Bistrița is at its best from late May to September, when the surrounding mountains and rural villages are at their most rewarding. July and August are warm but not unpleasantly so at the town's altitude (around 350 metres). Winters are cold and snowy, which has its own charm if you are using the town as a base for the surrounding Carpathians.
The annual Nopți de Vară festival in July fills the main square with concerts and outdoor cinema, and is a good excuse to time a visit.