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City and county seat of Cluj County, Romania
Photo: Original uploader was Roamata at ro.wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Cluj-Napoca (Romanian), Kolozsvár (Hungarian) or Klausenburg (German) is the capital of Cluj county and the unofficial capital of the historical region of Transylvania. The city, with about 320,000 people (2016), is very pleasant, and it is a great experience for those who want to see urban Transylvanian life at its best. Along with fine dining, excellent cultural activities, a wonderful historical legacy and a great atmosphere, the city will not disappoint those who add it to their travel itinerary. What's more is the fact that Cluj (as it's called for short) is so easy to access and get around.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Piața Unirii
Where you can find St. Michael's Church, the National Art Museum, the Statue of Matthias Corvinus and the Roman ruins.
Piața Muzeului
A 2-minute walk from the Union Square, is home to the Franciscan Monastery (a combination of Baroque and Gothic architecture dating back to the 14th century), the Transylvanian History Museum and the old Obelisk of the city, offered to the city as acknowledgement of its statute by the Austrian Emperor Franz Ferdinand in the 19th century. You can have a nice coffee right by the Obelisk, as during daytime the surrounding bars and cafes have outdoor seating.
Bulevardul Eroilor
It links the two main squares, Union Square and Avram Iancu Square.
Strada Iuliu Maniu
Catedrala Ortodoxă
Biserica Sfântul Mihail
This Gothic architecture piece is one of the most valuable in Transylvania. Its murals date from the 15th century, and the 50 m neo-Gothic tower was built in 1860.
Biserica Reformată de pe Ulița Lupilor
Built 1486–1516, it is a very important piece of Gothic architecture.
Biserica Franciscană
Built 1260–1290.
Biserica Calvaria
A small Benedictine abbey surrounded by defensive walls, Calvaria Church was built starting in the 9–10th centuries.
Biserica Bob
It is the first Greek-Catholic church that was built in the city of Cluj, while it was part of the Austrian Empire.
Biserica Piariștilor
Completed in 1724, it was the province's first baroque church.
Biserica cu Cocoș
Designed by the famous architect Kós Károly.
Muzeul Național de Artă
Muzeul Național de Istorie a Transilvaniei
Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei
Muzeul Farmaciei
Highlights of the museum include Mummy powder used as an expensive cure for all diseases, also the elixir of Love, dentifrice powders and a medieval laboratory although little evidence exists that the room was used as a laboratory. A free audio guide is available through the mobile application "izi.Travel".
Zoo museum. Variety of conservated reptiles and fishes includes horror-movie-like exhibition items like Amazon jungle snakes, ray, scorpions and lizards. Also stuffed wild mammals, crocodiles and turtles. The museum is found on university campus building on the ground floor on your left. If doors are closed, try knocking. The same building incorporates another live reptile exhibition downstairs. To visit it, take spiral stairs down from the lobby.
Museum about the aesthetics of Victorian-era machinery. Has an escape room.
In the basement of what is probably the ugliest church in Cluj (it was built in 1984, during the very strict communist regime, so the church had to look like a communist apartment building), Galeria Horeb opened in 2009. It has around two exhibitions per year.
Parcul Central
A welcome break from the rush of the city. The middle of the park hosts a small lake and the Chios Casino, from the terrace of which you can rent rowboats and hydrobicycles to circle the small island in the centre of the lake.
Parcul Etnografic "Romulus Vuia"
Displays village buildings in Transylvania region in 18 and 19 centuries in a 16-ha area park next to the city centre. Most are farmyards displaying a variety of used tools too. Highlights include high stretched cupolas churches with religions drawings within. Most buildings are closed but stalking through the windows are ok. Please allow one and a half hour for a visit.
Dealul Cetății
The Transylvania Hotel (also known to the locals as Belvedere) was built on top of the hill, and besides the great view offers a good restaurant as well. The hill can be climbed by stairs from the centre of the city. On the way you will also find a large iron cross monument. A walkway circles the crown of the hill just below the hotel, offering a nice view of the city. The fortress is a citadel-shaped earthen wall and an empty moat around the hotel area.
14 hectares, landscaped with varied configurations, suitable for growing and growing plants on different continents. There are about 10,000 specific categories grouped for better management in several sectors: ornamental, phytogeographical, systematic, economic, the greenhouse complex and the visually impaired sector. The Botanical Museum has about 7,000 exhibits, grouped in collections of scientific or economic importance, and phylogenetically in the evolutionary order from the plants with Simple organization (algae, moss, lichens, mushrooms), to complex ones (gimnosperme and angiosperms).
Cimitirul Central
Bastionul Croitorilor
It is very well preserved, alongside with the corresponding section of the medieval wall.
Casa Matia
Cazinoul Vechi
In the Central Park, built at the end of the 19th century, restored in 2012.
Primăria
Casa Hintz
It was the first pharmacy in Cluj. Nowadays it houses the Pharmaceutical museum.
Palatul Bánffy
Built between 1774 and 1775, it houses the National Art Museum
Fortăreața Cetățuia
Used to hold a stronghold, as its name implies. People were also jailed there. Not much of the old fortress remains, but the Fortress Hill is worth climbing, for the view.
Moorish Revival Synagogue near the train station
Statuia lui Matei Corvin
The statue is often climbed by tourists, although officially this practise is not allowed.
Teatrul Național Lucian Blaga
Opera Naţională Română
Housed in the same building as the National Theatre.
Teatrul Maghiar de stat
Opera Maghiară
Housed in the same building as the Hungarian State Theater.
Teatrul de Păpuși PUCK
Casa Tranzit
An old synagogue converted into an arts center.
Reactor de creație și experiment
Cafeteria-style restaurant with good Hungarian and Romanian food.
One of the few restaurants that Cluj had during the communist times. The food is largely unchanged and the place still maintains a bit of the old atmosphere. They serve simple and cheap Transylvanian food. Varză à la Cluj is a must try local specialty.
Some say here you the best shaorma in South Eastern Europe. They have some extraordinary soups. Very friendly staff, tasty menu of the day. The only thing is that often there are many customers and you have to wait in line for some time.
The Romanian answer to KFC. Fresh food and the chicken is excellent. Both the onion rings, the crispies, the chicken wings and the potatoes are good. Each dish has a special taste.
If you like potatoes, here is your universe. Great place to grab some French fries, they have many options for dip sauce to choose from. The toppings like mozzarella sticks are full of taste and crunchy! Fast serving, nice personnel.
Well known for serving excellent tripe soup.
A restaurant and brewery with a view.
Romanian food. A place to try typical Romanian dishes. Menus have described a history of main dishes within few paragraphs and pictures. The restaurant might (or might not) serve homemade spirit on the house as a starter.
Modern restaurant serving traditional Transylvanian cuisine.
Vegetarian, vegan, and raw vegan restaurant with a nice atmosphere.
Has one of the most varied selections of Chinese dishes.
International cuisine with a great view.
Traditional Romanian and Hungarian.
Japanese food.
International cuisine on the Cetatuia with a great view from above downtown.
Indian cuisine, very good food.
Very good Mediterranean food with French cuisine influence, great atmosphere. This restaurant changes its menu every 6 months, in collaboration with a chef from France.
Japanese.
In a wonderfully restored old house.
They have nice Hungarian food.
One of the oldest and most expensive clubs in Cluj-Napoca. Cosmopolitan events on three floors with some of the most popular groups in Romania.
Bar and restaurant. The interior is in steampunk style and there is an indoor terrace with lots of greenery.
Mostly rock music. Every night they are open they broadcast a movie around 20:00. Entrance is free including popcorn.
Bohemian and ever-changing decor and nice personnel. Also serve light meals.
Also known colloquially as the cardboard place. A relaxed café-bar with furniture made from cardboard and scrap materials. Music ranges from jazz to alternative rock.
Heavy metal bar. Beers are around 10-15 lei.
Bar-restaurant with terrace. Opposite, the medieval ramparts of the city.
Bar in Irish style.
Samsara is a place to relax. They serve different kinds of tea and wine in a relaxing atmosphere. There are 3 rooms with different styles. The place is very busy in the evening, so make a reservation or come early.
Bar in Soviet style. Has a nice cocktail menu.
Cafe-bar with jazz & alternative rock music. Regular photo exhibitions. Sometimes small, acoustic concerts.
Non-stop B&B accommodation.
A comfortable hostel in the city center with a friendly knowledgeable staff. Large social areas including a lounge, a game room, a guest kitchen and an outdoor terrace.
Facilities include a pool, gym, conference rooms. Nice view, on top of Fortress hill close to the city center.
Quiet area close to the city center. Besides its own restaurant, also contains the Ciuleandra Romanian-food restaurant.
Facilities include WiFi, conference room.
Facilities include GYM and pool.
Set in the city center a few minutes walk from the statue of Matthias Corvinus.
Situated in the center of the city, the Onix has 3- and 4-star rooms and suites, all of which have a jacuzzi, PCs with Internet access, air-con, cable television, minibar, and telephone.
The first design hotel in Cluj.
Flea market held every Saturday from morning 'till noon.
You are lucky, this is probably the greatest souvenir shop in Romania and the official shop of the brand of Transylvania.
By train
As with many other Transylvanian cities, the train is the easiest way to reach Cluj because it is an important Romanian railway hub.
By bus
Cluj-Napoca can be reached by bus from Bucharest, major cities in Romania, most cities in Transylvania, and a number of major cities in Europe.
By plane
Another alternative is to fly to Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport (BUD) and then shuttle to Cluj-Napoca. The shuttle takes 6–8 hr to make the trip. Many companies travel this route.
By car
Cluj-Napoca has good road connections. European road E60 links it to Bucharest and Brasov to the south, Oradea and Budapest to the west, through Bors customs.
By taxi
Taxis are relatively more expensive than in other parts of Romania, but still cheap, and very convenient.25 lei/km, and the same is applied as start fee.
By rental car
If you’re looking for a reliable car rental in Cluj-Napoca or directly at the airport, you’ll find several reputable companies offering professional services and flexible options for all budgets.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Cluj-Napoca · International · CLJ
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