Oradea is a city in Bihor county, in the North-West of Romania, close to the Hungarian border. And it’s also my hometown. I was born and raised here, and my family still lives in Oradea. It’s a really special place to me and I want to share the perfect Oradea 3 day itinerary with you.
I think the city of Oradea is a hidden gem in Eastern Europe that is starting to be discovered for its breathtaking beauty and charm. You might think I’m biased since it’s my hometown, so don’t just rely on my opinion. Based on public vote, Oradea won 6th place in the 2022 competition of Best European Destinations, surpassing cities like London, Rome and Vienna.
I have mixed feelings about sharing Oradea with you. On one hand, I want the entire world to know about this incredible destination. On the other hand, I want to keep it all to myself. But I decided to write about it because one of my goals for this blog is to break down stereotypes about Romania.
Oradea is the Art Nouveau capital of Romania. It has stunning architecture that rivals more well-known cities in Western Europe. The city hall has recently renovated all Art Nouveau buildings and the city looks incredibly beautiful and colorful.
If you like destinations that are less touristy then you will love Oradea. I’ll show you the best places to visit.
Oradea 3 day itinerary: Day 1
Republicii Avenue
The best way so start you visit to Oradea is with a stroll on Republicii Avenue or Calea Republicii, Oradea’s main avenue. It’s a long street with lots of colorful Art Nouveau buildings, shops, and cafes. It’s a popular hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.
Romania has a strong coffee culture. Espresso-based coffee is part of our culture and that’s why you can find cafes along the entire Republicii Avenue. One would think that there’s too many of them, but all of them have customers and are thriving, so that shows how much we love our coffee.
Unirii Square
At the end of Republicii Avenue you’ll find Union Square, or Piața Unirii. It’s the largest central square we have, and our city hall is also located here. New Years Eve celebrations, the Christmas Market, and concerts of all kinds are all hosted here.
You can find other Art Nouveau buildings in the square, a few more coffee shops, as well as two unique buildings I’ll tell you more about in the next sections: The Black Eagle Palace and The Moon Church.
Black Eagle Palace
The Black Eagle Palace is one of the most spectacular secession style buildings in Romania. Its history starts in 1714 when it used to be a small, one-story inn called the Eagle Inn.
It was rebuilt in 1807 and another floor was added. In 1835 it became one of the most important hotels in Oradea, the Eagle Hotel.
In 1903 the city hall started the reconstruction of the Eagle Hotel which was completed in 1908. During the reconstruction two buildings on two intersecting streets were connected by a passageway with stained glass which was inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The stained glass in the middle of the passageway has a black eagle on it, a symbol of the name and history of this important building in Oradea.
Both buildings united by the passageway were expanded to 4 floors, and 35 shops and cafes were opened in the gallery. The complex was also home to a hotel, two cinemas, ballrooms, a casino, and a bank.
The Black Eagle was recently restored, and the beautiful architecture looks as impressive as it did back in the day. Nowadays the passageway has multiple cafes and bars and is open 24/7 to the public. It is a must visit on any Oradea 3 day itinerary.
Moon Church
The Moon Church, or Church of the Moon, is a Romanian-Orthodox church built between 1784-1790. It was named the Moon Church because of a unique mechanism in Europe, located on the church tower.
The mechanism is intended to set in motion a sphere with a diameter of 1 meter, in the shape of the moon, painted half in black, half in gold. This sphere moves according to the rotational movement of the Moon around the Earth and shows all the moon phases.
City hall tower
The city hall is also located in Unirii Square. It was built between 1902-1903. The building has a tower that’s about 50 meters tall and it is open to the public.
There are 4 levels during the climb to the top. The first level has the city hall clock mechanism. This clock plays the song “The March of Avram Iancu” every hour on the hour. The other 3 levels offer viewpoints so you can see panoramic views of the city from different heights. This will be an unforgettable experience.
A ticket costs 10 Lei, which is the equivalent of about 2 euros. The tower is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Darvas-La Roche House
The Darvas-La Roche House is the first Art Nouveau Museum in Romania. The house was built between 1909-1912 in the Art Nouveau Secession style.
It was recently restored by the city hall and it opened its doors to the public in 2020. The house is decorated with stained glass windows, neo-rococo style furniture, and a mirror wall made of Venetian crystal.
A ticket costs 15 Lei, which is the equivalent of 3 euros. It is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Walk by the Crișul Repede River
My favorite place to take a walk in Oradea is by the Crișul Repede River. This is a river that cuts through the city center and the city hall reconstructed the promenades along the banks of the Crișul Repede river.
It’s a very scenic walk, offering some of the best views of the city. If you’re thirsty or hungry there are plenty of restaurants and cafes along the way so you can grab a bite and take in the views.
Oradea 3 day itinerary: Day 2
Day 2 starts at the Baroque Complex, which consists of three buildings: the Baroque Palace, the Roman Catholic Basilica, and Sirul Canonicilor.
Baroque Palace
The Baroque Palace was built between 1762-1777 and is one of the most grandiose examples of Baroque architecture in Romania. It has 100 rooms and 365 windows, one for each day of the year.
It was designed by Viennese architect Franz Anton Hillebrandt as a sister palace to Belvedere in Vienna.
There is an English-style landscaped garden in front of the palace, and a baroque style garden behind the Western facade of the palace. The building and gardens were recently restored.
The palace used to house the Țării Crișurilor Museum from 1971 until 2016, when it was restituted to the Roman Catholic Diocese.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral
The cathedral was built between 1752 and 1780 and it is one of the largest Baroque-style churches in Romania. The church is still functional today and it is open to the public. Entrance is free.
Șirul Canonicilor
Sirul Canonicilor is an architectural complex consisting of 57 arches that link 10 consecutive buildings. It was built in several stages over 100 years, between 1750-1875. It is the perfect place to take some amazing photos!
Ciuperca Hill
The Ciuperca Hill, or Mushroom Hill, if you translate it to English, is a panoramic viewpoint of Oradea. At the top of the hill, you can also find a restaurant and cafe.
You can hike here by foot. It’s a pretty easy hike and it should only take about 15 minutes. You can also drive here. There is a large parking lot where you can leave your car while you enjoy the view.
Oradea Fortress
The Fortress is the first urban settlement in Oradea and it has a rich history. It was first built at the end of the 11th century, and it has a star shape. In 1619, the Transylvanian prince Gabriel Bethlen decided to build a palace within the fortress, parallel to its walls. The construction was completed in 1650 in a late Renaissance style.
The trench of the fortress used to be filled with a mix of thermal water from the Peța River and cold water from the Crișul Repede river. This combination prevented the water from freezing, which could have led to the Fortress being conquered during winter.
The fortress has been restored in 2015 and nowadays it houses museums, restaurants, and craftsman’s workshops. It’s also a place where the city hosts fairs and medieval reenactments.
Oradea 3 day itinerary: Day 3
Țării Crișurilor Museum
The Țării Crișurilor Museum is a museum that has over 450,000 articles on display. It is divided into five sections: history, archeology, art, science, ethnography.
It was opened in 1971 and until 2006 it was located in the Baroque Palace. In 2006 it moved to a new building.
A ticket costs 15 Lei, which is the equivalent of 3 euros. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am – 6pm between April 1 – October 31, and 9am – 5pm from November 1 – March 31.
Museum of Freemasonry
The Museum of Freemasonry is the only building in Oradea built according to the Masonic style. Therefore, the façade lacks windows, and it only has a neo-Greek style portico. The upper part of the portico includes neoclassical elements and Freemasonry decor elements.
The eight sphinxes on the roof add to the mystery of this building. Legend says that these sphinxes protect the members of the secret society from evil spirits.
The building housed the Saint Ladislaus Masonic Lodge for more than 20 years. Then it became a nursery for orphaned children, a kindergarten, a commercial enterprise, and before being renovated, it functioned as the headquarters of the Customs Directorate.
The museum opened its doors to the public in 2021. A Ticket costs 10 Lei, the equivalent of 2 euros. It is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 6pm.
Waterlily lake in Băile Felix
Băile Felix is a thermal water resort close to Oradea (about a 10-minute drive). People from all over the country and the world come here for thermal baths treatments, physical therapy, massages, and relaxation. The thermal water pools are open year-round.
If you don’t want to drive to Băile Felix to enjoy some pool fun, another great option is Nymphaea Aquapark, which is just a 10-minute walk from the city center. It has indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, spa services, and Turkish baths with geothermal water pools.
Besides the thermal water pools, you can also find waterlilies and lotuses in Băile Felix. The white and pink flowers are gorgeous and also unique to this area of Romania.
FAQs about Oradea
Where is Oradea located?
Oradea is located in the North-West of Romania, close to the border with Hungary.
How can I get to Oradea from abroad?
You can take a direct flight to Oradea International Airport from Bucharest. There are 2-4 daily flights operated by TAROM, the Romanian airline.
Although no major airlines currently fly to Oradea, starting in the spring of 2024, Oradea will have direct flights to London and Warsaw. These 2 major international hubs will connect Oradea to a lot more destinations. Once the flights become available, I will add the links here.
What language do people speak in Oradea?
Romanian is the official language. However, most people in Oradea speak English. And they also speak a little Spanish since we used to watch Latin-American soap operas in the 90’s and early 2000’s.
What is the weather like in Oradea?
Oradea has all 4 seasons. In the summer the temperatures are around 27-30+ degrees Celsius. In the winter temperatures are around -2 to 2 degrees Celsius. I would say temperature-wise Oradea is similar to New York City, but it’s not humid.
What currency do they have in Oradea?
The Romanian currency is the Romanian Leu. Romania has been part of the EU since 2007, but we are not in the eurozone, so our currency is not the euro.
Do I have to tip in Oradea?
Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. It’s a similar tipping culture to the rest of Europe.
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