Museums

There are a few decent museums in Cluj that are worth checking out if you have the time.  The main problem with museums in Romania is that the displays are almost always only written in Romanian.  So, unless you know Romanian you will lose half of the experience of the museum.  Tickets are usually about a dollar.

History Museum of Transilvania

Str. Daicovici 2, just west of Piata Muzeul

I am partial to this place because I know so many of the people working there.  In the courtyard you can see various sarcophagi strewn about.  Upstairs there is an exhibit that displays the many different tools and weapons that various groups in Transilvania [sic] employed.  There is a separate exhibit that showcases the medieval, with swords, old keys, and armor on display.  There is a small Egyptian exhibit as well. 

Art Museum

Piata Unirii 17

I haven’t explored this museum that much, but I have been in the courtyard several times for special occasions like puppet shows and photo exhibitions.  There is always something going on here when the weather is good. 

TIFF ( the Transilvanian International Film Festival) runs the first two weeks of June. The museum screens several films there during the festival, as do several theaters throughout town.  

I have heard that the regular exhibits at the museum are not that impressive, but it is worth checking out.

Parks

Parc Central is the largest park in Cluj.  I have spent a lot of time playing basketball on the run-down court that can be found there.  Technically, I think it closes at midnight, but most people seem to ignore that.  If you walk through the park towards the west, you will come upon a large casino by a lake.  The lake has boats you can take out for a small rental fee.  There isn’t that much to do here, but if you want to get away from the smell of diesel and the noise, it is a nice place to take a stroll. 

There is a small playground/park just behind the National Theater.  There are slides and swings for children to play on, and old men and women can be found sitting on the benches and feeding scraps to stray dogs.  You can pick up a newspaper at the kiosk and sit back and watch the world go by.

Cetatuia Hill is not really a park, but it is a quiet place for people to walk.  This is the large hill that overlooks the city, where the Hotel Transilvania is perched.  Just look up and you will see a very large cross on the hill; make your way towards that, and follow the steps upwards.  It is a nice place to explore if you are bored, and you can check out the remnants of a fifteenth-century citadel around the hotel.  The picture of Cluj on the home page was taken from this hill.