An Experience in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, by Paula

What is it like to live in Cluj-Napoca? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Life in Cluj is beautiful - if I had to give you the reason why - it's because you can meet beautiful people with every step you take! I would recommend to every foreign student to come and visit it at least once! In this city you can find a perfect mix of antiquity and modernity, you have everything you need! It has magic places and magic people!

What is the student lifestyle like in Cluj-Napoca?

The student lifestyle! It depends on the kind of person you are! Cluj has a lot of great places for students - clubs, swimming pools, two football stadiums, places where you can eat a lot for a little amount of money! There is an opera and a theater for the cultural life! There are also a lot of exhibitions of photography and paintings! Four or more cinemas, there is also the TIFF festival in spring - the international festival of films where you can watch movies in the center of the city! There are a lot of other activities and festivals where you can have fun! Concerts where you can see singers like INNA, Antonia, Sasha Lopez, Tom Baxter performing! Also international singers from all over the world come to Cluj to perform!

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How much does it cost to live in Cluj-Napoca?

To live in Cluj, is not that expensive if you are a foreign! An entire flat can cost only 200-250 euros per month so that's really cheap - of course, if you want luxury, you can find places even for 400 euros, but that depends on what you exactly want! There are places where you can eat a lot of good food for a little amount of money, three dishes for 3 or 4 euros!

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Cluj-Napoca? Is there any advice you can give?

Accommodation is not hard to find! There is a local newspaper called "Piata de la A la Z" which can help you find a place! In my opinion, it's better to try to make a Romanian friend before you come and ask him to help you with that because it would be easier! In general, old people don't speak English so that's why a Romanian friend will be what you need!

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is great! Romanian food is amazing in taste and flavor! Of course, there are a lot of fastfood places where you can find great kebab! There are a lot of restaurants, especially the Toskana - here you can find a lot of foreign students who study medicine and pharmacy - they just love to eat there! And, of course, you have Italian, French, Japanese and even African restaurants!

What places would you recommend visiting in Cluj-Napoca?

There are nice places in Cluj to visit - there are buildings with Gothic architecture and also Baroque! There are two big cathedrals, one Catholic and one orthodox! There is Belvedere from where you can see the entire city! The Museum of Pharmacy, of Art, of Zoology, the Ethnological Museum, the Museum of Mineralogy! There is also a forest for the ones that love paranormal phenomena where it is said you can find persons from other dimensions - interesting indeed! It is called Hoia Forest. Bastionul Croitorilor where you can see exhibitions, the botanic garden, the central park - a great place to relax and for jogging also! The Hungarian Opera which is an old building, just as the theater and the Romanian Opera!

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Is it good to eat out in Cluj-Napoca? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Places to eat good food in Cluj: Toskana restaurant, Tokyo restaurant, Cantina Agronomia (cheap food, but delicious), Marty restaurant, Chez Michou, in Iulius Mall and also in Polus Center you can find places to eat. For example, in Iulius Mall there's a place where you can eat Chinese food - all-you-can-eat for 10 euros! Also the Via, Adi's Steak House, La Barraca, the Indigo (Indian food), the Lugano - an elegant place for a romantic dinner, the La Roata - it has typical Romanian food, the Pizzeria Ursus, etc.

Is the nightlife good in Cluj-Napoca? Where is good to go?

The nightlife in Cluj Napoca is the best!

There is Janis la Stuf - the place where everybody goes after they got drunk, the place where you can go dressed however you like because nobody cares - they play music for all tastes - here at Janis, everybody is friend with everybody! There is The One Club - they organize parties with different themes - almost every weekend, there is an afro party so, if you like R&B, Hip-hop, reggeton, salsa, samba in general, this is your place! There is the After Eight - it is more commercial so, if you like Inna's songs, this is definitely a place for you! There are some elegant clubs and more expensive than the others but beautiful: Vertigo, Diesel, Bamboo, Obsession! There is a club called PHI 18 - one of the clubs that Romanian students love the most! Also the Eclipse - nice and elegant club! The Kharma also is good; drinks are cheap here. There are places where a cocktail can cost not more than 4 euros or even less; shots of tequila can be 1 to 1, 50 euros. Beer generally costs 1 euro - maximum 1, 50 euros - per 500 ml bottle. And the entrance to the clubs is in general 2 euros; most of the time girls have a drink included in the price of the ticket! There are ladies nights - especially made for you ladies since you have free entrance and also a free drink!

What advice would you give future students heading to Cluj-Napoca?

Take advantage of every second you spend in Romania, it's a great country, so don't miss the opportunity to visit all the beautiful places - like lakes and mountains and other cities like Sibiu, Sighishoara, Brasov! I am sure you'll find another world and you will be in another dimension if you visit Maramures - the place where the time stops. Cluj Napoca will enrich you with a lot of friends and great times - and I am sure you'll miss it very much when your Erasmus will be over; that's why: try to enjoy every moment! Try to learn the language first because it will be easier, old people don't speak English so it's better if you know Romanian! Try not to enter conflicts! Ohhh, and take warm clothes because in winter it might be really cold! You'll enjoy every season here from spring to summer and autumn and finally winter - winter with snow- a lot of snow! It might be cold for you, but a cup of hot wine will definitely make you feel better! And don't leave Cluj-Napoca without tasting: palinca/tuica - a typical drink; sarmale - a typical food, papanasi - another dish and other specific dishes you will discover yourself once here!

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