About Timisoara
Your complete guide to the Little Vienna of Romania — everything an Erasmus student needs to know.
Welcome to Timișoara
Situated towards the Romanian western border, in the heart of the Banat region, Timișoara is the country's third biggest city and one of the most multicultural places in Romania. Here you can meet people of German, Hungarian, Serbian, Ukrainian or Slovakian origin.
The city, whose history dates back to the 13th century, was under Hungarian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian dominance over the centuries. Each foreign influence shaped not only the city's architecture but also its mentality, making it open to novelty and innovation. It is the first mainland European city lit by electric lamps (12 November 1884) and the second city in Europe to have had horse-drawn trams in 1867.
Timișoara is also the cradle of the 1989 Revolution which led to the end of the communist era in Romania. Whether you prefer the outdoors — parks, bike rides, or rowing on the Bega canal — or indoors choices like clubs, pubs, cinemas, theatres, or museums, there's something here for everyone.
Explore more:
How to get here?
By Plane ✈
Timișoara Airport (TSR)
The city is served by "Traian Vuia" International Airport, located 12 km from the city centre. Airlines operating here include TAROM, Lufthansa, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Blue Air, Eurowings, and HiSky. Full info at aerotim.ro.
Connection to the city
- Bus E4 — Airport to city center (5 lei / 1€)
- Bus E4b — Airport to the central railway station
- Taxi — available in front of both terminals
Other Airports
If no direct flight is available, consider other Romanian airports: Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Sibiu, or Bucharest. Flying via Budapest (Hungary) or Belgrade (Serbia) is also very common and often cheaper, with easy shuttle connections to Timișoara.
By Train 🚂
Timișoara is a major railway hub connected to all major Romanian cities via the CFR network. The North Railway Station (Gara de Nord) is just 15 minutes from the city centre.
There are direct daily trains from:
- Budapest — ~4 hours, from 15€ one-way
- Vienna — ~8 hours
- Munich — ~15 hours
By Bus & Car 🚌
Direct bus routes are available from Hungary, Austria, Germany, Italy, UK, France, Spain and more. International companies: Flixbus, Atlassib, Eurolines, RegioJet. Check connections at autogari.ro.
By car, the A1 highway connects Timișoara with most European cities. Remember to buy a "rovigneta" (road toll sticker) when entering Romania.
Where to live?
Student Dorms
As an Erasmus student, your university may offer a room in a dormitory — this is the most affordable and social option.
- West University (UVT) — Căminul 13, ~40€/month
- Politehnica University (UPT) — Căminul 11, ~45€/month
- Agri. Science & Vet. Medicine — separate campus dorms
Dorms are in the lively university campus area, close to bars, pubs, and affordable eateries. Each room has two beds, internet, shared bathrooms and kitchen. Basic, but great value to experience real student life.
Renting a Flat
A two-room apartment typically costs 350–450€/month, varying by location (central = more expensive). Costs can be shared with other Erasmus students. Add electricity, water, and heating on top of rent.
Find listings on: Publi24, Imobiliare, OLX, Storia, Homezz, Romimo.
Getting around the city
Public Transportation — STPT
Timișoara's public transport network has 29 bus lines, 8 trolleybus lines, and 8 tram lines. Standard ticket price is 5 lei (valid for 60 minutes on all urban and express lines).
A standard monthly pass costs 160 lei (~32€), but with an ISIC or university student card, you can benefit from up to a 90% discount. Find timetables, maps and real-time traffic at stpt.ro.
Recommended apps: Transport Public and Info Traffic (Android).
Taxi
Reliable companies: Taxi AutoGenn (+40 256 988), Taxi Tudo (+40 256 945), Taxi Fan (+40 256 944), Taxi Radio (+40 256 940), Taxi Euro (+40 256 941).
What to wear?
Timișoara has a humid continental climate — hot summers and cold winters with no dry season. No matter which semester you're arriving for, you'll need both light and warm clothes, a cap, umbrella, sandals, and boots.
- May–September — nice weather with good average temperatures
- July & August — temperatures can exceed 35°C
- Warmest month: August
- Coolest month: January
- Wettest month: June — bring an umbrella!
- Driest month: February
What & where to buy?
Groceries
Popular supermarkets among international students: Profi (open 24/7, in the Student Complex), Carrefour (near campus and in Shopping City Mall), Kaufland, Lidl, and Auchan (in Iulius Mall).
Clothing & Malls
For clothes, head to Iulius Mall, Shopping City Mall, Bega Shopping Center, Galeria 1, or Euro. The city center and streets like Blvd. Constantin Brâncoveanu or Piața Maria also have shops with varied price ranges.
Other Useful Stores
Jumbo is perfect for gifts, party costumes, board games, clothes, notebooks, and electronics. It's located at the entrance to Timișoara and runs its own regular bus service.
Where to eat?
Timișoara has dozens of restaurants, pizzerias, and pubs offering varied menus from around the world. The most popular student option is the Daily Menu (Meniul Zilei) — soup, main dish, and optional salad/dessert for 35–50 lei depending on whether you eat in the Complex or the city center. Most places also offer free delivery.
Find restaurant listings (use a translator) at azilapranz.ro and timisoreni.ro.
Quick Bites
Shawarma/Kebab spots are everywhere — Student Complex, city center, and near most residential areas. Great for late-night snacks: small 20–25 lei, large 30–35 lei.
What to visit?
Timișoara — also called "Little Wien" — rewards curious exploration. Admire its diverse architectural styles shaped by centuries of foreign influence, take walks in green parks, or explore its many museums.
Must-See Squares
- Union Square (Piața Unirii) — picturesque Habsburg-era square featuring a Romano-Catholic and a Serbian Orthodox Cathedral facing each other, lined with pastel historic buildings.
- Victory Square (Piața Victoriei) — elegant baroque architecture anchored by the towering Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral (built 1936–1946) and the Opera building. In front of the Cathedral stands a memorial to victims of the 1989 Revolution.
Cultural Institutions & Attractions
- Romanian National Theatre and Opera House
- Hungarian State Theatre & German State Theatre
- Art Museum, Museum of the 1989 Revolution, Communist Consumers Museum
- Banat Village Museum
- Roses Park, Central Park, Justice Park, City Zoo (Pădurea Verde)
- Timișoareana Brewery Factory & Recaș Wine Cellar
Where to go out?
In the Student Campus
Karaoke at Like Pub, billiards at Joy Pub & Student Pub, or coffee at ATU Caffe Pub, Versus Caffee, or MGM Complex. From spring to autumn, open-air pubs near UVT & UPT: Șura, Vineri 15, Anturaj.
Clubs
- 4YOU BAR, Club D'arc, Heaven Studio, Epic Society, Fratelli Lounge, Club No Name, Bunker Club, Storia
Pubs & Bars
- Drunken Rat, Like Pub, Bugar'd Pub, The 80's Pub, Golan, Papillon Café, The Note Pub, Irish PUBlik House, Scottish Pub, Ambasada
For bowling, billiards, darts, and arcade: Play Again in Shopping City.
Book cafés like Cărturești (Piața Victoriei and Iulius Mall) and Cartea de Nisip are also beloved spots — read, work, or play board games over tea.
Festivals
Timișoara has a packed cultural calendar: Bega Boulevard Festival, PLAI Festival (world music), Jazz TM, House Parade, EuroThalia Theatre Festival, Timishort Film Festival, StudentFest, Wine Festival, Beer Festival, and many more.
Cost of living & prices
1 EUR ≈ 5 lei. Clothing, shoes, electronics, and books are priced similarly to other EU countries. Medical services tend to be less expensive.
| Food & Drinks | Price |
|---|---|
| 400g bread | 5 lei |
| 10 eggs | 13–15 lei |
| 150g yogurt | 3–4 lei |
| 200g butter | 14–18 lei |
| 1 kg apples | 5–7 lei |
| 1 kg chicken breast | 28–30 lei |
| 200g cheese | 15 lei |
| 2L water | 4–5 lei |
| 1L milk | 7 lei |
| 0.5kg coffee | 35–45 lei |
| 0.5L beer (bottle) | 5–6 lei |
| 0.75L wine | 25–35 lei |
| Pack of cigarettes | 28 lei |
| Restaurants | Price |
|---|---|
| Fast food menu | 30–35 lei |
| Daily menu (3 courses) | 35–50 lei |
| Small pizza | 30–35 lei |
| Large pizza | 45–55 lei |
| Kebab/Shawarma | 25–35 lei |
| Sushi lunch | 60–80 lei |
| Coffee / beer at pub | 12–15 lei |
| Cocktail | ~30–40 lei |
| Culture & Entertainment | Price* |
|---|---|
| Opera ticket | 40–50 lei |
| Theatre ticket | 30–40 lei |
| Museums | 15–30 lei |
| Cinema 2D/3D | 30–36 lei |
| Cinema 4DX | 50–55 lei |
| University Library (annual) | Free / 50 lei |
* With student discount applied.