Cluj-Napoca Travel Forum

Hi fellow VT,

I just stumbled on to this site this evening when searching for information on my coming trip to Cluj! What a fantastic site and opportunity with an amazing amount of relevant and interesting information sharing!

Ok, ok - let me get to the point :-)

I am traveling to Cluj on Saturday, Oct. 28th. for business on Mon/Tues and I have taken the weekend to explore and to get a feel for the city, Romania, its people and culture.

I have the impression from reading a few posting in VT, that the city is fairly easy to get around in and I guess I will spend some time taking in a few of the main attractions (perhaps a trip to La Turda). If anyone can recommend any cafés, bars and/or restaurants or just any place for Saturday evening and Sunday brunch for people watching, meeting strangers and where people are fairly relaxed, I would appreciate this very much.

I read the Alex's comment about the Carpati - that sounded nice, so I will try to find that. I guess I can find an address, when I get there?

And if there is anything particular going on this weekend, any special events, festical, parties I would love to get a tip!

Thanks in advance!!

Kind Regards,

Natashja

it has been a few years since I visited; but the best place in town was Diesel a club/cafe with a cool atmosphere in a wine cellar with high ceilings in the centre of town. Order some Murfatlar red wine or some of the semi-sweet white wine from the region. The same owners have a small restaurant around the corner from there that was excellent. If you have time try to visit Sighisoara (sp?) Drum bun!

Hi Saint,

Great, that sounds like a place I would like (I will let you know, if I make it there:-) and I will have to do a little more research on that other place - thanks a lot for taking the time to give me the tips and if you ever need tips on Copenhagen let me know :-) .....and I guess that is what this site is all about - what a great concept!!!

Hi Natashja,
I haven't been there yet but right now am working on planning our trip for the summer.
So this is just from what I have learnt so far...
There are a few museums - like the museum of the history of pharmacy.... Also the "heart" of activity seems to be in/around Piata Unirii (Unirii Square)- where you will find the above mentioned museum and the art museum. From there you can go watch (from the outside) the old house where an Hungarian king was born (Casa lui Matei Corvin).
There are botanical gardens with greenhouses that are open daily (they are just south of the university).
Another idea is to get out of town to Turda and visit the salt mine. If you can find an organised tour that also goes to the Turda gorge, you can have a really interesting day. Have a look at that, for instance: http://www.retro.ro/t5.htm (I don't know them, just kept their link as part of my Romanian holiday file).
Oh, I also found this site - don't know if you've seen it:
www.cjnet.ro - it has English as well.

g-n

Skol! Natashja, I have good friends in Copenhanhagen and spent the whole summer in Aalborg a few years back. Enjoy Romania!

Natashja,

Cluj is very easy going place. as an universitary city...there are a lot of young people around. City center is full of night life, especially within weekend time. U can find nice places for party, like Diesel, Euphoria and many more, or places to eat like Agape , Roata...If u'd like to go outside the city...there is Tarnita lakes around, about 30 km away, Cheile Turzii also 30 km away but different direction. Apuseni mountains are pretty close..I would recommend Ariesului Valley. It is nice and quite traditional villages around.
Have fun!

Super - thanks as well!! I tried calling the place you suggested, but they had no tours this weekend. They talked about a bus, that leaves every hour, so maybe I will venture out on that in stead :-)
I hope you have a great trip this summer and maybe I can pass back a few tips next week :-)

Kind Regards,

Natashja

Hi Soki,

The lakes sounds nice...could I hire a taxi for an afternoon and do you have any idea of how much I should pay for that...just so I have an idea?

Thanks - looks like I need to check out Diesel as well!!

Kind Regards,

Natashja

As previous, Cluj is very much a university town. There are lots of places to eat and drink around the main square. Most are good in terms of what they are. The cathedral is worth a look around.