Cluj-Napoca: A Weekend Guide to Offbeat Romania
While most first-time travelers in Europe gravitate to the allure of cities in the West such as Paris’ world-class monuments, the majestic alps of Geneva, or Venice, with its romantic canals, there is much to be seen and experienced in Eastern Europe.
For the intrepid traveler looking to experience Europe without burning a hole in their pocket, Eastern Europe is a good bet. In this blog, I will share a 2-day itinerary for Cluj-Napoca, a bustling students’ city in Romania.
At First Glance…
I visited Cluj-Napoca in late December last year, and was welcomed by a day’s old-snow and temperatures that swung well below 0° at night. Getting around the city by bus is fairly easy and cheaper compared to other countries in the EU. The locals are charmingly beautiful and friendly, but you may run into trouble trying to converse with them in English.
Romania’s architecture has been highly influenced by its socio-economic conditions, with a diversity spanning across medieval, (pre, mid and post) war eras, and the contemporary 21st century. Ruled by Communist leaders from 1945 till 1989, Cluj has several remnants of its socialist past, such as Virgil Salvanu’s anti-communist resistance monument in the city’s Simion Bărnuțiu central park.
