The closest airports to Bistrita are Targu Mures which is located 55 miles south of the city, Cluj Napoca which is 70 miles southwest, a two-hour drive, and Suceava 110 miles northeast. Bistrita is 279 miles north of Bucharest traveling by car on the DN13/E60. The train ride from Bucharest to Bistrita takes around 8 hours.

The best way to reach the city of Bistrita is either by bus, car, or train. From Cluj it is a 2 hour travel time by bus, from Suceava it’s a 3-4 hour journey by bus, and 3 hours from Targu Mures, there is one bus from Iasi that takes seven hours.

Bistrita is on the secondary railway with limited services, there are a few local trains with three commuter trains traveling from Cluj (3-hour trip) as well as a night train that travels from Bucharest (9 hours) via Brasov. There are timetables available on the CFR railways website.

The main train station in the city is Bistrita North located one mile from downtown. The station is within walking distance to many hotels, restaurants, shops, and other sights in the city. There are taxis outside the station.

Public transportation in the city of Bistrita is mainly made up of buses, taxis, and trains that travel to other cities in the country. There are minibus lines that cover several routes in the city operated by Transmixt.

The Bistrita Bus Station is on Str. Iuliu Maniu 54 with domestic bus service to and from Alba lulia, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Deva, Fantanele, Hunedoara, Iasi, Oradea, Reghin, Satu Mare, Sibiu, and Targu Mures.

Renting a car when traveling to Bistrita is one of the easiest ways to reach the city. The nearest airport is over 55 miles away. Renting a car at any one of the airports in the surrounding region is possible with multiple rental car companies available. Bistrita is located on the DN17 road that links Transylvania with Southern Bucovina.

There are taxis available in Bistrita that can be found in the city outside of the train and bus stations and outside the main attractions. Taxis can be ordered over the phone from your hotel.

The city is relatively compact especially in the old quarters and easily navigable on foot. The main attractions in the city are within walking distance.

There are currently no bike rentals in the city at this point.

There are shopping opportunities in the city, mainly located in the old quarters where souvenirs shops and more are available to browse and pick up unique traditional items.

Bistrita 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.

The official language spoken in Bistrita 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.

Bistria’s climate is moderately continental with pleasantly warm summers and cold winters when temperatures often drop below freezing. The city sits at 1,300 feet above sea level and the winters can be particularly cold with temperatures below -4 F, the coldest on record was -29 F. Summers are hot with highs that reach the 90’s and cool nights that can drop to 46 degrees F even in July and August. The best time to visit is from June through September with pleasant warm temperatures and little rainfall. August is the hottest month of the year and January is the coldest month.

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

Typical food in Romanian is made with meat, usually, pork with menus made up of several different types of pork dishes. Romanians enjoy comfort good, and Bistrita is a great city for dining options with plenty of diversity and dozens of traditional Romanian restaurants. Many of these local restaurants are located in authentic historic buildings, some playing folk music or featuring folk dancing shows and serving up some of the countries finest cuisine. There are also plenty of international restaurants in the city whether you fancy Italian, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, French, Japanese, or Greek food they can all be found in Bucharest.

A few popular dishes in the city include sarmale, cabbage stuffed with spiced minced pork or beef. Mamaliga is a cornmeal porridge similar to polenta served with many main courses topped with sour cream and cheese. Mici (“small ones”) is made of combinations of ground meat and spices grilled on the barbecue, normally served with mustard and fresh bread. Ciroba de burta (Tripe soup) is a popular first course in Romania made with boiled beef tripe, vegetables, and served with sour cream, vinegar, and a garlic paste.

There are some nice restaurants in the city and a few bars and pubs that offer great drinks, music, and atmosphere. There is a pedestrian-only area by the Biserica Evangelica called Pietonalul on Strada Liviu Rebreanu with some great cafes, and bars with terraces for outdoor seating.

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

Hospitals:

Clinica Sanovil tel. 40-263--231-862

Policlinica Spitalului Judetean de Urgenta Bistrita tel. 40-263-239-048