Iași

Understand

Iaşi is in Moldavia in northeastern Romania, and very close to the border with Republic of Moldova, from which Romania is divided by Prut River. The city is positioned on the Bahlui River, affluent of Jijia that flows into the Prut River, Iaşi is the "legendary city of the seven hills", namely Cetățuia, Galata, Copou, Bucium, Șorogari, Repedea and Breazu, just like so many cities around world, one such example being Rome. Some of these hills have conspicuous churches perched on top, each of which provides a different view of the city. Iaşi looks green from above in spite of the ubiquitous brick and concrete due to its boulevards and gardens. Ancient churches, old European style houses and communist apartment buildings compete for space in this crowded city, which is constantly expanding into the surrounding villages; the urban rush of communism replaced houses, pigs, chickens, and cherry trees with apartment buildings. The land was confiscated from the peasants and they received apartments as compensation in the newly created common living spots. Factories sprung around the intensive urban effort, organized together in the industrial zone, only to be abandoned two generations later with the fall of the regime which gave them and the nation purpose. Like all communities in the former Soviet bloc, Iaşi had to reinvent itself in 1989. The city is on the border to Europe's poorest country and you may think that this location is shown off in the city. That is though wrong. The city centre is undergoing a renaissance. A mall has been opened and sidewalks and houses have been renovated. On top of that, the thriving student community puts a young and trendy atmosphere as in any other European student city.

Tourism Information Centre Iaşi, [email protected]. The staff there is knowledgeable about the city, with a wealth of information ready about monuments, places to visit, places to eat, accommodations, busses, and trains programs, etc. City of Iaşi government website

History Also known as the "city of great love stories", "city of new beginnings", "cultural center of Moldavia", "an open air museum", Iaşi has been recognized since the 19th century as being the centre of the national spirit. Every corner of Iaşi evokes a personality, a unique event, a legend, a part of a myth, every stone talks about the past (as Romanian poet George Topîrceanu wrote). The first document that mentions Iaşi's existence was issued on 6 Octomber 1408 by the ruler Alexandru cel Bun. It was a commercial privilege elaborated by Alexandru cel Bun after some rounds of negotiati

Getting there

By train 1 Iași Railway Station (Gara Iași), Piața Gării. One of the landmarks of town, also known as the "Palace of Railway Station", will welcome you to Iaşi when arriving by train. The railway station building is 133-m long and has 113 rooms, with a real palace in the centre, a partial replica of the loggia from the Doge’s Palace in Venice. The railway station is very close to the center of the town and to the Tourism Information Centre (10 minutes of walking). (updated Jul 2021) 2 Iași Socola Railway Station (Gara Socola). The train to Chisinau, Moldova departs from here daily at 17:40 (110 MDL in third class).. (updated Jun 2025) The connections to Iaşi from Bucharest, the national capital, and with other counties in Romania are good and reliable. You can check the schedule and price online at CFR (on this website you may also see the prices and the availability of the trains on the dates you wish to travel). You can also take direct trains from Budapest, which is well linked to Western Europe. A train ticket from Bucharest costs around €26 when using the most expensive and luxurious option, the inter-city.

By bus 3 West Bus Station (Autogara Iași Vest), Șoseaua Moara de Foc, 15A. (updated Jun 2019) 4 Vama Veche Bus Station (Autogara Transbus Codreanu) (in front of the railway station). (updated Jun 2019) Destinations:

Chișinău, Moldova – Coach services to Iaşi are operated from Gara de Sud in Chișinău. There are 9 services a day, from bay 11 (?), but watch out for the big gap between 07:45 and 10:10. The fare is 75 lei/300-350 MDL (March 2025) and the trip takes around 3-4hr.

By plane 5 Iași International Airport (IAS IATA) (the airport is 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of the city centre). Flights from Barcelona, Basel/Mulhouse, Berlin, Billund, Bologna, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Istanbul, Larnaca, Liverpool, London-Luton, Madrid, Munich-Memmingen, Rome, Tel Aviv, Turin, Venice (provided by Wizz Air); Bucharest (TAROM); Charleroi, Milan-Bergamo, Paris-Beauvais (provided by Ryanair and Wizz Air); Dublin (HiSky and Ryanair); Vienna (Austrian Airlines). There are also seasonal flights from Catania (Wizz Air); Dusseldorf and Stuttgart (provided by Eurowings) . (updated Mar 2024) Getting there and away:

By bus – Bus number 50 connects the airport to the centre. The top left-hand side timetable shows buses from the airport to the centre. The other three timetables show the buses from different parts of the city back to the airport. Tickets cost 3.5 lei. By taxi – A metered taxi to the centre of Iaşi should cost no more than about 15–20 lei.

Getting around

On foot Iaşi is a rather large, densely packed town. You can walk from one end to another in a few hours. For the curious visitor, walking is the best way to get around.

By maxi-taxi Maxi taxis go pretty much everywhere you could go on public transportation. They are privately operated, smaller, usually white micro-buses. They have their endpoint destination written on a paper at the front and they follow a usual route. They do not accept foreign currency. Do not expect the maxi-taxi drivers to speak English well enough to tell you where to get off—you could write your destination on a piece of paper, point and ask.

By public transport Bus and tram were traditionally very important for getting around Iaşi, especially during the communist period and afterwards, before cars became commonplace. Public transportation is quite frequent and works around 05:00–23:00. However, during weekends and public holidays, their frequency decreases. A ticket costs 3.5 lei, with a 2-trip ticket at 7 lei (two people can also make one journey with this ticket), a 90-minute ticket at 4 lei, and an all-day ticket at 8 lei. Strangely there can be problems if you try to use a ticket for a tram on a bus, etc. You can buy tickets from ticket offices at stops, but bear in mind that at minor stops these offices close around 17:00–18:00. Ticket machines have been installed throughout the city, and have an English interface. There is a special tram that goes up and down Copou hill. It is reconditioned classical tram and it is a different style from the normal trams, resembling the San Francisco ones somewhat. The main reason to go in public transportation is to witness regular people going about their business. Everyone goes on the public transportation. This is a good place to see beggars performing. If you are on a bus, it is fairly likely that some group of little kids will get on and start singing. They are usually Roma singing traditional Romanian songs, and some of them are rather gifted. They want you to give them money, of course. Also, look out for displays of faith. Romania is one of the most religious countries in Europe, and when passing a church or monastery you may see several passengers, from old women to teenagers in sneaks, doing the sign of the cross. Old town of Iaşi is quite small, however. You could use the public transport to go around, but most of the interesting parts of the city are in the center, so walking is preferable. You need the bus only if you want to see stuff out of traditional center or because your accommodation is there.

By taxi Taxis a

See

1 Palace of Culture, Piata Stefan cel Mare si Sfant nr.1, ☏ +40 232 275 979, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. A giant obvious monument that the locals take for granted but which is striking to visitors. It comprises the Art Museum, Moldavia's History Museum, Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia, and "Ștefan Procopiu" Science and Technique Museum. It also houses several infrequently visited museums, including a musical instrument museum and a "village" museum with ethnic outfits. (updated Apr 2017) 2 Casa Dosoftei, Anastasie Panu Str, ☏ +40 747 499 403. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Next to the Palace of Culture is a little stone house named after the scholar and metropolite ("archbishop") of Moldavia Dosoftei (1624-1693). He was one of the first to use the Romanian language for poetry and in the church and the house contains a small museum showing early manuscripts, prints and printing presses (no English signs). 3 lei. (updated Apr 2017) Bulevardul Stefan Cel Mare (si Sfint) (Steven the Great ((and the Holy)) Boulevard) – Along it you will find the Metropolitan Church, the Trei Ierarhi Church, the Palace of Culture and the National Theatre. If you go on this boulevard in the winter, you will find an impressive set of light decorations. Part of the boulevard is closed to traffic nowadays. On Sundays, the National Theatre park fills up with icons and naïve paintings, which one can buy for rather small prices. Bulevardul Copou (Copou Boulevard) – Copou is a large hill in Iaşi, which contains a university, a botanical garden and many old, fancy houses. Rose bushes line its sides, and there are many parks and old trees scattered between the buildings. It is a popular place to go for a walk, and for locals it is considered the rich area. Head onto the side streets for the quietest, serenest part of Iaşi. Copou Park – This tame, bench- and rosebush-laden park is a popular destination for youth in heat and the contemplative elderly. It is a pretty park, and you should not put your feet on the benches (you might get fined). There are several large bushes through which you can walk, and an extremely old linden tree held up by metal bars. Linden trees are well appreciated in Iaşi, and this particular tree is the most famous because the beloved Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu allegedly wrote poems in its inspirational shade. In front of this linden tree, there are two large patches of bright blue forget-me-not flowers. Botanical Garden – The botanical garden is high up on Copou hill, and it is a popular summer getaway. In the fall, the walnut trees drop walnuts which yo

Do

Football: Politehnica Iași were relegated in 2025 and play soccer in Liga 2, the second tier. Their Emil Alexandrescu Stadium (capacity 11,400) is 3 km north of town centre, on the tram route. Releu (an ancient sea bed) – It refers to a large antenna in general, but in Iaşi there is a particular one which you will be directed to if you ask locals. The Releu is a popular picnic spot, and offers a gorgeous view of the city. It is in a strange area, which is half village, half French Riviera; This means that peasants, cows, chickens and dogs still live here, but that some of the properties are being bought by rich Europeans and converted into villas. The two ways to get to the Releu are by maxi-taxi and by taxi. The taxi or maxi-taxi will leave you at the edge of the street, and you will probably feel like you are in full blown countryside. Look for the giant antenna, and go to its base. You will have to walk on dirt roads, but it is pretty. From the antenna, look around, and you should be able to find a crevasse (it is really rather large, like a semicircular cut in the hillside). You can see some caverns dug into the side of the hill. Go down into the semicircular cut (it is an easy walk) and go up to the wall. You can see many shells and remains of a calcarous ancient sea bed which used to cover the entire area. If you are adventurous, you can find caves in the area, some of which are quite large. There are ancient legends that tell of the locals running away from invaders in these caves and sheltering their riches. Most of the locals believe the caves to be fictitious, but they do really exist. Bucium Hill – There is a lookout point with a really good view towards the city. Some people drive there at night to take a look at the panorama, while the car windows get steamy. Explore abandoned communist factories – Iaşi was a burgeoning industrial center of the communist era. The communist ideal revolved around self-sufficiency, so everything (except for oil and the like) that needed to be used in Iaşi was made in Iaşi. The city's outskirts are dominated by an immense industrial zone, in which more than 90% of the factories have become abandoned. When the communist regime fell, these factories closed one by one, succumbing to foreign competition and internal political chaos. What is left are hundreds of factories, buildings, warehouses and fields which are completely abandoned, overrun with shrubbery, begging for exploration. It is unique, amazing and wild, and will not last long. With the European Union's accelerating economic involvement in Romania and the

Buy

The area near Piaţa Unirii is a general shopping area with the usual selection of stores. If you are looking for something to read, there are two bookstores in Piata Unirii, in the center. Junimea has several books in French, while Librăria Humanitas has some books in English. Second-hand shops – All around the city. As the economic crisis hit Iaşi, the number of second-hand clothing shops has skyrocketed, as one of the few profitable businesses in times of economic hardship. You will find really good bargains for some hippy clothes, antiquities, sport equipment. A lot of young locals prefer them to shopping malls, because you may find really quality stuff at affordable prices. Most of these clothes come in big shipments from western countries. You will be surprised maybe to find items your parents would be wearing in their youth. Check the traditional open markets ("Piaţa Nicolina", "Piaţa Alexandru", "Piaţa Păcurari") – They are open daily. You'll find fresh local products, healthier than the ones in supermarkets, and usually at better prices too. You may find peculiar the offer of the sellers from the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, who bring their products there. The Bazaar – This is a purchasing junkyard, curiously popular with the locals. Most of the stuff sold here is reminiscent of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and is probably produced in the same Chinese factories. The Bazar is underneath the land bridge which connects Podu Ros to Nicolina. You can find jeans, sneakers, plastic toys and trinkets of all varieties here. Iulius Mall – Go to "the mall"! Close to Podu Ros, along the Bahlui river. This mall is rather elegant, and houses several eateries which are European-priced and far from traditional Romanian food, but if you are out to spend money this is as good a place as any. It is also the place to go to the movies, with the exception of kids' movies, foreign movies are usually shown subtitled with original audio. Carrefour / Felicia – The Felicia Mall is smaller and less elegant than Iulius and offers little in the way of dining. However, it contains a Carrefour "hypermarket" which is convenient if you are looking for a one-stop shop for electronics, clothes, food and everything else. It is about as Romanian as a McDonald's, but nicely illustrates the near-future total westernization of the Romanian economy. Ask the taxi driver to go to "Carrefour". The "old malls" Moldova Center and Hala Centrala – In the center close to the Cultural Palace. They are not as big or modern as "the mall" (Iulius), but may be a bit cheaper. They both date back

Eat

Pizza Pazzo, Bd. Tudor Vladimirescu. Nice atmosphere and Italian cuisine in the student district of Tudor Vladimirescu. Reservation might be necessary as the place is vivid and full of customers almost every evening. Occasionally you might get lucky to try their lasagna, although a parmigiana plate is also a good choice beside pizza. Serve with draught beer and be there with friends. Phenicia, Str. Sulfinei, nr. 13. Lebanese restaurant with moderate prices. This would be the place you would want to make a nice impression by getting out to an exotic cuisine, though Lebanese might not be that rich in options. La Gara, Main Train Station. There are few small shops that sell cheap fast food for after-party snacks. They will fill in your empty stomach and you will be ready to continue partying in one of the bars in the center. Warda, Strada Sfântul Teodor. A traditional Lebanese Kebab Shop close to the "Gr.T. Popa" University of Medicine and Farmaceutics. It is a famous kebab place in town with a very friendly staff. Cucina Casalinga, Costache Negri nr.60. Italian restaurant with very good pastas and pizzas, behind Moldova Mall shopping center. Prices are mid-range to splurge. No credit cards. Aad's Place, Str Oastei nr 40, in Complex Comercial Super Copou. Daily 10:00-00:00. Restaurant and fast food with Dutch specific, in the Super Copou complex close to M. Eminescu Park. They serve good Dutch pancakes either salted or sweet and are non-smokers friendly. Belvedere, Sos. Bucium 103A. Small cozy restaurant with a lovely terrace on the exit to Vaslui. Food is good and prices are budget to mid-range. Occasionally you will be disappointed that the kitchen is closed. No credit cards. Restaurant Bar Baron (Str. Sfantu Lazar 52) – It is beyond the Culture Palace. You have to walk for a while, but the pub is very nice and they serve good beer and good food for reasonable prices. You may want to give this place a miss unless you want to be in the company of some very dodgy local characters. There are plenty of decent nosheries in the center of the town, no need to stray this far for utterly forgettable food and bad company. Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices. Casa Bolta Rece, Str. Rece 10 (taxi drivers know the place), ☏ +40 232 212 255. This very old restaurant (est. 1789) offers classical Romanian food of good quality in a historical location. It is named after its cool cellar (bolta r

Drink & nightlife

Iaşi is famous for its nightlife. If you go towards the University you will find a lot of students wondering around or having a beer. There are a lot of bars, coffee shops and pubs where you can chill, have a drink, or watch a game. Most popular discos and clubs are full until morning during University periods. Check out the discos "Skye", "Skin", "Master", "Code" and "Viper" even though there are much more that are popular. You can find a lot of bars in front of the "Copou Park", as there are a lot of student housing there and is only natural there are a lot of leisure places. These bars usually are mainstream with popular music you can hear on the radio. Sometimes they have karaoke nights during the week. There are bars almost everywhere, but most of them are places you will not have a nice experience as they are only for extremely loyal locals and such they have not invested much into the decoration or the experience. You will need to go to more central or student areas to get a more enjoyable experience. Also, if you just need to get a quick drink, you can always get into the many pizza restaurants you will definitely see, as the prices are the same. Most of these bars will have a Facebook page so feel free to add them and check out what they have planned for the future days. You can also get contact details there and friendly staff that will answer to any of your questions. You can also make reservations.

Sage – A place you do not want to miss. It is in the old "Mihai Eminescu Library" building and it has lots of tea assortments from all over the world. There is also newspapers and books you can read, a piano and social games that you can borrow for free. The personnel also speaks English and, when the owner is in, people have been known to get freebies. Very nice atmosphere. Curtea Berarilor / Baza / Underground / Taverna / The Gate / Hand (Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfant nr. 10, bl. B1-B2) / la CUB (Catacombe) – All student bars in the city center, next to the green "cube" (modern statue). They are perfect for a bar crawl (or at least some, depending on music taste) since they are literally next door to each other. They all stand out in the Iaşi night scene as they only play modern rock music, indie, dubstep, alternative rock and heavy metal (the first bar mostly pop-rock and folk and the last one heavy metal, the rest something in between). During the week they have a lot of concerts from local bands or karaoke nights, during the weekends everybody just dances. These bars are a favorite hang-out for Erasmus students as they offer a diverse m

Sleep

Budget Hotel Continental, Strada Cuza Voda. Simple, modestly furnished rooms at affordable prices. Single room with bath is 260 lei. Central location. Hotel Turistic Casa Bucovineana, fax: +40 232 222913. It is a cheap hostel, compared to the standards of Iaşi. The rooms are announced as "single room" for 70 lei/night while a "double room" is 100 lei/night, all with a shared toilet, but the single room is for 1-2 people and the double is 3-4 people. For some strange reason they count the number of beds as single or double. The place gets nicer the higher up you are - the rooms on the top floor are the newest and least used and smoke contaminated. You can also feel the vibrations of the tram passing on the main street - especially in the rooms facing the street, but you are in the very center of the city and in each room you have TV and a DVD player. Room 11 and 12 are the best situated and freshest. Hotel Sport - Str. Sf. Lazar 76. Double room with shower 101 lei/night, no singles. A bit dodgy, but not altogether dismal. TV in each room. It is up a little alleyway next to the Sala Polivalenta sport complex, take bus number 41 or 28 and get off at Sala Sporturilor. Pensiunea Sans Rival, Blv. Metalurgiei Nr 3. (from the centre take tram 3 to the end of its line, then bus 11), ☏ +40 753759638. Clean, basic double rooms with fan and TV (in Romanian). Shared toilet and shower in corridor. 80 lei. (updated Jun 2015) Pensiunea Garofita, sos. Barnova nr.101B (in zone Bucium), ☏ +40 232 236 391, [email protected]. It offers a great garden and lovely spaces. (updated Nov 2025)

Mid-range Hotel Unirea, Piata Unirii. Based in a high rise imposing building that dates back to socialist times, but now fairly modern hotel offering 3-star service and accommodation and some excellent panoramic views over the city. Hotel Astoria - Str. Lapusneanu 1, next to Piata Uniri. A simpler business class alternative adjacent to the more upscale Traian. One double room is 250 lei/night.

Splurge Grand Hotel Traian. Unirii Square. This is "the posh hotel" in town. It is in a refurbished building of 19th century, an architectural masterpiece of French architect Gustave Eiffel that was inaugurated in 1882 as the "Traian Grand" Hotel. Prices are moderate compared to the luxury you get, ranging from €80 for a double to €350 for the royal suite. Hotel Select - Piata 14 Decembrie 1989. Another centrally located boutique mansion hotel. It offers single/double rooms presented to 4-star level and a personable level of service. 1 Hotel International, Strada Palat 5A, 700032, ☏

Go next

Bucharest – A coach service leaves for Bucharest 5 times a day for 70 lei and the trip takes approximately 6 hours. The first service leave at 05:50 and the last at 21:30. The buses are air-conditioned and stop for food half-way. Chișinău, Moldova – There are 13 mini bus/maxi taxi services a day, from bay 5 in the main bus station (opposite the train station), 35 lei. Services run 06:45–17:30, with a rush of departures around 09:00. Private drivers outside the nearby Billa supermarket will aggressively hassle travelers to make the same journey for €20, but some travelers may appreciate the hassle and paying a little more for a quicker service.