If you’re a regular reader here, you probably know that I’m a little biased when it comes to writing this article. Oradea is one of my favorite cities in Romania, and I consider it one of the most beautiful and fastest-growing in the country.
I’ve spent enough afternoons wandering its squares to have opinions about which building you should photograph first and which one you can skip if you’re short on time. And this is what we’re going to talk about today, plus a lot more: ALL the things you should see and do in Oradea.
But here’s what makes Oradea worth your attention even if you’ve never heard of it before: it’s the only Romanian city that belongs to the international network of Art Nouveau cities!
Walk five minutes in any direction from the center and you’ll pass buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in Vienna or Budapest, sitting next to a medieval citadel that’s been rebuilt more times than most cities have been founded.
But now let’s focus on today’s topic and see the best things to do in Oradea, Romania.
1. Oradea Citadel
The Citadel is the city’s headline attraction, and it earns that spot easily, thanks to massive recent renovations.
At the same time, it blends so well with the city overall that you might not even know that you enter it. That was (almost) the case when we last visited.
It’s a pentagon-shaped fortress with five bastions at each corner, each with its own name and its own story: the Golden Bastion (named for the gold leaf that once covered its roof), the Bethlen, the Crăișorul, the Red, and the Ciunt (or “Blunt”) Bastion.
Inside the walls, you’ll find the Princely Palace, built between 1620 and 1629 for Gabriel Bethlen, which now houses part of the Oradea City Museum, along with workshops, a small art gallery (including outdoor ones like the tree you can see below), and rotating exhibitions.
Simply walking around this area is a must. You can also spend more time enjoying delicious dishes at one of the few restaurants here. They’re among the best in Oradea, but expect to pay a premium for their location.
Entry is free to walk the grounds and the surrounding park, and the museum sections charge a small admission fee.
If you want even more, I recommend this Food, Wine, and Sightseeing Tour in Oradea. It ends at the Citadel and includes tasting more than 10 different types of food and 6 different local wines. Plus, an extra chance for meeting new people and creating memories that last a lifetime.
2. Unirii Square
We can call this the heart of the city. This is where you will find some of the individual attractions mentioned in today’s article, like the Black Eagle Palace, the Church with a Moon and more.
An absolutely amazing place to walk through and enjoy, the Unirii Square offers a mix of architectural styles, from baroque to classical and modern.
Well maintained and the place were various festivities and events take place during the year, it’s definitely the best place to be in Oradea. Or at least the best one to start your adventures.
As you can see in my photos, many of the impressive buildings were being renovated when I visited, but even so, the place is still beautiful and, even though small, it can keep you busy for a LONG time.
3. Palatul Vulturul Negru (Black Eagle Palace)
A real jewel, right in the heart of the city and accessible from the Unirii Square, this palace is built in a Y shape, with three entrances marked by a black eagle.
The palace was built back in 1903 over an even older building dating back from 1700.
Once inside, you will walk through an absolutely breathtaking inner passage covered with colored glass and looking like a fairy tale brought to life.
Also there, you will find various shops and restaurants (and even a bank) – but I was surprised to see many spots abandoned when I last visited. Probably the rent is also royal there.
Still, the entire place remains a jewel that only takes a few minutes to walk through.
Also read: Best castles to visit in Romania
4. The State Theatre and King Ferdinand Square
A short walk from Unirii Square brings you to King Ferdinand Square, dominated by the neoclassical Oradea State Theatre, designed in 1900 by the Austrian architects Fellner and Hellmer, the same behind the Vienna Opera House.
It’s a smaller, quieter square than Unirii, but the building itself is one of the more impressive pieces of architecture in the city.
And, as you can see from my photos, it’s the perfect place to take some of the best photos in the city.
Finally, if you want to wake up every day to this view, book your stay at the Astoria Grand Hotel. Just look at it, and you’ll see why it’s a must:
5. The “Dormition of the Mother of God” Cathedral (aka the “Moon Church”)
The Moon Church (Biserica cu Luna or “Moon Church”) is one of the city’s main attractions thanks to the metal moon that’s mounted on the tower of the church.
The moon is powered by a mechanism that makes it rotate at the same speed as the real moon around the earth.
It is said that the entire contraption is the only one in Europe – not sure if this is an urban legend or not, but either way, it’s impressive.
The Cathedral itself looks amazing both from the outside and inside – and since you can visit it for free, I see no reason why you shouldn’t.
6. The Greek Catholic Cathedral “Saint Nicholas”
Right across the street from the Moon Church sits this catholic wonder. I just love how they are built, facing each other, showing that faith can just coexist, no matter what your main beliefs are.
It’s the seat of the Romanian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Oradea Mare, built between 1800 and 1810 in a restrained, classicist Baroque style that favors clean pilasters and arcades over ornament, which makes it feel almost austere next to its neighbors.
But it is incredibly well-cared for on the outside and I took a gazillion photos with all the beautiful flowers and arrangements there. I am sure you will, too.
Once you get inside, though, any thought of austerity vanishes. The iconostasis is the main reason to walk in: three tiers of icons, painted by Antal Szirmai in a Western eclectic style rather than traditional Byzantine iconography, wrapped in gilded garlands and slender columns.
Also, this is where you can see one of the oldest operating pipe organs in the country. Located in the Catholic Cathedral, the organ was built in 1780.
7. The City Hall Tower
There’s no better place to get a jaw-dropping panoramic view over the entire city than from the City Hall’s tower.
It’s a long climb all the way to the top – and it’s pretty narrow – but it’s also worth doing at least once.
8. Walk the Republicii Square
This is the pedestrian spine of the city, and it’s where I’d send someone visiting the city for the first time, maybe even before checking out the citadel.
The area has improved a lot over what you can currently see on Google Maps, and it’s absolutely beautiful. We always took a stroll on that street during our most recent stay in Oradea.
It’s been one of the city’s most important streets since the late 19th century, and it’s lined with Art Nouveau palaces, amazing architecture, statues, cafes, and restaurants with outdoor seating that make it easy to lose an afternoon here without trying.
The Moskovits Palace and Rimanóczy Palace, both pictured below, sit along this stretch, and they’re worth slowing down for rather than walking past:
Note: If you’re not the DIY type, I recommend this quick guided walking tour of the area (with food tasting).
9. A stroll along the Crisul Repede Promenade
The river that divides the city in two is a great place for a stroll. With beautiful views along the way, it’s a walk you will never get tired of – especially in the central area of the city where most of the other attractions are located.
And if you feel extremely adventurous, you can go outside of the city for a Rafting or Kayaking trip on Crisul Repede.
10. Nymphaea Aquapark
One of the largest aqua parks in this part of Europe and a mighty impressive one, the Aquapark offers you the chance to relax during the hot summer days and enjoy the various pools and entertainment options offered here.
The entire aquapark is still in a great shape, clean and beautiful – a mix that you will rarely find in Romania.
It offers some thermal pools to accompany the traditional ones, so you have all the excuses to go there for the benefits of the thermal baths. And the fun, of course!
It is very close, in terms of quality, to Therme in Bucharest (although not quite there yet). Still, a great way to spend a hot summer’s day! Check out the Nymphaea Aquapark official website for prices and more info.
Bonus: Baile Felix (the Felix Baths)
Just 9 kilometers away from Oradea, we have Romania’s largest thermal spa resort. Although a bit left behind in terms of development and rehabilitation, it remains a great place to visit especially during the summer.
You have plenty of hotels and private accommodation to choose from, as well as various pools – outside and inside, thermal or not – for an unforgettable stay.
Conclusion
A city of impressive attractions and a melting pot of various classical styles, Oradea remains one of the most beautiful cities in Romania.
There is always something to do here, from visiting the major attractions to walking around the city and discovering new, smaller – yet just as charming – places of interest.
Oradea also hosts a zoo, a botanical garden and various other hidden gems that you can discover during your stay.
But the most important places to visit are mentioned above so make sure to at least check those off your list! Simply starting walking around the city center area will keep you amazed – and you will eventually stumble upon most of these main attractions.
I recently wrote an article about living in Oradea – make sure to read it as well, because I’m sure you’d now like to make it your home. Right?
Do you have other favorite places in Oradea? Share your thoughts and experiences with us all by commenting below!
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.
I don’t see any old comments underneath this article, so here goes. Oradea looks like it has a lot to offer. Did the city have a lot of importance during Austro-Hungarian Empire times? I bet there are good train connections to Budapest, but Bucharest must be a distant destination accessible only by airplane.
The citadel in Oradea means that there was some action seen over the years (the citadel itself being destroyed and rebuilt a few times), but apart from that, it wasn’t necessarily a city of massive historic importance. It was a big city with a focus on arts and education.
Regarding getting from Oradea to Bucharest, indeed, the air route appears to be the easiest (I checked and currently the ticket is about 50 Euros and the flight takes 1 hour and 20 minutes). There is no direct train and it would take over 10 hours to get there by train anyway.