Best Culture and Wine Tours of Iasi

The Romanian City of Iasi is really amazing. It combines in a happy manner culture, history and archaeology, with entertainment and frenetic night life. Within one or two days you can experience all these things in an original mix, turning your ordinary Iasi Tour in an unforgettable event.

Remember first of all that Iasi is build on 7 hills, similar with the ancient Rome, and you can know and meet it  under excellent circumstances by feet or by bike. Thus you can go very close to its remarkable people, buildings and museums, experiencing the local flair and flavor.

You can take part to a professional wine tasting in Cotnari by Iasi

A brilliant idea is to start is to start and end your Iasi Tours in the Downtown, to the Culture Museum. The Culture Palace is a breathtaking building, dating back from 1925 and hosting no less than four museums, together with a leading library. If you are lucky not to find the Culture Palace during its neverending restoration works, you can use this opportunity for visiting all these museums. Thus you are going to use one or two days from your precious time, but you are not going to regret it! Discover first the History Museum of Moldavia, with artifacts from the old days up today. Run further in the Iasi Art Museum to enjoy fantastic painting and carving works from the Romanian school, but also from Italian, French and Flemish ones. If you are the technical freak, don't miss the Technical Museum, also hosted by the Culture Palace.

The breathtaking Culture Palace hosts no less than four good museums, deserving a visit

You can have a well deserved shopping or eating break in the Moldova Mall, which is actually a controversial modern building, just a few steps away from the Culture Palace. Critics and opponent can't forgive the arrogance of Moldova Mall, and are not able to understand who gave it the building approval. But the most modern mall of Iasi is a few streets further, namely Iulius Mall. which is really upscale and state of the art.

Old and new are permanently mixing in this breathtaking city with a student thrill! Close to the Culture palace discover the Dosoftei Museum of The Romanian Old literature, and the leading city hotels ( if you wanna stay and eat in style, make the good choice and select the Traian Grand Hotel, city's oldest!).

Iasi is doubtless a city of churches, you can find wonderful churches at every step and corner. Throwing a stone in Iasi , it will probably break a church window (local legend!)

Mix than with the locals, walking through the city, heading to the entertainment areas of Ciric and Bucium, where you can take part to wine tastings ( they are not running usually such fine events, but I can arange, would be great for your vacation and Iasi Tour!). Cotnari is another name to remember, when it comes to a Iasi Tour. It is very close, and is one of the best Romanian vineyards, with excellent white flavored wines ( note, ask, and taste the strong flavored Tamaioasa and Frangusa!). But please don't miss on the way the churches of Iasi, and don't be afraid visiting them inside. The Romanians are between the most tolerant people worldwide, they will be very happy to see you there. The priest will salute you, and on some very rarely events will accept even the women in the holly altar (unfortunately, it only happens 100 years after the church inauguration, so you must be very meek). Anyway, a fantastic peaceful atmosphere will seduce you inside.

Most romantic destination in Romania for Valentine's day

If you bet, that I am going to send you in Romania on Valentine, you won! Why? Because I love this country, and because is a wonderful thing for you, as a guest. And don't bother if you haven't any partner, you can go on your own!

The glamorous Cazino from Sinaia is one of my suggestions on Valentine's day

Traveling to Romania on Valentine's Day might be tricky, only because in Romania on that time is very cold, but you won't sleep under the stars. I would select the best destinations, the romantic ones.
First of all, I will propose you to go on the seaside, in Constanta. The spell of the sea in winter is much easier to hear and see, as there are no the crowds of tourists. Besides, Constanta has also some amazing attractions, like theatre, museums and mall, offering a complete entertainment. I suggest to lodge at Malibu hotel, next to Mamaia resort, a noble place where everybody will spoil you! A romantic evening in one of the leading restaurants of the downtown, maybe Cazino, will complete your moment of glory!

The wonderful city of Oradea and it charming downtown

Very different from Constanta, and also far away (1000 km away) is Oradea. It is not so big, but  really seducing in the Old city. Staying in Continental hotel from Oradea means a lot, and the friendly staff will not disturb you unnecessary. So, please, pay all the attention to your partner, and have a wonderful vacations, good to remember and describe to friends or nephews! The creamy cauliflower soup can make the difference, I guess it to be an excellent and tasty  aphrodisiaque! You can then forget, neglect and cancel the schedule for the evening, stay to your partner.

The city of Iasi is doubtless a Romanian cultural Capital. Besides, offers excellent entertainment and shopping opportunities

If you are the type of lover desperately searching for intimacy and insulation, I will recommend you a small cabin in Sinaia. Very peaceful there, almost unbelievable, unless you are on week-ends. You can ski, and have a glass of boiled wine on the slope, just to raise you fantasies,  in case you might need! As a small break, you can visit the Peles castle, which is an amazing art museum, and have a walk in the city, maybe with a dinner in Restaurant Casino, the most stylish and iconic in the area (restaurant Casino organized a glamour New year party, on a theme of Hollywood from 1930, btw).

Another interesting target for lovers is no doubt the city of Iasi, or Jassy. It has many museums, but also a tremendous downtown, with excellent malls and shopping or entertainment opportunities. I suggest in Iasi the hotel Moldova, with an excellent report between price and value. The restaurant is also enjoyable, for your romantic evening and foreplay, possible with meat rolls and a glass (or more) from the local red wine "Bull blood" or the "Bear power"! You won't sleep any minute all night long, I swear, as I already experienced!

Whatever you choice, have a happy Valentine's day and may your secret wishes come true. If you decide coming to Romania, let me know about it, and book at least one week before, as overbooking is probably, and even possible!

The best city breaks in Romania

Thinking to a city break lasting 1-2 days I wanna propose a special selection for Romania. I have made this selection based on the things to do in every mentioned city, hotels and restaurants, museums, airports. It is possible to organize the transfer, where we can't find an airport immediate next to the mentioned city!

The selected cities are selected all over Romania, and everyone is in the happy position to offer an unforgettable city break. So, these are my winners:

1. Brasov/Kronstadt, maybe the most travel oriented city in Romania. You can even ski in Poiana Brasov. At every step you will be welcomed by hotels and restaurants, giving the city an exceptional flair. You can take a walk in the centre and downrown, you can climb in Restaurant Panoramic  to get a wonderful spectacular view of the city. For gourmet, Aro Palace is also a target, there is a wide selection of exquisite wines. Landing in Bucharest or Sibiu requires a 100 km long transfer, also very easy and affordable.

The Black Church from Brasov is the biggest Gothic Cathedral in the South East Europe

2. Bucharest. The Romanian Capital needs a longer break, if I may to say so. This city is huge, you must only avoid it in summer, even the locals are going out in the mountains or to the seaside. It is really warm, nevertheless charming after 18 hours with so many open terraces to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. Discover the Bucharest fountains with their legends, Bucharest museums and Bucharest parks. Walk in the downtown on the Magheru Boulevard or Calea Victoriei, which are really expensive, even comparing with other famous streets worldwide.

You can walk on Calea Victoriei from Bucharest, but avoid entering the boutiques if you are on a budget. They are really expansive

3.Iasi. hasn't an own airport yet, transfer from Bucharest lasts 5 hours, but you can also use the airports of Chisinau or Bacau (2 hours). I can organize wonderful breaks in Iasi, with wine tastings . Don't miss the Culture palace with its 4 museums, and visit Hotel Restaurant Traian, the city's oldest and biggest. The city is build on 7 hills, similar to Rome, and you can have a relaxing walk in this city.

The Culture Palace from Iasi is a must see for any art freak

4.Cluj Napoca/Koloszvar/Klausenburg is really international and definitely worth to your time. Take a walk in the downtown, be sure to visit the catholic church of St Michael and also the orthodoxe cathedral. Visit the New York Palace, today Continental Hotel. Other important points: History and Art museum. But first of all, observe the fantastic cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city sitting in a restaurant from downtown. You will be able to hear more languages, mainly Romanian and Hungarian, and the locals can easy commute among these two!

Cluj Napoca and the Orthodoxe Cathedral

5.Constanta, the old Tomis, is a must see for the sea lovers, but it is not limited to that! Its position on the seaside gives him some advantages, against other cities from Romania. The vineyards from Murfatlar and Niculitel are very close, and the city has a breathtaking History Museum. Coming in summer, you have at your disposition a wide selection of beaches. Coming out of the season, you will find a quiet peaceful city, which is also very affordable, you can stay on a budget for sure!  

A religious tour of Iasi

The city of Iasi, former Capital of Moldavia, starting from 1595, still keeps a certain pride, visible in the way and style of the inhabitants. Fact is, that Iasi gave to Romania so many culture treasures and so many prominent personalities, making it a real Romanian cultural capital.

The St Parascheva Metropolitan Cathedral is the biggest in Romania at the moment

There are many Culture Tours in Iasi, the possibilities are countless. But what I am going to suggest now matches with the city's hidden culture treasures. The Romanian are a deep religious people, and every important ruler build one or more churches, aiming to let something behind. A good tradition after all.

We start the tour in in the central Piata Unirii of Iasi. The best during  weekends, as the heavy circulation is closed and you can walk on your own. Otherwise, it could be too noisy, the trams are the angriest! You see here the renowned Hotel Traian, build by Gustave Eiffel, which is the city's biggest, oldest and best. A few steps further The Roznovan Palace, build at 1834, nowadays the city's mayoralty. Across the street the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral Sf. Parascheva, which is today the Romania's biggest cathedral. It hosts the remainings of the Saint Parascheva, the protector of Moldavia, which is very beloved here and in all Romania. The interior paintings by Gh. Tatarescu (1886) and the coloured glassworks remind the western churches. On 14th of October there is a huge pilgrimage here, with people coming from all over Romania, Moldova and other countries. It is the Calendar Day of Saint Parascheva, and the people come and pray for the most divers matters.

Grand hotel Traian from Iasi was build by Gustave Eiffel and is the city's oldest, biggest and best; also the starting point of our Iasi Spiritual Tour

The remainings of Saint Parascheva were bought and brought to Iasi by the ruler Vasile Lupu. He left them first in Biserica Trei Ierarhi, our next target!  First build by Vasile Lupu at 1639, was renovated by Lecomte de Nouy at the late XIXth century, as many fires and earthquakes destroyed its first image. You may still observe a mineral lace, similar to the Russian churches. When Vasile Lupu first build the church, it had a superb decoration of gold, silver and lapislazuli, which dissapeared meanwhile. But you can still observe the rich oriental motives ( from Turkey, Persia and Georgia) .

The Armenian Church from iasi is city's oldest

Not very far you will find the Central Market (Hala Centrala) where you can take a break, eating and drinking at full speed. You need only to take care at one single aspect: in Romania the public toilets are very disapointing!  Keep on walking, finding further the St Sava church, which is unique in Romania due to its domes, massive towers, and the general solid view. Only a few steps further, the Armenian church, actually the city's oldest. Remembering the rich cultural heritage of Iasi, and find the big Synagogue, the last one still to be used (100 years ago Iasi had 100 working synagogues).

St Sava church in Iasi

This tour is not very long, neither very difficult, but very intensiv. For special interests we can make it even in two days. So much better, there are still some churches to discover: galata, cetatuia, Golia etc. Next time, after wine tasting in Bucium.