Cluj is at its best from late May through September, when the terraces fill, the parks come into their own, and the city's heavy schedule of festivals is in full swing. The Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) in early June fills the cinemas and the open-air screens; Untold, one of Europe's largest electronic music festivals, takes over the city in early August; Jazz in the Park follows. Book accommodation well in advance for these dates.
Winters are cold — January can drop well below freezing — but the city looks handsome in snow and the Christmas market in Piața Unirii is one of the country's best. Late autumn and early spring are quieter and cheaper, with mild weather suited to walking and museum visits.