Top 10 Things to Do in Timisoara for the First Time Visitor

Author: Corina Marcuti

A marketing girl who loves good coffee, good stories, and her hometown. Storyteller and tour guide at TimisoaraTourism. Follow her also on Instagram.

Timisoara is a city that has much to offer to travelers who are willing to give it a chance. This is the largest city in Western Romania and Romania’s third-biggest one, also known as ‘Little Vienna’ or as ’the city of flowers’, thanks to its many parks and flower decorations.  Plus, Timisoara will be the European Capital of Culture in 2021 which can only mean many cool and interesting events.

Unirii Square, Timisoara

Photo credits Daniel Engelvin

If you are considering a visit and are curious about which are the best things to do in Timisoara, here’s our list of top activities for first-time visitors.

1. Take a walk down the Corso

The Corso is the central promenade area of Timisoara. The term goes back to the early 20th century, and it describes the right-hand pedestrian area that starts in front of the Opera House and ends at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

This is where the local upper class used to go for walks on Sundays and public holidays. The ladies wore their best outfits and caught up on local news, while the gentlemen sipped a local beer in one of the bars located on the Corso. The left-hand side of this pedestrian area lacked pavement and was used by peasants, servants, and students.

Corso, Timisoara

Photo source: Timisoara Tourism

Nowadays, this pedestrian area has plenty of shops and cafes, with many busy outdoor terraces in the summertime. It is still a popular place to go for a walk on sunny days. The area hosts the city’s Christmas and Easter markets, as well as various cultural events.

2. Visit the Art Museum

Pay a visit to the local Art Museum hosted by the Baroque Palace, a building dating back to the beginning of the 18th century. The museum displays a regular collection that includes local art from the Banat region and European paintings. Plus, the Art Museum is one of the few in Romania accessible for blind people.

For the visiting schedule, check www.muzeuldeartatm.ro

The Art Museum, Timisoara

Photo source: Timisoara Tourism

3. Visit the Communist Consumer’s Museum

The story of the Communist Consumer’s Museum started a few years ago when one local bar owner started collecting objects from the communist decades. During that time, Romanians had limited access to goods and household items, and most people ended up owning very similar furniture or decoration objects.

The exhibits are used to recreate a typical Romanian apartment from the communist era. Stepping inside the museum feels like entering one’s home from a few decades back, crossing the small hallway to reach the living room, the bedroom, and the kitchen.

Communist Consumer’s Museum

Photo source: Communist Consumer’s Museum 

Visiting the museum is one of the best things to do in Timisoara because you can also enjoy a drink at the bar, theatre plays, or a chat with the locals while you’re there. If you are visiting in the summertime, don’t miss the bar’s big and cozy garden.

4. Enjoy the local beer

Timisoara is proud to have the oldest beer factory in Romania so do try a local Timisoreana beer when in town. Its story goes back to the late 18th century when a severe water shortage determined the Habsburg Empire’s authorities to start brewing beer. The tradition continues until this day. For fresh local Timisoreana beer, visit Fabrica de bere, a local pub you’ll find right next to the beer factory.

5. Go for a stroll on the banks of River Bega

Visiting local parks is a great way to experience a new destination, and Timisoara is the perfect place for this relaxing activity. Walking along the banks of Bega River is a great all-year-round activity, but especially in springtime when you can enjoy the lovely magnolia trees, while in the summertime you can stop for a cold lemonade at one of the many terraces here.

Walking towards the Elisabetin neighborhood, you can also admire some of the beautiful Secession architecture monuments of the city.

Bega River, Timisoara

Photo credits: b7sedbrain

6. Visit the Village Museum

The Village Museum offers a glimpse into the rural life of the Banat region as it once was. The open-air museum is structured as an authentic village, with a church, traditional houses, gardens, and even a watermill.

The Village Museum, Timisoara

Photo source: http://muzeulsatuluibanatean.ro

The museum is located in the outskirts of Timisoara, near the local forest, a lovely place to visit in the warm season to enjoy some fresh air away from the busy city.

7. Have a cup of coffee in Unirii Square

Unirii Square is one of Timisoara’s oldest squares, dating from the late 18th century, displaying a fascinating architectural mix of Baroque and the 1900s Secession style. One of the best things to do in town is to relax at one of the many restaurants, bars, and cafes you can find here. It’s a great way to feel the local vibe, especially in the summertime.

Unirii Square, Timisoara

Photo source: Timisoara Tourism

8. Enjoy the city’s many events

Being one of the biggest cities in Romania, Timisoara has a very active nightlife. Party-lovers can enjoy themselves in the city’s many clubs and bars. From pubs to concert venues, the city has a bit of everything for all its visitors.

Timisoara also hosts many events and their number keeps growing after the nomination for the European Capital of Culture 2021. You can attend the European Festival of Performing Arts, music festivals like JazzTM and Plai Festival, various festivals dedicated to the ethnic minorities in Timisoara, and the film festival Ceau Cinema.

Jazz Concert, Timisoara

Photo source: Timisoara Tourism

9. Take a nature day trip 

Though Timisoara is located in the plains of Western Romania, this doesn’t mean that nature lovers will get bored if they decide to stay longer. Its location allows you, in fact, to easily reach some of Romania’s most beautiful natural attractions.

You can plan several interesting day trips from Timisoara to destinations like Retezat National Park, Bigar Waterfall, one of the most famous in Romania, the spectacular Danube Gorges, and the Semenic Mountains.

10. Take a guided tour

To uncover the city’s full charm, choose a guided tour with a local. You will have the opportunity to find out more about how the city developed over the centuries and under different rules, how the Romanian Revolution first started in Timisoara and how the city’s cultural life evolved in a multi-ethnic environment.

Change of the guards

Photo source: Timisoara Tourism

These are our top choices of things to do in Timisoara for first-time visitors, a dynamic city that is constantly changing and has a lot to offer to both its locals and tourists.