With a history of over two millennia, Cluj-Napoca is also nicknamed the Treasure City or the Heart of Transylvania. The city of Cluj-Napoca is one of the largest, most beautiful and visited cities in Romania, being also considered the capital of youth, it has so much to offer, discover and visit, that it would be a shame not to visit the beautiful city at least once.
Cluj-Napoca earned its place in the top of the most visited cities in the country for several reasons. One reason to visit Cluj-Napoca is the fact that it is a medieval city, full of buildings steeped in history, museums, architecture and local legends.
A second reason to visit Cluj-Napoca is the fact that this is the second most populous city in Romania, being also one of the most university centers in the country, and a third of the city's residents are students from the country and abroad, Pub -s with music of all genres, night clubs, restaurants, all this keeping the city alive, welcoming and with a modern design.
A third reason to visit Cluj-Napoca is the mood it induces. It is a city with a festive atmosphere, full of cultural and artistic activities, clean streets, cafes and restaurants with special design, the city being included in the international list of artistic cities of the future.
The fourth reason to visit Cluj-Napoca is the people. Once you arrive here, you will meet nice and welcoming people, who will certainly do their best to make your stay in their city unique. No matter what your reason is for visiting the city, you will certainly not have time to get bored, and the possibilities that the city offers are endless.
I have prepared below a list of the places you must visit when you arrive in Cluj-Napoca.
See here also the TOP of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania.
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Cluj-Napoca tourist attractions - What to visit in Cluj-Napoca
Union square
Unirii Square was the heart of the medieval city of Cluj, clustered around St. Michael's Church. It is the largest market in central and south-eastern Europe. Although other markets were later formed, Piața Unirii is still one of the most popular places to visit in Cluj-Napoca and in the country. In Piata Unirii, you will find some of the most popular tourist destinations in this city, such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Michael, the ruins of the Roman construction, the Matia Corvin Monumental Ensemble and the shot pillars. There are also many historical buildings of great cultural importance, all in an area with a medieval atmosphere. Once here, I recommend you enjoy a drink on the terraces around the square to enjoy the view and the vibe of the city.
Museum Square
Piața Muzeului is located in the center of the old citadel of Cluj. The square takes its name from the National History Museum of Transylvania, which is located at the western end of the square. During the summer, the square itself becomes a popular place to relax, with people enjoying the many terraces here. Always visited, always animated, and always populated, this is a meeting place between the dynamic present of the city and the medieval atmosphere of the old citadel. Once here, in addition to the museum, there are other sights to enjoy, among them the Franciscan Church, which dominates the eastern side of the square, the Carolina Obelisk, located in front of the church, or the Mikes Palace, located on the west side north of the square.
central Park
In 2010, the Central Park was included in the list of historical monuments in Cluj, being bounded by the Cluj Arena to the west, the Hungarian State Theater to the east and the Someșul Mic river to the north. With an age of over 180 years, the Central Park is also known as the Big Park and is one of the main green spaces in the central area of the city, which is the perfect place for a quiet walk and for relaxation.
Art Museum
The Art Museum is housed in a beautiful old building from the 18th century. It has an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, graphics and decorative arts. The Michelin anniversary guide "500 landscapes, destinations and experiences" awarded this museum a 2-star rating. The museum can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 17:00. The price of a full museum tour is 28 lei/ticket for adults, 15 lei for pensioners and 7 lei for students.
The National History Museum of Transylvania
With a collection of over 400,000 cultural goods, the National History Museum of Transylvania is located in a monument building, full of its own history, built with 19th century architecture, in a neoclassical style. The museum is located on Constantin Daicoviciu street, no. 2 in Cluj-Napoca and is open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday between 11:00 and 18:00. The price of a ticket for an adult is 10 lei, for a pensioner 5 lei and for students 2.5 lei.
Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania
The Ethnographic Museum - Pavilion Section - is located in the Reduta Palace and has a large collection of traditional peasant objects from the 17th-20th centuries. It also has a documentary fund of over 80,000 pieces. There are two sections in the museum – the pavilion section and the Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park, which is an open-air section. The museum is one of the largest museums in Romania and is considered one of the most prestigious in Europe. The Michelin anniversary guide said this museum is worth a visit and awarded it two stars.
Visiting schedule Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania:
Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00. Monday – Tuesday the museum is closed.
The price of a ticket for adults is 6 lei, and for students, pupils and pensioners 3 lei.
The Citadel and the Citadel Park
Cetătuia is a fortification located on the left bank of the Someș River, in Cluj-Napoca, built during the Habsburg period. It has star-shaped walls with 5 corner bastions, 3 gates and a defensive ditch. It was built between 1715 and 1735 and offers a superb view of the city. Here is also the Cetătuia Park, which is a popular tourist spot, located on the southeast promenade, near the Cetătuia Cross, which commemorates the martyrs of the Revolution of 1848. Located at an altitude of 405 meters, it is a place that will give you a dreamy view of the city, and the pictures taken here are sure to be memorable.
Tailors' Tower
Another place where you will definitely take memorable pictures is the Tailors' Tower. It was built in the 15th century and had the function of a defense tower. Over the years it has undergone several changes, receiving a new function, namely Center of Urban Culture. The tower can be visited Monday - Sunday, between 09:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:00. Entry is free.
Botanical Garden
Once you arrive in Cluj-Napoca, you must put this place on your list of tourist attractions. The botanical garden covers 14 hectares and has about 10,000 different types of plants. Here, the garden is divided into several compartments, including medicinal, phytogeographical, economic, systematic and ornamental. You can enjoy over 100 species of tulips, hyacinths, petunias, daffodils, depending on the season, as well as over 300 species of roses.
The Cluj-Napoca Botanical Garden can be visited from Monday - Sunday: 09:00 - 19:00. The price of a ticket: Adults: 15 lei (9 lei on days when the greenhouses are closed), pupils and students: 7 lei, pensioners: 5 lei.
The National Theater and the Romanian Opera
You cannot leave Cluj without visiting these two attractions. The gates of both attractions, which opened in 1919, were the result of the spiritual renaissance that followed - the Union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918. Both the Opera House and the Theater are built in the Baroque-Rococo style and have a capacity of 1000 seats. Some of the most important pieces in Romania were played here.
Other places to visit in Cluj-Napoca and its surroundings: The Casino in the Central Park of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Arena, Ursus Beer Factory, St. Michael's Church, Turzii Gorges and Turda Saltworks, Adrenalin Park, Tărnița Lake, Banffy Castle.
Once here, we recommend you check the city's official websites for cultural and artistic events going on during your visit, because as mentioned, the city is full of life and fun, with the annual and one of the biggest festivals in the country, namely, UNTOLD.
Of course, don't forget to stop by the city's restaurants and taste the specific Cluj dishes, one of which is Varza a la Cluj, and you will surely be won over.
Accommodation in Cluj-Napoca - Where we stay in Cluj-Napoca
- The Central Park Residence is located in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, near the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania and Cluj Arena, and offers accommodation with free WiFi internet access and free private parking. Guests staying in the apartment have access to a terrace. The price of a night's accommodation in a 60 m² apartment starts from 300 RON for two people and may fluctuate depending on the booking period.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cluj centrally located on a quiet street in Cluj-Napoca, close to the main historical attractions, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cluj offers a fitness area with a swimming pool with a panoramic view, as well as free high-speed WiFi and secure private parking . The price of a night's accommodation here for two people starts from 550 lei and may fluctuate depending on the booking period.
- Ultra central luxury the apartment is chic, a real oasis of color, peace and relaxation in a crowded and hectic city. The apartment includes 2 bedrooms. Ultracentral luxury apartment offers accommodation with free WiFi and air conditioning in Cluj-Napoca, 600 meters from Banffy Palace and less than 1 km from Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. The price of one night's accommodation in the 70 m² apartment starts from 280 lei for 4 people.
- Central Park Escape Located in Cluj-Napoca, 400 meters from Transylvania Museum of Ethnography and 700 meters from Cluj Arena, Central Park Escape provides accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning and a garden. The apartment is very nicely decorated, clean and with all the necessary utilities. The price of one night's accommodation for two people in the 50 m² apartment is 290 lei and may fluctuate depending on the booking period.
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