Getting In and Around Without Burning Your Lei
From the Airport
Iași International Airport is just 8 km from the city centre. Forget overpriced taxis and hop on bus 50 for around 3 RON (€0.60). It runs every 30 minutes and drops you near Palas Mall or the main bus station, with a journey time of about 20–25 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets are sold by the driver (small coins win you smiles) or via the 24Pay app if you want to be extra organised. Alternatively, bus 28 also connects the airport to the city with similar pricing, and rideshare services like Bolt or Uber cost around 20–30 RON depending on time of day.
Local Transport
Iași’s historic core is walkable (goodbye, cardio class), but if you need a break from those glorious hills, trams and buses cost 3 RON per ride or 10 RON for a day pass. Download the 24Pay app to avoid awkward cash fumbling. Trams and buses run frequently from early morning until late evening, and ticket controllers do patrol – validate your ticket immediately after boarding to avoid fines. For regional travel, the train station offers cheap connections to Suceava, Botoșani, or Bucharest for under 50–100 RON if booked in advance.
Free & Nearly-Free Wonders
Palace of Culture
The icon of Iași. Entry to the grand courtyard is free, and you can admire the Neo-Gothic façade like the noble scholar you are. For inside action, the museum ticket covering all four mini-museums is around 65 RON, but students get hefty discounts (around half price). Highlights include the Art Museum with medieval religious paintings, the Moldavian History Museum featuring royal jewels and traditional costumes, and the Ethnographic Museum displaying old crafts and village life. Or just lounge by the fountains outside and people-watch your heart out.
Copou Park & Eminescu’s Linden Tree
Stroll under towering linden trees and whisper poems to Mihai Eminescu’s tree – Romania’s Shakespeare. Free, romantic, and a solid place for an emo picnic or study session. There is also a Writers’ Alley with busts of Romanian literary greats and a small outdoor café for cheap ice cream. The park includes colourful flower beds, shaded benches ideal for reading or people-watching students rushing to lectures, playgrounds for families, and occasional open-air poetry readings or classical music performances in summer.
Union Square (Piața Unirii)
A buzzing square ringed by cafes, communist blocks, and historic hotels like Hotel Traian. Great for people-watching or devouring a covrig (giant Romanian pretzel) from Petru bakery (~2 RON) as you ponder revolution and your next exam. Often hosts free public concerts or holiday markets.
Public Libraries & Study Halls
Many have beautiful architecture and free entry, like Gheorghe Asachi County Library’s grand reading room, featuring stunning painted ceilings, carved wood bookshelves, and quiet corners ideal for reading, studying, or simply enjoying the Hogwarts vibes. Some also offer free public lectures or small exhibitions.
Second-hand Bookshops
For Romanian or Soviet-era books at tiny prices. Shops often stock vintage postcards, old stamps, and retro magazines ideal as quirky gifts or Instagram props.
Street Art & Murals
Check alleys near the university for hidden modern art, especially near Casa de Cultura a Studentilor, where murals change yearly with new student artists adding vibrant and political designs. Many depict social commentary on corruption, student life, and Romania’s past, with large-scale portraits, vivid patterns, and witty slogans in Romanian and English. Some streets near Cuza University and the arts faculty also host graffiti competitions, resulting in ever-changing colourful walls perfect for edgy Instagram backdrops and selfies that scream “I’m cultured but rebellious.”
Metropolitan Cathedral
Romania’s largest Orthodox cathedral dazzles inside and out with its domed ceilings, gilded iconostasis, and huge chandeliers. Free entry, but ladies, bring a scarf to cover your head if you want to blend in respectfully. You may hear the choir rehearsing during late afternoon visits, and guided tours sometimes explain the symbolic paintings and architectural details for free if you join groups.
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Gardens
Hidden gem alert: the botanical garden is 10 RON for students. Wander between greenhouses, tropical plant collections, medicinal herb gardens, rock gardens with alpine plants, and rose gardens. In autumn, look out for pumpkin displays and seasonal flower exhibitions, and in spring the cherry blossom area is particularly beautiful for photos and peaceful walks.
Budget Eats Worth Their Salt
Local Markets
Nicolina or Central Market (Piața Centrală) for cheap produce, pastries, fresh cheeses, cured meats, and flowers. Vendors are usually happy to let you taste cheeses or seasonal fruits before buying. Great spots to buy picnic supplies for Copou Park or souvenirs like local honey and herbal teas. Many stalls also sell homemade pickles, jams, fresh herbs, and traditional Romanian sweets like rahat (Turkish delight) or cozonac slices for a few RON each. Early morning visits give the best selection, while late afternoon means discounts as sellers clear stock.
Covrigi
1–2 RON from any street bakery. Best devoured while rushing to your next sight or lecture. They come with sesame, poppy, or cheese toppings. For a sweet twist, try the chocolate or vanilla cream filled versions at select bakeries like Luca or Petru.
Plăcinte
Deep-fried dough stuffed with cheese, potato, or apple. Around 5 RON each. Look for bakeries displaying trays of fresh plăcinte in the window. Some places offer giant versions served warm with powdered sugar on top for extra indulgence.
Shaorma
Gigantic wraps stuffed with chicken, fries, cabbage, pickles, garlic sauce – all for 15–20 RON. Try Spartan or Farta’s near Palas Mall. Vegetarian options are available with falafel instead of meat. Perfect for late-night cravings after exploring student bars.
Student Canteens
If you know a student, bribe them to take you to the university cantine for a full meal under 15 RON. These usually include soup, main dish, and salad. Alternatively, hit up La Conu Iancu for traditional Romanian dishes like sarmale, ciorbă de burtă, or mici with fries at budget-friendly prices.
Nightlife on a Budget
Student Bars
RocknRolla and The Trumpets are favourites for cheap drinks, live music, and quiz nights. Happy hour beers from 5 RON make your wallet sing.
Clubs with No Cover
Fratelli Lounge & Club often has free entry before midnight. Check Facebook events for guestlist offers.
Live Music Pubs
The Gate and Underground Pub host local bands with no cover charge on weeknights – just buy a drink and enjoy.
Late-Night Food Stalls
Shaorma and plăcinte kiosks stay open till 3-4am near Piața Unirii to soak up post-party wobbles.
Free Dance Events
During festivals, open-air DJ nights pop up in Palas gardens or Union Square. Bring your own beer for ultimate budget raving.
Wine Bars
For a chilled evening, try Vinto for Romanian wines by the glass starting at 10 RON.
Culture on a Dime
Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre
Catch student-priced shows for 20–30 RON, or sneak a free peek inside during open days. Guided tours are sometimes available for around 10 RON, showcasing the ornate painted ceilings, grand chandeliers, and hidden backstage areas where actors prepare.
Dosoftei House
Entry is 5 RON (student discount available). Perfect for history nerd flexes. The museum contains ancient Slavic-Romanian religious books and printing presses. It also displays fragments of old frescoes and offers quick explanations in English for international visitors.
Church-Hopping
Free entry. Check out Trei Ierarhi Monastery or Golia Monastery (tower climb 5 RON). Trei Ierarhi is known for its intricate stone-carved facade blending Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance motifs. Golia offers panoramic views of the city from its tower and has a peaceful inner courtyard with benches for quiet reflection.
Weird & Wonderful
The Underground Catacombs
Secret tunnels – check local history walks for tours. Rumour says students used them to sneak between classes back in medieval days – or just to hide from exams.
The Alley of the Classics
Busts of literary greats. Free and eerie at dusk. Perfect place to practise your dramatic readings or whisper sweet nothings to bronze Eminescu – he never judges your Romanian accent.
Chill Corners for Broke Bohemians
Palas Mall Gardens
Rooftop views + free WiFi. Espresso: 5 RON. Because nothing screams budget influencer like sipping cheap coffee with a palace backdrop pretending you own the kingdom.
Art House Cafés
Acaju or Cafeneaua Piața Unirii. Coffee 6–8 RON. Ideal spots to journal your existential crises or draft your Nobel Prize acceptance speech while surrounded by fairy lights and hipster plants.
Bonus: Moldovan Day Trips
Cotnari Vineyards
Hop on a local bus (~10 RON) for a scenic 50 km ride through Moldovan hills to Cotnari, Romania’s historic wine region. Tastings start from 15 RON and include sweet Grasă de Cotnari varieties. Many vineyards offer short tours of cellars lined with dusty oak barrels and will likely send you home tipsy and happy.
Repedea Hill
For panoramic city views and a lung workout, hike up Repedea Hill just outside Iași. The hill offers views over the entire city, surrounding villages, and distant forests. The hike is free (unless you count the price of your sweat and tears). Bring water, a camera, and reward yourself with ice cream or a cheap beer at the bottom afterwards.
Iași by the Numbers
- Food: Street eats 2–10 RON, sit-down meals 20–40 RON
- Coffee: 5–10 RON
- Beer & Wine: Local beer 5–8 RON for 500ml, house wine glass 8–12 RON
- Transport: Bus/tram 3 RON, day ticket 10 RON
- Accommodation: Hostels from 60 RON, budget hotels from 120 RON
La Revedere, Iași Explorer
Iași proves that you don’t need a PhD stipend to experience Romania’s cultural soul. From sipping beers under Orthodox domes to getting lost in libraries that look like Hogwarts, this city gives you history, carbs, culture, and humour – all for less than your monthly Netflix bill. Drum bun și poftă bună!