Piatra Neamț

Piatra Neamţ is a city in eastern Romania, located in the mountainous part of Moldavia.

Understand
With its cozy streets and coffee shops, warm people and antique boutiques Piatra Neamţ will make you feel at home. Surrounded by wooded mountains and boasting modern comforts, Piatra is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Moldavia (and perhaps all of Romania). It also offers a small town feel that, for those who frequently travel there, gives a warm feeling whenever one passes through the Bine ati venit arch that welcomes people back to the city.

Talk
Romanian (of course), but most young citizens speak English and many speak Italian, French or German.

By train
There are two daily direct trains (one InterCity and one Rapid) from Bucharest, and one Accelerat train from Iasi. By car from Bucharest 4 hours or by bus 4–5 hours. There are three daily buses from Cluj-Napoca. One is a minibus that departs at 09:00. The trip takes 5–6 hours. At 11:00 there is a bus that is slower and arrives in Piatra around 20:00.

Get around
Exceptionally cheap minibuses (nostalgically referred to as 'Roznov buses' by the locals) run throughout the city, it costs 2.5 lei to use this transport and the price doesn't change, if you're going to the end of the road, or the opposite end of the city!

Taxis are reasonably cheap, be warned though, they will try and con you out of money. A good example of this is that the driver might place his meter in a position where the customer cannot see it. Other times he will 'forget' to turn on the meter and at the destination give you an inflated price. If the driver fails to turn on the meter then it would be wise to ask him to do this, he will oblige. One might even be inclined to negotiate the price with the driver before agreeing to go with him. A 5-minute journey from the outskirts to the centre seems to cost around 7-8 lei.

Historical sites

 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.

Bicycles shops
There is a well-stocked (with Shimano parts, e.g.) bicycle shop, Sport and Bike Planet, at the south end of Str. Ozana.

Drink

 * Café-bar Bacardi - str. Duraului nr.1, tel. +40 233 217805 (program: 8:00-24:00)
 * Café Latino - Bd.Decebal Bl.I4 parter, tel. +40 233 218493, +40 233 214302 (program: 08:00-24:00)
 * Costarica Café - str. Titu Maiorescu Bl.I1 (program: 08:00-20:00)
 * Bar 12 (12 floor at Hotel Ceahlau) - str. Stefan cel Mare nr.3 tel. +40 233 219990, +40 233 219991; fax. +40 233 215540; e-mail: hotelceahlau@artelecom.net - night-bar, streap-tease
 * Cazino Fortunato - Piata Petrodava, tel. +40 721 393599; bd. Traian, tel. +40 720 366031 - bar, mechanic games, electronic rullet (program: 11:00-02:00)
 * Club Q 30, str. Stefan cel Mare, nr. 31 (M-Th 16:00-24:00, F-Su 16:00-4:00)
 * The Kilkeny (Irish Pub) - str. Dimitrie Leonida, nr.53 (program non-stop)
 * The Kilkeny (Irish Pub) - str. Dimitrie Leonida, nr.53 (program non-stop)

Sleep

 * Central Plaza **** Piata Petrodava nr.1-3, tel. +40 233–216230, +40 233 214530; fax. +40 233 214532, +40 233 223528, internet: www.centralplazahotel.ro, e-mail: office@hotelcentral.ro. Capacity: 262 beds in 131 rooms (72 double-rooms; 12 matrimonial apartments; 47 (Comfort +plus) double-rooms; 30 rooms with air conditioner. Services: Room-Service between hours 6AM and 1AM, Cable TV, Mini-bar, International telephone, Internet Access, Copying and Fax, Parking, Ticket Purchase, Safebox, Laundry and Drycleaners, Money Exchange. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Classic Restaurant (300 people), Breakfast Restaurant (150 people), Reception Hall (60 people), and Pink Salon (20 people). Inside the Central Complex you will find a suspended terrace with room for 150 people and one of the most modern cafeterias in country with room from 100 people. You are invited to taste the most delicious cookies: Central, Aluneta, Exotic, Select, And Tarta cu fructe de padure. Prices: Double Rooms: €53-58, Single Room: €38-43.
 * Grand Hotel Ceahlau *** str. Stefan cel Mare nr.3, tel. +40 233 219990, +40 233 219991; fax. +40 233 215540, internet: www.hotelceahlau.ro, e-mail: hotelceahlau@artelecom.net. Capacity: 244 beds in 42 single-rooms, 94 double-rooms and 7 VIP apartments. Services: Room-service, Cable TV, Internet, fax and courier, international telephone, air conditioner, barbershop and beauty salon, Laundry and drycleaners, Parking, Reservations and Tickets, Car Rental.Restaurant: 4 bars and terraces with room from 1600 people, Reception Hall with 120 seats, money exchange, tourism agency.
 * Hotel Belvedere *** - str.Petru Movila tel. +40 233 261470 Capacity: 50 beds in: 12 Rooms with 2 beds, 3 apartments, 17 beds in rooms with 2 or 3 beds. Restaurant: 80 Seats, bar with 16 seats, Parking with rooms for 10 cars. Prices: 80 lei double-room; 100 lei triple-room; 120 lei apartment
 * Hotel Lido ** - Bd. Republicii; tel. +40 233 226349
 * Hotel Bulevard ** - Bd. Republicii nr. 38–40, tel. +40 233 235010, +40 233 235020; fax. +40 233 218111. Capacity: 75 beds in 36 Rooms. 13 Matrimonial rooms, 16 Double rooms, 3 Apartments with 3 beds, 4 Apartments with 2 beds. Services: room service, cable TV, telephone, fax, safebox, parking. Restaurant with 60 Seats, diverse menus.
 * Hotel Bulevard ** - Bd. Republicii nr. 38–40, tel. +40 233 235010, +40 233 235020; fax. +40 233 218111. Capacity: 75 beds in 36 Rooms. 13 Matrimonial rooms, 16 Double rooms, 3 Apartments with 3 beds, 4 Apartments with 2 beds. Services: room service, cable TV, telephone, fax, safebox, parking. Restaurant with 60 Seats, diverse menus.

Pensions

 * Pension Melania ** http://www.melania-neamt.info Neamt county, locality Vaduri, Contact:Topliceanu Melania +40 722 626859. email:pensiunea.melania@yahoo.com. Pension tourist Melania is situated on the route Piatra Neamt-Bicaz, the valley town of Bistrita in Vaduri. Tourist attractions such as monasteries Pangarati, Bistrita, Bicaz Chei, Red Lake, are located nearby.  5 bedrooms, a recreation room with pool table, large spaces for spending time inside, terrace and swimming pool outdoor.
 * "Ambiance" pension *** - str. Petru Movila nr. 200A. owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro/. contact: Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Aris" ** pension. owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro/. contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Cornelius" pension *** - Str. G-ral. N.Dascalescu nr.490, tel. +40 233 211511, +40 745 566143, +40 745 372008, e-mail: - - office@cornelius.ro. Capacity: 9 Rooms: 3 Matrimonial with showers, hot water, room service. Restaurant: 60 seats, organic foods, Select Collection wines. On request can organize trips for tourists. Prices: 120 lei per night and includes breakfast, internet, telephone, cable TV. Discount available depending a length of stay. Car rental available.
 * "Cozla" pension ** - str. Elena Cuza nr. 8. Contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Elis" pension * - Bd. Republicii 40. Capacity: 9 locuri
 * "Nora" pension ** - Str. Petru Movila nr.162 A. Tel. 0233 237737. Contact Person: Ciubotariu Family. Capacity: 2 Double Rooms with 2 beds. 7 Matrimonial Rooms. 8 Rooms have their own bathroom, all others have a common bathroom. Services: Cable TV. Restaurant: 16 seats. Reservation is necessary a week before. Prices: 60 lei/day double room, 75 lei/day double room with sofa.
 * "Red Rock" pension ** - str. Maratei nr. 63. tel +40 233 228077
 * "Virginia" pension ** - - owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro. Contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431

Gyms

 * Chimina San Gym Baltagului Street no.6 (inside the Central Market Complex) 5-min walk from city downtown tel:+40 233227570; +40 749488245; +40 746137426. Fitness club, powerlifting club, bodybuilding club, weight loss programs, personal trainer, nutrition bar, Dry sauna, massage.

Stay safe
The city is one of the safest cities in Romania and ranked as top 20 safest city in Europe. Regardless, always be prudent and take basic precautions as you would in any other city. Beware of packs of feral dogs at night.

Go next
There are buses that travel to Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Suceava, Bacau, Orhei, Chișinău as well as others that travel to various villages in Neamt County.