CLUJ NAPOCA
Cluj-Napoca is one of the most vibrant cities in Romania and is unofficially considered the capital of the Transylvania region. It’s a young city, full of students, great cafés, interesting restaurants, and a relaxed pace of life.
Locals simply call it Cluj, and it’s known for its universities, active cultural scene, and the many festivals that take place here throughout the year, such as TIFF, Untold, Electric Castle, as well as Jazz in the Park and Jazz in the Park Competition.
The city has built a strong reputation around the festivals it hosts. Besides Jazz in the Park, it is home to the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), Electric Castle, and Untold.
There are also many events—both large and small—throughout the year that bring the city to life: Sports Festival, Hungarian Cultural Days, Cluj Days, Lights ON, Street Food Festival, and many more.
Reference prices
- 1 APĂ
- 0.5 EUR (shop) • 1,5 – 2 EUR (bar)
- 1 BERE
- 0.5-1.5 EUR (shop) • 2-3 EUR (bar)
- 1 masă la restaurant
- 10 – 20 EUR (desigur, poate ajunge și mai scump)
- BILETE EVENIMENTE
- Biletele la evenimente por fi în jur de 10-100 EUR
Transportation
- BUS
- one ride costs 3 RON (€0.65)
- TAXI
- one kilometer costs 4 RON (€0.80)
- RENT AN E-SCOOTER
- variable cost (but low)
- RENT A BICYCLE
- variable cost (but low)
Accommodation
Cluj offers a wide range of accommodation options, with many hotels, as well as plenty of Airbnb listings and hostels to suit all budgets. You can find places starting from as little as €15 per night, with prices going up to €150–200 for 5-star stays.
Our recommendations (close to our festival locations) are:
- HOTEL NAPOCA
- 4-star hotel
- HOTEL BELVEDERE
- 3-star hotel
Things to see
Parcul Central
Parcul Etnografic
Muzeul Etnografic
Muzeul de Artă
Salina Turda
Lacurile Gilău și Tarnița
You can find more information on the website Visit Cluj.
If you’d like a guided tour of the city, we recommend getting in touch with Cluj Guided Tours.
Recommended Restaurants & Bars
Cluj has a very active food scene. Here are some of the places we recommend:
Visuin
It’s a cocktail bar and restaurant located in the heart of the city. They have a beautiful terrace and excellent products. They also run the bars at Jazz in the Park.
Bruto
One of our favorite restaurants, with an excellent decor and a very bold menu.
Tortelli
If you want great pasta, this is the place. Period.
Samsara
For our friends who have chosen not to eat meat.
Cimbru
They started from a food truck and have grown into opening fine dining restaurants. A must-try—we highly recommend it.
Marty
Marty has the most diverse menu in the city. If you’re a large group, you can’t go wrong here.
Olivo / Narcoffee
In Cluj, you simply don’t get bad coffee—it’s just not a thing. But if you see their sign, know that this is where you’ll find the best.
Studio 26
An honest bar in the city. You’ll feel good here.
Ethnographic
Park
The Ethnographic Park, commonly known as the “Village Museum” of Cluj-Napoca, was founded in 1929 by Romulus Vuia and is the first open-air museum of its kind in the country. The place itself feels like something out of a story.
Most of the houses displayed in the park were donated and brought from all over Transylvania, and there’s a special charm that seems to linger around them. You don’t look at them as simple exhibits—you feel the respect and care you’d sense when stepping into someone’s home. You can tell they were once lived in, appreciated, and lovingly maintained.
We are honored to host a festival here. We transform every courtyard into a special attraction, hide stages in barns, and set up workshops in the orchards of our little village. And near the churches, we raise two main stages designed to celebrate the music we promote.
Jazz in the Park feels like a fairytale—and much of that is thanks to this place. You can find more information about the park on the Ethnographic Museum’s website.