Tirgu Mures

Transylvanian bilingual city on the Mures River, with Romanian-Hungarian culture, medieval walls, and rare-book libraries.

Tirgu Mures sits in the heart of Transylvania, in north-central Romania, where the Mures River cuts through a broad valley ringed by gentle hills. With a population of around 150,000, it is one of the larger cities of Transylvania and one of the few in Romania with a substantial Hungarian-speaking community — roughly half the city identifies as ethnic Hungarian, and both Romanian and Hungarian are official languages here. That bilingual character shapes everything from street signs to theater programs to the way people greet strangers.

The old city center is compact and walkable. The 15th-century Fortress and Protestant Church — built within the same medieval walls — is the oldest structure in the city and the most striking example of the mixed Romanian-Hungarian architectural tradition. The adjacent Teleki-Bolyai Library holds a remarkable collection of rare books and manuscripts and doubles as a cultural center. The National Theater stages performances in both languages, and the city has its own Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tirgu Mures is well positioned for exploring Transylvania. Sighisoara, one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe, is less than 60 km to the southeast. The Dracula's Castle at Bran is a few hours by road. Locally, the Peninsula Festival in summer brings rock, pop, and electronic acts to an outdoor site near the city and is one of the largest music events in the region. The climate is continental — cold winters, warm summers — and the autumn, when the hills around the city turn gold, is a particularly fine time to visit.

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Day Trips in Tirgu mures

If you're looking for some ideas while visiting Tirgu Mures, day trips can be an excellent way to fill your days and experience more of what Romania has to offer. One of the best places to visit, that's a simple hour drive away, is the salt mining town of Turda, situated just 48 miles west of Tirgu Mures.

Turda

While theories abound that the salt mines of Turda have been in use since prehistoric times, the first real mention of them was in the 13th century. The mines were open through the 20th century, when for a short time they were used as anti-aircraft shelters. Now, however, the mines are open to tourists looking for a unique addition to their vacations.

The town itself has always been extremely wealthy, with large baroque-style houses that were the result of the money brought in from the mines and the importance of Turda as the seat of the Transylvania Diet in the 16th century. Roaming the streets is like going back in time. You can also visit the two grand, gothic churches that date

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Getting Around in Tirgu mures

Tirgu Mures Transportation provides comfortable travel within the city or from the city to its neighboring places. Tirgu Mures is a small city in Romania that can be toured by foot. However, if you find this uncomfortable, there are several mode of transportation that can transfer you from place to place within the city or outside of Tirgu Mures.

Airplane

Airplane is among the transportation methods that you can use to reach the city of Tirgu Mures. The airport in Tirgu Mures is found in Vidrasau, which is about 9 miles southwest of the heart of the city. From the airport, you can reach the city proper of Tirgu Mures by riding a shuttle bus or taxi.

Bus

Bus is among the means of transportation in Tirgu Mures that is used for domestic transport. It connects the city to the other places in Romania. The bus has a daily schedule from Tirgu Mures to the other part of Romania.

Car

Car can be used to travel around the city of Tirgu Mures. You can bring your own car or you can rent a car in the city. Be sure to fix the fare ahead before going for a ride. Do some bargaining if you think that you are being overcharged.

Train

Train is also available in the city of Tirgu Mures. The main train station is in Targu Mures, and the railway station is situated near the Citadel. There is a daily schedule of trains from or to Budapest. The travel lasts for 9 hours. The trip to the other parts of Western Europe is via Budapest.

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Shopping in Tirgu mures

Located several hundred kilometers northwest of Bucharest, one of the highlights of any trip to Romania is a visit to Tirgu Mures: shopping, outdoor activities, and a great proximity to some of the best historical and ancient parts of medieval Romania are right at your fingertips in this quaint town. Although Tirgu Mures has only about 150,000 permanent residents, it is nonetheless a popular stop-off point for tourists, whether they're investigating the Transylvanian region around the city or simply passing through. Tirgu Mures is approximately halfway between Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia, making it a great mid point for any journey between these cities. Read on for some details of the shopping in this countryside city.

Mures Mall

The Mures Mall is the oldest and most active of all of the several shopping malls in Tirgu Mures. This mall plays host to a number of different stores selling local and international clothing, accessories, supplies, and more. It's conveniently located within an easy drive of the central downtown part of Tirgue Mures, which makes it an attractive destination for shoppers.

Promenada Center

Promenada Center is another major shopping mall located in Tirgu Mures. Although it doesn't have the same selection or quality of materials and stores as Mures Mall, Promenda Center is still one of the more popular destinations for shopping. You're more likely to find locals here than at the Mures Mall, which means you can expect slightly better deals on clothing and other goods.

Tiago Mall

The third major collection of retail outlets and other stores that may be of interest to a tourist or foreigner looking to purchase souvenirs is the Tiago Mall. This is one of the newest shopping centers in all of Tirgu Mures, and it plays home to a variety of outside and higher end clothing stores. This is an excellent place to go looking for brand-name items as well as knock-offs at excellent prices. The Tiago Mall is still expanding, and is constantly developing new selections of materials and stores, so it's worthwhile to ask a local for advice about where to shop before you begin your excursion.

Tirgu Mures is also home to plenty of outdoor markets and street vendors that specialize in selling local handicrafts and other pieces of art. Keep an eye out along the walking streets for these sellers. Be sure to barter for all goods that you buy from vendors.

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When to Go in Tirgu mures

If you're planning a trip to Tirgu Mures, when to go will certainly be a major consideration. It's only natural to consider the time of year, but you'll likely also want to plan around major events in the area. The Peninsula Festival is Tirgu Mures' famous music festival, and is a great reason to visit this beautiful city.

Seasons

  • Winter - Bundle up warm, as it can get extremely chilly in the mountains, but those brave enough to face the cold (it can drop to below freezing on occasion) will appreciate the snow-covered charm of the town and mountains.
  • Spring - March through May sees the flowers popping into bloom and the days warming up to where you can enjoy outdoor activities during the day and only require an extra layer for those chilly evenings and early mornings.
  • Summer - Once June hits, the chill of spring is just a distant memory. The days are warm, but thanks to the altitude never become exceedingly hot. And, as an added bonus, the Peninsula Festival (see below) comes to town!
  • Autumn - Summer fades in autumn come September, and the days are often dry and cool. As in the spring, you'll need a layer or two to keep you comfortable when the sun isn't high in the sky, but all in all, it's a pleasant time of year to visit Tirgu Mures.

The Peninsula Festival

Tirgu Mures' main event comes around in July or August of every year: The Peninsula Festival. This rock, pop and electro music extravaganza is an excellent reason to visit the Romanian city. Bands from all over the world come to play the event, in recent years even including such notables as Korn, Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy and Chumbawamba. The festival includes more than music, though, with bungee jumping, comedy routines and more rounding out the days. The Peninsula Festival is the perfect time to visit Tirgu Mures!