A Digital Nomad Guide to Timisoara

Timisoara Visa

Romania is part of the EU, so entering is relatively simple for most nationalities; however, it is not part of the Schengen area. There are various visa options depending on your nationality, and it is always advised to check with your embassy before planning a trip. 

Make sure you know how long you can stay and what you need to prepare beforehand.

If you hold a passport from an EU country, you can enter visa-free; you just need to show that your passport is valid for three months from the entry date. You will be able to stay for 90 days, and you can work and have the same rights as you do back home in your EU country. This does not count towards your 90 days stay in the Schengen zone. After 90 days, you will need to register with immigration to obtain a residency card if you plan on staying for longer than 90 days.

Several countries also get visa-free entry into Romania for 90 days, including most countries in Europe, Australia, North, Central, and part of South America. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days and are not from the EU, you may need to obtain a category D visa for an extended stay. This is usually obtained from a Romanian embassy in another or your home country before your arrival. 

All other nationalities will need to obtain a visa from the Romanian embassy in your home country before your arrival. A complete list can be found at onlinevisa.com.

Culture and Food in Timisoara

Romanians love food, and it is an essential part of their culture. They have many traditional dishes, most of which are seasonal and are often cooked on special holidays. It is common for most recipes to use rich and hearty ingredients. This often links back to cultural traditions in order to survive harsh winters and rugged terrains. Timișoara has many restaurants serving a selection of traditional meals and dishes so you can get a taste of local cuisine. 

Romania’s seasons vary dramatically, with often long hot summers and cold, harsh winters, so the food often reflects the seasons. It is generally warming and full of fats and nutrients to get through the brisk winters. Sarmale is the national dish, and it is commonly eaten throughout the winter, especially on national holidays. Some of the most common specialties in Romania to try are sarmale which are cabbage rolls, mămăligă which is a polenta; Mici, Pomana Porcului, which is a pork specialty and Jumări, which are essentially pork rinds. As for deserts, you have to try Papanași and Cozonac. 

Best restaurants in Timișoara

There are several highly rated restaurants in Timișoara, some offering the best of traditional cuisine, and some offering more modern and international cuisine. One of the best places to check out is Kiosk, a fast-food-style restaurant making some of the best burgers in town, as well as Dodo Bistro Boutique. Restaurant Sabres is great for Mediterranean cuisine. If you are looking for breakfast or brunch, check out Grab & Go, as they serve some of the best breakfast sandwiches and burgers. 

Traditional Cuisine

There are lots of traditional restaurants in the city, but many can be pretty touristic and are often a little more expensive, so here is a selection of some of the better-quality traditional restaurants to visit. Miorita, Beraria 700, Nora Restaurant, and Sky Restaurant are the best in the city for trying traditional dishes. Timisoareana Restaurant serves a lot of wild game, and Nora restaurant is noted for its generous portion sizes, especially the mici or other grilled meats.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Due to the growing popularity of Timișoara, the vegan and vegetarian options are ever-growing, with already a great selection of varied dietary options. The best places to check out are Biofresh, Suppa Bar, Homemade, The Sandwich Factory, and Yamy Bistro. Many restaurants in the city will cater to dietary needs, but these are just some of the great places to check out that have a wide variety of vegetarian and sometimes vegan options.

Timisoara Nightlife

Timișoara is a lively city with a lot going on in the evening, from late-night bars to nightclubs and theatrical shows. Depending on how you want to spend your evening, you will find something to suit every mood. 

Bars

Timișoara has a great selection of bars; some are more casual than others, so here is a breakdown of which bars are better suited to different types of an evening. If you are looking for something a bit more sophisticated like a cocktail bar, then Cabinet 3, The Scotland Yard, and Atmosphere. If you like rooftop bars, then also check out Sky Restaurant.

If you are looking for something a bit more casual, then Storia, Like Pub, The Drunken Rat and Manufactura, a live music bar, and The Charlatans Pub. Biblioteka is also another cool spot, selling beers from the bottle and casual bar food. 

Nightclubs

If you are looking to dance the night away, then you are in luck as there are a few nightclubs in Timișoara all offering a slightly different vibe, music genre, and atmosphere. Some of the best are Escape Venue, and D’Arc. Most clubs don’t charge an entrance fee, but there may be extra charges to get in if their special events. 

Theatre

If you want an evening of fine entertainment then why not go and see a show at the theatre. A tradition that is a remnant of communist times is going out for entertainment. Due to the lack of television channels, visiting the theatre was very common or seeing a show for evening entertainment. The National Theatre of Timișoara is regarded as one of the best in the city, and you can find tickets for performances starting at around $15 USD. 

Tours

If you want a relaxed evening exploring the city, then there are several walking tours that take place in the evening. You will find sunset walking tours to city lights tours in Timișoara. Tours vary in price depending on what is included; for example, there are the simple walking tours which tend to be tip-based, and then you have tours such as the food walking tour, which includes a selection of regional food and drinks and will tend to have a set fee.

Things to do in Timisoara

Timișoara is a great city and has plenty for you to do regardless of your interests, whether it is sightseeing or relaxing in the evening at a casual bar. 

• Museums and Galleries

  There are several museums and galleries in Timișoara, so you are pretty spoilt for choice. If you are looking for history, then Museum of the Communist Consumer, Revolution Memorial, Museum of Banat, Banat Village Museum, and the Military Museum are some of the best. They showcase a wide variety of Romania’s history, from daily life to wars and traditions. If you want to visit some art galleries, then make sure to check out Timișoara Art Museum (Muzeul de Artă) as it has the best selection of art in the city and is located in the Baroque Palace.

• Roses Park

  Timișoara is often referred to as the city of flowers, primarily due to the number of parks in the city and beautiful flower beds that line the pathways. Roses Park was designed for the Universal Exposition in 1891 and has had a turbulent past. Although it was designed as a rose garden for when Emperor Franz Joseph I was a visitor, during the first world war, it was used by cavalry, and then after being restored back to a rose garden, it became the largest rosarium in eastern Europe in 1934. If you visit during the summer months, outdoor movie screenings and events often happen in the park.

• Union Square

  Piaţa Unirii, or Union Square in English, is one of Romania’s oldest and finest squares. Built in the 18th century, this beautiful area of the city boasts Venetian architecture and is one of the best-kept squares in the country.

• Victory Square

  Although Union Square is possibly more famous, Piaţa Victoriei is well worth a visit. The pedestrianized square is lined with cultural amenities and two important monuments; the cathedral and the opera house. The area has beautiful pathways with colorful flora along the flower beds and a midcentury fountain.

• Historic center

  If you like architecture and appreciate the old towns of major cities, you must check out this part of Timișoara. The city was once constructed in a citadel and followed a circular plan. Everything is walkable, and you will find many cute cobblestoned streets and alleys to wander through. This is where the city gets its nickname “Little Vienna” from. This is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a coffee whilst watching the world go by.

• Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral

  This is a stunning piece of architecture and is recognized for its unique qualities and efforts in construction. The neo-Byzantine Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral is situated in its area, surrounded by a beautiful park just on the south side of Piaţa Victoriei. The design was inspired by the Medieval Byzantine churches of Moldavia in the east of Romania.

• Walking Tour

  There are a number of walking tours in the city; some focus on architecture, some on food and culture, and others have different themes, such as the country’s communist past. These can generally be found online or from tourist information centers. Make sure to shop around and see what interests you; most cities do a free walking tour that is donation based and this can be a great way to explore the city and learn more about its history. Some of the specialized walking tours can start at around $15 USD per person.

• Botanic Park

  The Botanic Park is a beautiful place to sit and enjoy peace, especially during the summer when the weather is warm and the days long. The botanic park is located just Northwest of the Old town, just outside the old citadel walls.

• Bega River Boat Tour

  If you want a relaxing few hours of floating down the river, then check out a boat tour on the Bega River. Most boat trips will take around 2 hours 30 minutes and give you a new perspective of the city. Prices can vary depending on what company you use, so make sure to ask around for the best deal.

• Opera House

  Visiting the opera has always been popular in Romania, and it is a tradition that stems from communist times. Sue to the lack of television broadcasts, it was very common for evening entertainment to take the form of visiting the opera or the theatre. If you are looking for a unique and affordable evenings entertainment, then make sure to check it out as you can get tickets for as little as $10 USD.

• Excursions and Day Tours

  Due to the fantastic location of Timișoara, it is possible to enjoy day trips and excursions without having to dedicate a full weekend away. Some of the most common day trips include visiting the nearby waterfalls such as Bigar waterfall, hiking to some remote villages, the Danube gorge, where you will see the King Decebal Statue, and visiting Nera-Beunita National Park. It is possible to rent a car and take yourself to a lot of these places, but sometimes it is nice to join a group. Romanianfreind.com is an excellent website to find small day trips from the city and seems to be of good value.

Best Time to Visit Timisoara

The weather in Timișoara varies dramatically depending on the time of year you visit. The summer months have lovely long evenings and warm temperatures, but the winter months can become very cold and have shorter days. Timișoara is located in the northern hemisphere of Eastern Europe, so the winter months tend to run from November through until March. 

In the winter months, it is common for the city and area to become foggy, and there can be harsh cold spells with temperatures dropping as low as -15°C (5F). The coldest month of the year is generally January, and some parts of the surrounding areas experience snow, and it can become very cold, especially in the mountainous regions. It has been known to reach extreme minimum temperatures of -23°C (73°F). 

The summer months tend to run from June/July through August, so if you want to spend a lot of time outside, these are the best months to visit Timișoara. The hottest month is July, with temperatures averaging around 21.9°C (71°F) with a record and rare heat of 41°C (105°F). The wettest month is June, so if you don’t like rain, it is suggested to avoid visiting at this time of year.

Timisoara for Families

Timișoara is a good city for families as it is small and easy to navigate as well as being one of the biggest cities in Romania. There are many conveniences in the city; it is full of history and things to do as a family. 

You may find that there is not as much choice in the city in terms of things such as international schools and hospitals as it is not the capital. Expat exchange is a great resource for finding out more specific information on a certain area and in particular for digital nomad or ex-pat families.

Being a student city means that there is a high chance of hiring an au pair or someone to help with childcare. Most students, especially those who study foreign languages, are always looking for opportunities to work with foreign families, so this could be a huge benefit for you and your family. As for schooling, there is the British International School which might be a good option for schooling in the city and as for keeping the kids entertained this could be a good place to start at finding after school clubs. Another option could be speaking with a coworking space and seeing if they have any contacts in the area that could help you settle in as a family. 

If your children don’t speak Romanian, they may struggle at first, but Timișoara is a very multicultural city and very accepting of foreigners. There are plenty of things for you to do with the family, such as boat trips along the river, visiting the surrounding national parks, visiting the zoo, and going to the museums and galleries in the city.

Living in Timisoara

Timisoara Transportation

Getting around Timișoara is simple as there are many transport options, from public transport, taxis, and rental bicycles. Timișoara has invested in developing the public transport networks in the city, and as a result, there are multiple bus lines, trolley services, and tramways. All information about public transport, including prices and timetables, can be found on Timișoara.com or the tourist information center.

Buses and Trams

Timișoara has an excellent bus network, with intercity lines and express lines taking you directly to popular locations around the city. You will need either tickets or an ACESS card; both can be purchased from the kiosks displaying STPT. Prices can vary depending on the type of ticket you purchase. For example, a single ticket can be used on multiple rides within 60 minutes of ticket validation and cost under $0.30 USD. If you are looking for day passes, then it will cost you around $2.80 USD, and you can use the buses as much as you like within 24 hours. If you are looking for long-term passes, then they offer then it is better to get the ACESS card; however, you will need to pay for it and use ID to get one, but it is worth it if you plan on using the buses daily. 

Bicycles Rentals

Timișoara Bicycle Rentals is probably one of the best companies in the city, offering competitive rates for bicycle rental. They display prices for short-term rentals, and to have a bicycle for 24 hours will cost you around $29 USD; however, they will quote you if you request a bicycle for longer. There is also a bike-sharing scheme called VeloTM, and to use these, you will need to sign up and create an account. The tariffs vary depending on how far you cycle and how long you rent a bicycle, but these can all be found online at the Velo TM website. You can pay by phone using the contactless card system used for most public transport across the city. The ACESS card can be bought at various places across the city, mostly in stations or kiosks, and might cost a small fee. Once you have it, you can top it up and then use it across the public transport network and on the bike shares.

Taxi

There are many taxi options in Timișoara; there are local yellow cabs as well as taxi apps. The most common taxi apps are Uber, Bolt, and Taxify, but you will find that many other taxi app companies are starting to appear in the city. The taxi apps allow you to know a fixed price before you ride, which can be more beneficial than yellow taxis. Sometimes drivers may try to charge you more if they recognize you are foreign, so always agree on a price before taking a ride; this is another benefit of using the taxi apps.

Fitness and Health

Keeping fit and healthy in Timișoara should be pretty easy as you have a wide variety of activity centers, gyms, and fitness classes on offer in the area. If you are on a lower-end budget, then there is always the option of free exercise too, which will work well in Timișoara.

Gyms

There are over 20 different gyms in Timișoara, so the best place to start is to look in the area where you will be living or near to the coworking spaces. This will help you decide where to go, as location will most likely be a defining factor into your workout schedule. Some of the best gyms in the city are the Gym One group, where each of their gyms is named after a number, so for example, there is Gym One three and Gym One 5. This is the best-rated group of gyms in Timișoara, and it may be possible to use your membership across locations. More information about what they offer can be found on their website or directly on the Facebook page for each gym. 

Fitness Classes

If you are into fitness classes such as yoga, then you will love being in Timișoara as there are a number of studios in the city. One of the best studios is Dharma Yoga Center, which offers a variety of memberships. Prices start at around $8 USD per session; however, you can bulk buy and get ten sessions for around $58 USD. Another yoga center to check out is Satya Center. 

Free Exercise Ideas

If you are on a lower-end budget and are looking to combine exercise with perhaps transport or for free activities, then Timișoara has plenty of options. There are local city bikes, so this could be a great way of combining keeping fit with your commute or transport around the city. Rather than take a bus, take a bike and get in a bit of exercise. Timișoara is also a great place for those who enjoy running due to its vast number of parks and green spaces.

Timisoara People

The people of Romania are passionate, hard-working, and very welcoming. Every time I have visited Romania, I have always had a wonderful time and have felt very at home. I am lucky enough to have many Romanian friends who have introduced me to their culture, love for good food, and beautiful country. 

Traditionally, Romania’s population was rural dwellers; however, this became less common since the communist era from 1947-1989. As industrialization became the norm, people moved to cities, which had a significant impact on the way of life in Romania. There are still small pockets of the country that follow this traditional way of life, but Timișoara is the largest city in the west, so this was hugely impacted. The largest population is ethnic Romanians, and most descend from the Daco-Romans, who were the group formed from the native Dacians and the Roman colonists. However, due to Romania’s widespread industrialization and urbanization, culturally, it is more in line with the Western world. 

Timișoara is a unique corner of the country as it is considered the capital of the Banat Region. The city was a part of the Ottoman Empire and then, in the 19th century, became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. This is possibly the most influential time period on the city as much development was designed and built in this time by Austrian architects. You will find that Timișoara is a multicultural city with many Hungarians and Serbians living in the city. 

Romanians are very religious, with most of the population identifying as Eastern Orthodox Christian. The largest faith is Christianity, with around 81.9% of the people choosing to be part of the Orthodox church. Only approximately 6.4% of the population identify as Protestant Christians, and only 4.3% identify as Roman Catholics. As well as being religious, Romanians love to celebrate a special holiday of festive of the year, and many celebrations will take place in Timișoara and smaller towns in Romania. 

Overall, the people of Timișoara are welcoming, accommodating, and fun to make friends with. The city is full of enthusiasm and positivity, especially from the youth who are fueling the city with creativity and energy.

Timisoara Insurance and Medical Care

Wherever you travel, it is always advised to have travel insurance for your belongings and your health. Romania is part of the EU, so their medical standards are up to a certain level, and care in Timișoara will be at a good level for the country. There should be English-speaking clinics and international hospitals offering a variety of treatments in the city as many students in the medical field will have learned English as well as possible other foreign languages. If you have an EHIC card, this will be accepted in some clinics in Timișoara, but you also have the option for private treatment. You may have to pay for treatment upfront and then get refunded by your insurance company. Always make sure to check the terms when taking out insurance. 

As for your personal belongings, make sure to have any expensive items covered on your insurance. While Timișoara is a reasonably safe city, petty crime is still existent. Busy places with crowds are popular hotspots for pickpocketers, so always be vigilant and keep your belongings close. It is also advised to keep expensive equipment out of sight when in public or keep them in a safe place. Timișoara is a smaller city, so there may be less chance of an incident than in, say, Bucharest, where it is the capital city and homeless rates are higher. There are many insurance providers for insurance of your gadgets and belongings as well as medical.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Timisoara

Finding a job in Timișoara may be challenging, depending on your industry and skills as it is not the capital city. This often means that many industries are based in Bucharest, so it may be a little limited on job options in Timișoara. One of the most significant job sectors in Timișoara is the tourism industry and anything concerning travel. If you already work in the industry, you may have a contact there or find a way to work through a pre-existing contact. A great way to find work is through the EU job scheme, which advertises jobs in other EU countries that accept foreign applicants and non-native language speakers. This, however, is only applicable to EU citizens. 

Another way to find a job is to approach companies before arriving in Timișoara. If you know of a company you would like to work for and have the correct skillset, email them in advance to see if they have any positions available. Another option could be getting a transfer with a company you already work for, so make sure to check if there is an office in Timișoara. Teaching English is another common form of work for foreigners in Timișoara, especially with the high student population, private language lessons are sought after. 

If you can’t find a job before going to Timișoara and have to obtain a visa for work, then volunteering may be a great alternative option for you. There are many volunteering projects in Romania, and the best way to find these is through workaway.com and goabroad.com.

Check out our Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.