We recently spent a few days exploring Oradea, Romania and while there we also visited some of the stunning Apuseni Natural Park. Oradea is a charming town, located in the north of Romania which is well worth visiting to explore the old town and architecture, the culture, and the surrounding nature. We had a fantastic time, and we really recommend Oradea as a quieter and very affordable city break. Here’s our full guide covering things to do in Oradea!
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Accommodation and Food
There are hotel options in Oradea, and this will cost anywhere between £20 – 80 per night for a couple. The price of course depends on your choice of standard and time of the year you visit.
We would however recommend looking for an apartment on Airbnb. We stayed in a modern apartment which was a short walk from the town centre, and we benefited from our own space, and a decent kitchen. The cost? Just £25 per night for a couple.
Eating out in Romania is also affordable compared to other European cities. We did a mix of enjoying the restaurants and cooking in our Airbnb. There’s plenty of restaurant options whether you are looking for international food, or something more local. Here are just a few of our recommendations.
The Dock: Located on the river front, it is a modern restaurant serving a range of dishes. It’s also a good spot to enjoy a drink.
Japanos Oradea: Is a Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Oradea serving curries, Ramens and Sushi.
Piaţa9: This is a great spot to enjoy a coffee or lunch. There are many fresh options available from sandwiches, salads and cakes.
Transport
We were lucky, as we were visiting friends with a car that made getting around and exploring things to do in Oradea much easier. We would recommend renting a car if you are wanting to also explore Apuseni Natural Park. However, Oradea is very walkable and there is public transport too. So for the city a car is not really needed.
We actually flew to and from Debrecen, Hungary. We used the train for this journey and have a full article if you are looking for more detail on How to get from Oradea to Debrecen by train or just train travel in Romania.
Things to Do in Oradea
Oradea has plenty to explore, and we enjoyed the laid back vibe and beautiful, well maintained architecture. Oradea has actually won awards for being an inspiring and sustainable destination. Here’s the main things to do in Oradea based on our experience.
Place de l’Union / Piața Unirii
This is a beautiful main square in the centre or Oradea surrounded by stunning architecture. It’s a quiet and enjoyable open space close to the river and many attractions. There are several other squares around the city too.
Tower of Oradea’s City Hall
This was one of our favourite attractions, offering the chance to climb the unique city tower and enjoy scenic views across Oradea from the top. The cost to go up the tower was around £5 per person.
Queen Marie Theatre / Teatrul Regina Maria
The Theatre is well worth a stop off when exploring Oradea. Like so many of the buildings, it’s very well maintained and beautifully designed. There are many shows and events too.
The Black Eagle Palace
Another stunning building is The Black Eagle Palace, with its magical stained glass windows. It’s home to many restaurants and shops.
Oradea Fortress / Citadel
Located a short walk from the city centre, is the interesting Fortress. The grounds are free to walk around and explore this part of history. There is also a museum located here.
Cathedrals, Churches and Synagogues
There are plenty of wonderful churches, cathedrals and synagogues to admire while walking around Oradea. We recommend seeing The Roman Catholic Cathedral, The Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral, and The Zion Neolog Synagogue.
Museums
There are also plenty of Museums to visit while in Oradea. The Museum of Oradea, Museum of the Crișurilor’s Country, Rodia Pharmacy Museum, and many more!
Oradea Riverfront (Crișul Repede)
The well maintained riverfront in Oredea runs right through the centre of the city and is a perfect place to stroll along while exploring.
Mushroom Hill
Mushroom Hill is the highest point of the city, and offers scenic views across Oradea. It’s perfect to spend some peaceful time, and is a great spot to enjoy the sunset from.
Apuseni Natural Park
If you are looking for more nature, then in less than 2 hours drive you have Apuseni Natural Park. There are caves, waterfalls and many hikes to explore. A great day trip from the city.
Bears’ Cave / Peștera Urșilor
While heading to Apuseni Natural Park, we recommend also visiting Bears’ Cave. This is a great opportunity to explore a magical cave, and learn about the bears which used to live there. The entry cost is just £7 per person which includes a tour guide. It was quite a large group and only provided in Romanian when we visited.
Aquapark Nymphaea
After exploring the city and surroundings for a couple of days, we enjoyed some relaxing time at the Aquapark Nymphaea. It offers a very good aqua park, saunas, and Turkish baths on the edge of the city.
Festifall
While in Oradea, we were lucky to time our visit with the amazing Festifall. This usually falls in October each year, and we would really recommend timing your visit with this for a truly fantastic free event across the city. There was amazing music, shows and events each day and we are tempted to come back next year.
Debrecen (Hungary)
Our last recommendation is to visit Debrecen in Hungary for a day trip if you have time. Located only 55 miles from Oradea, it’s a great chance to explore this Hungarian town. We have a guide on Things to Do In Debrecen if you are interested in visiting too.
Final Thoughts
We had an amazing time in Oradea, it’s very affordable and an amazing hidden gem, as we hadn’t heard of it until recently. There are so many things to do in Oradea, and we really enjoyed the laidback vibe, culture and beautifully maintained town. If you are looking at somewhere a little different to go for a few days, Oradea is the perfect choice.
