All the Reasons Why Timisoara in Romania is Worth Visiting

People often underestimate how large Romania is and just how many destinations it offers. Bucharest and the Gothic mystique of Transylvania easily pull focus, but places such as the city of Timisoara are also definitely worth visiting. Revolutionary history and vibrant architecture make it a place hard to dislike.

Timisoara is one of Romania’s largest cities and the de facto capital of the country’s west, far from the popular tourist route connecting Sibiu and Brasov. Here’s why Timisoara is worth visiting and why you’ll be glad to make the detour to see it.

Getting to Timisoara

Although Timisoara sits quite a distance from other popular Romanian destinations, it’s not that hard to visit.

From other major cities in Romania, such as Bucharest, it will take either an all-day bus journey or an overnight train trip to get there. Sibiu, Oradea, and Hunedoara are all a little closer.

Crossing in from neighbours Serbia and Hungary might be easier, with buses from big cities such as Belgrade and Szeged.

The city’s saving grace, though, is that budget airlines offer domestic and international routes to Timisoara Airport.

To get around Timisoara, there are trams and buses, but I didn’t manage to work the system out. I ended up walking everywhere, which would have been fine if I’d stayed more central.

Where to stay in Timisoara

Since Timisoara isn’t a great option for day trips, you’ll likely need somewhere to stay.

I think two days in Timisoara works well, although you could add a day for day trips to Corvin Castle or Arad.

For your stay, Timisoara has a huge range of hotels and apartments to choose from, and since my choice was frankly too far from the centre, I won’t bother sharing it.

The one thing I can recommend is the hotel/restaurant Casa del Sole, to the south of the city centre. It offered local cuisine, was reasonably priced, and had a nice outdoor seating area in its internal courtyard.

Other well-rated places to stay in Timisoara include:

• Opera Hotel
• Old Town Hotel
• Central View Apartment
• Hotel Del Corso

What to see in Timisoara

Timisoara is a beautiful city with plenty to see. Although you can enjoy a lot of its scenery at face value, there’s also lots of history behind its main things to do.

A walking tour is a great way to get more out of Timisoara’s sights. However, I’ll do my best to give a little context as I take you through the main things to see in Timisoara.

Reminders of the Revolution

If Timisoara is famous for one thing, it’s the city’s revolutionary role in bringing about the fall of communism in Romania.

After decades under the socialist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, citizens of Timișoara sparked the Romanian Revolution in December of 1989. What started as a local protest on December 16th quickly spiraled out of control and led to the overthrow of the government just 6 days later.

It must say something about the people of Timișoara that they were not only able to declare the city free from socialism in a matter of days, but also inspire the rest of the country so profoundly. That’s quite a feat!

You can take in all of this history at the Revolution Memorial Museum, one of the most popular things to do in Timisoara. So if you’re curious about Romanian history, particularly 20th-century history, Timisoara is not to be missed.

Timisoara’s Secessionist Architecture

It seems leadership is in Timișoara’s DNA.

The city was revolutionary not only politically, but also architecturally. So much of what there is to do in Timisoara involves its architecture, or at least that’s what kept me busy during my visit. I explored it on my own, but a walking tour is an even easier way to see the sights.

Throughout Timisoara, you’ll be treated to a particular style of Art Nouveau known as Secessionist architecture, named after a Vienna art movement that spurned the established art world.

Thanks to these exquisite buildings, Timisoara’s fondly known as the “Little Vienna“. While I understand why, I will say that Timisoara takes things in a far more colourful direction than Vienna!

Rejecting the conservative art and architecture establishment in Vienna, artists and architects went rogue, incorporating new elements and variations into their work. The secessionist movement coincided with a building boom in Timisoara, it seems, although it’s no wonder that this spirited city opted to go in such a bold direction.

Orthodox Cathedral

Timisoara’s most well-known attraction is no doubt the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral.

Standing proudly at the end of the boulevard-shaped Piața Victoriei, the cathedral’s vibrant design immediately draws your focus. Although it was only finished in 1946, construction paused when WWII broke out.

Still, what it lacks in years it more than makes up for in its vivid appearance. Its design is what is known as neo-Moldavian, an inspired mix of features from Byzantine, Ottoman, and Renaissance architectural styles.

With its unusually vibrant colours and exaggerated dimensions, it feels like the kind of landmark that Disney would copy for inspiration.

Piața Victoriei

Even though the cathedral is Piata Victoriei’s most popular landmark, it’s certainly not the only one.

Looming high over the square’s lovely gardens and fountains, grand old buildings hint at the city’s architectural boom in the early 20th century.

While buildings like the Dauerbach Palace may look a tad solemn with their dark colour palette, they contrast nicely with the bright and colourful gardens below in the square.

Interestingly, Dauerbach Palace was just a normal residence built for Georg Dauerbach. It’s only referred to as a palace because the famous Palace Restaurant was situated on its ground floor for decades.

At the far end of the square, you’ll find yet another style of design on display in the city’s National Theatre and Opera House.

Pre-dating many of Timisoara’s other grand buildings, the theatre was built in the 1870s, which could explain its different look. Originally given a Renaissance design, the old architecture was hidden behind a new Neo-Byzantine façade added after a fire in 1920. Yet another eclectic, rule-defying landmark of Timisoara.

Piata Unirii

After seeing Piata Victoriei, you’ll probably think you’ve seen the prettiest square in Timisoara.

But no, that title belongs to the dazzling Piata Unirii. Right in the city centre, this large square is surrounded by the city’s most remarkable buildings, from palatial homes to churches.

It appears that in recent years the square’s potential was recognised, ushering in a wave of restoration work that has transformed Piata Unirii into an unmissable pocket of Timisoara.

Of the city’s many, many Art Nouveau Secessionist buildings, the colourful and most visually striking must be the palatial residence, Brück House.

This 1910 building was only recently restored, with its details clearly defined, giving the house a new lease on life. I’ve done my best not to add too many of my Timisoara photos of it, but I can’t deny I’m fascinated by it.

Also lighting up the square is the Serbian Orthodox Episcopal Palace with its pale colours and graceful architecture.

The palace originally had a simple Byzantine style when first built in 1745. Later additions clearly elevated its design with laudable attention to detail. These are just two of the picturesque buildings found around Piata Unirii, but going from one to the next here would simply take too long.

Old Town Fortifications

Look at a Timisoara map, and it’s hard to miss the rings of roads emanating from the circular old town.

You can plainly see where city walls once protected Timisoara, although sadly only fragments remain. On the eastern fringe of the city centre, you’ll find the Maria Theresia Bastion.

Open to the public, these immense walls give you some sense of how well Timisoara defended itself during the Middle Ages. I guess it was quite necessary when the Ottomans kept trying to invade the city for centuries before finally seizing it.

Perhaps this legacy of suffering sieges fuelled the city’s defiant, rebellious streak.

Further around the ring you’ll also find the city’s old castle, Castelul Huniade. Although a little worn around the edges, this 14th-century castle now hosts the Museum of Banat.

Nativity Church

Although there are other attractions throughout the city centre, an outer one worth seeing is the striking Nativity Church.

When the sunlight catches the gilded art on its facade, it’s hard not to believe in some divine inspiration for this beautiful building. Modeled on a monastery style, the local parish built the Biserica Nașterea Maicii Domnului in the 1930s. Walking past for the first time, I saw a wedding set up outside for bridal party photos.

No doubt as to why!

If you’ve been, do you think Timisoara is worth visiting, and if so, why? What other things to do in Timisoara do you think make it a good Romanian destination to visit? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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