Targu Mures, Romania

By | December 9, 2022

According to simplyyellowpages, the city of Targu Mures, the center of the county of the same name (that is, the region) stands on the border of Transylvania and Wallachia. Its name translates as “market on the Mures River”. Since Scythian times, merchants of various nations have exchanged goods at this place. And today the local population is half Romanian and half Hungarian, thanks to which the city has a very special look and character. It lies a little away from the standard tourist routes, but from here it is much closer to healing lakes or ski slopes than from the capital, but life is noticeably calmer and cheaper.

How to get to Targu Mures

Since January 2017, the runway has been reconstructed at the Tirgu Mures International Airport “Transylvania”. All flights are redirected to Cluj-Napoca Airport. The train from there goes to the city for 2 hours 30 minutes, the Transfero bus takes 2 hours.

Trains from the railway station “Targu Mures” run to Cluj-Napoca, Miercurea-Cuc (5 hours), Budapest (9 hours). There is no direct railway connection with Bucharest. Intercity buses of the Memento BUS company deliver passengers from the Tirgu Mures bus station to Bucharest in 7 hours and 15 minutes. By car: by roads DN13/E60 and DN1/E60 via Brasov and Sighisoara: distance to Bucharest 339 km, travel time 5 hours, 30 minutes.

Transportation

The city is small, passengers are transported by several bus routes and numerous taxis. Bus routes connect Tirgu Mures with the resort of Sovata and ancient Sighisoara.

Targu Mures Hotels

The number of tourists here is incomparable with the Black Sea coast or resorts of the Carpathians. That’s why hotel prices don’t skyrocket. You can spend the night in a hostel or family hotel for 80-120 RON per night, and get breakfast for another 20 RON. Rooms in 3 * class hotels cost 200-300 RON. The cost of apartments is 1000 RON and more per day.

Cuisine and restaurants

The local cuisine is strongly influenced by the Hungarian and, as a result, pungent and odorous. For example, khalasli fish soup is not made red by tomatoes, but by paprika and hot peppers. A portion of such a burning fish soup will cost 10-20 RON. The goulash familiar to everyone (15 RON) here is a cross between a roast and a soup, of course, generously flavored with the same paprika. There are enough restaurants and cafes, but not everyone is treated to national cuisine. There are many pizzerias and sushi bars. The cost of pizza – 15-20 RON, lunch for two with soft drinks – 80 – 90 RON, with alcohol – 120 – 150 RON.

As in the rest of Romania, the most favorite fast food is “michi”, charcoal-fried sausages made from several types of minced meat. They are sold on the street along with bread and mustard for 5-10 RON. By tradition, it’s all washed down with beer for 5-6 RON per glass. Wine costs 7-15 RON per glass, depending on the brand. Espresso coffee – 5 – 7 RON.

Sights of Targu Mures

The old town of Targu Mures is very romantic. Narrow streets are built up with houses in the style of the beginning of the last century and covered with paving stones. The walls are covered with wild grapes, every window, door or balcony is decorated with flowers. In the center of Trandafirilor, that is, “Square of Roses”, stands the Prefectural Secession building, the main gallery of which is famous for its huge colored stained-glass windows. Nearby rises the Palace of Culture with one of the largest organs in the country, a hall of Venetian mirrors and original bas-reliefs on the facade. The western side of the square is occupied by the baroque building of the Ethnographic Museum. On the east side is a Roman Catholic church from 1728, also in the Baroque style.

In the center of Trandafirilor Square, a surprise awaits tourists – a copy of the Capitalian she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus. In Romania, they firmly know that they are the direct descendants of the ancient Romans, and they never miss a chance to remind them of this.

The city is decorated with Calvinist and Orthodox cathedrals with a clock on the bell tower. The building of the synagogue looks great, unfortunately it is closed. An impressive fortress – a remake on the site of the destroyed fortifications, imitating the defensive structures of Targu Mures in the Middle Ages.

Elephants, giraffes, wolves, bears and many other interesting animals live in the local zoo. The territory is landscaped and well-groomed, this is a great place for a family holiday. As well as the city park surrounding it with jogging tracks, children’s attractions and shady romantic alleys.

Neighborhood

An hour’s drive from Targu Mures is the balneological resort Sovata. Its lakes are rightly compared to the Israeli Dead Sea. But there is an advantage here – in winter, two simple ski slopes open.

Lovers of antiquity will be interested in Sighisoara with its medieval citadel, clock tower, cathedrals and the house where Vlad the Impaler, the future prince Dracula, was born.

Targu Mures, Romania