Timisoara Christmas market also known as Târgul de Craciun din Timisoara, takes place every December. 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 an added bonus.
If you are in Romania or are searching for an affordable December city break, Timisoara should not be overlooked! Keep reading to discover all you need to know about this market.
Find out more about Timisoara by joining this guided walking tour.
Related Post: Sibiu Christmas Market | Everything You Need To Know
2024 Dates & Opening Hours
The Timisoara Christmas market takes place from November 30th, 2024, until January 2nd, 2025.
The market will be open all day from 10 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 an ice skating rink on Piata Libertatii (Liberty Square).
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!
The price is 20 lei per person, and the Ferris wheel completes four rotations, it moves pretty fast too!
From the Ferris wheel, you can enjoy a view of all the twinkling lights of the market and the Orthodox church.
What To Eat At Timisoara Christmas Market
Arrive with an empty belly because there is a-lot 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.
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 exudes a trendy and youthful atmosphere, boasting numerous bars and restaurants. The three vibrant squares of Timisoara are adorned 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.
Best Places 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 hotels that are very central and highly rated!
Old Town Hotel (8.9/10) – newly renovated hotel located in the centre of Timisoara.
ATLAS Hotel (9.4/10) – centrally located 4-star hotel, rooms are large and modern, apartments are also available.
Opera Hotel (9.3/10) – new hotel, rooms are soundproofed and have a nice view of the city.
Getting To Timisoara
Timisoara’s airport is Traian Vuia International Airport. It’s relatively small, with only 5 airlines regularly operating from here: Tarom, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Eurowings, and HiSky.
Direct flights from Timisoara are available to destinations such as London (Luton), Rome, Munich, Barcelona, and Bucharest. For most other departures, you’ll likely need to take two flights. However, thanks to Wizz Air this is relatively easy due to their extensive list of destinations.
The best way to check flights is by using a comparison website such as Skyscanner.
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