What Are the Best Neighborhoods to Live in Oradea? [Answered]

Oradea is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, and one of those places where most of the neighborhoods tell their own stories and have their own unique vibe.

So, if you decide to move to Oradea, whether it’s for your studies, for work or simply because you fell in love with the city and want to spend your life here, here’s a list of the best neighborhoods to live in Oradea.

A clean, modern and lovely place frequently compared to Vienna, Oradea has plenty of neighborhoods to choose from.

So instead of feeling overwhelmed by real-estate offers for apartments and houses for rent or sale, choose to listen to the stories of the best neighborhoods in Oradea and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each, in order to make the best choice for yourself!

Note: All map screenshots via Google Maps.

1. Olosig

If you’ve read my other articles, you probably observed that I usually place the center of every town in the top of each top of best neighborhoods to live in – but this doesn’t apply to Oradea.

If you’re a tourist and only want to live in Oradea for few days or few weeks in order to visit the town, I strongly recommend that you choose Olosig neighborhood. (Which includes, truth be told, the old town area.

The reason why I’m saying that Olosig may be the best neighborhood for tourists is the proximity to some of the most important touristic attractions of the city: the Olosig cemetery that was demolished by the communists and turned into a park, the fortress of Oradea, the zoo and the famous Nymphaea Aquapark.

Plus, it’s a quiet and clean neighborhood. Definitely a great choice for a few memorable days and it’s even better if you get a place with a view over the amazing nearby river, Crisul Repede.

2. Universitatii

The most frequent two reasons behind a decision to move to a new city are usually studies and work.

If you’re in the first situation and you’re a student moving to Oradea and aiming to live here during your years of University studies, then I’m pretty sure that your main interest is to live somewhere close to the University. As close as possible.

The last thing you want is to be forced to wake up two hours before your classes start, so that you have enough time to get ready and to take the bus to the University in order to get in time.

What you want is an apartment close to the University, so that even if you wake up 20 minutes before your schedule starts, you’ll still have time to make it to the first class in less then five minutes from your place.

Universitatii is a great neighborhood from this perspective. It’s the neighborhood where the University of Oradea is situated, and so it’s the one that can offer you the best proximity and the shortest way to it.

A big plus is that the zoo is also situated in this neighborhood, so whenever you feel exhausted you can have a quick escapade and see some wildlife, clearing your mind and re-connecting with nature to fill your energy reserves and get back on track.

3. Santandrei

Santandrei is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Oradea, and the interest for houses in this area has significantly increased during the last years.

The main reason is represented by the affordable prices for houses, which are so low that they can be compared to central apartment prices.

It’s a residential area, perfect for families and young couples due to the silence and high level of safety.

Permanently connected to the town, this residential area is modern and peaceful, a perfect choice if proximity to the center of the town isn’t a must for you because you have a car or simply want a peaceful place.

If you dream to live in a house, this is your chance to make your dream come true for the lowest rates!

4. Oncea

It’s the same story as for Santandrei: Oncea is another safe, clean and quiet neighborhood in Oradea, which has lately raised the interest in living there due to the low rates for houses.

There are big, spacious houses which offer the same modern standards as apartments from the town, but better quality of life and the freedom of a house, not a block of flats.

So, again, if you want to live in Oradea and don’t have a strict workplace that would require you to live close to the center of the town, Oncea may be a great choice for your budget and life standards.

5. Nicolae Grigorescu

The last one from the series of neighborhoods that I recommend for the safety, quiet atmosphere and low rates for houses is Nicolae Grigorescu district.

If you want to live in a house, both in a silent area and somehow well connected to the city, this is the winner.

The neighborhood has been massively developed and improved during the last years, and today many are looking for a home in the zone.

Grigorescu is also the best from the three house districts (Santandrei and Oncea are the other two), because it’s the closest to the entire city.

Far enough to offer the silence and peace away from the agitation of the center, but close enough so that it takes only a few minutes by car to get there or to the University, zoo and other important points.

6. Nufarul

If you want to live in Oradea and one of the reasons that determined you to make this choice was the proximity to Baile Felix, Nufarul is your neighborhood.

If you’re moving to Oradea for the opportunity for frequent weekend escapades to the swimming pools and thermal water treatments, but also want to live in a quiet area, then Nufarul may be the best choice for your stay in Oradea.

And that is because the neighborhood is located in the south of the city and it’s the closest neighborhood to Baile Felix. The natural reservation of water lilies is also the source from where the name of the district Nufarul (which means water lily) originated.

Additionally, it takes only few tens of minutes to get there from Nufarul, while you are also connected to the entire town. Shops and supermarkets are in the immediate proximity, whereas the district is a very clean and beautiful one.

7. Dimitrie Cantemir

Located to the north of Nufarul neighborhood, Dimitrie Cantemir is even closer and more connected to the heart of Oradea. It’s a small district, with plenty of blocks of flats, and one of the first choices of people who want to move to Oradea to live there.

The main reason why Dimitrie Cantemir is amongst the best neighborhoods to live in the city is the the proximity to all points of touristic attraction or local interest in Oradea.

To these, there are added the safety and cleanliness of the area and, of course, the numerous offers and wide variety of apartments that you can choose from.

The main disadvantage of this neighborhood is the small number of green areas and parks.

It’s mainly buildings that you’ll see during your walks on the streets of this district. If you’re looking for parks, squares and shops, Olosig and Rogerius would probably be better choices for your interest.

8. Rogerius

This one is a go-to choice for both cases, whether you want to move to Oradea and live here for a long while, or you want to visit Oradea and need a nice stay for a few days.

In the first case, Rogerius is a great choice because it’s close to the center of the town, it’s safe and clean, there are green areas and shops, and it’s one of the best developed districts in town.

In the second case, Rogerius is a perfect option while visiting Oradea because there are plenty of hotels where you can choose to stay, and the train station is also located in the east point of this district.

If you travel by train, proximity to the train station will certainly be a major interest for you, while the proximity to all the other touristic attractions in town will also represent important advantages.

9. Orasul Nou

I kept the gem for the ending, the best for the last. Orasul Nou is the most central neighborhood in Oradea, a perfect choice for all categories of people who want to live here: from students to tourists, couples and families.

You’ll have the best restaurants and cafes right to the ground floor of your building, and you’ll be able to enjoy a coffee early in the morning just at the corner of your block.

If you’re here for work, proximity to business buildings, supermarkets and offices is guaranteed.

If you’re here to study, the University is close. And, if you’re a tourist, the Zoo, the parks, museums, city hall and fortress are only few steps away. A perfect neighborhood for everybody who wants to live in Oradea, no matter how long or what for.

The slightly higher prices are the only disadvantage of this neighborhood. But I think they are compensated by the beauty of the area, especially for those apartments that have a view to the Crisul Repede River, as Orasul Nou neighborhood is situated along this river.

Conclusion

In the end, you can choose any neighborhood from Oradea if proximity to certain areas isn’t a priority for you.

If safety is your only concern, know that Oradea is considered, according to some complex studies, the safest city from the entire Romania.

As a result, any neighborhood you’ll want to live in will represent a successful choice. Safety should be your last worry in Oradea.

These being said, I hope that my top of the best neighborhoods to live in Oradea helped you get to know the town a little better and find some new things from the stories of each neighborhood.

Choose the one where you feel you’d best fit, or which you know that will best meet your needs, standards and expectations. And, no matter how much time you’ll live here, I hope you’ll have a great time in Oradea!

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