In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Iași
Give Iași 1–2 nights: Palace of Culture, the church cluster on Ștefan cel Mare and Copou hill fit one full day on foot.
Iași is Romania's second city by cultural weight and the old capital of Moldavia, in the northeast near the Moldova border. Sights sit close together in the centre, so one full day covers the core and a second day adds Copou hill, museums and a Chișinău hop. It is a student city, walkable and cheap, with a short spring and autumn window.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (freezing, down to –20°C), Jul–Aug (hot)Dec–Feb (freezing, down to –68°F), Jul–Aug (hot)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro. About 5 lei to €1 in 2026 — check the live rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget 150–250 lei excl. bed · Mid 250–450 lei excl. bed · High 450+ lei excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest. Passport ID is required to register a SIM — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire and mountain rescue 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin; Schuko (F) sockets take C plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.; Café or bar: Round up or leave a few lei.; Taxi or Bolt: Round up; app tips optional.; Guesthouse host or driver-guide: RON 20–50 per day for good service.; Hotel porter: RON 5–10 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3. Village and monastery toilets can be basic — carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 8–15 lei |
| Lunch, canteen or bakery | 20–40 lei |
| Restaurant main course | 35–70 lei |
| Beer, draught / shop | 10–18 lei / 4–7 lei |
| Public transport single ticket | 3.5 lei |
| Taxi, 5 km in the cityTaxi, 3.1 mi in the city | 12–18 lei |
| Museum entry | 10–30 lei |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IAS · Iași International Airport
- 8 km northeast of the centre; bus 50 to the centre, or a metered taxi5 mi northeast of the centre; bus 50 to the centre, or a metered taxi
Typical fares
- Airport to centre, bus 50
- about 3.5 lei, roughly 30 min
- Airport to centre, taxi
- about 15–20 lei metered
- Train Iași to Bucharest
- about €26 inter-city, several hours (check)
Get around
The centre is compact and best on foot. Trams and buses run about 05:00–23:00, less often at weekends; buy tickets at kiosks or machines. Taxis are metered and cheap — check the meter is running.The centre is compact and best on foot. Trams and buses run about 5:00 AM–11:00 PM, less often at weekends; buy tickets at kiosks or machines. Taxis are metered and cheap — check the meter is running.
See and do
Known for
- Palace of Culture
- Trei Ierarhi and Metropolitan churches
- Copou hill and its linden tree
- Student city and old Moldavian capital
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chișinău, Moldova | Daily train from Iași Socola station, or coach from the bus stations | 3–4 h by coach |
| Piatra Neamț | Train or bus west into the Neamț hills | 2.5–3.5 h |
| Botoșani | Train or bus northwest | 2–3 h |
Sleep
- Centre / Ștefan cel Mare area
- Walk to the Palace of Culture, the churches and the National Theatre; best for a short stay.
- Copou
- University hill with parks and quieter streets; 20–30 min walk or a short tram ride to the centre.
- Around the railway station
- Practical for early trains and buses; less to see on foot.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaboo-nuh zee-wa |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-mesk |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kuht kos-tuh |
| The bill, please | Nota, vă rogno-ta vuh rog |
| Can I pay by card? | Pot plăti cu cardul?pot pluh-tee koo kar-dool |
| Where is the toilet? | Unde este toaleta?oon-deh yes-teh twa-leh-ta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'bună ziua' by day, 'bună seara' in the evening; avoid: First names with older people before they offer them
- Visiting a home: Take shoes off at the door; bring flowers (an odd number), chocolate or wine; avoid: Even numbers of flowers — they are for funerals
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; women may cover their hair in monasteries; stand quietly at the back during services; avoid: Crossing in front of the altar area or photographing people praying
- Conversation: Food, football, travel in Romania and family are safe topics; avoid: Dracula as the country's identity, calling Romanians Slavs, and careless talk about Roma or Hungarians
- Hospitality: Accept at least a taste of what you are offered; thank the host by name; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Queues and transport: Give seats to older people and parents with children; avoid: Loud phone calls in train compartments
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter is genuinely cold: pack for –20°C in Jan–Feb.
- Some taxi drivers may not start the meter; agree the fare or check the device.
- Minor ticket kiosks close around 17:00–18:00; use machines instead.
- Many museum signs are Romanian-only.
Iași is a safe, walkable city; the real risks are winter cold, unlit side streets at night and taxis that skip the meter. Use 112 for any emergency.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Iași yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Palace of Culture
- Trei Ierarhi and Metropolitan churches
- Copou hill and its linden tree
- Student city and old Moldavian capital
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Iași City Hall: www.primaria-iasi.ro/
- Wikivoyage: Iași, revision 5332507 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332507
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Iași
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire and mountain rescue112
Romania's foreign embassies are in Bucharest; check your country's embassy there for consular help.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/iasi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.