From Wikitravel

Timişoara [1] is a university city and industrial center in western Romania. It is often described as the most cosmopolitan city in Romania.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The city is served by Romania's second-largest airport, Traian Vuia International Airport [2], located 10km away from the city center. It is the hub of the Romania's second-largest airline, Carpatair [3]. There are regular flights from/to numerous major European and domestic destinations:

• Carpatair flies internationally to/from Ancona, Athens, Bergamo, Bari, Bologna, Budapest, Chisinau, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Lviv, Munich, Odessa, Rome, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki, Torino, Venice and Verona; it also has domestic flights to Bacau, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Constanta, Iasi, Oradea, Satu-Mare, Sibiu and Suceava.
• TAROM [4] has several daily flights to Bucharest.
• Austrian Airlines [5] has flights to Vienna.
• MALEV [6] has flights to Budapest.
• Lufthansa [7] has flights to Munich.

Bus line 26 links the airport with downtown Timisoara; car hire is also available.

[edit] By train

There are direct trains daily from Budapest (a 5 hours trip), Belgrade (4 hours), Vienna (8 hours) and Munich (15 hours). Check timetables here. Naturally, there are also numerous trains to Bucharest and most major towns in Romania; check timetables here.

[edit] By car

Belgrade (in Serbia) is 150km away ( a 2 1/2 hours drive).

Budapest (Hungary) is about 320km away ( a 4 hours drive).

[edit] By bus

[edit] Get around

Timisoara has a well developed public transportation network composed of bus, tramway and trolleybus lines, administered by the municipal transport operator RATT [8].

Bus or trolleybus

Buses or trolleybuses can take you to any point of the city in a quite decent time. Sometimes crowded, the fleet is comprised of modern air-conditioned buses and trolleys, while tram cars are still German 1970's like.

Taxi

Taxi is inexpensive and you can reach nearly any point of the city for 10 - 20 Lei (3 - 5 EUR). Several companies are available:

• RADIO Taxi: 0256 940

• CITY Taxi: 0256 949

• TUDO Taxi: 0256 945

• TAXI TIMISOARA: 0256 943

Car rental

There are a number of car rental companies which offer cheap services and vehicles ranging from the Dacia Logan to large sedans and vans

[edit][add listing] See

• The Opera Square (Piata) (called The Victory Square (Piata) after the revolution against Comunist regime) with The Roman Orthodox Cathedral and beautiful palaces built at the beginning of 20st century.

• Piata Unirii (Union Square) has some architecturally various fine old buildings (Catholic Dome, Baroque Palace, Serbian Church, Holy Trinity Monument) and outdoor bars (during summer).

• Liberty Square (Piata) with the old City Hall and the beautiful Saint Nepomuk's Statue.
• A part of the old Wauban style fortress called The Bastion (Bastionul)
• Parks of Timisoara: Botanic Park, Rose Park
• Old industrial areas of the city: Fabric (Piata Traian), Iosefin

• Beer factory (Fabrica de bere), established 1718
• The Banat Village Museum (Muzeul Satului Banatean, Aleea CFR nr.1): a bit outside the city, can be reached with tram #2

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Parks

[edit] Learn

• "Politehnica" University of Timisoara: [9]

• Universitatea de Vest Timisoara [10]

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

The biggest Mall in the Western part of Romania, Iulius Mall, provides you with 210 shops, a cinema, numerous restaurants, etc.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Timişoara is not short of places to eat, from McDonalds to top class restaurants such as Casa Cu Flori. You can enjoy good Italian and Romanian food at Restaurant Maestro, at 5 minutes walk from the Opera Square.

[edit] Every budget

• McDonald's.  editLocated in Piata Victoriei. Near the "Dan Paltinisanu" Stadium you can find a McDonald's drive in.
• Stradivarius.  editLocated in Piata Unirii is well known for it's international cuisine and sandwiches.
• Pan Rusovan.  editLocated near Piata Victoriei, this small place is well known for it's sandwiches.
• Napoleon.  editLocated in the Student Campus it's a good place to eat a pizza or a hamburger.

[edit] Mid-range budget

• Club XXI.  edit Located in Piata Victoriei is well known for it's Romanian cuisine.
• Da Toni Pizza.  editLocated on Daliei Street is the best restaurant for enjoying Italian cuisine. The price for a pizza ranges from 5 to 10 €.
• Pasta e Basta.  editLocated near Piata Unirii is well known for very good Italian food, but is more expensive than Da Toni.

[edit] High budget

• Casa cu Flori.  editLocated near Piata Libertatii is well known for it's international cuisine.
• Marele Restaurant Chinezesc - Chinese Restaurant.  editLocated near Piata Badea Cartan, on Simion Barnutiu Street is the best asian restaurant in Timisoara. A meal will usually cost you around 10-15 €.
• River Deck.  editAlthough it turns into a club at night, during the day you can enjoy excellent fusion cuisine. But be carefull with drinks and desert you can easily pay 15-20 €.

[edit] Clubs

• River Deck.  editThis is Club The Note's summer location, on the bank of the Bega Channel. It's notorious for the week-end parties, but also for the excellent cocktails and the fusion cuisine. If you want to reserve a table for the week-end do it a week in advance, because this is one of the trendiest places in Timisoara. Entrance fee around 3€.

• Club The Note.  editProbably the best club in Timisoara. Well known for it's cocktails, week-end parties and concerts with famous guests. For a reservation you need to call days in advance. Entrance fee around 3€.

• Heaven Outdoor Club.  editHeaven Club's summer location, near "Dan Paltinisanu" Stadium. It is one of the best clubs in Timisoara, famous for it's guest djs and week-end parties. Entrance fee around 3€.

• Heaven Club.  editJust recently opened, in 2007. It's the largest club in Timisoara and it's famous for the week-end parties and the rivalry with Club The Note. If you want to reserve a table you need to call days in advance. Entrance fee around 6€.

• D'Arc Club.  editA well known club in Piata Unirii. Located at the basement of an old building, is notorious for the Thursday Night Party and for being overcrowded. No entrance fee.

• Club 30.  editLocated in Piata Victoriei and known for the retro music played here. It's a nice club, but it tends to get overcrowded.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Hotel La Residenza.  editShakira stayed here for her concert.
• Hotel Continental.  editThe best known hotel in Timisoara.
• Hotel Elysee.  editThe only 5 star hotel in Banat. It's located near Timisoara, in Sacalaz.
• Reghina Hotels.  edit
• Perla Hotels.  edit
• Hotel Ambassador.  edit
• Hotel Savoy.  edit
• Hotel Boca Junior.  edit
• Other 3 star hotels like Hotel Strelitia, Hotel Pacific, Hotel Royal Plaza.  edit

The accomodations in Timisoara are good if you stay at a 3 star or plus hotel.