Whenever I used to think about Romania, I had a very specific picture in mind. What I imagined couldn’t have been farther from reality. Especially when we are talking about Timișoara and its surroundings. This city, also known as Little Vienna, is easy to fall in love with. So easy in fact – I fell in love in just one day!

The special architecture, beautiful city squares, vibrant colors, styles and sights make Timișoara the perfect city for a short and affordable (cheap!) day trip. For anyone that is already convinced they want to visit ‘the city of flowers,’ I highly recommend spending your day in Timi this way!

Ovride Specialty Coffee

Strada Lucian Blaga 6 | First things first, of course, we always have to start our day with coffee. We decided to grab a cup at hotspot Ovride Specialty Coffee. This is THE place for coffee lovers and coffee lovers-to-be in this city. They offer espresso-based recipes and coffee from carefully selected places in Latin America and Africa. For anyone looking to get some work done, this is the perfect place to do so! It is wonderfully quiet and peaceful (just like the rest of the city).

Orthodoxe Kathedraal van Timișoara

Bulevardul Regele Ferdinand I | After our daily caffeine fix, it was time to discover the city! If you are into culture, we recommend you start at the Orthodox Cathedral: Catedrala Mitropolitană din Timișoara. You can’t miss it (literally!). Its eleven colorful towers and grand appearance caught our eye from afar. Fun fact, you can walk through it for free!

Victoria Square

Piata Victoriei | Right in front of the cathedral you will find one of Timișoara’s special plazas, Victoria Square. Surrounded by baroque buildings, tons of restaurants and the Opera House – I personally think this is one of the nicest squares in the city! This was a great place to grab a seat on a bench and people watch. Simply enjoying and being in the moment made me so happy (you can see just how happy I was below).

Freedom Square

Piata Libertatii | A little further and you will arrive at Freedom Square. Slightly less prestigious than the aforementioned square, but one of the oldest plazas in the city with several historical buildings and monuments. A great place to do a little shopping.

Biofresh

Strada Francesco Griselini 2 | Lunchtime! We didn’t find very trendy restaurants in this city, but what we did discover turned out to be exactly what we needed! The menu here is completely vegetarian and their dishes were delicious.

Union Square

Piata Unirii | Union Square has to be the most beautiful square here. Just look at all those colors! We spent about an hour taking pictures. We couldn’t get enough! The square is named after the two churches that are built opposite of each other. On one side you will find the Serbian Orthodox cathedral and on the other side the Roman Catholic cathedral: a ‘union.’ There are also a number of terraces that give you the opportunity to sit and admire the square. Perfect for dinner or a drink!

The special architecture, beautiful city squares, vibrant colors, styles and sights make Timișoara the perfect city for a short and affordable (cheap!) day trip.

Parcul Rozelor

Academician Alexandru Borza Street | Time left? Why not visit the romantic Rose Park (especially recommended in spring and summer) or rent a boat and sail on the river Bega? Not only is it very affordable, but it’s also incredibly fun.

Aethernativ

Strada Mărășești 14 | Is the day almost over? Then we MUST recommend our favorite bar in Timișoara: Aethernativ. This funky bar with its alternative vibes and courtyard is a hidden gem you’d rather expect to see in a city like Berlin. Not only did we meet tons of nice people, but we also ended our very short trip with a bang! With wine and exotic beers of course!