average check in a restaurant is almost twice as high.

For example, renting a fully furnished studio cost me 200 EUR per month. At the same time, in Bucharest, the same studio cost me no less than 300-500 EUR.

Monthly ticket for public transport - 17 EUR (75 lei). A cup of coffee on the street - 1.7 EUR (8 lei).

The store prices are:

• 1 liter of milk - 0.8 EUR (4 lei),
• 500 g of cheese - 3.3 EUR (15 lei),
• 1 kg of tomatoes - 1.16 EUR (5.25 lei),
• bread - 0.4 EUR (2 lei),
• 1 kg of apples - 0.6 EUR (3 lei),
• a pack of cigarettes - 3.3 EUR (15 lei).

• 2 cinema tickets will cost 9 EUR (41 lei). In the morning, a session is usually cheaper, but on the day of the premiere, on the contrary, it can rise in price.
• The average check in a restaurant for more than two is 27 EUR (119 lei).
• 1 mug of beer in a pub - 1.5 EUR (6 lei).
• The average check in an inexpensive eatery for two is 15.5 EUR (70 lei).

Other expenses:

• 1 liter of gasoline - 1.7 EUR (4.88 lei).
• Taxi (minimum cost) - 4.4 EUR (20 lei).
• Haircut - 5.3 EUR (24 lei).

You can save money by buying products in chain supermarkets, as elsewhere, they practice good discounts, thanks to which you can buy some products at half price. It is better to buy vegetables and fruits in the summer at the market - prices are at least two times lower than in supermarkets. This does not apply in winter, when vegetables and fruits in the market are the same as in the supermarket. The savings are insignificant.

In public transport, you can save money by purchasing a subscription for several types of transport. This is for frequent trips. It is not necessary to rent a house in the center. Buses run frequently, rarely clogged to the eyeballs, so getting there will not be difficult. But prices in a more remote area for real estate will be much lower.

Clue:

The cost of food, lodging, transportation, etc.

Currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Romanian leu, lei

Main attractions. What to see

The longer I stayed in the city, the more I realized how different the culture and architecture here is from the rest of Romania. Timisoara is lined up at the crossroads of many cultures. The city was influenced not only by and, but also by the Ottoman Empire,. The city was an important trading point on the map of the Kingdom of Hungary until the Tatar army defeated the main Timisoara fortress in the 13th century. And all this left its multinational imprint on the body of the city.

For art lovers, there are many galleries of modern and traditional art. Jecza, Calpe or Helios are some of the must-see places. Unfortunately, I managed to go only to Jecza, where modern art objects from paintings to sculptures are exhibited. Mostly here are the works of Romanian artists, but sometimes come across the work of German, Hungarian and other European creators. The gallery is located on Calea Martirilor 51 / 52-53, you can get here from the center on bus routes 15 and 16, the bus runs every 15 minutes, it takes about 40 minutes to go, and along the way you can enjoy views of the city.

Walking along the embankment of the northern coast of the Begi canal, I realized that all the charm and diversity of the city are concentrated here. All the most important architectural and cultural sights are collected here. Once on one of the central squares, you will immediately see how the Gothic architecture flows into the Venetian Baroque, and then everything closes in the parks, of which there are really a large number. Confirming its status as a small Vienna, Timisoara is indeed one of the greenest cities in Europe. The center is surrounded by them, perhaps that is why it is easy to breathe in the city and you want to live!

Multinationality makes itself felt in terms of the choice of leisure. If you want to see a play staged in three languages, then welcome to one of the three great theaters of Timisoara: the Romanian National Opera in Timisoara, the Hungarian State Theater and the German State Theatre.

Top 5

Compiling the top 5 was not so easy for me. In fact, each attraction of the city deserves to take a place in the top in its own way. I had to choose from what, it seems to me, a visit to Timisoara cannot do without.

Piaţa Victoriei Victory Square

A large and beautiful square where all the main sights of the city are concentrated, and also this main symbol Romanian revolution. For me, this is just a spacious and beautiful place, surrounded by many old buildings with beautiful architecture.

Here you can see the Orthodox Cathedral, Opera House, City Hall, Philharmonic, Banat Museum and just a lot of beautiful old buildings belonging to different architectural schools and periods.

Union Square Piaţa Unirii

The square reminded me of some typical quarter somewhere in Sweden or Denmark. There are many beautiful multi-colored houses that are so fond of building in Scandinavia.

Such a small corner of Sweden in the heart of Timisoara. In addition, there are many coffee shops on the square where you can relax and drink the most delicious coffee in the city. Of the sights on the square, the Catholic Church, the Art Gallery (originally it was a palace) and the Serbian Church are collected.

Piaţa Libertăţii (Liberty Square)

The third in a row, but not least, the central square of the city. The smallest square is located between Victory Square and Union Square. She impressed me the least, but it's worth a walk here.

There are also collected ancient buildings, the old City Hall and a monument to the liberation of Romania from the communist dictatorship.

Traian Square Piata Traian

Another part of the old city, although it is located somewhat to the side. The area is located in the factory area. Previously, there were many factories in this area, which are now closed, but the name stuck, and they decided not to change it.

Bastion

Recently restored part of the old protective city wall. Now it's cultural monument, located behind Union Square.

Beautiful place, saturated with antiquity and the spirit of medieval Hungary.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Timisoara is very diverse culturally and secularly. In addition to the Romanians, a fairly large proportion of ethnic Hungarians and Germans live here. The minority are Jews, Serbs, Italians and Russians. Such cultural diversity has led to the formation of a variety of beliefs and the emergence of many temples belonging to different religions:

Museums. Which are worth a visit

Timisoara is the gateway to the West and has a long history of cosmopolitan multi-bodybuilding. Moreover, it is known as the birthplace of the Romanian revolution of 1989, which ended the dictatorship of Ceausescu. Today it is the most important center in recent history Romania. It is not surprising that a large number of museums and historical sites, where I, being a respectable tourist, could touch the centuries-old history of the Romanian and Hungarian state.

Huniad Castle (Castelul Huniade in Romanian)

One of the oldest buildings in Timisoara, inside of which the Banat History Museum is now located. It was built by John Huniad, during the reign of the Hungarian king Charles Robert.

According to legend, in the 1480s, a Hungarian general lived here, who kept Ottoman soldiers imprisoned in the basement of the castle, feeding them one by one to his pigs. Subsequently, this practice was adopted by the famous Count Vlad Tepes.

The castle is located in the very center, not far from the building of the National Opera at the address: Piata Huniade 1. Admission is free, open from 10 am to 5 pm, every day except Monday.

Banat Village Museum

This museum was not easy to find. Painfully far he climbed, but the road is worth it. This is a big museum open sky, is a collection of traditional houses of the 19th century. The museum invites you to look behind the screen of a bygone history and plunge into the atmosphere of an old Romanian village. Folk performances and games are often held here.

The museum is located quite far, about 6 kilometers north of the city. You can get there by tram from the northern railway station (Gara de Nord). The museum is open from 10 am to 10 pm. Entrance for an adult - 1.1 EUR (5 lei), a guide for a group of 12 people will cost 2.6 EUR per person (12 lei). A child under 12 years old is charged half the price of an adult.

Museum of the Revolution (Memorialul Revolutiei)

An excellent museum if your goal is to better understand what happened in the 7 days during which the communist dictatorship in Romania was overthrown. Very informative. The museum attracted me because it helped me better understand the historical twists in the history of Timisoara.

Previously, admission to the museum was free with a voluntary donation of 2.2 EUR (10 lei). Now the entrance is with a mandatory fixed fee - the same 2.2 EUR (10 lei). On weekdays the museum is open from 8 am to 4 pm, on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Sunday is a day off.

parks

“Tourists call Timioshara a little Romanian vein,” one of the Romanians told me. And this is the absolute truth. There are a huge number of parks, flowers and green areas. So walking and enjoying the fresh air in one of the local parks - the central park, the rose park, the botanical park, the park of justice or the park of the people (Parcul poporului) is a special pleasure. I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunity to breathe fresh air and enjoy the silence without leaving the central part of the city.

rose park

I definitely recommend visiting the rose park located near the Begi canal, especially for those who come to spend a romantic weekend with their soulmate. It will not be difficult to find it, the park is located in the city center on Alexandru Borza Street, the nearest stop is Parcul Copiilor, bus 22 stops here. The garden is furnished in the Anglo-French style of the 19th century. A huge number of varieties of roses, weeping willows and white benches under flowery arches create a truly romantic atmosphere.

From the first minutes you feel like a Hungarian aristocrat, who went for a walk on a warm autumn day, accompanied by a lady of the heart.

botanical park

Another beautiful park in the city - the Botanical Park, located near Unirii Square. We tried to come here almost every day of our stay in Timisoara, just to take a walk and take a break from the city, if we had the strength, after a long study of medieval monuments.

The botanical park is as much as 9 hectares of beautiful vegetation. Weeping willows, flowers of all stripes and shades. It is especially beautiful here in the spring, when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. The spectacle is not much inferior to the Japanese cherry blossoms in Hokaido.

central park

Central Park is located behind the Orthodox Cathedral on Victory Square. Also a big and relaxing park. Although we didn't particularly like it. But there you can see small monuments and monuments.

Perfect place for a morning run. However, running people here can be seen at any time of the day.

children's park

The children's park is located near the student campus at 1 Aristide Demetriade Street. An ideal place for walking with children. The park is divided into 15 zones, which present their own separate fairy-tale world.

The idea of ​​the park was to stimulate the imagination of children and make them interact with the outside world and nature.

tourist streets

There are many tourist streets in the city, almost all of them close on one of the three central squares. In addition, there are several places that are not so popular with the average tourist, but at the same time very interesting and mystical.

A city with such a rich and often bloody history could not help but spawn many urban myths and legends about ghosts and vampires living here and there. We heard some of them from Romanian friends, others we read in old newspapers, which the old woman who rented us an apartment kindly gave us to read. We were very lucky to immediately plunge headlong into the urban mysticism of Timisoara. And here are some of those stories.

Ghost from the market of freedom. Located on the corner of Ungureanu street

On the territory of this market you can find very cheap real estate, despite the central location, which is bought from only visitors who are unfamiliar with local history. Even we were dissuaded from settling there. There is a legend that the market is inhabited by the ghosts of people buried in the cemetery of the French church in the middle of the 15th century. Now this church has long been gone, and a market was built on the site of the cemetery, and then a whole residential area.

To this day, people complain about the strange sounds and silhouettes of dead people that most often appear on the corner of the Freedom Market and Ungureanu Street. It is said that the beloved of Beethoven himself was buried here, but these are only rumors.

Zombie factory district. Stefan Cel Mare street

It is said that the ghosts of workers who died in accidents appear here at night. Sometimes zombies appear in legends. According to legend, in medieval Romania it was customary to stick a peg in the chest of a dead man if he was suspected of going for a walk at night.

How these dead manage to get to the Factory District is, of course, a mystery to us (the nearest cemetery is quite far away).

What to see in 1 day

What to see in the surroundings

The surroundings of Timisoara are no less interesting than the city itself. We decided to set aside a few days exclusively for exploring the sights adjacent to the city. Of course, it was not without visiting wineries, natural beauties and another small medieval town.

Recas

Just 25 kilometers from Timisoara is one of the largest wineries in Timisoara. Here you can sign up for a tour of the winery with a free wine tasting. We bought ourselves a bottle of good Timisoara wine here.

Beautiful surroundings, dizzying smells. When you walk around the winery and try different varieties of wine, then time stops flowing in the usual way. It was a pity to leave this place with its heady relaxed atmosphere.

Arad

This is a small medieval town located just 48 km from Timisoara.
If you have free time and you are not afraid to spend one hour on the road, then be sure to visit this city. In addition to the cozy old streets, there are well-known fortresses that have defended the Kingdom of Hungary from enemy attacks more than once. In some places, of course, it was felt that the city was not as popular with tourists as Timisoara. There was no such scope and beauty. But we still liked the trip, if only because the town itself is quite cozy and quiet, even compared to Timisoara.

Reteza National Park

Getting here is not easy. We decided to go by car, it took about 2 hours on the way, but this time more than paid off. Here is the incredible beauty of nature, mountains and lakes. Ideal for hiking. Fresh mountain air and beautiful nature.

Despite the fact that Timisoara is not the largest city, even from endless walks around it you get tired in earnest. The best end of the trip is to get out of the shackles of the stuffy city and get out into nature to breathe in the fresh air of freedom and the greatness of Romanian nature. The National Park is my very own favorite place near Timisoara.

Food. What to try

Here you can try Western European, Romanian and Hungarian cuisine. In addition to classic European restaurants and well-known chain establishments, the city has a fairly large number of establishments offering traditional Romanian cuisine. Be sure to try placinta - a layered pie with feta cheese or cottage cheese, similar to Ossetian flatbread. For a long time I was put into a stupor by the fact that cottage cheese and feta cheese in the Romanian language are one word, and I could not understand why it was all the same crying, which amused my wife a lot.

There are a lot of establishments offering dishes of Balkan cuisine. Just like in Serbia and Bosnia, fried Mici sausages and smoked cheese, chorba and lamb meat rolls are held in high esteem here, and don’t forget to order hominy – a traditional Romanian liquid bread made from corn grits – as a snack.

Among other things, there are a lot of Italian restaurants in Timisoara, offering traditional pizza, pasta, calzone (closed pizza), etc. As well as no less popular Turkish cuisine. This is also due to the large influx of Turkish workers to Romania, who brought a piece of their culinary culture to Romania. Therefore, in Timisoara there are a lot of small establishments where you can try lahmacun, shawarma and drink tea with traditional Turkish sweets lokum and baklava.

A very common phenomenon in Timisoara cafes is obsolescence. different kind cultural events that take place in almost every cafe. These are literary evenings, concerts, public poetry readings and seminars. At one of these evenings, our good friend presented his new book. Every day, some event will definitely take place somewhere, so a boring evening is not about Timisoara. My personal top cafes include Pappilon Cafe, Club D`arc, Cuib D`Arte, Electric Theatre.

Here are a few places where you can just eat cheaply:

• Da Toni Pizza, (located on Daliei Street in the University area). Budget-class Italian restaurant with a simple, down to earth interior. Pizza prices range from 5 to 10 EUR. Very tasty, quite close to real Italian pizzas. There is delivery.

• Restaurant Dorna, (located on Martir Ioan Stanciu street, near the Giroc market) Very inexpensive fresh cuisine for those who want to eat quickly and satisfyingly. Usually crowded with people, so there won't be much time to chat - visitors leave on average every 15 minutes.

• Godfather Pizzeria, (next to Victory Market) Known for signature calzones (Italian closed pizzas) with your choice of toppings.

A quick note: Romanian cafes and restaurants are strictly non-smoking by law (since 2016), so you'll have to go outside if you don't want to pay a hefty fine.

Budget

• Pan Rusovan;
• Pinguin;
• Restaurant La Dama;
• Timisoreana.

Intermediate level

• D.A.F.;
• Club XXI;
• Pasta e Basta;
• Tinecz, (in Calea Aradului);
• Sabres.

Expensive

• Aquarium;
• Casa cu Flori;
• Marele Restaurant Chinese.

Holidays

I did not notice any special national holidays on a grand scale in Timisoara. Yes, there are some small events that go back somewhere deep into the Middle Ages, but they are more likely in words than in deeds. Weekends are not satisfied with them, there are no rituals for them either. But Christmas here is felt no less than in Austria or some other “Christmas City”. Decorated with Christmas symbols, medieval streets are transformed in such a way that it takes your breath away. I have never seen such a cozy atmosphere anywhere except Lapland.

Christmas

Throughout December (Christmas is celebrated here on December 25 and 26), a real Christmas atmosphere reigns here, which is felt like nowhere else in the country. All the streets are flooded with light from an impressive number of garlands.

Christmas markets are formed in the center with Santa Claus and gifts, and the city, if you're lucky, will cover the first snow.

Security. What to watch out for

During our stay in Romania, we generally felt safe. The city is touristy, there are always and everywhere quite a lot of people, especially around Christmas and in summer. Foreign speech is heard more often than Romanian. We didn’t climb the dark alleys, and I don’t advise you either, especially in the factory district, after 10 pm not very sober and suspicious personalities roam there, and there are also many hotels with special services, it’s clear what kind of contingent hangs around there.

Mostly, be careful in the markets. Keep your documents and money in a safe place, where it will be difficult for pickpockets to reach, which, unfortunately, is lacking here. This is understandable, a lot of tourists from many European countries come here and often have decent amounts of money, especially by the standards of Romania, which attracts local thieves and swindlers. I have not personally encountered, but I have been called on several times to be vigilant, which I have done.

I recommend not to stay at the VALENTINA hotel. it famous place for intimate encounters. Otherwise, you will have to face a situation where you will be pestered with an offer to join the “party”. Calling the police won't do you any good. best case you will be evicted without returning the money, at worst, they will deceive you for money.

In general, the crime rate in Temișoara is not as high as in provincial Romania or even in Bucharest. There is really no need to be afraid. Just follow the standard safety rules (do not walk at night in dark alleys and the outskirts of the city, do not "shine" jewelry on the street too much and keep money and documents in a safe place) and you will be fine.

Things to do

Of course, enjoy delicious coffee at Piata Unirii. Try local beer - Timishoryan.

Taste the real nightlife dancing to incendiary songs and breathing in the fresh night air on the banks of the Bega canal. Eat pizza at Da Toni and enjoy one of the 50 live beers at the Bierhaus. Taste delicious Romanian national dishes at Club 21 and go shopping at Iulius Mall. Sign up for a free city tour and make pleasant walk in one of the many city parks, a small "Vienna".

Shopping and shops

In my opinion, shopping in Timisoara is no worse than in any other European city. But at the same time, it is difficult to single out something special among standard branded stores and shopping centers. Perhaps the hallmark of Timisoara shopping is the presence of spontaneous vintage markets, where you can find almost anything, from collectible coins and old clothes, to art and some old household items.

Piata Victoriei Victory Market

One of the three central squares of the city. Perhaps the most famous. Located in the heart of the city and contains the highest concentration of a variety of shops and cafes. Here you can find almost anything. All brand stores and small retail areas are available.

Iulius Mall

The largest shopping center in Timisoara, and one of the largest in the whole Eastern Europe. Here, in principle, everything is standard and familiar. Here we felt at home. Standard boutiques, familiar brands (at least, many of them).

Many shops with Romanian and European goods, a food court and a multiplex cinema. The complex is located on Demetriade street 1.

Bega Shopping Center, (near the Continental Hotel)

The second largest shopping complex.

It was the first major complex in the city, even before the appearance of Iulius Mall. I don't even have anything to add, everything that should be in mall is: no more, no less.

Enoteca de Savoya

Of course, it is strange to come to a country famous for its wineries and not buy yourself a bottle of local wine. We had already purchased at the winery by that time, but it was curious to look.
In this store you will find all sorts of wines that are produced in Romania.

Amely Shoes

Store of branded shoes of Romanian production.

Everything is here: from sandals to classic shoes. Discounts are often practiced.

Chocolaterie Carels

The only Belgian chocolate shop in town. That's where it was hard to leave. Wide choose fresh pralines and figurines made in the Romanian province in a town called Gorj. Chocolate is expensive, but we could not help but buy something, everything looks so appetizing, and even the chocolate fountain beckons.

The shop is located on Gheorghe Lazar street, 6.

Markets

Every weekend, two spontaneous markets for vintage goods appear in the city.

• Piața Aurora-Flavia - the market is located on Piața Aurora-Flavia street. Here you can find a lot of used items, vintage goods and confiscated items. Do not underestimate these places, here you can find almost new or even brand new item (with a whole tag) from expensive well-known brands for a ridiculous price. In addition, sometimes come across rare vintage items.
• Piaţa Mehala - used cars and motorcycles, as well as spare parts for them, are sold here. Often there are stolen parts, so you make purchases at your own peril and risk.

We bought food in supermarkets, as we lived in a rented apartment and cooked ourselves. Here is a list of the most popular ones: Aldi, Kaufland, Billa, Lidl and Profi. Food prices are quite low, even by Eastern European standards.

Bars. Where to go

I was pleasantly surprised that in addition to the traditional ones, there are many themed bars in the city, where, in addition to the actual alcoholic beverages, they offer various kinds of entertainment and programs. Or, decorated in an unusual style, obeying some given theme. Here are some examples of my favorite places:

Viniloteca

One of my favorite places in Timisoara. A cozy fusion of a bar, cafe and vinyl record store. That rare moment when employees really love their job and are well versed in it. The bartender is always ready to discuss music with you and help you find a good record for your collection. Music always plays here, warming you with the warm tube sound of a vinyl player. The bar is open from 8 am to 10 pm on weekdays, from 12 am to 10 pm on Saturdays and from 4 am to 12 am on Sundays. A glass of beer here costs 1 EUR, average prices for cocktails are 4–5 EUR, depending on the cocktail itself. A glass of local wine - 0.8 EUR, imported - 1-2 EUR.

electric theater

Bierhaus

One of the oldest bars in Timisoara, perhaps also one of the most famous. It serves 50 different beers. It's usually quite crowded here. But the beer is really very high quality and not too expensive. Located on the street: Ungureanu Emanoil 15. They only serve beer, beer and nothing but beer. Prices start from 1.99 EUR (9 lei) per half liter of Aldersbacher. But on average, prices are not higher than 2.44 EUR (11 lei).

The Lobby Bar

An elegant terrace bar located in Timisoara Hotel. In summer, one of the best places to have a drink outside, especially nice to sit here after sunset. There are very tasty cocktails and mulled wine. Prices start from 5 EUR (22.61 lei), beer from 2.5 EUR (113 lei).

Clubs and nightlife

In the city center you can find a large number of different clubs and bars. In summer, all nightlife is concentrated in the southern part of the city on the coast of the Bega canal. Plenty of bars and restaurants on the terrace invite you to drink and dance along the river while breathing in the already intoxicating night air of Timișoara. On the other side of the universities, you can find two very good live music venues Vineri 15 and La Căpiţe. I warn you, Romanians are terrified of silence and turn on the music very loudly and on every corner to hide from it.

D "Arc Club

The most popular and trendy club in Timisoara is D "Arc Club, located in an old building on Piața Unirii street 5. Entrance to the club is free. On Tuesdays, be prepared for long lines and overcrowding of the club.

Thursday Night Party is a popular event that gathers crowds of nightlife lovers every week.

Club The Note

Second most popular night club. Known for its signature cocktails, themed parties and famous guests from all over the world. However, reservations are required a few days in advance. The entrance fee is 3 EUR.

Setup Venue

Club for fans of alternative music, equipped in a converted warehouse. Every week there are concerts with alternative music from electronic and hip-hop to hard rock.

***

On average, the cost of one cocktail in the clubs of Timisoara starts from 4 EUR.

Here is a small list of clubs where you can still go:

• River Deck,
• Taine,
• Night Club Shark House,
• papillon cafe.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Banat Souvenir - the best place for shopping for souvenirs and gifts for friends and family, located along Lucian Blaga street.

Here you can buy traditional Romanian shirts, collectible figurines, dishes depicting the sights of the city, magnets and much more. The cost of ceramic products varies from 2 EUR (9 lei) for small saucers and cups, to 25-30 EUR (112-135 lei) for pots. Ordinary magnets and key chains in the region of 1–2 EUR (4–9 lei), in shopping centers and markets can be found cheaper.

How to move around the city

The city center in Timisoara is very compact, so almost all the time we moved on foot. It was on our own two feet that we bypassed the lion's share of local attractions, moreover, if you constantly ride buses, you risk missing the most interesting.

Nevertheless, sometimes you still need to get somewhere in a more remote area, and in Timisoara they often arrange free city tours dedicated to a certain topic, so you can’t do without transport at all. The date and theme of such tours is constantly changing, but this information can be easily found on request Free city tour in Timișoara.

Public transport in the city caused me only positive emotions. Most of the buses and trolleybuses are new, made in Germany, and it is quite comfortable and pleasant to ride in them. Most stops have electronic scoreboard, showing the time of arrival and departure. The schedule is almost never wrong, except for rush hours. Traffic jams, of course, are not Moscow, but sometimes they happen, especially with snowfall.

You can also move around the city by bike. We had to abandon this idea, my wife, unfortunately, does not know how to drive, but we liked the way of transportation, maybe next time I will learn a little. The advantage of bicycles is especially felt during peak hours. You can borrow a bike for 1 hour for free. Ideal on a warm sunny day, but be careful. Drivers don't have much respect for two-wheelers here. Despite the politeness of local drivers, there is a rather contemptuous attitude towards cyclists here. A motorist who decides not to let a cyclist pass, even when traffic rules require it, is in the order of things here. However, in some areas there are designated bike lanes.

Curious moment. There is a separate cycle path from Timisoara to the Serbian border, 37 kilometers long, originating from the banks of the Begi canal. For more information, ask at bike rentals or bike shops.

Taxi. What features exist

I was pleasantly surprised, especially after a trip to Northern Europe, that you can get to almost anywhere in the city by taxi for only 3–6 EUR (20–30 Romanian lei). If you do not want to overpay, then order a taxi only by phone. Here are some of the most popular companies:

• City Taxi - 949,
• Dacia Taxi - 944,
• Radio Taxi - 940,
• Regal Taxi - 943.

Private taxi drivers and those standing at stops tend to charge more than the standard fare. Also pay attention to whether the taxi driver turned on the meter, if not, then do not hesitate to ask to do so. This is their responsibility and will help you control the cost of your trip so you don't pay more.

I distinguished city-licensed taxis from all others by the oval black sticker on the side. The rest of the taxis (also legal) have only a "Taxi" sign on the roof. These will cost a little more.

For greater convenience, there is a StarTaxi mobile application that allows you to order a taxi using the Internet and your smartphone. At the same time, the program is equipped with GPS, so you do not even need to know the address where you are. In the settings there is an interface on English language.

Buses

With buses, everything is more or less standard, there were practically no difficulties in figuring out what was what. There are two types of tickets. A ticket for an express bus line (only three routes, one of them goes to the airport from the city center), and a second ticket for all other modes of transport, including trams and trolleybuses. The ticket costs only 2 Romanian lei (0.5 euros). They are sold at almost every stop in newsstands. Important point! Don't forget to punch your ticket in a special machine inside the bus! Without this, the ticket is considered invalid and you may have to pay a fine. I was lucky, I was able to explain that the tourist and did not know how it works. Now I know it and share it with you - don't make my mistake!

For convenience, there are travel tickets for a week, two weeks, a month for one or all types of transport at once. Decide for yourself how often you will have to use public transport and choose the appropriate pass for you. Nothing new but very comfortable.

In general, public transport in Timisoara, in my opinion, is one of the most convenient in Romania. Tickets are easy to find, all information is available and is in English. Any route can be found

Transport rental

I mostly traveled around the city by car, except for rare moments. This has its advantages - for example, you do not feel limited by bus routes. You can set up GPS and go wherever you want. In addition, if there is a desire to explore the surroundings of the city, then it will be difficult without a car. If buses, trams and trolleybuses run around the city quite often and cover the entire city, then leaving the city is somewhat harder. Buses run infrequently, there are not very many routes, you will have to wait a long time, and stops located in the most convenient way, for example, to get to the Recas Vineyards winery, you still have to walk pretty much. Yes, and buses travel outside the city very slowly. So, for some it will be more convenient to rent a car in order to feel freer and be able to build their a tourist route.

There are quite a few companies offering car rental services. Here are a few offhand: EuroCars Romania, Avis Car Rental, Klasswagen, Maya Rent a car, Api Rent a car, Edi rent a car, CityCar. In fact, there are many more, the list can get very long.

Prices are very different, depending on the class of the car and the rental period. The longer the rental period, the lower the cost per hour. If you take a car for several hours, then in one hour you will give back from 35 EUR. For 24 hours, the budget option will cost 130 EUR. The savings are significant. There are also executive class cars, the cost of which starts from 500 EUR. You can compare prices by.

The main problem I faced in Timisoara is the name of the streets. Over the past 20 years, many of them have been changed, but the locals out of habit call them in the old way. Therefore, in order not to get lost, I had to clarify whether they told me the actual name of the street or the old one. Otherwise, you run the risk of not finding this street and GPS will not help you with this, since the maps are regularly updated and there are no old street names in it.

In general, drivers in Timisoara are quite polite and accurate. Here it is customary to stop completely at the crossing, regardless of whether the pedestrian has already set foot on the road or is just about to. The appearance of a person by the road is already a bell to stop.

Road inspectors are rare. But there are often cameras, so do not be surprised if suddenly when you leave the country you will be issued a ticket for improper parking or speeding, even if, as you thought, no one saw or stopped you.

Timisoara - holidays with children

We didn’t have children in the company, but if you were going to take your little spinner with you, then he will also have something to do. Not far from the central park there is a large child Center PlayZone, where children can have plenty of fun on indoor playgrounds, participate in contests and various entertainment programs. The center is located in the Iulius Mall, which I mentioned above. One hour will cost 2.88 EUR (30 lei).

Also, don't forget to take your child to the local zoo. Carpat Zoo at Avram Imbroane, 90. The entrance costs 1 EUR (4.51 lei) for an adult and 0.5 EUR for children under 12 years old (2.25 lei).

Town
Timișoara
45°45′35″ N sh. 21°13′48″ in. d.
Country	Romania
county	Timish
Mayor	Nicolae Rob
History and geography
First mention	1175
Area	130.5 km²
Center height	89 m
Timezone	UTC+2, summer UTC+3
Population
Population	303,708 people (2011)
Density	2350 people/km²
Digital IDs
Telephone code	+40 256
Postcode	300001–300789
primariatm.ro (Rom.)

Timisoara(Rom. Timișoara, the name comes from the Hung. Temesvár, Témesvar) is the third largest, historical center of the Banat region, the administrative center of Timis County in the west of the country. Population - 303.7 thousand inhabitants (2011). Area - 130.5 km².

City name

Name comes from the name of the river Timis (Romanian Timiș, Latin Tibisis). Var ( Var) in translation from Hungarian means . However, at present, only one river flows through this city - Begey (Begej). There is an opinion that once Timish flowed under the walls of Timisoara, but then changed its course. Consonant names Temišvar (Temishvar) and Timishvar (Timišvár) are used by Serbs and (Karashevs) and Banat Bulgarians, respectively. Some of the local Germans call the city Temeschburg, and the Magyarized Germans - Temesvar.

History reference

Historians find the first information about the city of Temesvar in the sources of the 13th century, when it was ravaged by the Tatars.

In the XIV century it was a small fortress in the middle of the marshes. The Hungarian king Charles Robert, who visited these parts in 1307, ordered to build a palace here, and in the 15th century the city served for some time as the residence of the great Janos Hunyadi. Temesvár was the first city of the Kingdom of Hungary to receive its own coat of arms (1365): it depicted a dragon, possibly symbolizing the defeated Bogomil heresy.

In 1552, Temesvar was taken by Turkish troops led by Ahmed Pasha. For 160 years as the center of the Temeswar eyalet, the city has undergone a strong Muslim influence, numerous mosques were built here. After Eugene of Savoy conquered it from the Turks in 1716, the Habsburgs systematically destroyed traces of Ottoman rule by rebuilding the city center in the Baroque style.

During the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Serbs tried to annex Timisoara, but already in 1919 the city received Romanian administration. In the late 1930s, the largest Orthodox church in Romania, the Timisoara Cathedral, was erected here. During World War II, the city was heavily bombed by the Allies.

On December 16, 1989, with a popular uprising in Timisoara, caused by the decision of the communist authorities to evict pastor Laszlo Tekes, a revolution began, which led to the overthrow of Nicolae Ceausescu.

Education

Since 1962, the Western University of Timisoara has been operating in the city.

Religion

Transport

Public transport of the city is represented by 10 tram, 8 trolleybus and 20 bus lines. The city has the third busiest airport in the country.

The city is an important rail and transport center and is connected to all other major cities Romania.

Plague Pillar		Victory Square with Timisoara Cathedral		Old part of the city

twin cities

Timișoara is a sister city of the following cities:

Faenza, Italy Rueil-Malmaison, Gera,

The Romanian vampire is hardworking and gold-bearing. Wherever his pale imaginary foot stepped, kiosks with magnets immediately sprang up and crowds of people wanted to hang Dracula on the refrigerator.

But vampires have chosen Transylvania, so other Romanian regions have to invite tourists without otherworldly interference. City of Timisoara in the west of the country it advertises itself as "little Vienna" - its historic center is full of buildings in the style of the Austro-Hungarian baroque.

Things to do in Timisoara get around in one day; It is a small city with a population of 300,000 inhabitants. If you are planning or thinking about where to go for a weekend from, include Timisoara in your plans.

Just do not forget that without a visa you will not be allowed into Romania.

— In 1884, Timisoara became first European city where electric street lighting was installed.

The city got its name from Timish river, but it does not flow through it (but the Bega channel flows there). Hungarians, Serbs and Germans call Timisoara Temišvar.

- For 150 years, the Turks ruled Timisoara, then they were expelled by the Habsburgs (who built the buildings in the Baroque style). The city almost always lived many Serbs, and on the main square there is a Serbian church.

– Timisoara is full arrogant-looking pigeons. This is not an official fact, but personal observations: for a two-hour walk in the center, I got a wing in the forehead three times.

Timisoara city – attractions

The main sights of Timisoara are divided into three squares with beautiful names: Victory, Unification and Freedom.

Tourists usually start from Victory Square and the highest church in Romania, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Three Saints built in the middle of the 20th century.

The cathedral is decorated with 13 turrets of a very interesting shape and rich green color, so the building evoked associations with pictures from the fairy tale about emerald city. 🙂

Take a closer look at the photo: on the lawn in front of the church rises wolf statue, shyly looking at passers-by and between times feeding Romulus and Remus. The city of Timisoara received this gift from Rome in 1926.

To the north of the cathedral, at the other end of the square, there is a solid building National Opera; in the evenings, on holidays it is spectacularly illuminated.

Photo: Sohivatal / Wikimedia Commons

The news reports that the EU and the Romanian government are literally feeding Timisoara with investments, however, it seems that not in horse food- the hand of the restorer did not even touch many buildings.

The sandpaper of time has not weakly worn out Timisoara architecture; only a few houses have been renovated.

It is not clear on what basis the buildings that they decided to decorate were chosen. Here is Freedom Square: in the foreground - statue of the virgin mary, in the back - two houses, one in good condition, the other looks dejectedly at his red brother and quietly rustles with falling plaster.

The spacious Unification Square, however, has been well restored, to the delight of tourists.

It becomes clear why the city of Timișoara is called “Little Vienna”: the Austro-Hungarian past oozes from every curlicue window.

I love looking at close-ups like this. I wonder who lives in these houses? What does he do? How do you fight off pigeons?

In the photo below yellow color, – Serbian Orthodox Church built in the 18th century.

And on the other side of the square - the Catholic Cathedral of St. George, the classic "Viennese Baroque".

Photo: Gratziela Ciortuz / Wikimedia Commons

Architecture and passers-by are carefully scanned by specially selected aesthete cats.

We continue the promenade along Timisoara. Catharsis in Romanian:

"Medieval" show arranged by youth on the streets:

Synagogue in neo-Moorish style.

Another church:

How to get to Timisoara

From Bucharest, the capital of Romania, Timisoara can be reached:

• by plane: 1 hour in the air, from 20 euro one way (blueairweb.com);
• by train (but here I don’t envy you): from 8 hours one way, 20-30 euros for a ticket (infofer.ro).

From Belgrade Recently, nothing sensible has been going to Timisoara, so it’s better:

• join a tour group. Fortunately, one-day excursions to Temishvar with a guide cost only 700-1000 dinars ( 6-8 euro). Many companies in Belgrade and Novi Sad organize such trips.
• take a ride in a Geatours minibus (geatours.rs). The car will pick you up at any specified address (Belgrade-Timisoara-Belgrade for 20 euro).
• go in your car and at the same time look into.

To summarize: the city of Timisoara deserves a calm, thoughtful inspection. One day is probably enough.