
Things to See & Do
This great small town with a big city vibe is a wonderful place to enjoy the beauty that is Romania. Cluj-Napoca is relatively flat and compact, so you can easily walk the city and see the highlights in a day or take your time and spread the sightseeing over a weekend. The National Theater Lucian Blaga is one of the more impressive buildings in the city. The multicolored and intensely decorated front will draw you towards it. Sometimes you can find cheap tickets to an opera or concert if you go the day of, the box office is located across the street and don't be afraid to ask! The interior of the opera house is just as impressive as the exterior. The opposite side of the square split by a street lies the Assumption Cathedral, a beautiful Russian Orthodox church. If you think the outside is ornate, then just wait until you see the inside. From the tiled floors to its high ceilings, the entire church is a masterpiece. Since this is still a functioning church, be respectful with your clothing choices. Outside the church, you will notice a large statue of Avram Iancu complete with a fountain. Iancu was a lawyer turned politician during the Austrian Empire Revolutions and is sometimes called “the Hero of the Romanian Nation”. If the weather is nice, there is usually a crafts market set up around the statue. Here you will be able to find hand-painted pottery and products with Romanian lavender to help remember your time in Cluj-Napoca. If you walk away from the Assumption Cathedral towards the city center you will eventually reach Piata Unirii, the main square, with St. Michael’s Church in the center. This grand Catholic church is a great juxtaposition to the Russian Orthodox style. Both churches are gorgeous but are amazing to see such stark differences in a small area. Outside of the church is another large statue this time of King Matthias Corvinus, a Hungarian King. If the weather is nice, take a stroll in Simon Barnutiu Central Park. This park is long and shaded which is perfect during summertime trips. Enjoy a picnic on one of the benches, rent a paddle boat or take a jog to stay healthy while you travel. Cluj-Napoca is home to one of Romania’s largest universities, Babes-Bolyai. The university has buildings spread out all over the city that ranges from old to new with all types of architectural styles. During the school year, walk through some of the buildings and pretend to be a student for a day.