Cluj-Napoca is best known as the capital of Transylvania – but on the ground, it’s more commonly referred to as Cluj. Napoca was the name of the Roman citadel that sat here some 2,000 years ago, and saying “Cluj-Napoca” out loud feels a little like calling your mother by her full name over a coffee.
Most people who hear “Transylvania” think “Dracula”, and the region is home to numerous remarkable medieval castles, if not bloodthirsty counts. It sits in central Romania, and beyond the mythology it’s also where you’ll find the southern Carpathian mountains – a wilderness where bears, bison and wolves still roam free. Add in some charming cities, and the fact that the pound goes a long way in Romania, and this is a true, off-the-beaten-track adventure.
