Acording to Lonely Planet: “Targu Mures is Transylvania’s most underrated town“, and I couldn’t agree more. Here’s more than 40 things you can do in Targu Mures, reasons enough for you to set base in Targu Mures when you visit Transylvania, Romania’s most visited historical region.

1, “Weekend” Recreation Complex in Targu Mures

The “Weekend” Recreation and Sport Complex was first put into use at the end of the 19th century. Weekend Recreation Complex was originally developed by building an artificial rowing pool around a dead section of the Mures river. In time the complex developed by building more and more pools and fun areas.

Due to different sizes and depths, pools are suitable for both swimmers and amateurs.

In the Weekend Complex from Targu Mures you will find several pools:

Olympic covered pool, 1.90 m deep

Swimming pool, 1.80 m deep

1,20 m deep pond with slides

2 pools with slides, for children under 14 years of age

Children pool with a depth of between 0.35 – 0.70 m

Baby’s pool for under 3 years old

In the Weekend Complex Targu Mures you will also find children playgrounds, tennis, football, basketball and beach volley courts, ping pong tables etc.

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2. Row a boat and pick waterlilies in Targu Mures

Next to the indoor olympic swimming pool, in the Weekend Complex, you can hire a boat and row on the artificial lake, If you are lucky and the flood gates at the end of the pool are open, you can row on the Mures river, and go on the dead sections of the river where you can pick and admire waterlilies. This is a tip that alot of locals have no ideea of.

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3. Apollo Welness Club

It covers an area of over 5 hectares and is located in Sangeorgiu de Mures, 5 km from Targu Mures.

Here you can enjoy a relaxing stay in summer or winter. During the cold season I recommend the Spa center, which features salt water pools, freshwater pools, Jacuzzi, dry sauna, wet sauna, infra-sauna, fitness room, massage cabin, turkish bath, etc.

In summer, the outdoor complex is more suitable, and it consists of a saltwater swimming pool, a freshwater pool, green areas, sandy areas, volleyball, massage services and body care. Also if you get hungry you can grab a snack here, or rehydrate.

If you enjoy sports, the complex also offers football and tennis courts.

4. Imperial Spa Targu Mures

One of the best spas in Targu Mures, provides a 26 meters long, 12 meters wide and 1.6-2 meters deep pool, a children’s pool, a salt water pool, and two jacuzzis, located near the circular fireplace. To top it up you can relax in on of the following: finnish sauna, aromarium, roman bath, kneipp therapy, turkish bath, scottish showers, total immersion pool after sauna, massage cabins, chromotherapy and relaxation rooms.

There is also an artificial salt mine 6 meters undeground and a salt sauna.

5. Aqua Day Spa Targu Mures

Another great spa located at the top floors of Business Hotel in Targu Mures. It offers a great view, plus an indoor swimming pool with an outdoor tanning area, a jacuzzi, tepidarium, aroma sauna, finnish sauna, turkish bath, steam bath, beauty salons, solarium, fitness club, and more.

6. Skydiving & paragliding in Targu Mures

Get the best views of the city and Transylvania from high above.

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7. Heroes Park in Targu Mures

Very close to the largest hospital in Mures County, you will find the Heroes Park. This is the most impressive park in town, hosting a beautiful cemetery of heroes from Targu Mures who fought in World War I, and in the recent NATO wars.

This tourist attraction offers a great view of both the park from the bottom of the stairs and the city from the top. The park is positioned on a slope, so looking from the base of the stairs upwards, you can admire the ornamental trees and flowers planted along the stairs.

8. Cornesti Plateau & Zoo

Located at the highest altitude of the city, Cornesti Plateau opens a wide panorama of the city and the valley of Mures. The Cornesti Plateau Park is the most visited in Targu Mures, thanks to the playgrounds for children, the train with stations and train stations, the jogging trails & workout areas, the street food huts and the relaxation areas. The main attraction here though is the Zoo, the largest in Romania, divided into five sectors: primates, tropical house, carnivores, herbivores and birds.

9. The wooden church (Sfantul Arhanghel Mihail) in Targu Mures

It is the oldest Orthodox church in Targu Mures and was built in 1793. The most known Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, spent one night in the bell tower of the church on his way to Blaj. The building has been refurbished several times and is included on the historical monuments list.

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10. The Great Orthodox Cathedral

It is the largest religious building in Targu Mures, built between 1925 and 1934 at the initiative of Stefan Rusu dean, in the place where Bodor Péter’s famous singing fountain used to be.

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10 more things you can do in Targu Mures, the most underrated city in Transylvania.

11. “Status Quo Ante” Synagogue

Is a place of Jewish worship in Targu Mures. It was built during the Austro-Hungarian dualism, between 1899 and 1900, in a classic eclectic style. The synagogue was included on the list of historical monuments of Mures County in 2010.

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12. Recea Orthodox Monastery

Is one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in Mures County. Located only two kilometers away from Transylvania Airport and just 14 kilometers from Targu Mures city. The Recea monastery was founded in 1991 and the architecture at Recea Monastery harmoniously combines several construction styles, including: the Romanian style, from Muntenia; Moldavian style; Byzantine style and Brancovean style.

13. Targu Mures Medieval Fortress

The fortress of Targu Mures was built between 1605-1653 under the guidance of the prince Bocskai Istvan. Initially it had 7 bastions joined by 900 meters of brick made walls. At that time the fortress was surrounded by a 10 meter wide and 8 meters deep groove. The fortress is open daily and hosts most of the public events in Targu Mures: Targu Mures Days, The Wine festival, Kids town, and many more.

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14. The Reformed Church in the Medieval Fortress of Targu Mures

The building of the Reformed Church in the fortress is the oldest in Targu Mures. It was built in the 14th century by the Franciscan order in Targu Mures, but it was only completed in 1490. During the Protestant reform, the city’s population became mostly reformed, which was why the denomination of the church was changed.

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15. Targu Mures city center

Targu Mures is one of the most famous cities in Transylvania (Romania) due to the beauty it has been endowed with over time. This is due to the central area of the city, representing the main cultural, financial and administrative area of Targu Mures.

The city center is structured in four major markets: Victory Square, Roses Square, Theater Square and Bolyai Square, thus defining a perimeter in the shape of a triangle.

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a. Roses Square in Targu Mures

It is the central and most important square in Targu Mureş, crossed by one of the main roads of the city.. The market is renowned for the roses with which the market is adorned and bloom every spring. Here you will find a collection of the main architectural symbols of the city that remind us of the old fair that was held in the medieval period or the developing city from the Austro-Hungarian dualism.

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b. Theatre Square in Targu Mures

Named after the National Theater in Targu Mures, which is at the edge of the market and enriched by the presence of a fountain designed by Mac Constantinescu, an emblematic monument for the architectural ensemble that gave the city’s identity. The market is decorated with a number of modern statues and is set up with benches, terraces and places for leisure.

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c. Victory Square in Targu Mures

Victory Square in Targu Mures is also located in the city center, next to the Rose Square and is surrounded by historic buildings such as the Cultural Palace (Palatul Culturii), Cithy Hall (Primaria), The Administrative Palace (Palatul Prefecturii) together with the clock tower, the Buna Vestire Church (small cathedral), the “Dr. Fekete” house, “Csiki ” house, etc…. The Victory Square is often used to host cultural events or concerts.

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d. Bolyai Square in Targu Mures

Hosts the first Art Nouveau building, that is the Bolyai Reformed College, where Farkas Bolyai and his son János Bolyai, who created Neuclidean geometry, worked as math teachers. You will also find the Teleki Library, the first public library in Romania. Bolyai Street also hosts some of the most popular restaurants and cafes in Targu Mures.

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16. Teleki library

Was the first public library in Romania, built between 1799-1804, under the direct guidance of Count Sámuel Teleki, the founder of the library. The library’s most important books are about 40,000 volumes, including 66 incunabula (books printed in Europe before 1501) plus plenty of rare works and editions of Count Teleki’s personal collection.

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17. The Palace of Culture in Targu Mures

It took only two years to build the building, an impressive achievement even for today. The initial project was designed for a 2 storey building but the structure received a third floor at the suggestion of Bernády György Mayor, who emphasised the need to add spaces for a music school and an art gallery. Today the Palace of Culture in Targu Mures hosts two museums, namely the Museum of History and Archeology and the Art Museum. The Palace also houses the Targu Mures State Philharmonic and the County Library of Mures

The most important rooms in the palace are: Grand Hall, Little Hall, Mirror Hall, Bernády Hall, Dandea Hall, and Seccesion Hall.

18. Targu Mures State Philharmonic

Is sheltered by the Palace of Culture and is an important social, economic, artistic and academic center of the country. The State Philharmonic is a true landmark of the Muresan art, being established in 1950 by the Romanian government through the effort of a few exceptional musicians.

During summer, the State Philharmonic is on a leave, but for years now Mrs. Molnár Tünde holds pipe organ concerts in the various churches of the area.

19. The Administrative Palace & Clock Tower

Built between 1906-1908 under the leadership of György Bernády mayor in order to host the city hall. It is currently used as the headquarters of the County Council and the Prefecture. The architecture of the hallway with a neo-gothic vaulted ceiling and supported on carved marble columns with stained glass is similar to that of the Knights’ Hall in Hunedoara Castle.

The Tower of the Administrative Palace offers tourists, and not only, the opportunity to see the city of Targu Mures from height. It was built at the suggestion of the firefighters and for a long time it had the function of a watch tower. The tower is about 60 m high and is equipped with a clock that comes from the German lands, that makes an acoustic bell sound every hour. The clock tower in Targu Mures can be visited, and from the top balcony you will be spoiled with wonderful city skyline.

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20. TravelBug day tours in Transylvania

If you still have not found anything to your liking to do in Targu Mures, you can join a day tour in Transylvania. The day tours depart from Monday to Saturday from Targu Mures, and depending on the tour you choose you get to visit Turda salt mine and the fortress of Alba Iulia, or the fortified church from Biertan, Sighioara Citadel, Rupea Fortress and the fortified church of Viscri.

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10 more things you can do in Targu Mures, the most underrated city in Transylvania.

21. GoKart Racing Targu Mures

Close to the Weekend Recreation Complex you will find GoKart Racing Targu Mures. Here you can have fun on the winding carting circuit after which you can dine on the terrace, out in the courtyard of the complex. The greatest part is the lawn garden where, if you are joined by your children, they can play unimpeded under the supervision of their parents.

22. Horse Racetrack (Baza hipica Romsilva) in Targu Mures

The city also has a racetrack, which occasionally hosts various equestrian competitions. Maybe you are lucky and one of the competitions will take place during your visit to Targu Mures.

23. Museum of Ethnography & Folk Art, Targu Mures

Is located in the Rose Square, the central square of Targu Mures, in a building called Toldalagi Palace, one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces in Transylvania. It was built between 1759 and 1772 by the architect Schmidt Pal, following the plans of the French architect Jean Louis d’Or. Since 1984 it houses the Ethnography and Folk Art Department of the Mures County Museum.

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24. Museum of Natural Sciences, Targu Mures

It was built between 1890-1893 by architect Kiss István. The building is one of the most successful examples of neoclassical buildings in the city, being the first museum of its kind in Transylvania. The museum has valuable collections of paleontology, mineralogy, inferior and superior plants, invertebrates, birds, eggs, mammals, skeletons, trophies, all together over 62,000 pieces. Here you will find one of the most beautiful carpathian deer trophies in the world.

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25. Museum of Archeology and History, Targu Mures

Located in the Medieval Fortress it shelters tools, weapons, ornaments, ceramics, coins, things that prove the physical and spiritual life from Prehistory to the Modern Age.

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26. Museum of Art, Targu Mures

It is sheltered by the Palace of Culture and you can admire works by: Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Nicolae Tonitza, Nicolae Darascu, Ferenczy Karoly, Teodor Harsia, Aurel Ciupe. In October 2016, the Dósa Géza Gallery was opened in the Palace of Culture, comprising over 30 artworks.

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27. Avram Iancu memorial house in Targu Mures

Opened to the public in 2009 near the Medieval Fortress, on Avram Iancu street. The “Avram Iancu” Memorial House in Targu Mures was dedicated to the Romanian Revolutionary of 1848. He was the leader of Motilor’s Land, commanded the Transylvanian Army and in collaboration with the Austrian military authorities, organized defense in the Apuseni Mountains.

The museum hosts publications about Avram Iancu, photographs, paintings, books that forms a basis for documenting the events of those years.

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28. The National Theater in Targu Mures

Is a public institution, and one of the six national theaters in Romania. The National Theater in Targu Mures is unique because it represents a model of interculturality by promoting a bilingual repertoire and functioning as a community binder in this city.

Founded in 1947 as Szekler theater with a hungarian speaking division, it became intercultural in 1962, with the founding of the Romanian division. The “national” title was awarded in 1978, when it was hosted by a new building, specially built in the central area of the city.

29. Ariel Theatre

Is a theater for children and youth with two divisions (Romanian and Hungarian), which hosts animation shows for preschoolers and schoolchildren and experimental shows for young people and adults. From 2012, Ariel Theater moved to the former Jewish Cultural Palace, which was built in 1927 and which until 1945 hosted all theater troops that crossed the city of Targu Mures.

30. Studio Theatre

Is a public performance institution, subordinated to the Theater of Fine Arts University of Targu Mures. Have a look at the shows they currently host:

10 + more things you can do in Targu Mures, the most underrated city in Transylvania.

31. The open air summer theater

Hosts concerts, festivals and organizes movie nights. It has a capacity of 1860 seats, and the actual seats are from the wembley stadium.

32. The Sports Arena in Targu Mures

Hosts all sorts of sport events, and is best known for it’s basketball and handball Games.

33. Watch a football game

ASA Targu Mures, is the local footbal team and it used to be one of the best in Romania. Check out their website, they might play a game on their stadium.

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34. Petry Workshop and Museum

The preparation of sausages takes place in front of the client, more so, on request they also execute customized orders. You can bring your own sausage recipe, choose the proportion of meat / bacon and they prepare it for you on the spot.

The museum hosts objects of the butcher’s craft, the history of the butcher’s guild and the Petry family. Part of the objects exhibited belong to the Petry family, but many objects come from donors. Targu Mures is the cradle of the butcher’s guild in Transylvania, a fact that has been forgotten by locals over the decades.

35. Visit the local Markets of Targu Mures

Where else can you have a good look at how people interact with each other, and learn about their habits? The city has 10 local markets, 8 of them sell mostly fruits, vegetables and livestock, and 1 of them called “piata de vechituri” is similar to a huge garage sale, where you can find anything. The last one is called Piata Armatei, where you can find mostly new merchandise imported from Russia, Turkey and the Asian markets. Here you can find anything from tuxedos to car parts and fishing equipment. The most popular fruits and veg market in Targu Mures is called the Cuza Voda Market, and is opened daily.

36. Arta Cinema

Is located in the Roses Square and it’s the only cinema that has been running both during the communist period and nowadays.

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37. Cinema City

Located in Promenada Mall, it has a total capacity of 1,465 seats and 8 digital theaters, including 5 3D projection rooms. Cinema City Targu Mures is the 12th multiplex that the international cinema network opens in Romania.

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38. Mures Mall

Is located in Victory Square, has 5 levels, each of which houses popular brands, some for the first time in Romania.

39. Promenada Mall

Just 8 minutes from downtown, access to the Promenada Mall is very easy, both by car and by public transport network (the bus station is located right in front of the Mall), Promenada Mall providing free transport.

40. Eat like the locals in Targu Mures?

I’m only going to recommend 1 place because it’s not the purpose of this article. This is my favorite when it comes to “Mici”, minced meat, seasoned and grilled with mustard and fresh bread, what else can you ask for? It’s the cheapest place to eat them in Targu Mures, and it’s the best. You can find the hut in front of Kaufland supermarket, there are actually two of them in Targu Mures.

41. Ice rink

It can get pretty cold during winter, so we want to take advantage of that. If you are in Targu Mures during winter check it out, it’s opened daily, and you can rent the skates from there, or bring your own.

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42. Souvenir shops in Targu Mures

Domart souvenit shop

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Transylvanian Alchemist

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43. Nightlife in Targu Mures

Club Avi

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Jazz & Bluess Club

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Old City Cafe Lounge & Pub

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The Office Club

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The BackStage

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Thanks for reading the top 40 + things to do in Targu Mures article. If you have been here and there is something that’s not on the list please leave a comment bellow. Also I want to point out that I own no rights for the pictures, they are all downloaded form Google, Facebook, Flickr, DeviantArt.