Palatul Braunstein

Teatrul Național Vasile Alecsandri

The Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre in Iași is the oldest national theatre in Romania and one of the most beautiful performance buildings in the country. The present edifice, inaugurated at the end of the nineteenth century, was designed by the renowned Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, authors of many monumental theatres across Central Europe, and impresses with a richly decorated eclectic facade and an interior of special elegance, its auditorium adorned with paintings, gilded stucco, a famous painted ceiling and an imposing Venetian crystal chandelier. The theatre bears the name of the great writer and poet Vasile Alecsandri, an essential figure of Romanian culture and of the Iași theatrical movement. The building also houses the Romanian National Opera, making it a key cultural centre of Moldavia. Set in a central square with a fountain in front, the theatre is an important urban landmark. Visitors can admire the architecture from outside, and for the interior it is best to attend a performance or a guided tour, depending on the schedule.

Palatul Culturii

The Palace of Culture in Iași is the emblem of the city, a monumental Neo-Gothic palace built in the early 20th century on the site of the former princely court of Moldavia. Its silhouette of towers, arcades and lacework façades dominates the city centre, and the clock tower, whose carillon plays a melody every hour, is a symbol of Iași. Inside, the palace houses a remarkable museum complex: museums of history, art, ethnography and science and technology, with valuable collections and halls of singular splendour, among them the famous Hall of the Voivodes. The interior decorations, mosaics, stained glass and staircases impress at every step. It is the unmissable attraction of Moldavia's cultural capital, ideal for a full day of exploring. Set beside a park with views over the city, it can also be admired from outside. Check the schedule of the interior museums, which may have distinct hours.

Catedrala Mitropolitană Iași

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, the largest historic Orthodox church in Romania, is the spiritual heart of Moldavia and a monumental landmark of the city. Built in the second half of the 19th century in the neoclassical style with Renaissance influences, the cathedral impresses with its dimensions, its four massive spires and elegant façades. The interior, bright and spacious, is adorned with murals by the renowned painter Gheorghe Tattarescu. Here rest the relics of Saint Parascheva, protector of Moldavia, on whose feast in October hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come in procession to Iași, in one of the largest religious events in Romania. Around the cathedral stretches a pleasant park. It is a place of faith but also a monument to visit. Modest dress is advised; check the schedule of services and pilgrimages.

Cuib Iași

La Castel Iași

A quiet hotel in a castle-style building offering welcoming rooms, a restaurant and a bar with a lounge.

Restaurant Casa Pogor Iași

Pleiada Boutique Hotel Iași

An elegant hotel with individually decorated rooms, plus two restaurants and a spa with an indoor pool.

International Hotel Iași

A refined hotel with a cocktail lounge, an indoor pool and saunas, plus a fitness room and three restaurants.

Hotel Select Iași

A simple hotel with a restaurant and a sidewalk terrace, plus a bar and breakfast.