Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crown. Many visitors who travel over land from Hungary drift in through the border
at Bor @ to stop at Oradea, capital of Bihor county in the northern part of Romanian
Cri @ ana, before taking highway E671 to the Habsburg city of Timi @ oara. The principal
city of the Banat, this is considered the country's most forward-thinking metropole—
after all it was here, in Timi @ oara, that the great Revolution of December 1989 was
ignited, changing the course of Romanian history forever.
ORADEA
Oradea is 592km (367 miles) NW of Bucharest and 152km (94 miles) W of Cluj-Napoca
A small, prosperous city at the western limits of Romania, Oradea benefits from the
marks left by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, best evidenced in the elaborate and
sometimes dainty Secessionist architecture fringing its avenues and squares. A whiff of
its former fin de siècle cosmopolitanism still hangs in the air, and the city awaits its
tourist renaissance as workers restore much of the visual glory of its historic center, a
program already well underway in mid-2006. While Oradea is lovely for its restrained
ambience (best experienced on foot), it is also convenient for adventures into the
Apuseni Mountains, with its seamless meadows, karstic formations, spectacular caves,
wildlife, and traditional communities.
ARRIVAL, ORIENTATION & GETTING AROUND
Tarom (Pia $ a Republicii 2; & 0259/23-1918; Mon-Fri 6:30am-8pm, Sat 10am-
1pm) has early-morning weekday flights from Bucharest to Oradea's airport (Calea
Aradului; & 0259/41-6082 ), situated 6km (3 3 4 miles) from the center. Shuttle buses
run Tarom passengers to and from the airport free of charge.
Oradea's train station (Pia $ a Bucure @ ti) is 1km ( 2 3 mile) north of the center; there
are always taxis out front. Book onward travel at the CFR office (Mon-Fri 7am-7pm)
on the corner of Calea Republicii and Pia $ a Ferdinand.
Oradea operates its own (though at research time somewhat out-of-date) website,
www.oradea.ro. For the real lowdown on the city, visit the offices of Apuseni Experi-
ence, specializing in adventure tours, but happy to help visitors find their feet (1st
Floor, Pia $ a Decembrie 4-6; & 0259/47-2434 ).
WHERE TO STAY
A slightly cheaper alternative, Hotel Scorilo ( & 0259/47-0910; www.hotelscorilo.ro;
L200/$72/£38 double) scores low on taste (linoleum-covered headboards, melamine
furniture, and wood-and-leatherette sofas) but high on service; it is situated in an old
(1703) building near the Catholic Cathedral (and train station), and its in-house
restaurant is the best dining option in town (see “Where to Dine,” below).
Hotel Elite It doesn't quite live up to its name, but this is Oradea's classiest hotel,
situated in a residential neighborhood, just a short distance from the historic center.
Guest rooms are spacious, with simple, neat furnishings, decent-size bathrooms (with
tub/shower combo), and comfortable beds; the best units enjoy views onto a tree-lined
park. While the atmosphere is generally tranquil and laid-back (a waistcoated barman
hovering in the lobby all day waiting to take your order), handfuls of festive guests do
sometimes occupy the terrace until the small hours. Helpful staff offers discreet serv-
ice, and the restaurant is one of the best in town.
Str. I.C. Bratianu 26, 410051 Oradea. & /fax 0259/41-4924 or 0259/41-9759. www.hotelelite.ro. 30 units. 85
($106) double; 99
($124) deluxe. Rates include breakfast. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; breakfast room; 24-hr. bar;
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