The Best Attractions in Cluj Napoca

The ‘little square’, as it used to be called during medieval times, is one of the locals’ favourite places when going for a drink. With narrow streets and lovely terraces, the Museum Square has a charm of its own. And if you are eager to see more of Cluj, visit the baroque Franciscan church and the Matthias Corvin House – today the Art University. Step inside and discover the hall and the room where king Matthias was brought to life – first door on the left.

Located in what used to be the first pharmacy of Cluj, the Pharmacy Museum displays four centuries of Transylvanian medicine. Between little pots with odd names, magical plants and miraculous powders, find out the secrets of the old local remedies. The museum is divided into three parts: the laboratory, the deposit room and the ‘oficina’, where the drugs were sold to the locals. Take a local guide inside the museum and discover old cure’s miracles.

Go up on the Cetățuia Hill to have an overview of the city. From up here, the city looks different, calmer and stiller. On top of the hill, there is a massive cross, a symbol of the 1848 Romanian’s revolution for independence (a call for equal rights with the other populations of the region and use of their own language), in a time when Transylvania belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Enjoy the view while having a drink on the Pergola Terrace.

Considered the green heart of the city, the Central Park is a place for long walks, local events like the Jazz in the Park Festival and the UNTOLD Festival, dancing evenings in front of the Casino building or boat rides on the Chios Lake. In the summer, locals hang their hammocks all over the park. There is no better place to rest in your suspended bed.

Near the Turda Salt Mine, there are the Turda Gorges, a perfect place for those who like hiking and camping. The site is a natural reserve with more than 1,000 species of plants and 67 species of animals, some of them being protected. Before entering the gorges, you will find a map and marked paths that you can follow. Take your backpack and start trekking.