Cluj-Napoca Romania is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. Known as the heart of Transylvania, this laid-back but vibrant city is full of good food and amazing sights. Here is a collection of photos that will tell you why you should visit Cluj Napoca, Romania.

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Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is a vibrant European destination with endless cobblestoned streets to explore. I visited this beautiful city during one of the many festivals in Cluj. The theme of this festival, you ask? The Cluj Street Food Festival. And to my fellow foodies—yes, it was absolutely as magical as it sounds.

In this guide, you will get a glimpse into what you can see and do while travelling to Cluj , Romania. In this post, I mention the Salt Mines, Turda Gorge, and Rimetea, all places just outside of Cluj. Check out this guided tour that will take you to all three of these places during an epic day trip in the Romanian countryside.

Cluj is a vibrant city with much to explore — One of my favourite things to do in Cluj was simply to walk the streets and find peaceful little nooks and crannies.

You will find many street vendors and festivals happening in Cluj — Cluj is always vibrant with markets and festivals. You can find everything from local artists to delicious food.

Cluj Parks - Central Park (Parcul Central)

The beautiful Central Park in Cluj — Central Park (Parcul Central) is one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever visited. It is a large park with plenty of grassy space and a tree-lined path that runs through it, making it perfect for a walk or run. There is also a lake where you can rent a paddle boat. The lake is situated in front of a gorgeous manor building that houses a café, adding to the park’s charm and appeal.

Cluj Old Town

Make sure to visit Cluj’s Old Town while you are here. The nightlife is vibrant with pubs, restaurants, and beer gardens. One night, we were able to enjoy lively street performers putting on a spectacular show for those of us passing by.

The Cluj Botanical Gardens

The Cluj Botanical Gardens, or the Alexandru Borza Cluj-Napoca University Botanic Gardens, are a must-visit when you are in Cluj. The grounds are vast with a wide variety of flowers and vegetation. As you explore, you will make your way through Japanese gardens, Roman gardens, and over 10,000 species of plants. Eventually, you will reach the large greenhouse.

I just love wisteria; I think it makes everything it touches look like a fairytale. I found it all over the city while I was there in May.

Cluj Salt Mines - Salina Turda

Salina Turda outside of Cluj Romania — If you have a chance to venture out of Cluj, I highly recommend **a trip to the salt mines - Salina Turda**.
Not only do you get to tour the deep salt caves, but there is also an entire entertainment centre in the belly of this cave, complete with a ferris wheel and a lake where you can rent a rowboat. I guarantee, this is something you have never seen or experienced before.

The salt mines outside of Cluj Romania — The last thing you would expect to see hundreds of feet underground is a full-sized Ferris wheel and pool tables.

Rimetea, Romania

The heart of Transylvania Romania — We stopped at **Conacul Secuiesc-Székelykő Kúria** for lunch. An unbelievably beautiful hotel and restaurant located at the base of the mountains, offering out-of-this-world views and delicious traditional food.

Turda Gorge , Romania

Turda Gorge outside of Cluj Romania — Just a short drive from Rimetea is **Turda Gorge**. Make sure you don’t miss the incredible zipline experience that will take you to the base of the mountain, where you will find the trailhead for this epic adventure. You could, of course, drive down as well, but the zipline was such an adventure!
Check out **this article from These Foreign Roads** for more information on hiking Turda Gorge!

Cluj Street Food Festival

There were also separate events all over the city, such as this one at the Iulius Mall (another fantastic stop to add to your Cluj bucket list).

Since the theme of this trip was food, it would seem unfair if I didn’t share just a few of the AMAZING delights I was able to enjoy!

This delicious twisted sweet bread has many names, and from everyone we talked to, it is loved by many countries. Some names I heard include: Kurtosh Kolach, Chimney Cake, Transylvania Twist, and Horn Loaf.

Food in Cluj Romania is absolutely unbelievable

This seemingly random photo of a pizza is the only memory I have of something that periodically shows up in my dreams to this day. We found a small hole-in-the-wall pizza shop called La Șes, located in the middle of a neighbourhood outside of the centre. I will tell you, this place has the best pizza in the entire world. If you like dairy, this Carbonara Pizza is for you, my friend.

You have to try Papanasi in Cluj Romania — If you have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet, let me introduce you to the papanasi.

The papanasi is a traditional Romanian fried doughnut, made with cottage cheese and topped with smetana (crème) and jam. This dessert is heavenly.

Hiking to Belvedere Hotel in Cluj , Romania

Hotel Belvedere in Cluj Romania — **Hotel** **Belvedere** is a popular place to stay in Cluj-Napoca.

Hotel Belvedere sits on top of a hill overlooking the city of Cluj. There is a great hike that takes you up to Hotel Belvedere and the beautiful view it offers, with multiple sights along the way. You can find the trailhead at Strada General Dragalina 68, Cluj-Napoca .

Beautiful view overlooking the city of Cluj Romania — A beautiful view overlooking the city of **Cluj** .

Is Cluj Romania worth visiting — Pin it for later!

19 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Cluj-Napoca, Romania