Volunteering in Romania, but wondering what there is to do in Iasi? Look no further, we created the perfect Iasi to-do list for you!
Iasi is a hidden gem so it may not have already been on your top travel destinations, but we're in love! It's a smaller city located in northern Romania, found off the tourism map. It's the perfect spot to get an authentic taste of Romanian life, which is why we love that it's home for our ILP volunteers who are living abroad for 3-4 months volunteering in an orphanage program there. So, we're assuming you're here because you're getting ready to volunteer there (or are currently abroad and looking for ways to explore your city!).
A lot of times we can get really excited about all of the vacations that we will go on while volunteering abroad and we forget that the small town of Iasi has just as much to offer. And it's right in your backyard! We talked to a handful of past volunteers who spent a semester in Romania and curated the perfect list of everything you will want to check out while you spend your time in this history-filled town.
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While you’re here, you will have time to check out tons of monasteries, parks, gardens, palaces, malls, old universities, top notch treats, museums, and lots more. Depending on where you are in your city, you may be surrounded by buildings that are hundreds of years old or some more modern buildings like shopping plazas and malls. Either way, you are going to have plenty of entertainment to fill your time spent in Iasi.
Iasi is located way up north, near the border of Moldova. Although there's a technical border between the two countries, culture and history overlaps the two areas ... so much so that Romanian is actually the official language of Moldova. So many of the little cities around this area, including Iasi, all make up what's known as the Moldovian region.
It's bursting full of tons and tons of history and is home to so much tradition and folklore. And, out of all the little cities that dot the countryside in Moldova, Iasi is called the cultural capital of this country! Your new home has Ukraine to the north and Hungary to the west, with the sparkling Black Sea along the southeast coast.
Iasi is a tight-knit community consisting of about 300,000 people who live in the city center, but around 500,000 total including those who live in the outskirts. For reference, that's about the same size as a mid-sized city in the United States, like Atlanta, Georgia. It's the perfect size to not feel lost in the hustle and bustle, but to also know you can never get too bored.
Iasi, Romania is full of things both free and for a small cost that you can fill your days with after volunteering. We asked our Romania volunteers what some of their very favorites were and put it in an easy to access place for you. Take a look!
This is a stunning palace that we guarantee you'll visit more than once during your semester. Inside, you can pay to wander through the main museums (Ethnographic Museum, Art Museum, History Museum, Science & Technical Museum) or you can keep it free by just walking around the grounds and hanging out on the steps to watch the sunset.
The architecture of this place is enough to justify buying a ticket to go inside. You'll see massive rooms carved out of white marble and massive staircases that lead you up to to a viewpoint. From here, you can gaze down at the huge mosaic found on the floor of the Gothic Room — an enormous circle mosaic featuring the detailed depictions of ancient creatures like dragons, griffins, and double-headed eagles.
Prices vary depending on what you choose to see in the palace. There is a palace tour, then the ticket costs for the museum (listed separately below). In any case, bring a student ID when purchasing tickets for a steep discount.
Address: Stefan cel Mare and Sfant Square nr. 1, Iasi, Romania, 700028
Being the oldest and largest in all of Romania, this Botanical Garden is the perfect place to go when you need to decompress from the bustle of the city or the madness of volunteering. Take yourself to the Botanical Garden to surround yourself by calming nature. Filled with classic Romanian greenery and florals (our volunteers really loved all of the roses), you can take walks through outdoor pathways, and indoor greenhouses.
Address: Strada Dumbrava Roșie nr. 7-9, Iași 700487, Romania
The Palas Mall is like a box of chocolates — you never truly know what you are goiung to get, but you do know that you will enjoy whatever you stumble upon. Inside of the Palas Mall there are a lot of things to spend your time on. Stores like Pull & Bear, Berksha, Zara, H&M, and some random European may have exactly what you're looking for.
There are also a lor of seasonal things to experience; one of our volunteers mentioned, "at Christmastime there was a big tree set up and we went to the lighting of the tree and there was a choir who was singing carols." The Palas Mall is always lively with random events, so if you are looking for something to do, it wouldn't be harmful to go check out what the Palas Mall is up to. Just take it from one of our past volunteers who said, "Sometimes it was just luck if we happened to go to the mall when they had something like that going on."
In the winter, there is an ice skating rink right outside the Palace of Culture, making it one of the most beautiful places to skate around in my book. Bundle up if you're headed here in the Fall and Spring and plan on skating circles with this stunning building in the background.
If you want a cheap night out, opt to see a movie with your ILP group. There are a couple of movie theaters to check out, but our preference is Cinema City in the Lulius Mall. Most of the movies are in English, but some have subtitles (the schedule in the theater and their online site can tell you if it has them or not).
Also, to save even more, bring your own 3D glasses (there are some from past groups in one of the apartments). Most of the movies they show are in 3D and they charge you for glasses, so bring some from the head teacher apartment to save a few lei if you can.
Address: Bulevardul Tudor Vladimirescu 2, Iași 700305, Romania
Around the Palace, you can often find vendors set up with their flower and souvenir booths — it can be a fun time to walk around with your fellow volunteers and see if you can snag a souvenir for your family back home like a Romanian flag, painted eggs, colorful pottery, or a traditional blouse.
There is always something going on around the Palace. Whether the Romanian flag is projected on the side of the building, street performers are out, or a fair is set up, you'll want to stop by often to see what sorts of things are happening around this part of town. One semester the ILP volunteers stumbled upon a full-blown opera performance!
There are few food vendors you'll find frequently around the grounds, but a few times a year, there are tons of vendors that come for a whole festival — one year, it spanned 4 days in early September if that's a helpful tip for fall volunteers.
Wondering what to expect? Picture dozens of food trucks serving all kinds of dishes: waffles, cannolis, ice cream, gyros, fried chicken served in a cone (really), and more. Yum!
Running through the center of town, you are bound to spend some time strolling along the Bahlui River. Our volunteers love taking advantage of the natural landmark and using its peace as a place to take their morning/evening walks and runs.
Describe this library in one word? Majestic! The university itself has been around for over 200 years and that long history is very evident on campus, especially in the library. There are so many books, neatly stacked in old wooden shelves behind glass. But, the main attraction has to be the intricately carved and decorated walls and ceilings. If you love libraries and old books, this one is a must!
Address: Bulevardul Carol I nr. 11, Iași 700259, Romania
With a wide range of restaurants dotting the city, you can't pass up the chance to try out both traditional Romanian meals such as the unique mamaliga and sarmale, but also the more toursity options. These are our ILP Romania volunteers' favorite places they liked to eat, but know that there are dozens more that you will have to take a leap and test for yourself!
If volunteers could pick one restaurant to recommend, it would probably be Vivo Burger. Kat, an ILP Romania volunteer still says "their Vivo Burger is 10/10." To this day, it's the best burger I have ever had!" They also have an amazing falafel burger, good French fries (called just "potatoes" on the menu), salads, slices of cheesecake, and a few other things you're sure to just crave.
Salsa
We love so many things about Europe ... except that Mexican food is hard to come by when you're living and traveling around here. It just doesn't exist like it does at home. Iasi is pretty lucky because they have a Mexican restaurant that volunteers say helps satisfy the craving until you can get home. Some volunteers absolutely love it and others say it's not quite as good as your go-to spot at home, but after not having anything close to Mexican food during your semester, it can help hit the spot. Order up things like guac, nachos, burritos, fajitas, and pork quesadillas.
Mamma Mia's
Past groups love the pizza, salads, and pasta here, plus the eclairs. We suggest setting up an account which means free delivery when you order online. Hooray for pizza nights with your ILP group!
Big5 American Restaurant
The locals of Iasi decided to take on the classic "American Diner" look with this iconic restaurant. We're talking red booths, pictures of Elvis Presley on the walls, and country music. Not to mention the food also will transport you back to home. Expect to feast on great burgers, fries, and milkshakes. This is the perfect place to visit if you're feeling a little homesick.
Here you will find fresh salads and Asian bowls. Our volunteers enjoyed this quaint little restaurant and found themselves coming back to it multiple times throughout their semester.
Inside of the Palas Mall you will definitely find yourselves drawn to the random concoction of scents coming from the food court, some of which may remind you of home.
You will find many American options like Subway, Mcdonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, but don't miss out on the sushi, sandwiches and chinese food! You will also find many of the treats we mentioned earlier like bubble waffles and ice cream/gelato. There are other treats too like crepes, macarons and cakes. One of our ILP volunteers said, "you could honestly find anything there if you just walk around the food court."
As an ILP volunteer in Romania, you'll be eating some local dishes frequently — volunteers do have meals provided which are typically local cuisine. However, there are some dishes you'll want to try at a traditional restaurant that you stumble upon, especially if you find a favorite.
Ever had polenta? It's very similar. Mamaliga is cornmeal made into a porridge and is typically served with meat, eggs, or even cheese and sour cream. It's a very popular side dish you'll probably have often.
Gogosi are kinda like a donut or French beignet, almost always filled with jam or chocolate and covered in powdered sugar. Placintas are similar, filled with cheese and topped with a mountain of cream and sour berry jam.
Rice and pieces of meat are all rolled into cabbage leaves and cooked in a rich tomato sauce. Yum. The picture below has a take-out order of several sarmales and a side of mamaliga.
After a long day of volunteering, the best way to lift your spirits is by going out with your group and picking up a sweet treat. Whether that being a chocolate bar from the grocery store, icecream with a waffle cone (or maybe both)... it's well deserved, and we can't blame you. Their option are hard to pass up.
The name kind of says it all, but plan on getting one killer dessert if you visit this kiosk in the mall — a fluffy waffle filled with your choice of ice cream and a few toppings sounds like quite the treat. The menu has set waffles to order (like sweet caramel, Oreo, bubblegum, and others) or you can build your own masterpiece.
We love Luca. Life in Europe goes hand in hand with eating pastries and you can see a pastry shop on the corner, which is why we may love Luca so much. There are several locations around Iasi — some more like a corner shop where you can get pastries, pretzels, and covridogs, while others are more like little cafes serving pizza, burgers, and drinks, too. I think you'll go more than once.
Volunteers come to Palas mall just for the gelato ... maybe even twice in one day. Find flavors like milk chocolate, Oreo, lemon cookies, honey + quinoa, and more (though the flavors tend to rotate, so you have to come often, right?). You can see what's waiting for you on their website.
If you just want something little, Romania has its fair share of chocolates, candies, and other goodies you can find at pretty much every grocery store or little convenience store. Volunteers love anything Milka — it's a chocolate brand that is oh-so-good, with flavors like chocolate Oreo, nuts and caramel, coconut "bubbles," hazelnut and raisin, and so many more. You will love this and the other chocolate you can find in Europe. Bounty and Lion bars are also ones to try!
Chio is a chip brand where you can get flavors you love from home like sour cream and onion if you're craving something salty. Or you could try other flavors like paprika or shrimp.
Looking for a nice carbonated drink? Then Capri-Sun and Schweppes are a must-try. Both offer an array of flavors like lime, cranberry, peach, passion fruit, and banana, and you are bound to find a favorite that will surely quench your thirst while you're abroad.
If you are wondering the difference between the two, Schweppes is more like a usual bottle of soda, whereas Capri-Sun is a carbonated version of the typical Capri-Sun you would drink in the United States.
With over 100 different churches and monasteries located inside Iasi, you have to check out at least a couple of them! With their incredibly intricate architecture, beautiful gardens, museums, and endless history, you could spend hours upon hours admiring these beautiful buildings. Some of them were built as far back as the 15th century.
If you're one for the facts, you'll want to know that this is the largest Orthodox church in Romania ... but if you're just into pretty buildings, you'll love the detailed Baroque style and domed towers. This church was built way back in the 19th century, which makes some of the church's details even more impressive. While you'll find stained windows from Munich, the real stunner of this building is the half-moon mosaic right at the entrance. It's a beautifully, colorful depiction of the Presentation of Christ, all made up of the impossibly tiny tiles.
Oh, and that's just the exterior. Inside, find huge vaulted ceilings hung with ornate golden chandeliers. This is easily one of our favorites in all of Europe!
Address: Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt 16, Iași 700064, Romania
Cost: Admission is free!
As a heads up, this place gets very busy during Orthodox holidays
Find this church hiding in the sprawling Copou Park. It's a small orthodox church painted with the most colorful and mesmerizing murals on the outside, then contrastingly, an ornate gold interior if you get the chance to peek inside. Unlike other favorite churches, St. Nicholas is rather modern, built in the 1940s. It’s built in a classic Moldovian style with a few modern elements. You will find painted murals, mosaic frescos, and elements of Romanian fairytales.
Address: Find this gem in Copou Park (Aleea Grigore Ghica Vodă nr. 76, Iași)
This may be a monastery but it was primarily constructed as a fortification to protect where the prince of Moldova would be living during the 17th century. The main building itself is a stunner, with creamy white walls and black onion domes, all surrounded by pretty expansive grounds, walled watchtowers, and what some scholars believe to be the remnants of a Turkish bath (which would be the only example preserved in a monastic structure). Before leaving, head up the bell tower to see a panorama of the city spilling out below you.
Address: Strada Cetățuia, Iași
If you’re wanting to walk about this part of Iasi, there’s another pretty impressive monastery just about a 25-30 minute walk away. The Frumoasa Monastery has one of the prettiest church interiors I’ve seen, with huge floor to ceiling frescoes. There are a set of ruins and some pretty gardens around this 17th-century monastery.
Sometimes known as Saint Peter and Paul church, this spot opened up in 1843 and was built in the shape of a Greek cross. The series of Doric columns that hold up the entrance is one of the most impressive features, but I’m also a fan of the roses which bloom around the tree-studded grounds and the clock tower. It’s a quiet, local church to squeeze into your itinerary.
Address: Stradela Bărboi nr. 12, Iași
Needing more to do? Iasi has you covered. Download the Iasi Romania app onto your phone where you can find updated details on everything to do in Iasi. Trust us, you NEED this app.
The Iasi app is super user-friendly and is offered in both Romanian and English! It has sections that you can explore for tourist attractions, culture and leisure, accommodation, food and drink, transportation, shopping, along with our personal favorite: an events calendar that gives you specific detais on activites, events, concerts, art shows, and more that are happening all around you. This app makes exploring Iasi easy.
Check it out + download it here on the Apple Store
Check it out + download it here on Google Play
Ready to experience Romania for yourself?
Come volunteer here for a whole semester with ILP! Volunteers help kids witth varied abilities, medical needs, and neurological syndromes and then have weekends off plus vacation days to explore all over Romania and Europe — Take trips to Draculas castle in Transylvania, ride underground ferris wheels in Turda, eat crepes by the Eiffel Tower, and ride double-decker buses in London! Come live out your European bucket list with us!