There are a number of places in eastern Europe that have become, well, slightly overpopulated by western tourists in recent years. I am pleased to say that Timisoara, in western Romania, is not one of them.

This is despite it being the birthplace of the 1989 revolt against communism and being the first city to have electric street-lighting. It is also very affordable, with the only real expenses being accommodation and of course getting there. The best time to go is probably between April and October. Winters are harsh and summers warm.

The absolute must see is the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. Other highlights include the Laslo Tokes Church, the Piatii Unirii, with its Serb and Catholic churches facing each other across a square adorned with pavement cafes. Outside of the city centre, the parks, the botanical gardens and the Bega canal are definitely worth a look. A ride on a tram can be a cultural experience, and will set you back about 40p. As far as nightlife is concerned, I can recommend Club 30 in the city centre, or Cafe Bastion in the east, housed within the old city walls. A night at the opera will set you back about three pounds, although the operas tend to be in Romanian. Conversely, the cinemas tend to show English films with subtitles.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by Timisoara. It has an eclectic mix of art nouveau, baroque and communist era architecture. It is not for nothing that the locals call it “Little Vienna”.