Cluj-Napoca National Theatre
About Cluj-Napoca National Theatre
The building between Piața Ștefan cel Mare and Piața Avram Iancu was designed by the Viennese firm Fellner & Helmer, which specialised in theatres for Central European cities (the same firm built the theatres in Iași, Oradea and Timișoara). It went up between 1904 and 1906, from private capital, through a bequest from Sándor Újfalvy, and on 8 September 1906 it opened as the Hungarian National Theatre. Since 1919 the Romanian National Theatre has been based here, alongside the Romanian Opera; between 1940 and 1945 the building went back to the Hungarian theatre. Today it is shared by the “Lucian Blaga” National Theatre and the Romanian National Opera Cluj-Napoca, and the ensemble is a historic monument (LMI code CJ-II-m-A-07355).
The style is neo-Baroque, with Secession touches in the foyer decoration. The façade has a central block with a broad arch and tall windows, the inscription of the two institutions under the pediment, two side towers crowned by allegorical statue groups and niches with statues in the side wall. The main hall, with boxes and a balcony, has more than 900 seats.
What you can see
The façade is the easiest thing to see, from the wide steps in front and from the square, with statues standing at its foot. The interior is seen at an opera or theatre performance: the foyers, the boxes, the balcony and the hall. The Opera also runs guided tours of about 40 minutes, on days announced in its calendar: the main foyer, the first-tier boxes, the second-tier foyer, the balcony foyer, the auditorium and the artists' dressing rooms. The building is not a museum with daily visiting hours.
Good to know
The two institutions have separate ticket offices and programmes: you buy the ticket from the one whose performance you choose, and the hall and time are checked in the programme. The building is waiting for a major rehabilitation (consolidation, restoration of the roof and finishes), with works that may start in 2027 at the earliest; during them, performances could be moved to other halls in the city. The guided tour lasts ~40 minutes and is held quietly, because rehearsals may be going on in the building.
Information verified on 23 October 2026.
- The neo-Baroque façade seen from the steps in front, with the towers crowned by statue groups and the inscription of the two institutions under the pediment.
- An opera performance in the main hall, with boxes, a balcony and more than 900 seats, to see the interior used as it was meant to be.
- The Opera's guided tour, with the main foyer, the boxes, the balcony foyer and the artists' dressing rooms, on announced days.
- The statues in front of the building and the niches with statues in the side wall, visible on any walk through the square.
- The surrounding square, with the Palace of Justice and the Metropolitan Cathedral a few steps away.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the building is in central Cluj, ~600 m from Piața Unirii. The city is entered via the A3/DN1 from Oradea and Turda and via the DN1 from Alba Iulia; traffic in the centre is heavy, so leave the car in a nearby car park. The area around the square has other sights, such as the Bánffy Palace on Piața Unirii and the Metropolitan Cathedral on the same square.
Public transport: from Cluj-Napoca railway station it is ~2 km to the theatre, by the buses and trolleybuses to the centre or ~25 minutes on foot; from Cluj International Airport, ~9 km away, bus A1 runs to the centre.
- Where to park
The building has no car park for the public. In the central zone you park on the street, paid by zone, or in the public car parks nearby; on performance evenings the spaces fill up quickly, so come early or leave the car farther away and continue on foot.
- Fees & discounts
Ticket prices vary by institution, performance, hall and seat. At the Opera, in the main hall, the latest tariff list published on its website runs from ~40 lei (side balcony) to ~150 lei (front seats and central boxes), depending on the cast; the Opera also sells subscriptions with discounts for pupils, students and pensioners. The National Theatre has its own tariffs, per performance. Tickets are bought at the ticket offices or online, from the websites of the two institutions. The Opera's guided tour is paid for with a separate ticket, bought at the ticket office or online.
- Rules
At performances the hall's rules apply: phones off, arrive before the start, no filming or photographing during the show. Sets and costumes are not to be touched. On the guided tour (12+, at most 25 people) visitors keep quiet, because rehearsals and set-ups may be going on in the building; the tour is in Romanian, and in English on request, at least 24 hours ahead, by email to [email protected].
- Facilities
ticket offices · online tickets · foyers · guided tours
Frequently asked questions about Cluj-Napoca National Theatre
- How long does a visit to Cluj-Napoca National Theatre take?
- A visit to Cluj-Napoca National Theatre takes about 2 – 2½ hours (a show; tour ~40 min).
- Can you visit Cluj-Napoca National Theatre with kids?
- Yes, Cluj-Napoca National Theatre is suitable for children (children's shows; tour 12+).
- Where can I park at Cluj-Napoca National Theatre?
- There is paid parking at Cluj-Napoca National Theatre (on the street, in the centre). The building has no car park for the public. In the central zone you park on the street, paid by zone, or in the public car parks nearby; on performance evenings the spaces fill up quickly, so come early or leave the car farther away and continue on foot.
- How do I get to Cluj-Napoca National Theatre?
- Cluj-Napoca National Theatre is located at Piața Ștefan cel Mare no. 20, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County. By car: the building is in central Cluj, ~600 m from Piața Unirii. The city is entered via the A3/DN1 from Oradea and Turda and via the DN1 from Alba Iulia; traffic in the centre is heavy, so leave the car in a nearby car park. The area around the square has other sights, such as the Bánffy Palace on Piața Unirii and the Metropolitan Cathedral on the same square. Public transport: from Cluj-Napoca railway station it is ~2 km to the theatre, by the buses and trolleybuses to the centre or ~25 minutes on foot; from Cluj International Airport, ~9 km away, bus A1 runs to the centre.
- When is the best time to visit Cluj-Napoca National Theatre?
- The best season for Cluj-Napoca National Theatre: All year round (season from autumn to summer).
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