Living in Cluj
Welcome to Cluj-Napoca 🌍
Heart of Transylvania • One of the most vibrant student cities in Romania
Your Erasmus adventure starts here.
🎓 A City of Students
Cluj-Napoca offers many places perfect for studying, eating, or meeting international friends:
- Cafés to study: Meron, Olivo Coffee Roasters, Narcoffee, Let’s Coffee, Roots Café
- Cheap & student-friendly food: Casa Vikingilor, Big Belly, Lunchbox
- Trendy restaurants: Samsara Foodhouse, Olivo Bistro, Baracca, Nuka Bistro
- Cozy bars: Toulouse Café, Enigma Bar, Sisters Café
🏛️ Culture & History
Cluj blends historical landmarks with vibrant cultural institutions:
- St. Michael’s Church (Gothic architecture icon)
- Matthias Corvinus House
- Banffy Palace – Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca
- The Tailors’ Tower – medieval remains
- National Museum of Transylvanian History
- Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania
- National Theatre & Romanian Opera
- Hungarian State Theatre
🌳 Nature & Relaxing Spots
Perfect places to relax, walk or study outside:
- Central Park – walking, picnics, reading
- Iulius Park – lake views, modern vibe
- Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden – quiet, beautiful nature
- Făget Forest – hiking trails
- Hoia Forest – legends & mysterious atmosphere
- Cetățuia Hill – best city panorama, especially at sunset
🌃 Nightlife & Social Life
Cluj is famous for its energetic nightlife and festivals:
- Popular clubs: Form Space, Flying Circus, Janis, After Eight, Club NOA
- Bars: Klausen Pubhouse, Che Guevara Social Pub, Revolution Bar
- Live music: Hardward Pub, Form Space
- Festivals: UNTOLD, Electric Castle, TIFF (film festival)
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj is very easy to navigate:
- Reliable public transport operated by CTP
- Everything important is walkable from the city center
- Taxi & ride-sharing: Bolt, Uber, Fany, Alpha
- Bike & scooter rentals throughout the city
- Cluj International Airport with direct flights across Europe
🍽️ Food & Daily Life
Cluj has options for all tastes and budgets:
- Traditional food: Roata Făget, Casa Ardeleană, Zama
- International cuisine: Toskana, Chopstix, Wasabi Sushi, Dai Mattoni
- Vegan & vegetarian: Samsara Foodhouse, Doz, Manger
- Markets: Piața Mihai Viteazu, Piața Mărăști
🤝 ESN Cluj-Napoca – Here for You
Your Erasmus journey is our priority — we support you every step of the way.
- Welcome Week & Orientation events
- City tours and cultural trips across Transylvania
- International Evenings & language exchanges
- Volunteering & community engagement
- Parties, pub crawls, and weekly social gatherings
You are never alone here — you’re part of the ESN family. 💙
📘 Survival Guide for Erasmus Students
To make your life in Cluj-Napoca easier, we’ve prepared a detailed survival guide with practical information about transport, accommodation, daily life, university details, SIM cards, health services, and more.