“Romania’s third-largest city (after Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca) is also one of the country’s most attractive urban areas, built around a series of beautifully restored public squares and lavish parks and gardens. It’s known as Primul Oraş Liber (the First Free City), for it was here that anti-Ceauşescu protests first exceeded the Securitate’s capacity for violent suppression in 1989, eventually sending Ceauşescu and his wife to their deaths. With western Romania’s nicest hotels and finest restaurants, it makes a perfect base for exploring the Banat region.” – Lonely Planet
Timișoara
Coming
Timisoara lies in the Western part of Romania and is actually closer to Belgrade and Budapest than it is to Bucharest.
Ryanair, one of the low cost airlines in Europe, flies from Bucharest and other parts of Europe. The flight from Bucharest takes about one hour. To get ot the city center take express bus #4. 4B will also stop in the center but ends at the main train station (Gara de Nord).
The train system is also very easy to use throughout Romania. It takes longer but you can take overnight trains or enjoy the scenery along the way. From Bucharest the train takes about 9 hours and trains from Budapest and Belgrade are also available as an easy mode of transportation. You can check prices and schedules HERE:
Buses are available but not recommended over trains for long distances as it takes longer and you have less freedom to stretch your legs.
Travel Guides
Staying
2 -4 days, there are more outdoor things to do in summer
If you’re headed out of Romania and farther west then Budapest or Belgrade are your closest big cities. If you’ve just come that way then you’ve got all of Romania at your fingertips! Bucharest is the capital city and Transylvania is directly east with Sibiu, Sighișoara and Brașov. The closest big city, though, is Cluj-Napoca.
Check out my Romania travel guide for more general information on traveling Romania such as visas, money, Covid updates and more.
Going
