Cluj County · Romania
Cluj-Napoca travel guide
Cluj-Napoca is a city in Cluj County, Romania, home to about 287,000 people.
- Best months
- May, August and September
- Nearest airport
- CLJ8 km · Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport
- Currency
- RONRomanian leu
- Time zone
- Europe/Bucharest
- Language
- Romanian
About
About Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca, or simply Cluj, is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country and the seat of Cluj County.
Today, the biggest ethnic group in Cluj-Napoca are Romanians. However, this was not always the case as many different groups have inhabited the city throughout its history. The first trace of humans was neolithic settlements dating back thousands of years. Later the settlement was conquered and inhabited by Romans. The archaeological reminder of Roman Napoca can be seen in Unirii Square in the city centre. Saxons were next to occupy the city: they built the wall around the city which still stands. The city carries the German name of Klausenburg.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Cluj-Napoca
See
The area around the Union Square is a must see for the visitor, with the Teleki and Banffy Palaces (the latter now housing the National Art Museum), the Franciscan Monastery, the first Unitarian Church in the world, the Piarist Church, the Mirror Street (Iuliu Maniu Street, a unique architectural accomplishment dating back to the late 1800s) and Matthias Corvinus' place of birth, a 15th-century hotel now home to the Visual Arts Academy. Smaller streets around the Square can take you into splendid inner courts, old houses and isolated Churches.
- Union Square
- The Museum Square
- Eroilor Avenue
- Iuliu Maniu Street
- The Orthodox Cathedral
- St. Michael's Church
- The Reformed Church
- The Franciscan Church
- Calvaria Church
- Bob Church
- Piarist Church
- Cock Church
Do
- Lucian Blaga National Theatre
- Romanian National Opera
- Hungarian State Theater
- Hungarian Opera
- PUCK Puppet Theatre
- Tranzit House
- Reactor Independent Theatre
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Cluj-Napoca to stay in
The last three years have seen a boom in the Cluj lodging scene. There are lodging options for all budgets, including a 5-star hotel. Other than that, you can find something that suits your needs.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Cluj-Napoca
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel New York, Cluj-Napoca | 1894 | 0.1 km |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cluj - City Plaza Hilton Worldwide | 0.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Cluj-Napoca
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cluj-Napoca are May, August and September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 84 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Cluj-Napoca: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport (CLJ), about 7.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Târgu Mureş Transilvania International Airport (TGM, 71 km) and Maramureș International Airport (BAY, 99 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Getting to Cluj-Napoca is easy due to its position and its status as a major Transylvanian city.
Getting around
Public transport in the city is possible by means of 25 bus lines, 7 trolleybus lines, and 3 tram lines, all operated by the RATUC company (Regia Autonomă de Transport Urban de Călători). For most lines servicing the city center you won't need to wait more than 15 minutes. The tariff is 6 lei for two trips.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CLJ · Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport
TGM · Târgu Mureş Transilvania International Airport
BAY · Maramureș International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Cluj-Napoca
Eat
Cluj dining is some of the best in Romania. Ranging from traditional Romanian, Hungarian and Transylvanian (a combination of the previous two) to Italian (very good Italian food), Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, American and International Cuisine, the city can offer great dining for all tastes. Fancy restaurants are available as well as local fast food shops and a few international chains (McDonald's, Pizza Hut).
Drink
Cluj has a vibrant night life, guaranteed by the over 60,000 university students living here. There are bars, cafés, clubs for all preferences and budgets.
Stay safe
Cluj-Napoca is in general a safe city. Even after dark, it is safe to walk through the city center and some of the other neighbourhoods. To be on the safe side, unless you know exactly where you're going and how to get there, suburbs should be avoided at night, especially the neighbourhoods of Manastur, Marasti, and Iris, and the train and inter-city bus station areas. You should, as always, take care of your belongings and pockets. If your wallet is stolen or lost, it is likely that it will resurface after a while, but without the money and credit cards (so be sure to call your credit card company and lock the credit card as soon as you notice it is missing).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Cluj-Napoca: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Cluj-Napoca?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cluj-Napoca are May, August and September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 84 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Cluj-Napoca?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport (CLJ), about 7.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Târgu Mureş Transilvania International Airport (TGM, 71 km) and Maramureș International Airport (BAY, 99 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Cluj-Napoca?
Romanian leu (RON).
Nearby
Destinations near Cluj-Napoca
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.