There are maxi taxis all over the city that travel everywhere that public transportation goes. Maxi taxis are privately operated, usually white or yellow microbuses, and have their ending destination written on a paper at the front of the bus, they follow a usual route. Drivers don’t speak English very well and do not accept foreign currency.

The city of Iasi is a large densely populated town, walking across town from one end to the other could take a few hours on foot. The Old Town area of Iasi is pretty small, and most of the interesting parts of the city are found in the center which is walkable. Walking is one of the best ways to see many of the sights in the city.

The leafy neighborhood of Copou is a wonderful place to wander around where the beautiful Botanical Gardens are located and the popular Copou park.

The city has some beautiful wide open green spaces such as Copou Park which are wonderful spots for a bicycle ride. Iasi is called the city on seven hills, also making it the perfect setting for a bike ride or trip passing by religious monuments, archeological sites, and some spectacular scenic views.

Private transfers are available between many cities in Romania with one of our reputable companies. These point-to-point transfers allow for passengers to enjoy the ride and take in the scenery while the driver connects you to your destination. The roads in Romania can be hard for non-locals to navigate, so a private transfer is a great way to travel.

There are two main bus stations located in Iasi; West Station (Autogara Vest), and Vama Veche Station (Codreanu). Vama Veche is situated in front of the main railway station with buses and taxis available outside.

Renting a car when visiting Iasi is a great idea allowing visitors to visit nearby cities, attractions, and surrounding areas. The city is well connected to the rest of Europe on the country and national roads like E583/E85 with Bucharest on a four-lane highway, and European route E58 with Central Europe and Chisinau in Moldova, and by DN National Roads to all major cities in Romania. A trip from Bucharest to Iasi usually takes about 5-6 hours by road, the fastest route is E85-E 581. The city offers several rental car agencies as well as the airport.

Taxis are readily available in Iasi and can be found outside of hotels, restaurants, train and bus stations, and the main sights and attractions. Taxis in the city are yellow and run on meters, the metered rates are 2 RON per 0.62 miles outside the city limits and 1.8 RON per 0.62 miles inside the city.

There are maxi taxis all over the city that travel basically everywhere that public transportation goes. Maxi taxis are privately operated, usually white or yellow microbuses, and have their ending destination written on a paper at the front of the bus, they follow a usual route. Drivers don’t speak English very well and do not accept foreign currency.

The city of Iasi is a large densely populated town, walking across town from one end to the other could take a few hours on foot. The Old Town area of Iasi is pretty small, and most of the interesting parts of the city are found in the walkable center. Walking is one of the best ways to see many of the sights in the city. The leafy neighborhood of Copou is a wonderful place to wander around where the beautiful Botanical Gardens are located and the popular Copou park.

The city has some beautiful wide open green spaces such as Copou Park which are wonderful spots for a bicycle ride. Iasi is called the city on seven hills, also making it the perfect setting for a bike ride or trip passing by religious monuments, archeological sites, and some spectacular scenic views.

Iasi is a very safe destination for tourists with crimes against visitors being very rare. There are few other cities anywhere in the world that feel safer, there is plenty of police presence around town, especially in frequently visited tourist sights and attractions. Be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas especially on board public transport, don’t exchange money in the Change Bureaus, always use Banks. Keep your valuables close, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t wander around alone at night. If you rent a car be sure to take extra precautions and lock your vehicle and remove any valuables.

Iasi is filled with different shopping opportunities, there are shopping malls, second-hand stores, souvenir stores, quaint boutiques, and much more. There are many shops selling vintage clothing in Iasi and communist-era memorabilia as well as antique tennis rackets. Hala Centrala, Iulius Mall, and Palas Mall are great for brand-name clothing and local food options. The Palas Mall is a great location for shopping, dining, and just hanging out. There is an abundance of restaurants, and coffee shops at the mall offering lunch and dinner menus. Iulius is a retail mall and offers a decent shopping experience and also offers some great restaurants, bars, and dessert spots in the big food court along with plenty of international fast-food chains.

The official language spoken in Iasi is Romanian, the closest currently spoken relative to ancient Latin. Many people will also be able to speak French, Spanish, and Italian, and the Roma people will speak the native Romany. Many people speak English especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants, and many locals speak Italian. We recommend you get a good English-Romanian guidebook and learn the common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The climate in Iasi is continental with four distinct seasons. The summers are hot and humid with temperatures often exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit, summer lasts from the end of May to the middle of September. The winters are cold and windy with temperatures at night dropping as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate snowfall. Autumn is a short transitional month and the spring is still cold with temperatures ranging anywhere from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to the mid to high 60’s. Late spring and early summer are said to be the best months to visit when the weather is pleasant, not too hot, and not too cold, there are many fun outdoor festivals held in June such as the Afterhills music and arts festival in town.

The currency of Romania is the Romania Leu (RON or lei). You will need to exchange your currency for the Romanian Leu, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus.

The city of Iasi has something to offer every palate with traditional Romanian restaurants, Italian restaurants, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and many international options to choose from. La Castel serves up delicious French cuisine, Cuib is a great place to try raw and vegan dishes, Buena Vista is a Romanian/Latin American mix, and Mamma Mia serves delectable Romanian food. Pizza Pazzo offers visitors a nice relaxing atmosphere and delicious Italian cuisine, Phenicia is a Lebanese restaurant, and there are plenty of street food options and fast food places by the main train station and the university area.

The city of Iasi is famed for its vibrant nightlife options, being a major university town filled with many students there are plenty of opportunities to party in town. Iasi has bars, pubs, clubs, coffee shops, discos, and sports bars. There is a large collection of bars found in front of Copou Park where a lot of student housing is located, many of the bars here place popular music, offer great drink specials and themed nights including karaoke.

Curtea Berarilor, Baza, Underground, Taverna, The Gate, and Hand are all student bars found in the city center next to the green “cube” statue. This area is the perfect spot for a pub/bar crawl with back-to-back bars/pubs playing modern music, concerts, dance, and karaoke nights.

Sage is housed in the old “Mihai Eminescu Library” building offering tea sortiments from all over the globe, newspapers, and books are on hand to read, along with a piano and social games for your entertainment.

The London Pub is found in the Astoria Hotel in the heart of the city, a theme pub and favorite hang out for watching the football matches.

In case of Emergency dial 112 for the Police, Ambulance, or Fire services.

Hospitals:

There are 14 public hospitals in the city of Iasi including St. Spiridon Hospital which is the second largest in the country. Tel. 0232-216-584.