Arad, Romania’s western gate
Arad city impresses through its Central European architecture, and also through its cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Daniel Onea, 25.09.2025, 14:00
The city of Arad is the main starting point for exploring the entire county of the same name, located in western Romania, on the border with Hungary. Arad city impresses through its Central European architecture, and also through its cosmopolitan atmosphere. In addition, visitors can discover a county where cultural heritage is combined with natural attractions, spa relaxation with active tourism, and local gastronomy with authentic experiences. From a tourist’s point of view, the city stands out for its architectural heritage. The buildings in the old town offer visitors the image of a cosmopolitan city, intensively developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a period in which Arad experienced strong economic and cultural development, says Ioana Mădălin Crainic, an advisor at the National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion of Arad County.
Ioana Mădălin Crainic: “The city of Arad stands out through its multiculturalism and history. From secession-style buildings, to the imposing cathedrals of different ethnic communities, and to the oasis of peace in the vicinity of the city, the Lunca Mureșului Natural Park, Arad has something to offer for everyone. Our tourism center has offered free, thematic guided tours over time. Among these, we list the Masonic Tour, which includes Arad buildings with Masonic insignia and symbols, the Great Union Tour, which includes historical buildings with an important role in the events leading up to the moment of December 1, 1918, the Secession Tour and the tour dedicated to Baron Francisc von Neuman, the founder of our city’s flagship club, UTA Arad. In our multiethnic city, one can visit tourist attractions specific to each community that left its mark on the development of Arad. The Reconciliation Park with the Statue of Liberty, for the Hungarian community, the Serbian Church and the House of Sava Tekelija, for the Serbian community, and also the synagogue for the Jewish community.”
The tours are adapted to the tourists, continues Ioana Mădălin Crainic, advisor at the National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion of Arad County: “Such a tour starts in front of the Administrative Palace, continues with the Cultural Palace, a true work of architecture. We then go to the center, where we discuss the various palaces, because Arad is nicknamed the “City of Palaces”. We make a stop at the Catholic Church of Saint Anthony of Padua and, after that, we go to the theater area, where we have a few more palaces, such as the Bohuș Palace, with a very rich history. The tour ends in Avram Iancu Square, the former center of Arad, because the first city hall, in the 1800s, was located there.”
Arad County boasts many memorable places: “For the lovers of fine wines, we have the historic Miniș-Măderat vineyard, which stands out for its chic wine cellars, noble wines and unique tourist attractions, such as the Ioan Slavici Museum or the Green Arrow Museum, the Șiriei Fortress or the Ineu Fortress. Nostalgic people can follow into the footsteps of King Mihai by visiting the royal village of Săvârșin, and then continue on the King’s Road. Also, the Maria Radna Monastery or the Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery are the most important pilgrimage sites in Arad County, both being highly spiritual places. We have the Moneasa resort, which offers stays with attractions for all ages, from the Grota Ursului cave (Bear Cave), to the lookout point, to the mountain trails to the Izoiu peak or the marble quarry. Moreover, we recommend a visit to the resort’s swimming pool, where tourists can relax in pools with mesothermal water. The Wooden Churches Tour of the Mureș and Criș Valleys attracts tourists of all ages, and young people can spend their vacation either on the “western coast”, as Ghioroc Lake is known in this area, where student festivals maintain the atmosphere throughout the summer season, or in the Arad County Council camps in Moneasa and Căsoaia.”
The National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion of Arad County has proposed eight routes brought together under the title “One-day Tourism”, so that, if someone has a day they want to spend in Arad County, they have options in different corners of the county.
Here is an example of a thematic route: “My suggestion would be to start on the Mureș Valley. The Mureș Valley is very attractive and can be covered in one day, or even in two days, depending on the time needed. Our journey starts, obviously, from Arad, the first stop being at the Monument to the Heroes in Păuliș, heroes who fell in World War II battles there, when they defended the access ways to the Mureș Valley. We continue to Lipova, where we can visit the Maria Radna Monastery, the Șoimoș Fortress and, after that, we continue to Săvârșin, where we can find the Săvârșin Royal Domain, as well as the Eugen and Eugenia Popa memorial house and art collection. We continue to Petriș. There we can already see wooden churches, houses painted in folk style and a water mill that still works and can make flour from grains, in the traditional way. In this place, there is the Zărand Association, with some very kind-hearted people, who want to revive these traditions. There is also a local gastronomic point. Once tourists have seen with their own eyes how grains are transformed into flour, they can make their own bread together with those at the local gastronomic point and bake it in a traditional oven. We look forward to seeing you in Arad and, if you want more information, we invite you to visit our tourism center. If you want to see Arad virtually before you visit it, on our website www.visitarad.ro, you have the virtual tour of Arad county, which includes 55 objectives, practically all the important objectives in the municipality and the county. These can be visited virtually, both via laptop or PC, and via virtual glasses. It is a very nice and immersive experience.”
The next important event is the Autumn Festival, held in Arad, between October 10-12, which will bring together local producers from Arad. (LS)
