The city of Cluj, in the heart of Transylvania, is fast becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. No wonder, since the so called “Treasure City” does have quite a lot to offer, from beautiful architecture to delicious food, and from popular summer festivals to some of the nicest parks and gardens around.
As the name of this website suggests, we are not going to focus on the city of Cluj here, but rather on its equally interesting surroundings. The Western Carpathian mountains, boasting breathtaking landscapes and numerous hiking trails are as close as half an hour drive. Small towns and villages will reveal another side of Romania, where people lead simple, little changed lifestyles.
Our goal is to give you a number of good options in case you are an active traveler looking to explore the city’s surroundings. Moreover, we’ll try to provide all the information you need to get to these places on your own, although I should warn you - you'll need a (rental) car to get to most places outside of the city.
Scarita Belioara
One of our most beautiful trails, climbing around 600 meters.
Cheile Turzii/Turda Gorge
The spectacular gorge near Turda is a popular destination for several reasons: it takes under one hour to
get there by car, the trail offers beautiful views from above and below,
depending on the route chosen, and the difficulty level is not high.
Poarta Zmeilor (Dragons' Gate) and Sipote Waterfall
Although pretty steep, hiking this trail is well worth the effort and you'll see what I mean when you get to
the
top.
Piatra Secuiului
To get to the top you can either use the old, steep and shorter route or take a longer, not so difficult
trail.
Salina Turda/Turda Salt Mine
A must see, this is quite an extraordinary place.
Rimetea - the village where the sun rises twice a day
This beautiful village is located in the Trascau Valley.