Things to Do in Cluj-Napoca: A Fun City To Visit in Romania
I really enjoy visiting Cluj-Napoca and have found there are many things to do. I’ve visited Cluj-Napoca several times, including a month-long stay, and there’s plenty to keep you busy, from historic churches to museums.
Many of the key tourist attractions are in the old town area, and I found them budget-friendly. Between activities, there are lots of bars and restaurants in Cluj.
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Things to Do In Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The city of Cluj-Napoca offers a diverse range of things to do, including museums, gardens, parks, and historic churches.
Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral is the most famous and recognisable Romanian Orthodox church in the city. The cathedral grounds are great for wandering and taking in its imposing architecture. Assumption Cathedral also welcomes visitors to look inside.
The cathedral was built in the Romanian Brâncovenesc style. This blend of Renaissance and Byzantine architecture makes it look pretty special. It is on Avram Iancu Square, alongside the Cluj-Napoca National Theatre and the Avram Iancu Statue. It is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. Completed in 1933, straight after the unification of Transylvania with Romania.
Franciscan Church
The Franciscan Church was built between 1260 and 1290. This church is stunning on the inside, with very ornate decor and an organ. The Franciscan Church dominates the Piața Muzeului, or museum square. This church was built on the site of an earlier Catholic church that was destroyed during the Tatar invasions in 1241.
Visitors are welcome to explore the inside of this church for free, although donations are gratefully received. Although interesting on the exterior, the inside is pretty special. The decor is light and very ornate with white, gold and peach colours.
Catedrala Romano-Catolică Sfântul Mihail
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Michael is in the city’s main square. This is a grand and historic church with a prominent tower; its design is in the Gothic style. This is the second-largest church in Transylvania, with the Black Church in Brașov being larger. The original construction of the cathedral was completed in 1447. The church has continued to develop, including the addition of the tower in 1862.
This cathedral is wonderful to admire from the outside, especially when viewed alongside the nearby statues. Inside, the main nave and interior are lovely to see. They also offer guided tours of the church building, which is rather nice, and you can see parts that are not open to the public.
Matthias Corvinus Monument & Unirii Square
Unirii Square is the biggest and most important town square in Cluj-Napoca. It’s a lovely square with lots of interesting things to see. Unirii Square is also a great place to hang out and enjoy a coffee or beer.
The Matthias Corvinus Monument is an impressive work of art in the centre of Unirii Square. The statue depicts Matthias Corvinus on horseback, with warriors at his side. Matthias Corvinus was an important 15th-century Hungarian king. The sculptor built the monument in 1902.
Cluj-Napoca Botanical Garden
Near the city centre is a botanical garden with lots of plants, trees and feature gardens. Established in 1925, the gardens are an impressive collection of plants and other features. There are sections here for many plant types, including some tropical plants inside. The Japanese garden is special, with traditional Japanese buildings to sit in and admire the greenery. Also in the gardens is a massive water tower to climb, offering amazing views from the top.
National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca
The Lucian Blaga National Theatre is one of the most prestigious theatrical institutions in Romania. It was completed in 1906 and is very nice-looking and photogenic. The theatre has many performances throughout the year. You can find out what’s on or book a ticket on their website.
National Museum of Transylvanian History
For history buffs, the National Museum of Transylvanian History is a fascinating and educational place to visit. The museum has many exhibits on aspects of Transylvanian history, as well as archaeological artefacts & antiques.
Collections include a prehistoric section, a pharmacy exhibit, a medieval section, and a modern history section. The city’s Roman history is interesting; it was in the region of Dacia at the time. Inside the museum are displays of historic clothing, weapons, art and more.
Cluj Arena Football Stadium
Cluj Arena is home to the city’s football team and is a stunning, modern stadium. The football team often plays in the Champions League or UEFA Cup qualifiers. This is because they are one of the bigger and more successful football teams in Romania. The arena also hosts other events and festivals nearby.
Statue of Michael the Brave
There is an imposing statue of Mihai Viteazu, or Michael the Brave. It depicts him on horseback in a small square in the city. There are also fountains and a burning flame at the monument. Michael the Brave was a very significant person in the country’s history. He originally unified the three provinces of Romania: Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia.
Matthias Corvinus House
The Matthias Corvinus House is one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating back to the 15th century. Matthias Corvinus House is a Gothic-style building which was originally used as a small guesthouse. The building has a diverse history, having served as a jail, hospital, and museum. Currently, the building is home to an art institute with exhibitions.
Matthias Corvinus, the building’s namesake, was one of the most renowned kings of Hungary. He was, in fact, born in this building. He was the King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490. After conducting several successful military campaigns, they elected King of Bohemia in 1469. Bohemia was a superpower of its time.
Banffy Palace, an Art Museum
Just off Unirii Square is Banffy Palace, an 18th-century baroque building that is currently the National Museum of Art. Banffy Palace is rather beautiful and has some interesting features. Construction of the palace was finished in 1775. It has been the art museum since 1951. The first resident of Banffy Palace was a Hungarian duke, Gyorgy Banffy, who was the governor of Transylvania.
The art museum houses a collection of works by many important Romanian artists, including Nicolae Grigorescu and Stefan Luchian. They also have works by significant Hungarian artists such as József Koszta and László Mednyánszky.
Cluj-Napoca Central Park & Casino
Central Park in Cluj is quite large, spotless, and tidy. It usually has many people out when the weather is nice, with a chilled vibe and plenty of seating. The park is popular with dog walkers, so it’s a great place to walk Henry.
Inside the park is the old casino, an eclectic palace inspired by Venice. Its current purpose is to house artistic events. If you like architecture, then the university buildings at the edge of the park are well worth seeing.
Side Streets & Interesting Architecture
As in most cities, the side streets of Cluj-Napoca are interesting and full of hidden gems. I love to peruse the side streets while walking. There is street art to see while perusing the city, including some fascinating light displays.
There are also lots of interesting buildings to spot while exploring the city. The above is the beautiful Court of Appeal building. The Palace of Justice dates from 1898 to 1902. It has an interesting eclectic design and is rather unique.
Turda Salt Mine
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the local area is the salt mine in Turda. This spectacular underground mine was shaped by miners. The mine contains enough salt to supply the world for 60 years; however, it is now a great place to visit. The walk through the mines is magical and beautiful.
Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia
Just out of the city centre is Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia, a fantastic place to visit. Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia is an outdoor museum set in some beautiful parkland. There are many historical buildings to see, including houses, farmsteads, churches and workshops. The site shows how people used to live historically in Transylvania. This was one of my favourite places to visit in Cluj.
Christmas Markets
A fun thing to do in the city is to visit one of many events and festivals, including the annual festive markets. Each year from late November to New Year’s Eve, you can visit the Christmas markets.
The market has lots of stalls for food, drink and gifts. The fairground rides include a Ferris wheel and a carousel. They nicely decorate Piața Unirii with lots of colourful lights and an enormous Christmas tree. There is also a stage with live music performances each evening, which is great fun.
Medieval City Walls & Turnul Croitorilor
An interesting part of the city is the remains of the medieval city walls. Potaissa Street is the best place to see the walls and have a wander.
An interesting feature to see is Turnul Croitorilor, which is currently being renovated. This is also known as the Tailors’ Tower, and was built in the 15th century as part of the old Cluj citadel.
Cetățuia Park
For those who enjoy walking, a walk around Cetățuia Park offers fantastic views of the city. From Cetățuia Park, you can see the city from above, and the views of the various churches and football stadiums are nice.
The hill used to be home to a fortress that the Habsburgs built in the 18th century. There are a few remains left to see when exploring, including gates and a building. A recent addition to the hill, built in 1995, is the Heroes of the Nation monument, which looks like a cross.
Guided Tours
Visitors can also arrange guided tours and other things to see in the city and nearby. You can find details of many of these on the GetYourGuide website. These include trips to Transylvanian castles, the salt mine, and other places nearby.
Events In The City
There are many events in Cluj throughout the year. Romania Day and Union Day both feature fireworks in the city’s main square. Union Day takes place on January 24 each year, and Great Union Day on December 1. There are Christmas and New Year events too. We found some interesting festivals during our visits, usually near the football stadium or the city’s main square.
Cluj City Hall
Another pleasant building is the city hall, which was built towards the end of the 19th century, when the city was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The eye-catching feature is its Viennese Baroque facade and pretty corner clock tower.