Hotels in Oradea

Oradea is western Romania's Art Nouveau showpiece, a city of around 200,000 a short drive from the Hungarian border whose Habsburg-era prosperity left behind a remarkable run of Secession facades, many now carefully restored. The Black Eagle Palace with its stained-glass arcade, the buildings around Piața Unirii and the pedestrianised Strada Republicii are the reasons to come, along with the star-shaped Oradea Fortress and riverside walks along the Crișul Repede.

Thermal-spa fans use it as a base for nearby Băile Felix. Be honest: once you leave the polished centre the city turns ordinary quickly, nightlife is modest, and Oradea International Airport has a limited flight schedule, so many visitors arrive overland via Hungary or from Cluj. It suits a relaxed long weekend more than a packed itinerary. Stay near Piața Unirii or along Strada Republicii, where most of the architecture, cafés and restaurants are within easy walking distance.