# Piața Unirii (Union Square)

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Crișana](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/crisana) › [Bihor County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/bihor) › [Oradea](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/oradea)

> The central, pedestrianised square of Oradea, with the Town Hall Palace, the Black Eagle Palace, the Moon Church and the equestrian statue of King Ferdinand; in winter it hosts the Christmas market.

**At a glance:** Monuments and historic sites in Oradea, Bihor County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 4 November 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — The square is accessible at any time. The surrounding buildings have their own opening hours, on their own pages. The Christmas market takes place every winter, from the end of November until 26 December; the Ferris wheel and the ice rink usually stay open for a few days after it ends.
- **Ticket:** Free — public square, free entry
- **Visit duration:** 45 min — without visiting the buildings
- **With kids:** Yes — pedestrian, winter ice rink
- **Parking:** Yes, paid — on the street, in the centre
- **Best season:** All year round — Christmas market in winter
- **Address:** Piața Unirii, Oradea, Bihor County
- **Coordinates:** 47.0546, 21.9287
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134359384
- **Categories:** [Monuments and historic sites](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/monuments-and-historic-sites)

## About Piața Unirii (Union Square)

Piața Unirii, Union Square, is the heart of Oradea: a wide, paved, pedestrianised square surrounded by some of the best-known buildings in the city. Its Baroque shape began to emerge after 1692, when Oradea left Ottoman rule, and around 1900 the one-storey houses were replaced by Secession and eclectic palaces. The present name, "Unirii" (Union), is the Romanian one used since 1918; Hungarians call it Szent László tér, "Saint Ladislaus Square", after the king who founded the town.

In the middle stands the equestrian statue of King Ferdinand I, the work of the sculptor Florin Codre, unveiled in 2019 on the spot where the statue of Michael the Brave had stood since 1994. The square was redesigned with European funds, with wide pedestrian areas, green spaces and fountains, and the tram runs through it.

### What you can see

From the Crișul Repede side rises the [Town Hall Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-primariei-oradea), from 1902–1903, with its clock tower. On the opposite side is the [Black Eagle Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-vulturul-negru), from 1907–1908, with its covered arcade and eagle stained-glass window. The square also holds the [Moon Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-cu-luna), with the clock that shows the phases of the moon, the Roman Catholic St Ladislaus Church, built in the 18th century, and the Greek Catholic Episcopal Palace from 1903–1905. In the evening, the lit façades make the square one of the most photogenic places in the city.

### The Christmas market

Every winter, from the end of November until 26 December, the square is the centre of the Oradea Christmas Market, organised by Visit Oradea together with the City Hall. In recent editions, Piața Unirii has held the Christmas tree, lit on opening day, the 30-metre Ferris wheel and part of the wooden stalls with crafts, decorations, toys and seasonal food; the market continues in Piața Ferdinand, across the Crișul Repede, where the ice rink is. Entry is free, and the programme includes carols, concerts and shows for children. Car traffic in the square is restricted for the duration of the market.

## Don't miss

- The equestrian statue of King Ferdinand I, in the middle of the square.
- The façades of the Town Hall Palace and the Black Eagle Palace, from around 1900.
- The clock of the Moon Church, which shows the phases of the moon.
- The Christmas market, with its lit tree and Ferris wheel, from the end of November.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the square is in the centre of Oradea; from Oradea International Airport it is ~7 km (~11 minutes) and from the railway station ~3 km (~5 minutes). The central part of the square is pedestrianised and cars cannot enter: the easiest way is to leave the car in a nearby car park and continue on foot.

**Public transport:** the tram runs through the square, and there are bus and tram stops around it; current lines and timetables are on the OTL Oradea website.

### Where to park

The central part of the square is pedestrianised. In the centre you park on the street, paid by zone, or in nearby public car parks; spaces fill up quickly at weekends and during the Christmas market.

### Fees & discounts

The square is a public space with free access, and there is no charge. Entry to the Christmas market is free; paid attractions, such as the Ferris wheel and the ice rink, have their own tickets.

### Rules

The square is a public space: photography is free. The statue and the monuments must not be climbed. On event days and during the market, some areas may be fenced off or occupied by stages and stalls.

### Facilities

Cafés, restaurants and terraces around the square · benches · pedestrianised square · fountains · during the Christmas market: stalls, stage, Ferris wheel

## Details

- **Historical period:** 18th–20th centuries

## Frequently asked questions about Piața Unirii (Union Square)

**How much is a ticket to Piața Unirii (Union Square)?**

Admission to Piața Unirii (Union Square) is free (public square, free entry). More under “Fees & discounts”.

**What are the opening hours of Piața Unirii (Union Square)?**

Opening hours at Piața Unirii (Union Square): daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”.

**How long does a visit to Piața Unirii (Union Square) take?**

A visit to Piața Unirii (Union Square) takes about 45 min (without visiting the buildings).

**Can you visit Piața Unirii (Union Square) with kids?**

Yes, Piața Unirii (Union Square) is suitable for children (pedestrian, winter ice rink).

**Where can I park at Piața Unirii (Union Square)?**

There is paid parking at Piața Unirii (Union Square) (on the street, in the centre). More under “Where to park”.

**How do I get to Piața Unirii (Union Square)?**

Piața Unirii (Union Square) is located at Piața Unirii, Oradea, Bihor County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Piața Unirii (Union Square)?**

The best season for Piața Unirii (Union Square): All year round (Christmas market in winter).

## Nearby attractions

- [Moon Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/moon-church) — Churches · Oradea, BH · Free · 30 min · 0 km
  The Orthodox church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Piața Unirii, built in 1784–1790 and known for the globe in its tower that shows the phases of the Moon, in a mechanism of 1793.
- [Black Eagle Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/black-eagle-palace) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · Free · 30 min · 0 km
  A Secession building from 1907–1908 on Piața Unirii in Oradea, with a glass-roofed passage and a stained-glass window of a black eagle, from which it takes its name.
- [Oradea City Hall Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/oradea-city-hall-palace) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · 15 lei · 30 min · 0 km
  An eclectic palace of 1902–1903 on Piața Unirii, home to the city hall, with a tower of almost 50 m: its clock plays Iancu's March, and the top gives a view over the rooftops of the centre.
- [Sion Neolog Synagogue](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sion-neolog-synagogue) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · 15 lei · 30 min · 0 km
  A synagogue of 1877–1878 on the bank of the Crișul Repede, with a broad dome and a Moorish-style painted interior; restored and reopened in 2015, it is now a cultural venue.
- [Darvas-La Roche House](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/darvas-la-roche-house) — Museums and memorial houses · Oradea, BH · 20 lei · ½ – 1 hours · 0 km
  The Secession villa of the industrialist Imre Darvas, designed by the Vágó brothers in 1909–1912, now houses Romania's first Art Nouveau museum, with period interiors and a garden.
- [Regina Maria Theatre](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/regina-maria-theatre) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · from 25 lei · 2 – 2½ hours · 0 km
  The Oradea State Theatre building, designed by the Viennese firm Fellner & Helmer and opened in 1900: an Ionic portico on Piața Ferdinand and an auditorium with boxes and a balcony, still in use every week.

## Featured in the guides

- [Christmas markets in Romania 2026: the list by city, dates and what you will find](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/christmas-markets-in-romania) — Christmas markets 2026: Craiova and Sibiu from 13 November, Cluj from the 20th, Bucharest and Târgu Mureș from the 27th, Timișoara from the 29th. Venues, dates.

---

Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-bihor
Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/piata-unirii-oradea.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/piata-unirii-bihor.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/piata-unirii-bihor.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/place-de-l-union-bihor.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/plaza-de-la-union-bihor.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/szent-laszlo-ter.md
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania