About
Cluj-Napoca is the fourth most popular city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest, Budapest and Belgrade, so you can plan your trip among these 3 cities as well. Located in the Someșul Mic River valley, the city is considered the unofficial capital to the historical province of Transylvania.
Nearly 350,000 inhabitants live within the city limits (making it the country’s second biggest city after the national capital Bucharest).
Today, the city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in Romania. Among other institutions, it hosts the country’s largest university, Babeș-Bolyai University, with its famous botanical garden; nationally renowned cultural institutions; as well as the largest Romanian-owned commercial bank. Also, Cluj-Napoca held the titles of European Youth Capital in 2015 and European City of Sport in 2018.
Cluj-Napoca has a diverse and growing cultural scene, with cultural life exhibited in a number of fields, including the visual arts, performing arts and nightlife. The city’s cultural scene spans its history, dating back to Roman times: the city started to be built in that period which has left its mark on the urban layout (centred on today’s Piața Muzeului) as well as surviving ruins. However, the medieval town saw a shift in its centre towards new civil and religious structures, notably St. Michael’s Church.
The climate of Cluj is very pleasant, of moderate continental type. It is influenced by the vicinity of the Apuseni Mountains, while autumn and winter feels the Atlantic influences from the west.
Cluj-Napoca is divided into15 districts, some of them having their own city hall. The districts are dispersed circularly around the centre of the city which presents a beautiful architecture combined with the majesty of the gothic and baroque styles.
Cluj-Napoca has one of the most dynamic economies in Romania. The sector of financial services and IT are highly represented at a local level. Furthermore, companies such as Ardaf (insurance), Brinel (IT), Farmec (cosmetics), Jolidon (lingerie), Napolact (dairy), Remarul 16 Februarie (train and materials), Ursus (Beer).
Cluj-Napoca has a diverse and growing cultural scene, with cultural life exhibited in a number of fields, including the visual arts, performing arts and nightlife. The city’s cultural scene spans its history, dating back to Roman times: the city started to be built in that period, which has left its mark on the urban layout (centred on today’s Piața Muzeului) as well as surviving ruins. However, the medieval town saw a shift in its centre towards new civil and religious structures, notably St. Michael’s Church.
Cluj-Napoca is accessed through the European road E60 (Bucharest – Oradea – Budapest – Vienna). In terms of rail networks, the city has direct connections with all the major Romanian cities, maintained by the national rail passenger transport company, CFR. Furthermore, there are also two international trains. The Avram Iancu International Airport Cluj (CLJ) is situated in the eastern part of the city, (6 km away from the city centre).
There is a wide variety of taxi companies in Cluj-Napoca including: Clima&Confort – 0264 943, Diesel – 0264 946, Nova – 0264 949, Terra & Fan – 0264 944, Napoca – 0264 953.
Cultural.
Cluj-Napoca is one of the main cultural hubs within the country, being home to a range of educational and cultural institutions. The „Lucian Blaga” National Theatre was inaugurated on the 1st of December 1919, in Avram Iancu Square and represents the most important theatre institution in Transylvania. The Hungarian State Opera and the Hungarian State Theatre also operate within the city. Another outstanding music institution is the Transylvania State Philharmonic, founded in 1955.
As home of the National Museum of Art, The Bánffy Palace, hosts many important art collections comprising works made by Romanian, as well as foreign artists.
In addition to the Museum of Art, the city also has an extended museum network, comprising the National Museum of History of Transylvania, the Museum of Pharmacy, the Village Museum, the Museum of Mineralogy and the Zoological Museum . The Memorial House Emil Isac is another significant cultural edifice.
In the last years, the Brush Factory, a space of creation and diffusion of contemporary art, known internationally, especially for the visual arts, has become an important landmark for the city’s culture.
Some publishing houses have their headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, including Dacia, the Science Library House, Limes, Apostrof Library, Eikon, Idea, Grinta, Cluj University Press, Echinox, Parallel 45, Studia, Clusium, Napoca Star, Renaissance, Sapientia, Kriterion, Argonaut, in addition to many others.
Events.
Cluj is known for many festivals and here are some examples:
- UNTOLD Festival
- Electric Castle
- TIFF – Transylvania International Film Festival
- TiMAF – Transylvania International Music and
- Art Festival
- Street Food Festival
- Comedy Cluj
- “Temps d’Images” Festival
- Transylvania International Guitar Festival
- Mozart Festival
- Transylvania Jazz Festival
- DelaHoya Festival
- Festival of Lights
Univesities.
Cluj-Napoca is an exquisite learning centre and the proof is the great number of universities and libraries this city owns. “Babeș-Bolyai” University is one of the biggest in our country with more than 45 thousand students learning at 167 specialties. In this city there are also 8 other universities such as Technical University, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy and the Art and Design University. Among the public libraries which are considered to be one of the best in the country are: „Lucian Blaga” Central University Library, The Academy Library and “Octavian Goga” Library.
Did you know.
Did you know that…
- Cluj-Napoca has a history of more than 1000 years and was mentioned for the first time in the second century?
- Cluj-Napoca is the second most populated city in Romania, after the capital, Bucharest, due to its enormous number of students?
- Cetățuie Park is a fortress from where you can see the landscape of the city?
- Cluj-Napoca has a tremendously beautiful Botanical Garden? The garden contains various flora from different regions of the world. We even have a Japanese Garden!
- Cluj-Napoca has a larger number of pubs and clubs than the number of chromosomes in your body? If not sure, you definitely have to visit the Piezișa Street.
Pubs.
Here is a list of pubs and clubs that are worth mentioning:
- After Eight Cocktail Club – Samuel Brassai street, no. 12
- Euphoria Music Hall – Calea Mănaștur, no. 2-6
- L’atelier Café – Memorandumului street, no. 9
- Le General Café-Pub – Eroilor Boulevard, no. 18
- Zorki Photo Café – Ioan Rațiu street, no. 10
- NOA Club – Republicii Street, no. 109
- Revolution Club – Memorandumului street, no. 13
- Joben Café – Avram Iancu street, no. 29
- Shto – Memorandumului street, no. 6
- Makeba – Inocențiu Micu Klein, no. 23
- /FORM Cafe, Unirii Square, no. 25
Angel by Day… Devil by Night
- Cleo pub – Clinicilor street, no. 35
- Uni pub – Piezișa street, no. 6
- Coyote – Piezișa street, no. 7
- Solas – Piezișa street, no. 16
- Plan B – Piezișa street, no. 14
- Molecular Beams – Piezișa street, no. 28
- Gap – Piezișa street, no. 11
- Studio 26 – Piezișa, no. 26
- L’Alchimiste – Unirii square, no. 10
- Boujole – Unirii square, no. 15
- London pub – Piezișa street, no. 22
- Charlie – Muzeului square, no. 3
- Enigma – Iuliu Maniu street, no. 12
- Che Guevara Social Pub – Unirii square, no. 10
A little Party never killed nobody
- After Eight – Samuel Brassai street, no. 12
- NOA – Republicii street, no. 109
- Revolution – Memorandumului street, no. 13
- Form Space – Stadionului alley, no. 2
- Euphoria Music Hall – Calea Mănaștur, no. 2-6
- Caro – Muzeului square, no. 6
But first… Coffee
- Meron – Napoca street, no. 3
- Victor – Victor Babeș street, no. 33
- La ibric – Gheorghe Sincai street, no. 3
- Narcoffee – Eroilor Boulevard, no. 35-37
- Sisters – Universitații street, no. 2
- Joben – Avram Iancu street, no. 29
- Olivo – Eroilor Boulevard, no. 7
- Kafea – Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu street, no. 76
- Cuppa Coffee – Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu street, no. 2
- Caffeine – Petru Maior street, no. 15-19
- Roots – Eroilor Boulevard, no. 4
D.I.E.T or Did I Eat That?
- Engels – Gheorghe Șincai street, no. 18
- Marty – Horea street, no. 5 / Calea Mănăștur, no. 2-6 (Platinia)
- New Crocco – Victor Babeș street, no. 12
- Nuka Bistro – Unirii square, no. 16
- Toulouse – Unirii square, no. 12
- Casa Tiff – Universității street, no. 6
- Makeba – Inocențiu Micu Klein, no. 23
- Chios Social Lounge – Simion Bărnuţiu Central Park
- 25th Downtown Flavours – Unirii square, no. 4-5
- Euphoria Biergarten – Cardinal Iuliu Hossu street, no. 25
- Samsara FoodHouse – Cardinal Iuliu Hossu street, no. 3
- Jaxx American Restaurant – Emil Isac, no. 25
- Klausen Burger – Regele Ferdinard street, no. 22
- Pergola – Scărilor alley Zama – Napoca street, no. 16
- Irish Music Pub – Horea street, no. 5
- Colin’s Gastro Pub – Cardinal Iuliu Hossu street, no. 30-32
- Big Belly – Calea Mănăștur, no. 68
- Bujole – Unirii square, no. 15
- Meat Up – Gheorghe Șincai street, no. 14
- Burger House – Matei Corvin street, no. 10
- Livada – Clinicilor street, no. 14
- Muura Steakhouse – Franklin Delano Roosevelt street, no. 2
