With a small centre but vast history, Suceava is a city that underpromises but overdelivers. Nested in the historical region of Moldavia in north-eastern Romania, most visitors use it as a jump-off point to the painted monasteries of Bukovina, the rainbow-coloured mementos of Modavia’s golden age, and rightfully so. But not spending a day or two discovering the city’s own World Heritage site, astonishing medieval citadels and period-furnished village museum is a mistake you might be kicking yourself for later. The other one would be missing out on Suceava’s mesmerising surroundings, from the forested peaks of the Viei, Zamca, Manastirii and Tarinca hills, the enchanted valley of the Suceava river or the haunting rooms, chambers and chapels carved in the Cacia Salt Mine.
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The jewel of Bukovina
Wandering around this spellbinding medieval city, not to mention the cultural and economic centre of Bucovina and Suceava County, you’re in for quite a history lesson. One that starts in the late Antiquity, when in a rather remarkable turn of events, the Romans did not conquer the city, unlike Transylvania, Oltenia and the rest of the region. Suceava was populated by the so-called Free Dacian tribes and entered celebrity status during the late Middle Ages, when it became the capital of the Principality of Moldavia and home to a legion of Moldavian princes for nearly two centuries. The Mirăuți Church saw the coronation of Stephen the Great and the Seat Fortress fended off the troops of Mehmed the Conqueror, whose attacks even Constantinople could not hold. The Saint John the New Monastery on Iancu Flondor Street is one of Romania’s famous Byzantine-style painted churches, with the others scattered within its 60-kilometre radius.
A gateway to Romania’s most precious treasures
Any culture trip in Suceava must begin with conquering the 14th-century fortress at the eastern tip of the city, if only figuratively. The massive citadel was erected to hold off Ottoman encroachments, which it promptly did, even in the face of legendary conqueror Mehmed II in 1475. In 2013, the castle got a major facelift and teched up so visitors today can meander their way through renovated chambers, and learn about its history through videos and touch-screen guides. Not ready to bid farewell to the Middle Ages just yet? Move over to the ruins of the Princely Court of Suceava (Curtea Domnească din Suceava), another 14th-century keep that served as a palace for the voivodes of Moldavia for three centuries. The St John The New Monastery (Mănăstirea Sfântul Ioan cel Nou) is an ideal first stop on your pilgrimage to discover the region’s most cherished architectural treasures, the UNESCO-listed painted monasteries. The eight churches put quite a twist on Orthodox architecture, being decorated with magnificent Byzantine and Moldavian frescoes on the outside. To learn more about traditional way of life in the region, check out the Bucovina Village Museum (Muzeul Satului Bucovinean). The open-air exhibition showcases the insanely rich cultural and architectural heritage of Bucovina’s ethnographic regions, including Rădăuți, Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Dorna and Fălticeni.
Traditional and unexpected culinary delights
Bucovinian cuisine is an ode to the region itself: rustic, no-nonsense and a feast for all your senses. Ubiquitous Romanian classic mămăligă is paired with fresh cheese, cream, eggs and sausages. Local specialities are a true reflection of the terroir, building heavily on mushrooms and forest fruits. Trout coated in a sour cream, tarragon and pepper is a must-try, but so is sarmale în cuib, a mouth-watering combination of minced pork, beef or lamb, rice and mushrooms, tucked into sour cabbage leaves. Ciorba rădăuţeană, locals’ take on Romania’s traditional tripe soup, blends chicken with red peppers, carrots, garlic, lemon and sour cream. It’s also said to be a remedy that cures pretty much everything from hunger through the sniffles to hangover. One that you’ll be in dire need of, should you repeatedly taste Romanians’ favourite poison of choice, țuică (plum brandy). Casa Bucovineana Restaurant, in the heart of the city, is a trove of traditional Romanian and regional fare and fine wines. If it’s international flavours that you’re after, dine in the flower-scented Sun Garden of Mosaik Restaurant, Sonnenhof Hotel’s gastro haven. Ice cream might not count as a regional or national speciality, Natanael’s scoops made from farm-fresh milk and locally sourced ingredients are certainly right up there with the best of them. Drop by the pastry shop-cum-ice cream parlor on Grigore Alexandru Ghica Street and give in to temptation.
Get down with the locals
Shopping City Suceava and Iulius Mall on Calea Unirii stock your all-too-familiar international brands in fashion and beauty. Never one to leave without a unique souvenir to remember a holiday well spent? Go for a fine piece of Marginea black pottery, shaped, polished, decorated and burnt black by local craftsmen the same way it’s been done for hundreds, if not thousands of years. For a light, well-deserved dinner, lazy coffee break or quiet evening of drinks and relaxation, make your way to Apropo Cafe on Republicii Street. Up for partying into the night? Lounge Club on Ștefan cel Mare is a local hotspot with DJ sets, karaoke nights and concerts kicking in every night of the week.
Get into the Voroneț blue
If it’s still your trip to the painted churches of Bukovina that excites you the most, we’re not here to judge. Rent a car in Suceava and set off on a pilgrimage to any, or all, of the elaborately decorated monasteries sprinkled across the neighbouring area. The beautiful Byzantine murals are far more than decoration: they commemorate the life of Jesus and the villages’ most important Orthodox saints, and depict dramatic scenes from the Bible and religious events. In 1993, UNESCO recognised seven monasteries, including Arbore, Humor, Moldovita, Patrauti, Probota, St John the New Suceava and Voronet, as World Heritage sites, adding Sucevita to the list in 2010. Short on time? Pick Voroneț Monastery in Gura Humorului. Erected by Stefan the Great in 1488, the church is known for its intense blue shade known as Voroneț blue. Hop back in the car and visit Marginea, where potters are still shaping their one-of-a-kind black clay pottery using a technique perfected by Geto-Dacian tribes 2,000 years ago. The vessels are polished with river stones and decorated with quartz stones, then undergo a special burning ritual that gives them their deep ebony colour. For something truly spectacular, head to the Cacica salt mine, an off-the-beaten-path attraction that’s well worth descending into. First excavated in 1791, the sprawling site has some 8,200 tunnels, plus a Roman Catholic (Capela Romano Catolică Sf. Varvara), an Orthodox Chapel (Capela Ortodoxă), a lake (Lacul Sărat), a football pitch and a ballroom for good measure.
Suceava weather
Trying to figure out the best time to book your Suceava plane tickets for? Late spring and early summer and autumn tend to see the nicest weather, with a pleasant average temperature of 20-25 degrees. At -4.6 °C on average, January is historically the coldest month of the year, while June and July are the wettest, with downpours alternating with days of unlimited sunshine.
Suceava airport
Suceava Ștefan cel Mare International Airport (Aeroportul Internațional "Ștefan cel Mare" Suceava, SCV) is located approximately 12km east of the city centre. Taxis are the fastest way to reach Suceava and there are metred taxis available outside the airport.
FAQs for booking flights to Suceava
How to get cheap flights to to Suceava?
Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Suceava flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.
When is the best time to visit Suceava?
Suceava has a continental climate, which means it has warm summers and cold winters. The best times to visit are at the end of spring/beginning of summer, which is in May and June. During these periods, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures averaging 20–25 °C, which are great for exploring the rich historical heritage and panoramic landscapes of the city. January is the coldest month; temperatures during this period average approximately -4.6°C.
June and July have the most rainfall, and it often comes in the form of heavy downpours broken up by some very sunny days. For those who like it a bit quieter and are looking for better rates, the end of autumn and early winter might just be the perfect time for you. The peak tourist period is during Christmas and through the summer months. Therefore, visiting Suceava for its historical sites or natural beauty outside of these times will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Suceava flight?
As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Suceava flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.
