10 Awesome Things to Do in Timisoara for First-Timers

10 Best Things to Do in Timisoara

1. Admire the Beauty of Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral

Our journey in Timisoara begins at Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral, the city's most beautiful and striking landmark with its soaring spires and distinct Neo-Moldavian architectural style that makes it feel like a castle straight out of a fairytale.

Built in the mid-20th Century, the cathedral's architectural style is based on Romanian Orthodox, late Renaissance, Ottoman, and Byzantine architectural elements with a massive central dome at the center surrounded by four smaller ones, covered with intricately designed tiles making up the incredible spires.

Its central spire is more than 90 meters high, making it the second tallest church in Romania. The interior is also as impressive, featuring an impressively tall ceiling with every inch of it as well as the walls and floors, entirely covered in these beautiful murals and decors blending different architectural styles into its own unique style.

With its high spires that dominate the entire skyline of Timisoara, its distinct exterior straight out of a fairytale, and a large park surrounding the church, creating a beautiful green space in the middle of the city, Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral is hands down, one of my favorite tourist attractions in Romania.

Definitely one of the best things to do in Timisoara. The church is open from 6:30 AM to 7 PM every day, and there is no entrance fee to the church. If you just arrive in Timisoara and are not sure where to begin, you can start from the church as I did, and we will make our way across the city from here.

2. Be Amazed by the Flowers at Victory Square

Right in front of Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral, just across the road, you will find Victory Square, a large public park spanning around 50 meters (160 ft) across the center from the cathedral all the way to the National Theater.

The square's history dates back to the early 18th century when it was originally built for military parades but during World War II, the square was heavily bombed, and many of its buildings were destroyed. In the years following the war, the square was rebuilt and completely turned into a pedestrian area, lined with all kinds of shops, restaurants, and cafes you can indulge yourself.

One of the most prominent features of the square is the statue of Capitoline Wolf, a copy of the famous Capitoline Wolf in Rome that was donated by the municipality of Rome to Timisoara in 1926 as a symbol of Latinity that unites the Romanian and Italian peoples.

Victory Square is also known for its large fountains, beautiful sculptures, and beautifully landscaped gardens, with neatly trimmed lawns, flowerbeds, and trees, creating a beautiful area for people to hang out. If you are there in the summer, the whole square will be covered in these colorful flowers that dot the garden, making it even prettier.

There are a number of impressive buildings and architecture around Victory Square as well that you should check out like the National Theater, the Roman Catholic Church Holy Cross, and more so be sure to check them out while you are here.

3. Check out Liberty Square

As you make your way north, you will stumble upon Liberty Square, another impressive public square surrounded by beautiful buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with styles ranging from baroque to art nouveau to neo-classical.

Liberty Square has played many pivotal roles in Romanian and world history since it was built in the 18th century as a major marketplace for people all over the region to come and trade with each other.

In 1849, the square was the site of a major battle during the Hungarian Revolution, in which the Hungarian army was defeated by Austrian forces. Later in 1919, the square was also the site of the first public speech of King Ferdinand I of Romania, in which he declared the unification of Transylvania with Romania. This event is extremely important to the people here, and it is still celebrated to this day.

At the center of the square, there is a tall obelisk with a golden statue of the Archangel Michael, which was added in the 1990s as a symbol of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The obelisk is surrounded by a large circular fountain that adds an even more interesting feature to an already impressive town square.

Around the square, you will also find a number of interesting buildings like the Faculty of Music and Theater, Comenduirea Garnizoanei Timisoara, and more so be sure to check them out while you are at Liberty Square.

4. Hang Out at Union Square

Next up, we visit Union Square, the oldest town square in the city and probably my favorite out of all. The square features a vast public space with grass covering much of the square, dotted with statues, sculptures, and park benches, making it a great place to hang out in the evening.

The square is also the most important reserve of Baroque architecture in the city, housing some of the most valuable monuments of Timisoara, including the two impressive cathedrals, one Roman Catholic, one Serbian Orthodox, the Baroque Palace, the Plague Column, and more.

One of the most beautiful buildings at Union Square you should definitely check out is Casa Bruck, a colorful historic house in this stunning Secession architectural style that resembles those impressive European-style houses you see in Western Europe.

Other notable buildings in the square are the Serbian Episcopal Church, an impressive church with a unique and beautiful facade, Timisoara Art Museum, a large museum housed in the elegant Baroque-style palace, and St George's Cathedral which we will discuss more in the next section.

There are also a number of restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating you can enjoy as you take a break from exploring the city while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful architecture in the city.

I love Union Square, and I often frequent this place when I want to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view of the city in solitude. It feels like I was hanging out in an open-air museum here, which is awesome. Definitely one of the best things to do in Timisoara, so be sure to check out Union Square.

5. Check Out St George's Cathedral

One of the most prominent architectures at Union Square is St George's Cathedral, another impressive church that is considered to be the second largest Baroque religious building in the region, only second to Cathedral Basilica of Oradea, in a city northeast of here.

It was built by the Habsburg after the expulsion of the Turks, and it took them more than 17 years to complete due to the plague epidemic that brutally hit the city. Here is a fun fact for you. Something you might notice about this church is its not-so-tall dome design that contradicts those of other churches in the city that often feature soaring spires, dominating the entire cityscape.

Since the church was built during turbulent times, the church design was kept discrete with lower towers with the purpose of them not being an easy target during the war, truly a product of its time.

What's more interesting is the fact that this is a Roman Catholic church which goes to show just how diverse the people are here, as the majority of Romanians are Orthodox. If you want to see an impressive Catholic church in Timisoara, be sure to drop by here and check out St. George's Cathedral.

6. Learn why Timisoara is called the Revolutionary City at Revolution Memorial Association Museum

If you want to learn more about the history of Romania during the revolution in 1989 and why Timisoara is often referred to as the Revolutionary City, there is no better place to be than Revolution Memorial Association Museum.

This museum consists of several exhibitions that cover the events of December 1989 both at the national level (highlight the fights that took place in the main Romanian cities) and at the international level (the reaction in former communist countries in Eastern Europe) with a collection of photos, films, and stories you can explore.

The museum is open from 8 AM to 4 PM every day except on Sundays, and the entrance fee to the museum is 4 EUR per person. There is much to be learned about this part of Europe and if you want to learn even more about it, I highly recommend you go on a walking tour to learn more from a local guide.

7. Stroll Around Botanic Park

If you are looking for a nice quiet place to escape the bustle and hustle of the city, Botanic Park offers a variety of walking paths surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees you can lose yourself in.

The Botanical Park has an area of about 84,000 m2, more than half of which is covered by lawns and trees, making it one of the greenest spaces in the city. The plan of the park is designed to accommodate the variety of plant species (more than 1600 species) that you can explore along one of its many walking trails.

The park is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, and it is free to enter. If you are looking for a nice and quiet place to walk around and be among nature in Timisoara, be sure to check out Botanic Park.

8. See What's Happening at Roses Park

Another awesome park full of flowers you should check out in Timisoara is Roses Park, a beautiful park established in the 20th Century, known for its beautiful rose garden, which contains over 6000 rose bushes, making it one of the largest rose parks in Europe.

The park offers several walking trails surrounded by colorful flower beds that go around and along the river, providing a beautiful tranquil space for you to explore. No wonder why they called Timisoara the city of flowers. No matter where you look here, there are flowers blooming somewhere; it's awesome.

In addition to the rose garden, the park features an outdoor stage area where you can often find festivals, concerts, and other events happening here in the summer. If you are there during that time, be sure to drop by the garden and check out what's happening here. The park is open 24 hours, and there is no entrance fee to the park.

9. See What Life Was Like During the Communist Period at Muzeul Consumatorului Comunist

One of my favorite museums in Timisoara is Muzeul Consumatorului Comunist or the Communist Consumer Museum, located in an old building in the basement of a vintage bar that exhibits various objects and products that were available to consumers during the Communist era in Romania.

The museum's collection includes household appliances, electronics, toys, clothing, and food items, all of which were produced and sold during the Communist regime in Romania. These items are divided and categorized into rooms that retained their function the way it was during the communist era.

The purpose of the museum is to give us a glimpse into the everyday life of Romanians during the Communist period, as well as to provide a nostalgic experience for those who lived through it.

It is one of the most interesting places to visit in Timisoara, and the best part is the museum is completely free to enter. All you have to do is approach the bar and tell them you want to see the museum and they will let you in. That is it! The museum is open from 10 AM to 11 PM every day except on Sundays when it is open from 2 PM to 11 PM.

10. Stroll Along Bega River

Last but not least, be sure to spend some time and walk around the beautiful walking path that spans much of the bank of Bega River that runs along the city center.

From the river bank, you can see the beautiful Timisoara cityscape with the soaring dome roof of the Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral you just visited from afar. In the summer, the cafes and restaurants along the river spill over onto the bank of the river allowing you to absorb the lively vibe of the city.

You can also rent a bike and explore some of the tourist attractions along the river like Alpinet Park, a small beautiful Japanese park with the iconic red bridge, Water Palace, a nice renovated Baroque style building, Podul Metalic, a metallic bridge engineered by Gustave Eiffel of the Eiffel Tower himself, and so much more.

Best of all, there is not a whole lot of tourists hanging out here as they are often concentrated around the town square areas more, which makes for a great place to escape the tourist crowd, so be sure to spend some time and explore along Bega River.

Further Reading for Romania

• For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
• For a complete itinerary of Romania, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Romania Itinerary.
• A trip to Romania won't be complete without visiting Bucharest, the capital city. If you are planning to visit this city, here are the 14 Best Things to Do in Bucharest.
• Brasov is the gateway to Transylvania, and it is home to some of the most beautiful castles in Romania, such as Peles and Bran Castle. If you are looking to visit this beautiful city, here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Brasov.
• As one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Transylvania, it is hard not to recommend visiting Sighisoara. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Sighisoara.
• The second largest city in Romania, Cluj-Napoca, is one of the best places to visit to get the real feel of what it is like to live in Transylvania. To help plan your trip here, here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Cluj-Napoca.
• Known as one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, you can't travel all the way to Romania without visiting Sibiu. Wondering what some cool things you can do there are? Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Sibiu.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Romania, visit the Romania Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.