The Best Travel Guide to Cluj-Napoca

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Cluj-Napoca

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Overview

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Cluj-Napoca The guide was updated: 2023-03-08

Cluj-Napoca, often referred to as the unofficial capital of Transylvania, is a vibrant and lively city with a rich cultural history. Despite its ominous administrative status, the city is far from grim and has a well-deserved reputation as a party town. Named the European Youth Capital in 2015, Cluj-Napoca is home to an estimated 100,000 students, who make up about a fifth of the population. This youthful energy, combined with the city's cultural renaissance, makes Cluj-Napoca a must-visit destination for anyone interested in experiencing the vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Facts

Population:	About 320,000
Currency:	Romanian leu (RON), plural lei = 100 bani
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Emergency/Police/Fire Department: 112
Newspapers:	Ziarul de Cluj — zcj.ro Jurnalul Național — jurnalul.ro Ziarul Clujean — ziarulclujean.ro Nine O'Clock (English) — www.nineoclock.ro
Website:	www.visitcluj.ro www.primariaclujnapoca.ro
Opening hours:	Opening hours vary by business; most are closed on Sundays and work short day Saturdays. Shops and entertainment venues operate from around 8am to 6pm–9pm, often later. Nightclubs and some bars often remain open till the early morning hours.
Tourist information:	Centrul de Informare Turistică Bulevardul Eroilor 6, Cluj-Napoca +40 264 452 244 Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm, Sat & Sun 10am–4pm

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Section in Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca's charming historic town center is a pleasure to stroll through, with most attractions easily reachable by walking. Some of the city's highlights include the Ethnographic Museum (the open-air Ethnographic Park will require using public transport to get to), the curious Pharmacy History Collection, and the Gothic St Michael’s Church — the showpiece of Cluj's central square (Piata Unirii). Bohemian cafes and cool bars dot the city, making for interesting break spots.

Central Park

Central Park

Refreshingly shaded in the summer and still well-visited during the colder winter months, Cluj-Napoca's Central Park is a lively social hub that hosts concerts, contains free-to-use sporting machines, and even offers boats for hire (to be put to use on the park's own lake).

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

The green oasis of tranquillity that is Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden lies just outside Cluj's Old Town. Inside, a multitude of flora species are on display, from tropical flowers to Nordic mosses sprawling over rock arrangements. There is an on-site museum of plant kingdom curiosities and even a compact Japanese Garden.

Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia

Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia

The open-air ethnographic museum of Romulus Vuia contains replicas of traditional Romanian architecture from across the country (complete with interior design detail and household items), all of which span centuries. The museum also grants visitors insight into the arts of woodwork, fabric weaving, pottery, and more.

St Michael’s Church & Clock Tower

St Michael’s Church & Clock Tower

Cluj-Napoca's central Union Square (Piata Unirii) contains the nation's second most prominent Gothic church with a tall clock tower from which some of the best city panoramas unfold. Dating back to as early as the 14th century, the church still holds daily mass (in Romanian and Hungarian) to-date.

Cetatuia Hill

Cetatuia Hill

A 15-minute hike will take you up Cluj-Napoca's most scenic observation point, the Cetatuia Hill (just across the river from the Old Town). The hill's park-like environment draws in locals and visitors in-the-know, and a plethora of cafes offer sit-down snack and/or drink breaks.

Museum Square

Museum Square

Cluj Napoca's second most popular square is indeed in immediate proximity to one of the town's most important museums (the National Museum of Transylvanian History), but is an appealing spot in its own right for the outdoor bars, cafes, and an irresistible old-age charm.

Turda Gorge

Turda Gorge

A place of rare natural beauty a mere 15km away from Cluj-Napoca, the Turda Gorge is excellent hiking grounds for explorers of any fitness level. Persevere all the way to the top (which shouldn't take more than an hour) and enjoy some incredible, sweeping views of the green surroundings. Sundays here tend to be the busiest.

National Theater and Romanian Opera

National Theater and Romanian Opera

If a trip to the theatre isn't something you would initially consider doing during your stay in Cluj, think again - the city's National Theater is heralded as one of the best in the country, and regularly puts on an ever-changing selection of musical and theatrical performances (check their website for news and schedules).

Tailors' Bastion & Baba Novac Statue

Tailors' Bastion & Baba Novac Statue

The Tailors' Bastion is what remains of the town's original 15th century fortifications. Although the bastion's lookout is not one that's best fit for taking in all of Cluj-Napoca today, the site is worth visiting if only for historic value (and its exhibitions of Romanian art). Directly outside is the statue of Baba Novac, a distinguished anti-Ottoman resistance fighter.

Fabrica de Pensule

Fabrica de Pensule

First of its kind in Romania, the Fabrica de Pensule is a contemorary art space that was conceived as a place to play host to various cultural happenings and bring together creators willing to showcase their – sometimes rather experimental – artwork within its walls.

Hoia Baciu Forest

Hoia Baciu Forest

Hoia Baciu Forest is locally referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. The forest is surrounded by an air of mystery, with trees growing in spirals, inexplicable sightings and a multitude of stories about people who have gone missing only to reappear years later without any memory of what happened. Visit the worlds creepiest forest - if you dare.

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