Arad, the capital and base of Arad County, is situated in the western extremity of Transylvania. The city could be considered as a tourist stopover if you are coming to Romania from Hungary, or leaving the country. But not as a base as it lacks the same interest as other Transylvanian cities. Arad is one of the most prosperous cities in Romania, with a high income per capita.

Understand

Arad, a beautiful city situated in the western Romania on the banks of the river Mures, is only 30 km away from the Hungarian border. Over the years the Austrian-Hungarian occupation left a mark in our architecture and life style. Arad's city hall is a beautiful building which has to its right and left another two old palaces dating 2 centuries back. The "Cenad Palace" is one of the buildings old enough to justify the beauty of architectural times it was built in. The town has approximately 200.000 inhabitants, three quarters being Romanians and the rest is represented by Hungarians, Germans, Italians, Serbs and other minorities in smaller percentages.

Get in

By car

Access to Arad by car is from the Pan-European corridor no.4 [E68]. Buses can be taken from Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Bucharest, Sibiu and Constanta City.

By plane

For plane access there is a small international Airport with flights to Stuttgart, Verona, Valencia, Milan, Barcelona, Bucharest.View flight schedule at www.aeroportularad.ro

By train

At the main train station there are services from Budapest, Praha, Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Venezia, Thesalonoky, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Bucharest, Oradea, Timisoara, Constanta, Galati, Iasi, Baia Mare, Suceava, Craiova and Ploiesti.

Get around

Buses and trams run through the town with several stops. Taxis are available. There are also "Rent a car" companies, one having a commercial with contact details just across the street of the Train station.

See

  • '''Arad Orthodox Cathedral''' is a must see it has beautiful paintings inside.
  • '''Fagarov Castle''' features fantastic carvings.
  • '''Arad Cultural Complex: Philharmonics, Museums''', every Thursday there is a classic music concert performed by the fine Arad classic music orchestra. The Museum exhibitions are open daily, except Monday.
  • '''Parcul Reconcilierii''', an area dedicated to the reconciliation between the Romanians and the Hungarians, it has two statuary complexes. Excellent for relaxing.
  • '''Parcul copiilor''', situated along the shore of the Mures river, the Children's park offers an excellent way to recreate while having a nice promenade along the shore.
  • Do

    Buy

    There are several supermarkets like Metro, Selgros, Billa, Praktiker, Carrefour, Kaufland, Spar, Profi, Penny Market and Mini Max. Selgros and Metro require membership cards. Kaufland is excellent and extensive- Str Banul Maracine.

    Eat

  • '''Gomboti''', local sweet specialty - a fresh fruit entraped in a thick, round, sweet wheat layer;
  • '''Gulas''', Hungarian specialty, it is a very spicy food met in very different combinations. Its base is a type of meat and tomato sauce.
  • '''Placinta cu dovleac/varza''', traditional pie with pumpkin pulp or cabbage. It is very very tasty
  • '''Carnati/ Maios/ Sangerete/ Toba''', pork traditional specialties.
  • '''Fraltas''', a cabbage chicken and potato casserole, slow cooked until tender and soft.
  • Drink

  • '''Tuica/Palinca''', Romanian genuine fine alcoholic drink, up to 65 degrees alcohol, traditionally made from plums; as alternative, peer, apple, grape tuica exists as well.
  • '''Cadarca de Minis''', local wine from Minis vineyard area, it is a dry wine with fruity aroma.
  • '''Aggane''', a sweet mango and sometimes strawberry puree with Romanian vodka.
  • '''Malkh''', a hot milk, water and gooseberry syrup tea. Only available at the Turgas Shops that line the main street. These are recognizable by the red and blue paint lines on their fences.
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Alexander''', Calea Radnei, +40-257-279199, +40-788-431447. Board and lodging.
  • '''Arad''', B-dul Decebal Nr.9, +40-257-280894 , +40-257-214775.
  • '''Ardealul''', B-dul Revolu?iei nr. 98, +40-257-280840 , +40-257-280925
  • '''Bibart 1 Panorama''', Str. Digului nr.1A, +40-257-279398. Board and lodging.
  • '''Lotus''', Str. Nicolae ?tefu nr.8, +40-257-251282, [http://www.hotellotusarad.ro].
  • '''Mini Hotel Lipova **''', Str. Lugojlui nr.50,+40-257-563021
  • '''Miori?a''', Calea Radnei nr. 172/B, +40-257-368132, +40-745-326254. Board and lodging.
  • '''Sta?ia Arad Vest ''', DN 7,+40-257-473276.
  • '''West''', Str.Petru Rare? nr.66, +40-257-234257, +40-744-577971.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Central''', Str. Horia nr.8, +40-257-256636
  • '''Class''' , Str. Dr. I Ra?iu nr. 27-29, +40-257-213153, +40-788-213153,
  • '''Coandi''', Calea Romanilor nr. 47,+40-257 287777, Email:contact@hotelcoandi.ro . Alongside of river Mure?
  • '''Iris''', Str. Capitan Ignat, Nr. 1, +40-257-285499 , +40-357-409682, [mailto:office@hotel-iris.ro], [http://www.hotel-iris.ro].
  • '''Marem''', Calea Victoriei nr. 2C, +40-257-256-011 , +40-257-256-110, [mailto:hotelmarem@yahoo.com].
  • '''Parc''', B-dul General Dragalina nr. 25, +40-257-280820. Alongside the river Mure?.
  • '''President''', Calea Timisorii nr. 164, +40-257.278814. , +40-257.278804, [http://www.hotel-president.ro/].
  • '''Vila Paradis''', Str. Molidului Nr.2-5, +40-257-287377.
  • Splurge

  • '''Continental''', B-dul Revolu?iei 79-81, +40-257-281700.
  • Camping

    '''Subcetate''', +40-57-281172.

    Cope

    Religious services

    Orthodox service:

  • '''Arad Cathedral''', Podgoria Square (from the train station with the trams 1,3, 17, etc for one station).
  • Catholic mass:

  • '''Cathedral St. Anton''', Str. Lucian Blaga 2 (from the central station/Gara with trams 3, 6 or 17 (direction Centru) to Teatru). Sun: 06:00, 07:00, 08:00 (german), 10:30 (hungar), 12:00 (roman.), 19:00; Mon-Fri: 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 19:00
  • Get out

    Outside of the town there are some mountains with hiking trails.