I have written about A day in Sighisoara and A day in Alba Iulia, but it just dawned on me I have never written about a day in Arad, the very city I live in.

The reason? Probably because I find it hard to focus on just some stuff when I know so much about the places to visit and things to do in Arad.

We’ll start the tour in Reconciliation Park and from here go to various landmarks.

Reconciliation Park includes the Statue of Liberty (of great importance for the Hungarians) and The Arch of Triumph , raised in 2004, to symbolize the memory of the heroes of the 1848 – 1849 Romanian Revolution (fighting against the Hungarians). The park is often venue for concerts.

Old Water Tower : can be seen from the Reconciliation Park and also from Metianu Pedestrian Street. It’s a venue for art expos, usually. Used to be where the firefighters were stationed to watch out for fires in the old city.

We pass by the Old Orthodox Church and the Farmer’s Market right in front on it and continue on Metianu Pedestrian Street and arrive close to Avram Iancu Square (right in front at the end of the street) and Ioan Slavici Theatre (to the left).

Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre dominates the end of Revolutiei Boulevard. Close to it , to the right (as you stay in front of the Theatre with the back to it, walk towards Avram Iancu square) is the Old Theatre or Hirschl Theatre is the oldest stone theatre in Arad, and where in 1868 Mihai Eminescu participated as prompter.

“St. Anthony of Padua” Church (Roman Catholic Church): from Ioan Slavici Theatre, cross the street to the Ardealul Hotel and walk towards the big Roman Catholic Church. In front of the Theatre and to the right of the church you’ll see the The monument of the Holy Trinity.

From the Roman Catholic Church, continue the walk to Arad Town Hall.

Administrative Palace (Arad Town Hall): located on Revolutiei Boulevard, close to other important land-marks in the city. Can be visited (but good luck finding info on their website) and I have visited it during “open doors” event in 2012.

We can also see the Cenad Palace, which stands by the Town Hall and opposite it, the National Bank building.

Cultural Palace : going along the Town Hall’s side (the one by Aurel Vlaicu University), you’ll get to a Park, then look front-right. The impressive – and always in a repair state- Cultural Palace; home to concerts, Arad Muzeum (history and natural sciences) as well as where people get married.

The alley of the Arad’s personalities is to the left side of the Cultural Palace towards the bank of the River Mures. It comprises the busts of: Alexandru D. Xenopol (historian and philosopher), George Cosbuc (national poet), Petre Pipos, Ioan Russu Sirianu (publicist, historian), Gheoghe Popa de Teius and Mircea V. Stanescu.

From here, we’ll go through Eminescu Park, emerge at the Courhouse and go back on Revolutiei Boulevard to see the Red Chruch , an interesting Gothic-style church. Organ concerts are often held here.

Continue our walk keeping the Theatre to our back until we get to a large junction: Podgoria. To the left, we can see Padurice Park , which has just been reconstructed a year or so ago and now is home to a “dancing” fountain and often concerts take place here. It’s the new favorite place to take wedding photos, apparently.

The New Orthodox Cathedral: a behemoth of a construction, dominates Podgoria Square, where all major roads meet. Go up the bridge which you can see in the distance to the left of the Cathedral as you are standing with the back at it, and it’s the way to Bucharest via Deva.

This is where I’d end the tour . Although there are plenty other places to see. I would also recommend a walk on Mures Embankment (maybe on the way back to your hotel).

Other places of interest:

Mureş Embankment or simply the Bank of the River Mures runs from Traian Bridge (which links Arad City Center to Aradul Nou Neighborhood), making a look along the river through the City Center and Micalaca Neighborhood, stopping at another bridge which links Micalaca to Subcetate and City Center. A good place to walk or jog. In the City Center part there are two places (restaurants) where you can eat or have a drink.

“Neptun” Swimming Place or simply Strandul Neptun: a place to soak up the sun, although it’s a shadow of what it used to be (the entertainment area is all but gone).

The Fortified Town of Arad (Arad Citadel): unfortunately not open for public yet (or in the foreseeable future) , it can only be visited on special days (i.e. Army’s Day, for example). The impressive Vauban style fortification (just like Alba Carolina) was used as a prison for the rebels led by Horia, Cloșca, and Crisan.

The House with the Padlock : from the Ioan Slavici Theatre keep going towards Avram Iancu Square (back of the theatre) and then follow the street on which the tram goes. On the left, you’ll see a house in desperate need of repair and with a padlock. There used to be a wood (now at the museum) and a lot of nails in it.

The High Teacher Training School (Preparandia): located in the very heart of the old city, now it has been given its former glory.

The Ceala Forest: close to the city center (a good 1h walk) and the airport, a place where you can take a hike, soak up the sun and just forget you are actually visiting a city.