Major city · Romania
Cluj-Napoca
Give Cluj 2 nights: one for the old town squares, one for Turda Salt Mine or the Apuseni hills. Base yourself within 10 minutes' walk of Piața Unirii.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- RON
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, grey)
- Airport
- CLJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Romania ↗Romania is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Romanian sources for your passport.
- Romania ↗Drivers need an electronic road vignette (rovinieta) on national roads; rental cars normally include it, but check.
- Romania ↗Brown bears live in the Carpathians and sometimes enter towns and roadsides: never feed or approach them, and follow local warnings.
Cluj-Napoca is Transylvania's biggest city and its student capital, about 320,000 people, with a compact old town of squares, churches and museums and a large park on the river. Two nights covers the centre well; a third night buys you Turda Salt Mine or a day in the Apuseni mountains. It is the priciest city in Romania for hotels and food, but still well below Western Europe.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cluj-Napoca, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro.Romania-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest.Romania-wide
- Tap waterTap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling).Romania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.Romania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Romania-wide
- SafetyCluj is one of Romania's safer cities; the real risks are overcharging taxis at the airport and station, pickpockets in crowds…
- RestroomsUse cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3.Romania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckMany museums close Monday (and some also Tuesday); Peleș closes Monday and has shorter hours Tuesday — check.Romania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCLJ Avram Iancu Cluj International (About 9 km east of the centre; bus 5/8 or the A1E express to the centre, or a taxi/Bolt.).CLJ Avram Iancu Cluj International (About 5.6 mi east of the centre; bus 5/8 or the A1E express to the centre, or a taxi/Bolt.).
- Getting aroundThe old town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in a centre café8–15 lei
- Sit-down mealDinner main course35–70 lei
- Beerdraught in a bar / can from a shop10–18 lei4–7 lei
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, 5 km in the cityTaxi, 3.1 mi in the cityCash; round up to the nearest 0.50 lei.12–18 lei
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week30–60 lei
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheck10–30 lei
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personRON 70
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel or apartment, a night, per roomRON 380
- High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel or apartment, a night, per roomRON 750
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RON 150 · Mid RON 300 · High RON 550
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CLJ Avram Iancu Cluj International (About 9 km east of the centre; bus 5/8 or the A1E express to the centre, or a taxi/Bolt.)CLJ Avram Iancu Cluj International (About 5.6 mi east of the centre; bus 5/8 or the A1E express to the centre, or a taxi/Bolt.)
Weather and climate
Cluj-Napoca: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
1°C34°F
−6°C21°F
8 rd
Feb
3°C37°F
−5°C23°F
7 rd
Mar
9°C48°F
−1°C30°F
7 rd
Apr
15°C59°F
4°C39°F
9 rd
May
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
11 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
12 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
9 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
10°C50°F
8 rd
Oct
15°C59°F
5°C41°F
7 rd
Nov
8°C46°F
1°C34°F
8 rd
Dec
2°C36°F
−4°C25°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. Trams, buses and trolleybuses (RATUC) cover the rest; buy a card or a two-trip ticket before boarding, since you cannot pay the driver. Taxis and Bolt/Uber are cheap for short hops.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Turda Salt Mine
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus or train to Turda, then local transport or a taxi to the mine
Book a timed slot online in summer; the underground lake and boating are the draw.
Apuseni Mountains (caves and gorges)
cautionDoor to door: 2–3 h
Car, or a guided day tour from the city
Public transport is thin; a car or tour is the practical option.
Huedin and the Crișul Repede valley
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Train or bus west from Cluj
A small town, not a sight in itself; useful as a stop toward the Apuseni.
Sighișoara
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
InterCity train
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Piața Unirii and the old town
Walk to everything; quietest at night, priciest rooms.
Eroilor and Piața Avram Iancu
Between the two squares; cafés, museums and the Orthodox cathedral on the doorstep.
Around the train station (Piața Gării)
Cheapest beds and best for early trains; 20–25 min walk to Piața Unirii.
Mănăștur and the west side
Student flats and budget rooms; tram to the centre in about 15 min.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 150–250 lei excl. bed
- Mid
- 250–450 lei excl. bed
- High
- 450 lei+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid hotel or apartment1 × 2 nights × RON 380 | RON 760 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × RON 300 | RON 1,200 |
| Airport bus or A1E to the centre, one way2 × RON 6 · check | RON 12 |
| Two-trip public transport ticket2 × RON 6 · check | RON 12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × RON 40 | RON 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RON 206 |
| Trip total≈ RON 568 per person per day, bed included | RON 2,270 |
2026 estimate in lei; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee in a centre café | 8–15 lei |
| Lunch menu (fel de mâncare) at a local restaurant | 25–45 lei |
| Dinner main course | 35–70 lei |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can from a shop | 10–18 lei / 4–7 lei |
| Taxi, 5 km in the cityCash; round up to the nearest 0.50 lei. | 12–18 lei |
| Museum entrycheck | 10–30 lei |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 30–60 lei |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buy public transport tickets before boarding — drivers do not sell them, and inspectors fine on the spot.
- At the airport and train station, use app taxis or a named company; unmarked 'TAXI' cars overcharge.
- Card payment is common in the centre but carry some lei in cash for markets, small cafés and taxis.
- Summer weekends with a festival (Untold, Electric Castle) sell out hotels months ahead — book early or avoid those dates.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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La această adresă, vă rogTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue112
Embassy
Romania's emergency number is 112. Most embassies and consulates are in Bucharest; check your country's list before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport (CLJ) → centre, bus 5/8: about 3 lei, 30–40 min (check)
- Airport (CLJ) → centre, A1E express: about 6 lei, card only on board (check)
- Taxi, centre → airport: about 40–60 lei, 20–25 min (check)
- Train Cluj → Bucharest: about 100–160 lei, 8–10 h (check)
Say or show
- Bună ziua — Hello (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah)
- Mulțumesc — Thank you (mool-tsoo-MESK)
- Cât costă? — How much is it? (kuht KOS-tuh)
- Nota, vă rog — The bill, please (NO-tah vuh rog)
- Pot plăti cu cardul? — Can I pay by card? (pot pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool)
- Unde este toaleta? — Where is the toilet? (OON-deh YES-teh twa-LEH-tah)
Tipping: about 10% in restaurants, in cash.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cluj-Napoca. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, grey) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CLJ: last bus and A1E times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Piața Unirii, Museum Square, Avram Iancu, the Someșul Mic riverbank.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (St. Michael's, National Art Museum, Turda Salt Mine) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival-date fixtures so hotel prices and sell-outs are flagged before booking.