Craiova

Getting there

1 Craiova International Airport (CRA IATA). Flights from Birmingham, Bologna, Charleroi, London-Luton, Milan-Bergamo and Rome, provided by Wizz Air. There are no domestic flights. (updated Mar 2024) Or fly into Henri Coanda Aeroport in Bucharest and then go by train to Craiova, which takes 3 hours. 2 Craiova railway station. There are 17 trains daily from Bucharest (3 hr 15 min, €12), 8 from Timişoara (7 hr, €20), two from Sibiu and one from Cluj Napoca. Online timetables and prices can be found here. The conditions in Accelerat trains are the same as those in Rapid or Intercity, but the price is lower. (updated Apr 2023) Autogara Nord the bus station is next to the railway station. Maxitaxis leave from there to Bucharest (30-35 lei, every 30 minutes), Piteşti (15 lei, two daily), Calafat (10-15 lei, at least two daily). Also some rural routes from here. Oz Murat travel agency outside the bus station runs a bus to Istanbul via Bucharest, departing at 10:30 daily, except Saturday (€90 return).

Getting around

By taxi There are a lot of taxis in Craiova. Price is about 2.30 lei per km and a start fee which is 2.30 lei.

By bus The tickets can be bought from special arbours (2 lei).

By tram The same tickets as for buses can be used.

See

1 Nicolae Romanescu Park (Parcul Romanescu), Nicolae Romanescu. 24hrs. A special sight in Craiova is represented by "Nicolae Romanescu" Park, with its picturesque character. Unique in Romania, this valuable architectural monument is also one of the most interesting accomplishments of its kind in Europe. Displayed at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, in 1900, the park's plans received the Golden Medal. The works began in 1901, under the supervision of the project's author, assisted by artists Jules Redont (his brother) and Emil Pinard. For two years, 50,000 seedlings of ornamental trees and shrubs, from among which many species difficult to adapt to our climate were planted. Thus, the park began to take shape: the lake and the two islands, the river, bridges, small waterfalls, alleys, "The Suspended Bridge", with its two gorgeous porticos, "The Enchanted Castle", "The Circular Hall", the deer's pen and the bears' cave, the pier and the restaurant on the bank of the lake, pavilions, greenhouses, imitations of rocks and tree trunks made of armoured-concrete. The park's inauguration took place in May 1903, and the celebrations caused by the event lasted for two weeks. Conceived and created like a romantic park with a surface of 90 ha, plus the lakes (4 ha) and the racecourse (20 ha), the park is unique in Romania, in its own way. Moreover, this is the second largest park of its kind in Europe, and the racecourse is the biggest in the Balkan area. In 1956, it was enclosed with a fence, the monumental portal at the main entrance being built at the same time. free. 2 Craiova Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta), str. Unirii, nr.15 (Close to Prefecturii Square.), ☏ +40 251 412342. 10-17. The Art Museum of Craiova is located in the sumptuous palace of the former magnate Jean Mihail. Built between 1899-1907, according to the plans of the French architect Paul Gottereau, the palace represents, stylistically, a rather free interpretation of the late baroque. The wealth of the patrimony, the quite elegant background, with Venetian mirrors, candelabrums of Murano crystal, Carrara marble staircases, walls with tapestry of Lyon silk, but specially the particular way the objects are displayed, have brought it to the attention of the visitors. At the origin of the museum is the "Alexandru and Aristia Aman" pinacotec, founded in 1905 and sheltered in the house of the Lăceanu family (Aristia's parents). Along the years, acquisitions by the City Hall or donations have been added: Cornetti, Glogoveanu, N.Romanescu, Jean Mihail. Taken over by the Museum of Oltenia in 1950, this rich

Do

Visit Art Palace. Visit Nicolae Romanescu Park. Football: U Craiova play soccer in Liga 1, the top tier. Their Ion Oblemenco Stadium (capacity 31,000) is 1 km west of city centre.

Buy

1 Electroputere Shopping Mall, Calea București 80, ☏ +40 251 435 556, fax: +40 251 435 557, [email protected]. Stores: daily 10:00-22:00, Auchan: daily 8:00 - 22:00. (updated Apr 2023) 2 Mercur Center Mall, Calea Unirii 14. 9:00-21:00. (updated Apr 2023)

Eat

The city has many restaurantes with decent prices and a lot of fast foods.

Budget 1 Shaorma La Rond, Bulevardul Nicolae Titulescu 14. Shaworma fare. (updated Jul 2022) 2 L'Assassino, Strada România Muncitoare 70. (updated Jul 2022) 3 Restaurant Il Forno, Calea București 14. (updated Jul 2022) 4 Red Onion, Strada Mihail Kogălniceanu Nr 17. (updated Jul 2022)

Mid-range 5 Amandina Pizzeria, Str. Popa Sapca. This is a straight pizza joint with pastries and a full bar. Mains €3. 6 Restaurant Rex, Str. Fagaras Nr. 3, ☏ +40 723 20 40 39. Middle price restaurant. (updated Jul 2022) 7 Minerva, Strada Mihail Kogălniceanu 1. (updated Jul 2022)

Splurge 8 Craft, Strada Eugeniu Carada 12. (updated Jul 2022) 9 Epoca Steak House & Wine Bar Restaurant, Strada Alexandru Macedonski 51. (updated Jul 2022) 10 Restaurant MRC House, Strada Părului. (updated Jul 2022)

Sleep

Basic 1 Pensiune Carmelita, Imparatul Traian nr. 41. Three star guesthouse in downtown. 130-180 lei. 2 Casa Craiova Nuova, 67 Strada Adrian Păunescu (end of street), ☏ +40 722 545 104. A lower-priced option in a tucked away homestay location, but with a nice garden and wood furniture. No breakfast sadly. 129 lei. (updated Jan 2021)

Mid-Range 3 Hotel Helin Central, Strada Alexandru Ioan Cuza 14, ☏ +40 757 666 999. It's kind of a foo-foo boutique hotel with lots of formal furniture and à la carte restaurant serving breakfast. 173 lei. (updated Jan 2021) 4 Hotel Restaurant Royal Craiova, Strada România Muncitoare 88, ☏ +40 771 650 062. Here is another kind of stuffy, or, depending on your view, formal hotel, in a 19th century building, with elegant hallways and a full-service restaurant/bar that offers a breakfast buffet. 173 lei. (updated Jan 2021) 5 Hotel La Favorita Guesthouse Boutique, Strada Madona Dudu 5, ☏ +40 351 408 098. Another boutique hotel that sort of looks like it could fit in somewhere in Bavaria, with cozy rooms and a restaurant. 177 lei. (updated Jan 2021) 6 Prestige Boutique Hotel Craiova, Strada Matei Basarab no 15, ☏ +40 799 204 398. This place has a pretty modern feel and looks like it was just furnished with stuff from Ikea. Also has a restaurant with breakfast buffet. Depending on where your room is, you may be able to look out at the Metropolitan Cathedral. 185 lei. (updated Jan 2021)

Splurge 7 Golden House. A great hotel that is very clean and with good service. Thanks to the nice staff, the place has the feel of a large house. Also has a nice outside terrace. 265 lei.

Go next

A day in a nearby village could be an option. Preajba de Padure is a small beautiful village 45 km away, near the border with Olt county. You can take the bus (seven daily, less in weekends) from the bus station (near the railway station) for 9 lei one way or 15 lei return. The bus has another stop on Decebal Street (exact location: 44 18' 58.30" N, 23 50' 02" E).