Every time I arrive in Iasi, I feel I have teleported into a bohemian world. Iasi seems to greet you with a box of candies and then starts talking to you in the most elevated way, and in the sweetest Moldovian language, about history and culture equally. You widen your eyes and “listen” as you walk through it as if you were walking through a story with voivodes, scholars, and many, many churches.
Iasi is one of the Romanian cities that should be visited by all Romanians at least once in a lifetime and by foreign visitors as well. That’s why I have selected below some of the most important and beautiful tourist attractions in Iași, with suggestions on what to do and see in the beautiful Moldavian (region of Romania) capital.
Planning a holiday in Iași? Here are the best hotels in Iași.
- History of Iași
- The most beautiful tourist attractions in Iași
- Map of the most beautiful sights in Iasi (zoom in for details)
- Palace of Culture
- Unirii Square in Iasi
- Copou Park
- The Churches of Iasi
- Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
- Ciric Forest and Ciric Lakes
- Repedea Hill
- Iasi Botanical Garden
- Esplanade Elisabeta (Yellow Ravine)
- Ion Creanga’s Bojdeuca and the Țicău district
- Best hotels in Iași
- Best restaurants in Iași
History of Iași
Iași is Romania’s second-largest city, with a population of 317,000. That’s three times more than in 1950 (94,000). According to populationstat.com, Iasi is Europe’s 250th city by population and the 1822nd in the world. Iasi’s history dates back to somewhere in the early Middle Ages, to 1408, when the city’s name was first mentioned in a commercial act signed by the ruler of Moldavia, Alexander the Good, taxing Polish merchants entering the city to sell their goods at the fair. In fact, in 1434, we found the settlement under the name of Iasi Fair.
However, the town is certainly older, having developed from an ancient village into a small fair with rectangular houses in the 7th-10th centuries, which was overrun in the 13th century by the tribes of the Iasians, who were of the Alanian people. According to some, they are the origin of the present name of Iași, although there are rumors that it comes from an ancient Sarmat tribe – the iazigii – mentioned by the poet Ovid in his works.
In the 15th-16th centuries, the development of Iași was very slow; the city was populated, besides the Romanians, by Hungarians, Poles, Germans, Armenians, and Russians, each with their characteristic occupations and related religions, and they divided the city accordingly. Iasi was one of the royal courts of Alexander the Good (1400-1432), after which, in 1564, the ruler Alexander Lăpușneanu moved the capital of Moldavia to Iasi from Suceava. Its status as the capital set in motion the “wheels” of the city’s economic development, with the city flourishing even in the 17th century, during the reign of Vasile Lupu, who founded the first school in Romanian.
Passed through the forks of Ottoman, Polish, Cossack, and Tartar attacks, through major fires (1650, 1686), through a plague epidemic (1734), Iași lived its turbulent history as the capital of Moldavia – until 1859, then sharing with Bucharest (until 1862) the role of capital of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. It was also the capital of unoccupied Romania for two years, between 1916 and 1918. During the Second World War, the city experienced terrible times because of the Pogrom of 27-29 June 1941, unleashed against the inhabitants of Jewish origin.
At the same time, it should be noted that Iași has always been a center of Romanian culture. From the fact that the country’s first modern university was founded here (26 October 1860) to the existence of the famous Junimea literary club (1867-1885), which included many personalities of Romanian literature and poetry.
The most beautiful tourist attractions in Iași
Iași is one of those cities in the world that are said to be built on “seven hills”, the name of the town standing alongside others such as Rome, Lisbon, Athens, or Barcelona. The seven hills of Iasi, with heights between 50 and 400 metres, are Galata, Cetățuia, Bicium-Păun, Repedea, Breazu, Șorogari and Copou. The best known is undoubtedly the last, with Copou Park often mentioned as one of the city’s landmarks for relaxation. Below, I’ve selected just 10 of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Iași, offering a brief foray into what to do and see in Iași, the beautiful Romanian city located in the province of Moldova.
Map of the most beautiful sights in Iasi (zoom in for details)
Palace of Culture
There is no building more representative of Iași than the Palace of Culture. Both in terms of its beauty and grandeur and the symbolism of this city where culture has been eaten on bread for centuries.
The Palace of Culture was built between 1906 and 1925 on the site of the former palace and medieval manor courts in neo-Gothic style, representing, according to its website, “one of the last expressions of Romanticism in official architecture”. The Romanian architect I.D. Berindei, who had studied in Paris, was responsible for the plans for the palace. The building was opened on 11 October 1925. Until 1955 it functioned as the Administrative and Justice Palace, after which it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, finding its purpose in this sphere of activity under the official name of the National Museum Complex of Moldova Iasi.
It currently houses four museums of national importance: the Museum of History of Moldova, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Science and Technology “Stefan Procopiu,” and the Ethnographic Museum of Moldova. The palace was restored a few years ago, and the work was completed in 2016.
Visiting hours of the museums in the Palace of Culture Iasi: Tuesday-Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Ticket prices can be found here.
Address: 1 Stefan cel Mare cel Mare și Sfânt Square, Iasi.
Unirii Square in Iasi
Unirii Square is the main square of Iasi, located at the intersection of three main arteries: Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard, Cuza Vodă Street, and Alexandru Lăpușneanu Street. From a historical point of view, the place has particular importance, being the place where, on 24 January 1859, the famous union dance (hora unirii) was played for the first time, on the occasion of the unification of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, led by a single ruler: Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
However, it was not until 1896 when the Town Hall listened to the suggestion of a reader of the newspaper Ecoul Moldovei to create a square to commemorate the events of a few decades ago. Thus, a smaller square appeared at first, the result of the demolition of several buildings, marked by the placement of a statue representing Cuza (inaugurated in 1912 at an event attended by King Carol I).
After the bombings of 1944, Unirii Square was to find its present form, much larger than the original one, through the systematization in 1961 (between 1949 and 1958, it was called Republic Square). The square is 12,000 square meters, marble-clad, with several fountains and a statue of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The Traian and Unirea hotels, the Victoria cinema, and the Braunstein Palace are among the buildings bordering it. Every year on 24 January, Union Day is celebrated here, and a huge Christmas tree is put up at Christmas.
In February 2022, it was announced that the City Hall will start rehabilitation works on Unirii Square, and about 210,000 lei will be spent on the design of the square’s esplanade. The Cuza statue was also included in the rehabilitation project.
Copou Park
The oldest park in Iasi was inaugurated on 8 November 1834 and currently covers an area of about 10 hectares. In the second half of the 17th century, this hilly area of the city (Copou Hill) had become the main place for strolling and relaxing for the wealthy nobles and inhabitants of Iași. There are mentions that personalities such as Nicolae Mavrocordat, Mihai Racoviță, or Grigore Ghica used to take long walks through the natural gardens of the area.
Between 1833 and 1834, at the initiative of the ruler Mihai Sturdza, the development of the park began, which went through several stages of development and expansion in the following decades. In the second half of the 19th century, the park had grown to a (historically maximum) area of 19 hectares and had acquired a certain aesthetic vision. It is worth mentioning that in 1860 the Minister of Internal Businesses, Mihail Kogălniceanu, ordered the park to be illuminated with lanterns, which were to be similar to those on the city streets.
In the spring of 2016, Copou Park was rehabilitated, and its gardens were restored. The park is home to several historical monuments, others of important cultural significance. The Lion Obelisk (or Monument of the Constitutional Laws) is the main monument in Copou Park, built between 1834-1841 according to the plans of Gheorghe Asachi. Standing 15 meters high, the obelisk consists of a column supported by four lions symbolizing the great European powers that recognized the Union of the Principalities.
Eminescu’s linden tree (a silver linden tree about 500 years old), the Junimiists’ Alley (on which lie the busts of important personalities who were part of the Junimea Society), the Haiducilor linden tree, a maple tree over 300 years old, the Mihai Eminescu Museum, the Mihai Ursachi House of Culture, other monuments dedicated to Caragiale, Topârceanu, Ciprian Porumbescu or Grigore Vieru are elements that make this beautiful park a point of interest both for those seeking an oasis of relaxation, as well as for tourists who want to discover a part of the history of Iasi.
The Churches of Iasi
Iasi is the city with the most churches in Romania (after Bucharest), and this can be seen at a glance, even on a short walk. Churches are scattered all over the city, numbering (according to some sources) 124. Reason enough for Iași to become a true capital of ecumenical tourism – which is what happens, in fact, if we think of the days of pilgrimage to the relics of Saint Parascheva (14 October).
Beyond that, however, several churches and monasteries in Iasi stand out for their beauty and importance. These include:
Monastery of the Three Hierarchs
Built by the ruler Vasile Lupu between 1637 and 1639, it was restored between 1882 and 1904, when it received the nowadays “face”, thanks to the architect Andre Lecomte de Nouy. Several important personalities are buried in this monastery – the scholar Dimitrie Cantemir, Alexandru Ioan Cuza (first ruler of the United Principalities), Tudosca (Vasile Lupu’s first wife).
Address: 28, Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Completed in 1887, although the first foundation stone was laid in 1833, and consecrated on 23 April 1887 at a national event attended by King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, the Metropolitan Cathedral is today the cathedral church of the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bucovina and is included on the list of historical monuments. The architectural style belongs to the late Italian Renaissance, the decorative elements to the Baroque, and the paintings inside were mostly made by the famous Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu (1820-1894), a pioneer of neo-classicism. The Metropolitan Cathedral houses the relics of Saint Paraskeva, the patron saint of Moldavia.
Address: 16 Stefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard.
Roman Catholic Cathedral
Or, by its official name, Episcopia Romano-Catolică de Iași, is one of the six Roman Catholic dioceses in Romania, with a history that began in 1753, when it was originally built of wood on the site of a former church. Between 1782-1789 it was rebuilt in brick, then underwent various restorations over the years. Next to the old church, a modern circular building with a long spire in the center has recently been erected.
Address: 26 Stefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard.
Other important churches in Iasi: Barboi Church (1841-1844), Cetățuia Monastery (1669-1672), Frumoasă Monastery (1726-1733), Sf. Gheorghe Church (1761-1769), Sfântu Nicolae Domnesc Church (1491-1492) – known as the oldest church in Iași and founded by ruler Ștefan cel Mare.
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
If you want to see what the oldest university in Romania looks like, you shouldn’t miss the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University building. Basically, the University of Iași (as it was originally called – the current name of the former ruler Cuza bears it since 1942) was the continuation of the old Vasilian Academy, founded by Vasile Lupu in 1640 and followed, in 1707, by Antioh Cantemir’s Academia Domnească. The school was founded on 26 October 1860 (by decree of Prince Cuza, with the support of Interior Minister Kogălniceanu), operating at first (until 1897) on the premises of the Calimachi Palace.
At the time of its foundation, the University had three faculties – law, philosophy, and theology, to which medicine and science were soon added. Today, 15 faculties and numerous other research centers operate within the Copou University.
The Copou University Palace, which has housed the University of Iasi since 1897, was built on the site of the National Theatre, destroyed in a fire, and extended in the interwar period. During the Second World War, the building was badly damaged by bombing and was then proposed for demolition, but was eventually restored.
Architecturally, the palace, designed by the famous Swiss architect Louis Blanc, is a jewel combining Baroque and Classical styles. Inside, it is particularly impressive for its 130-meter-long ground-floor hall with 19 niches painted by artist Sabin Bălașa. On the north side of the hall, the masterful painting “Homage to the Founders” shows the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza surrounded by several important personalities, including Mihail Kogălniceanu and Costache Negri (source).
Address: 11 Carol I Boulevard, Iași.
Ciric Forest and Ciric Lakes
Five reservoirs have been created in the Ciric river valley, which acts as recreational areas and, at the same time, regulates the water flow. On Lake Dorobanț there is a nautical canoeing base; on Lake Aroneanu there is sport fishing; near Lake Ciric I, there are sports fields, a cycling track, a beach with a swimming pool, jetties, a ski lift, and in the nearby forest there is an adventure park and various activities (paintball, climbing, etc.). Not to be forgotten is Lake Venice, where there is a small beach and a swimming pool, and where there are also a few places for bird watching.
The Ciric forest covers 252 hectares and was planted over almost 30 years, between 1936 and 1963. Nearby is the airport in Iasi. From the city center, you can reach Ciric Forest by minibus (lines 48 and 49) and by private car.
Repedea Hill
Those who love to take panoramic photos should go to the top of Repedea Hill (353 meters), near Iași (11 km), one of the seven hills that “define” the city. From here, they will have beautiful views of the “sweet fair” and the other hills, lakes, or even (on clear days) of the Ceahlău Massif.
At the same time, the hill is of significant geological importance, having been declared a geological and paleontological reserve (in 1955, making it the first paleontological reserve in Romania!) due to the fact that the limestone rocks here are formed from the shells of fossilized shells left after the drying up of the Sarmatian Sea, about 7 million years ago.
Near Repedea Hill (commune of Bârnova) you can also reach it by buses 30, 30B, and 46.
Iasi Botanical Garden
In 1856, the doctor and naturalist Anastasie Fătu established the first botanical garden in Romania in Iași on a plot of land purchased from his finances, near Râpa Galbenă. Fătu wanted to offer students and young people, in general, the opportunity to study botany directly and learn about the various plants and trees found in the region of Moldavia. The garden lived on Anastasie Fătu’s funds until his death, after which it fell into disrepair.
In 1873, however, the Society of Physicians and Naturalists of Iasi established another Botanical Garden around the present Museum of Natural History. Doctor Dimitrie Brândză (who also gave his name to the Botanical Garden in Bucharest) was given the task of arranging the garden, the plants coming largely from Fătu’s botanical garden (source).
Over the years, Iasi’s botanical gardens underwent various changes and transformations until 1963, when the “Anastasie Fătu” Botanical Garden was established in Dealul Copoului, under the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. Today it covers an area of 105 hectares and is divided into 12 sectors that house various plants, some of them very rare, but also living fossils or floral species. A dendrological park and a convent of nuns are also located in the garden.
Address: 7-9 Dumbrava Roșie Street. Visiting hours: 9am-8pm (on Mondays and Wednesdays, the greenhouses are closed). Ticket prices can be found here.
Esplanade Elisabeta (Yellow Ravine)
In order for the inhabitants of Iasi to travel more quickly between Copou Hill, the train station, and the city center, what was to become known as Esplanada Elisabeta was built at the end of the 19th century (1898-1900, when Alexandru Bădărău was mayor), in the area known as Râpa Galbenă (a place where potters “stocked up” with yellow clay). Initially very unstable due to landslides, the esplanade named after Queen Elisabeta was consolidated in the 1920s and became one of the most famous places for walking in Iași. Initially, the first botanical garden in Romania, founded by Anastasie Fătu, was located near the Râpei Galbene. In 1925 the CFR Cultural Home, today a historical monument, appeared, together with the whole esplanade.
From an architectural point of view, the Esplanade Elisabeta is a splendid work of art, with a semicircular central body and an upper terrace framed by two arched staircases. The two staircases have three small balconies on the inner side for aesthetic appeal. At the bottom, a small garden brings the mini-cascade on the facade of the central body into the foreground. It is said that the Esplanade Elisabeta was the place where poet Mihai Eminescu and his lover, Veronica Micle, used to meet.
Ion Creanga’s Bojdeuca and the Țicău district
Perhaps the most visited museum in Iasi is Ion Creanga’s Bojdeuca, part of the “Ion Creanga” cultural museum complex, which opened in 1989. This peasant house, which can be said to be the first literary museum in Romania, was inaugurated in 1918 and is the place where the famous Moldavian writer and storyteller lived from 1872 until the end of his life.
Ion Creanga wrote many of his works here, including Childhood Memories and Stories. In 1876, poet (and Creanga’s good friend) Mihai Eminescu also lived in this house for half a year.
The house has three rooms, housing original objects used by Ion Creanga in that period – tables, chairs, icons, vases, inkwell, stove, work table, chest, oven, books, all kinds of documents, etc. The adjoining building has a library and a room for temporary exhibitions. Currently, however (as of January 2022), Creanga’s house is amidst restoration work, which includes refurbishing and modernizing the museum, restoring the amphitheater and green spaces, etc. The work was planned to take two years, so it is expected that the overall appearance of this fairytale museum will improve significantly.
The Bojdeuca is located in the Țicău district of Iasi, on the eastern side of Copou Hill, a very popular neighborhood of houses named after a nobleman who once owned the area. The district is worth walking through. Hilly, with lots of trees, old houses covered with vines – Țicău takes you back in time, in a special atmosphere, especially if you visit it on a lazy summer afternoon.
The address of the Ion Creanga village: 4 S. Bărnuțiu Street, Iasi.
Best hotels in Iași
If you’re planning a visit, a trip, a weekend or even a holiday in Iași and don’t know where to stay, here is a selection of the best hotels in Iași, according to Booking.com, choosing only the options that have received superior ratings from those who have passed their thresholds.
Best 5 stars hotels in Iași
Pleiada Boutique Hotel & Spa *****
Booking.com rating: 9.4
The only 5-star hotel in Iasi (in 2022) is located 5 km from the city center, in a quiet area, and has an indoor pool, spa, sauna, and other facilities that delight tourists. On warm days, meals can be served on the terrace, which offers beautiful views. Subject to availability, the hotel offers free tickets to Iasi Opera performances, including transport.
Best 4 stars hotels in Iași
Hotel Select ****
Booking.com rating: 9.4
Located in the historic center of Iași, Hotel Select (built in the 19th century) offers guests an atmosphere to match. It is tastefully decorated, with antiphonal rooms and beautiful views of the surrounding old buildings. The Cin Cin Restaurant offers a variety of Spanish, Italian, French, and local cuisine, and the Barroco Restaurant is designed for various types of events – weddings, congresses, or corporate events.
Grand Hotel Traian 4****
Booking.com rating: 9,4
Built in 1882 by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel (who is the “author” of four buildings in the sweet fairgrounds of Iasi), this luxury hotel on Unirii Square, a 10-minute walk from the National Theatre and other city landmarks, welcomes guests with an atmosphere that combines contemporary comfort with traditional elegance – provided by its fascinating history and modern amenities.
GRAND VIEW Hotel & Suites Copou ****
Booking.com rating: 9.6
The hotel is located 6 km from Iasi Opera House. It features a restaurant, free private parking, fitness center, and bar. The rooms have air conditioning, desk, minibar, and generally all the amenities of a modern and comfortable hotel.
Best 3 stars hotels in Iași
Hotel Arnia
Booking.com rating: 9.4
Hotel Arnia is a 15-minute walk from Copou Park. It features a terrace and offers free internet. Rooms are decorated in pastel colors, and continental breakfasts are available at the front desk, while guests can dine in the hotel’s restaurant.
Hotel Belleville ***
Booking.com rating: 8.9
Hotel Belleville is 400 meters from Iulius Shopping Mall and 3 km from Iasi train station. Spacious rooms feature wooden floors and dark furnishings. Guests get complimentary tea and coffee daily, and breakfast is available at the front desk.
Hotel Restaurant La Castel ***
Booking.com rating: 9
Hotel La Castel welcomes visitors with a fairytale exterior and richly ornate interiors. Rooms are decorated in various shades of red, are air-conditioned, and some have balconies. Romanian and Bavarian specialties are served in the elegant glass-roofed restaurant, and meals can also be enjoyed on the terrace.
The hotel is 8 km from Creanga’s Bojdeuca.
Ramada Iași City Center ***
Booking.com rating: 8.9
Ramada City Center is located in a quiet and central area of Iasi, opposite the Palas Mall. The Cosmopolitan restaurant serves delicious local and international cuisine. Rooms are spacious, tastefully furnished, air-conditioned, and feature free internet.
Best restaurants in Iași
Iasi is not only a city with a beautiful atmosphere but also a city where you have many gastronomic arguments, restaurants, and places that have appeared lately, putting on the “tray” more and more delicious dishes. Below are just three suggestions for the best restaurants in Iași.
Toujours
A short but comprehensive menu with enough attention to detail to attract attention. We noted the tuna tartare, tomato soup with basil, duck breast with blueberries and Disarrono sauce, scallops in champagne sauce, and Black Angus beef. Friendly staff (the restaurant is a family business), good service, and a warm atmosphere.
Address: 2 Gându Street, Iasi
Vivo Fusion Food Bar
Nominated yearly since 2015 in the Best Steakhouse/Burger category at the Horeca Awards, the Iasi version of Vivo Fusion Food Bar (the other two are in Bucharest) is known primarily for its exceptional burgers served in a relaxed atmosphere.
Address: 20 Moldova Street, Iasi
Blue Acqua
According to the official website, the Blue Acqua story began when two friends decided to write a three-act culinary fish story, inviting gourmets to a unique dining experience, combined with presence in a fluid, light-filled, transparent architectural space. The Iasi location (there are two others, in Galați and Mamaia) has been transformed into one of the city’s best restaurants, where fish lovers will feel like heaven.
Address: 78 Arcu Street, Iasi
So, the city of Iași can be part of any tourist or traveler’s itinerary, Romanian or foreign. The romantic air, which preserves the cultural fragrance of yesteryear and combines it with interesting contemporary elements (let’s not forget that Iași is currently one of the outstanding I.T. centers in Romania) places it in one of the top of the most beautiful cities in the country. Plan a visit to Iasi, and you won’t regret it: besides the sights mentioned above, you will discover others, which we would be happy to reveal in the comments.
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