Cheap flights to Cluj-Napoca from EUR14*

Cluj-Napoca, Romania's second-largest city and the unofficial capital of Transylvania, is teeming with culture and life. A magnet for students and artists alike, the multicultural city has plenty going for it, from its well-preserved historic centre, fine museums and mushrooming galleries to bohemian cafés, tasty local dishes and one of the liveliest nightlife scenes in the country. Surrounded by picturesque hills, forests and grasslands, Cluj boasts some of the cleanest air in Europe, too. The city’s location in Northern Transylvania also makes it an ideal base for exploring the nearby Apuseni Mountains, known for its dramatic peaks, karst plateaus and quaint villages. Fly to Cluj, still slightly off the beaten path but chock-full of character, as a more laid-back alternative to Bucharest.

 

Fly to Cluj-Napoca, Romania for

Cluj-Napoca’s compact, largely pedestrianised city centre is packed with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural delights. A perfect starting point for a stroll is the pretty Union Square (Piața Unirii), the city’s main focal point, centred around the horseback statue of Matthias Corvinus, the ambitious 15th-century Hungarian king, who was born just a couple of streets away. While there, the monumental St Michael’s Cathedral, the second largest Gothic church in Romania, is also well worth a look inside. Other headliner attractions nearby include the Franciscan Church on the charming Museum Square (Piaţa Muzeului), the Matthias Corvinus House, one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful buildings, as well as Bánffy Palace, which houses the National Art Museum today. Spend at least half a day traversing the old town’s narrow streets, and get a taste of Cluj in the many cafés, bars and restaurants hidden among its centuries-old buildings. Make sure you also climb up to Cetățuia Hill for a magnificent bird’s eye view over the city.

 

Museums and festivals

In Cluj, culture buffs are definitely in for a treat. At the National Art Museum, you can marvel at 18th- and 19th-century paintings in a stately setting or head to Fabrica de Pensule, a former paintbrush factory, filled with just-made and in-progress artworks, for your fix of contemporary art. The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography gives an intriguing glimpse into Romanian peasant life, while the Pharmacy Museum (temporarily closed for renovation) offers a large dose of quirk, from medieval love potion recipes to curious alchemical ingredients like mummy dust and lobster eyes. There’s no shortage of top-drawer festivals either. Held in dozens of locations across the city, the Transilvania International Film Festival, or TIFF, has grown into the most prominent film festival in Romania and beyond, attracting 100,000-strong crowds every spring. The Transilvania Jazz Festival brings together some of the best European jazz talent, while the wildly popular Untold Festival has rapidly become the single most important electronic music festival in the country since its launch in 2015. Another international favourite, Electric Castle, keeps festival-lovers busy with an eclectic, 24/7 line-up from house to metal music, in the scenic grounds of 16th-century Bánffy Castle, just outside Cluj.

 

Hearty, multicultural fare

Food in Cluj-Napoca is a multicultural blend of Romanian, Hungarian, German and Turkish cuisines. The city’s signature dish is varză a la Cluj, a comforting combo of cabbage, minced pork, rice and sour cream. There’s probably no better place to try it than at the unpretentious Vărzărie Restaurant, slap in the middle of the historic centre. Other must-try specialities include all kinds of sour soups known as ciorbă, pickled cabbage rolls stuffed with minced meat and rice (sarmale), hearty goulash and moreish aubergine salad. Roata is a popular haven of hearty, home-style cooking – make sure to leave some room for its famous papanasi, a Romanian fried pastry dessert filled with cheese, sour jam and fruit. Restaurant Valachia and Zama are also great choices for local fare, while Samsara Foodhouse specialises in vegetarian, vegan and raw-vegan food in an Instagrammable setting. If you want to splash out a little, book a table at VIA Restaurant, one of the city’s finest restaurants, tucked away in an 18th-century palace. Cluj has also made a name for itself with its thriving artisanal café scene, where coffee comes in every form imaginable. Highlights abound all around the city, ranging from modern Narcoffee Roasters and Roots through homely Domana T and old-world Rhédey Café, located in an elegant Baroque building in Unity Square.

 

Student-fuelled nightlife

The sizable student and artist population of the city guarantees that nightlife is abundant and varied, from budget options to concept bars and artsy meeting spots. The hip student vibe is probably best experienced on Piezisa Street, packed with boisterous bars such as crowd-puller Booha, cosy Studio 26 or atmospheric Coyote. Other local favourites include Shto College Bar, featuring regular theatre performances and themed nights, bohemian Insomnia Café, tucked away in a shady courtyard, as well as The Londoner, offering a more classic pub feel and quiz nights. For terrace drinking in warmer months, central Unity Square and Museum Square are your best bet. If you’re a movie buff, Casa TIFF is also a must, especially during the Transilvania International Film Festival, serving film-inspired dishes, great cocktails and regular events.

 

Natural treasures and age-old folk traditions

Cluj-Napoca itself has all the charm you need for a short city break, but if you're staying longer, it can also serve as a good starting point for exploring the surrounding area, as rich in natural beauty as in folk heritage. Stretching between Cluj and Huedin to the west, the Călata region (Kalotaszeg in Hungarian) offers some of the country’s most unspoilt landscapes, dotted with atmospheric villages that are brimming with centuries-old Hungarian folk traditions. The Turda Salt Mine, just 30 kilometres south from the city, lures visitors with a surreal subterranean theme park, complete with an underground lake, Ferris wheel and even a mini golf course, while nearby Turda Gorge makes an epic hiking spot. The Apuseni Mountains to the southwest are not only a photographer’s dream but also a real hiker’s paradise, featuring steep stone walls, deep valleys and rolling hills with diverse vegetation as well as plenty of caves.

 

Cluj-Napoca airport

Cluj-Napoca International Airport (or Avram Iancu Airport) is Romania’s second busiest airport, located just 9 kilometres east of the city centre. The two-terminal airport offers various shopping facilities, including duty-free, arts and crafts, religious items and Transylvanian souvenir shops. Grab a bite or a drink at one of the many café-bars, or enjoy a sit-down meal before your flight. Public buses (no. 5 or 8) will take you to the centre of Cluj in about 30 minutes, but car rental and taxi services are also available.

 

Cluj-Napoca weather

Cluj-Napoca has a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. May through October is probably the best time to visit, with summer temperatures often hovering in the 30s. In winter, temperatures can drop below zero (but rarely below −10°C), and snow is not rare.

FAQs for booking flights to Cluj-Napoca

How to get cheap flights to to Cluj-Napoca?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Cluj-Napoca flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Cluj-Napoca?

The best time to visit Cluj-Napoca is from May to October, when average temperatures are around 25°C. July and August are the warmest months, when the temperature can hit the low 30s. Still, it's a good idea to have a sweater or light jacket with you for cooler evenings. Those who prefer fewer crowds and milder temperatures will enjoy the shoulder months (May and September). The period is perfect for enjoying the outdoor cafes of Cluj-Napoca - there are fewer tourists, and more affordable accommodations. The winter months of December to February see temperatures often below zero, with falling snow painting a scenic but chilly landscape.

How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Cluj-Napoca flight?

As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Cluj-Napoca flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.