Hands up, I admit I never heard of Timisoara, it only appeared on my radar when I stayed in Bucharest and wanted to explore more of Romania. Timisoara, pronounced “tee-mee-shoo-a-ruh“, might not be Romania’s most famous city, but it is a city you’ll be glad you visited. Especially in December, when Timisoara Christmas Market comes to town, also known as Targul de Craciun din Timisoara. The city squares are transformed with big, colourful decorations, live music, and a lot of food!
I did not know much about Timisoara, but it kept popping up on the ‘best places to visit in Romania’ lists. It only made sense for us to spend our last few days in Romania here. The fact the Christmas market happened to be on was just an added bonus.
If you are in Romania or are searching for an affordable December city break, Timisoara should not be overlooked!
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2025 Dates & Opening Hours
The Timisoara Christmas market takes place from 30th November 2025 – 7th January 2026.
The market will be open everyday from 11 am until 10 pm.
Location Of Timisoara Christmas Market
The primary location of Timisoara Christmas Market is Piata Victoriei (Victory Square). Here you can find up to 50 stalls, a stage and Ferris Wheel.
Aside from Piata Victoriei, there is also an ice skating rink on Piata Libertatii (Liberty Square) along with lights and decorations around the city.
Where To Stay In Timisoara
Timisoara is compact, so wherever you decide to stay will only be a short walk to the city centre. Here are three of the best places to stay in Timisoara that are both central and highly rated, allowing you convenient access to the Christmas Market.
Recommended Hotels In Timisoara
$$$
ATLAS
Hotel
Centrally located 4-star trendy hotel with a FREE MINI BAR in all rooms. Spacious comfortable rooms with very big bathroom.
Breakfast is included.
$$
Old Town
Hotel
Newly renovated hotel located 5 minute walk from the christmas market. Rooms are modern and comfortable, there are also apartments available.
Breakfast is included.
15 minutes walk from the christmas market, this 3-star hotel is one of the best budget options in the city. Rooms are spacious and soundproof.
Breakfast is included.
What To Do At Timisoara Christmas Market
Ferris Wheel
No trip to the Timisoara Christmas market is complete without a ride on the Ferris wheel! Costing 20 lei per person, it goes around four times, out hold on as it goes pretty fast!
From the Ferris wheel, you can enjoy a view of all the twinkling lights of the market and the Orthodox church.
Food At Timisoara Christmas Market
Arrive with an empty belly because there is so much good food to eat at this market!
Some of the foods I recommend you try are:
- placinta cu branza – Romanian cheese bread
- langos – Hungarian fried bread
- kurtos kalacs -chimney cakes
- mica – small Romanian kebabs)
- bratwurst -is any trip to a Christmas market really complete without one!
Most food costs between 10 and 15 lei. Bring cash as many stalls have signs stating cash only.
Live Music
There’s a large stage set up on Piata Victoriei where you can enjoy a mix of traditional Romanian and rock music, along with live orchestras playing classic Christmas songs.
One night we were walking to dinner (Woktagon – Korean, it’s good!) down Strada Marasesti to a live orchestra playing Silent Night, if that is not enough to get you in the festive spirit I don’t know what is!
Is Timisoara Christmas Market Worth Visiting?
Absolutely, not only is the Timisoara Christmas market worth visiting, but the city of Timisoara itself is also incredibly beautiful and lively. In fact, Timisoara was named the cultural capital of Europe and is often referred to as the Vienna of Romania.
The city has a trendy and youthful atmosphere, with numerous bars and restaurants. The three vibrant squares of Timisoara are packed with restaurants; Piata Victoriei and Unirii offer the best food options. However, if you plan to dine at one of these restaurants, I highly recommend reserving a table in advance. We were turned away from the majority of restaurants we intended to visit because we did not have a reservation.
Is Timisoara Cold In December?
Pack your best winter clothes, because Timisoara gets cold, it might even snow! The average temperatures range between 9°C (48°F)and 2°C (35°F), however towards the end of December the temperatures can dip below 0°C (32°f)
Getting To Timisoara
Flying
Timisoara’s airport is Traian Vuia International Airport. Direct flights to Timisoara are available from destinations such as London (Luton), Rome, Munich, Barcelona, and Bucharest. For most other departures, you’ll likely need to take two flights. The best way to check flights is by using a comparison website such as Skyscanner.
Train
Timisoara is on a major rail line that connects Romania to the rest of Europe. The country has no high speed rail but there is a direct route to Budapest which takes approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Getting Around Timisoara
Timisoara is compact, you will likely end up walking between locations. however, if you perfer to take transport then you can use the city’s tram or public bus. Both are affordable and easy to use.
The easiest way is to download the 24pay app to purchase tickets for trams and buses in Timisoara.
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