Experience in Cluj-Napoca, Romania by Oana & Adrian

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

Lots of students, lots of coffee-shops and pubs, cultural events, a wide festival-culture like some film (long and short) festivals, theatre festivals, music festivals. Particularly recommended - depending on taste, during the TIFF (Transylvanian Film Festival), the Untold music festival (in the city) and the Electric Castle music festival (near the city).
The IT community is striving due to many international companies that benefit from the rich resource brought by the several Universities in town.
There are other cultural and sport events accessible to view or participate.
Cluj Napoca has got quite a lot of potential which is in many ways made good value of.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cluj-Napoca?

Abundant, you can mostly study hard and party hard.

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

Rents can vary from 200 - 500 Euros depending on location, facilities and size / number of rooms. Utilities, depending on season and number of people in a place can range from 200 to 500 Romanian Lei (not Euros), other than that prices are rather cheap specially in supermarkets/hypermarkets while the city life has student prices up to splurge prices.

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

From common-romanian salary point of view it can be challenging particularly in autumn when the students are arriving (so maybe arrive a bit sooner or look for a place a bit sooner) as the prices tend to be a bit on the high side comparing with the rest of the country for instance. There are however some dedicated websites optimised for that and (though a bit pricy) some agencies with service for this.

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

I'm a vegetarian mostly and there are one or two places with spoils in this direction, a bit pricy but accessible from a visitors point of view most of the time. Loads of fast foods and it seems turk fast food is popular here. Specific-cousine restaurants like Chinese, Japanese, Indian do have each a place or two thought the city. There are also occasionally food festivals which have become somewhat popular. Students cantina and other cantinas or such restaurants are available particularly in and around the centre and student areas.

What places would you recommend visiting in Cluj-Napoca?

The centre and old centre is full of pubs and coffeeshops so pub crawling is an interesting thing to do. A walk by the Someș river then trough the Central Park (we have a hammock-culture in the summer there) is also a refreshment. There's the Village Museum - am extensive collection of old village houses from around Romania, the Botanic Garden, The student's campus called "Piezișa" which is full of students, pubs, restaurants; the Iulius Park (next to the Iulis Mall) which is also refreshing (you can chill by the lake - on the grass - by the trees). You can also climb to see the city at the "Cetațuie" - a fortress hill, and also two or three other locations like a Cathedral tower (though rarely is allowed access there), a restaurant (on "Central" building) and on top of an accessible parking building (at "Leul") - I think there's a restaurant there too. Of-course there are some other squares in the city-centre.

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

Mostly yes. Try "Samsara" (food place not tea-house) if your vegetarian or vegan. The Italian 'piadine' are popular and quite yummy. An awesome local pastry chanin called "Panemar". Hungry while in town just go to "Souper" and find soups and sandwiches to replenish healthy. Also if you want to order from home there a nice place on web and app called "hipmenu" which is nicely optimised to order from most of best restaurants in Cluj-Napoca.

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

sorry, don't have any more time to answer...

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

sorry, don't have any more time to answer...