Most of the city's historic landmarks can be found centrally in Union Square. Saint Michael's Church is one such masterpiece, built at the end of the 14th century in the Gothic style with a Neo-Gothic tower, the tallest in Romania, which was added later during the 19th century. In front of the church is another landmark - the equestrian statue of Matthias Corvinus, erected in honor of the locally born King of Hungary. There is also an impressive Romanian Orthodox Cathedral located in Avram Iancu Square, built in a style which combines Renaissance and Byzantine architecture. Other structures in this square include the Cluj-Napoca National Theatre, The Palace of Justice, and the Avram Iancu Statue.
On the outskirts of the old town, another popular attraction is the Cetatuia hill (or Fortress Hill), which holds the ruins of a former stronghold. At the top of the hill there is now a restaurant and hotel with spectacular views of the city below.
As an important cultural center, Cluj-Napoca also has many and museums, some of which include the National Museum of Transylvanian History, the Ethnographic Museum, the Cluj-Napoca Art Museum, the Pharmacy Museum, and the Water Museum. Babes-Bolyai University additionally has a number of exhibition spaces like the University Museum, the Museum of Mineralogy, the Museum of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, the Museum of Speleology, the Botanical Museum, and the Zoological Museum.
The best way to experience Cluj-Napoca is to explore the city center on foot, admiring each historic landmark and taking in the intricate details of another time and place. Each structure serves as a glimpse into the past with its architecture, while the culture of the city offers much to encounter with sounds, sights, and flavors.
If you're looking for something fun to do, make sure you visit the amazing Salina Turda theme park. This underground amusement park was created from an underground salt mine. Inside you will find a Ferris wheel, boats in an underground lake, putt-putt, bowling, and a variety of other activities that are all situated in a bizarre but interesting environment.
For those who want a break from the bustle, the city also has a Central Park which has a casino and lake where visitors can rent rowboats and hydrobicycles to use on the water. The Botanical garden is another nice escape, complete with a small Japanese garden, greenhouses for tropical plants, a small water course through its middle, and a tower with views of the gardens below.
If you want to get out of the town and explore the countryside, plenty of great options await. Don't miss the beautiful Apuseni Mountains where you'll find plenty to do, including hiking, exploring waterfalls, visiting caves, and learning about the region's culture at various museums. Plenty of other small towns can be found in this part of Romania where you can taste the local cuisine and meet friendly people, too.
A nice way to explore destinations in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Night Tour in Hoia Baciu Forest for $105 details
- Local Tour of Cluj by Electric Bike for $52 details
- Cluj - walking city tour for $29 details