Cluj-Napoca Airport is 9 km from the city center. Transport is affordable by any European standard, and the bus fare is published by the city operator — so at least one number here is solid.
Public bus — and take the right one
Three CTP lines serve the airport, and which one you board matters:
| Line | Route |
|---|---|
| A1 | Aeroport - Piata Mihai Viteazul - Aeroport |
| 8 | Piata Mihai Viteazul - Str. Traian Vuia (the airport road) |
| 5 | Piata Garii (the railway station) - Str. Traian Vuia |
For the central square, take A1 or line 8. Line 5 runs to the railway station instead — a common mix-up in older guides, and a useful bus in its own right if you have onward rail travel.
CTP Cluj-Napoca publishes its fares:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single trip | 3.00 lei |
| Two trips | 6.00 lei |
| Night ticket, single trip | 5.00 lei |
| 1-day pass | 20 lei |
| 3-day pass | 33 lei |
The ride takes about 30-40 minutes. Buy from the machines at the stop, at a kiosk, with a contactless bank card, or via the 24pay app — tickets are also sold on board by the driver and via the POS on the vehicle.
Metered taxi
CLJ has an automated taxi dispatch system inside the arrivals hall. You use a touchscreen to request a taxi, get a receipt with the car number and an estimated fare, and walk outside to find it. Fares are metered and regulated.
We don't print a taxi figure here, and the reason is simple: the kiosk gives you a better one. It estimates the fare for your actual destination at the actual moment you are standing there, which no guide written months earlier can do. Trust the receipt, not a range on a webpage.
This system is genuinely one of the better-organised airport taxi setups in the region — it removes the haggling and the touts in one move.
Bolt and Uber
Both operate in Cluj-Napoca and quote you in the app before you accept. Pickup can take 5-10 minutes as the driver reaches the airport, and surge pricing may apply at peak hours.
Pre-booked transfer
A driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign at a fixed price agreed when you book. It costs more than a taxi, but the price is known in advance and the vehicle is guaranteed.
Beyond the city
For Turda and the salt mine, Sighisoara or Sibiu, there is no published tariff and the distances are long — a 2-3 hour drive is exactly where a price negotiated on the spot gets away from you. Get a fixed quote before you travel.
Bottom line
At 3.00 lei, the airport bus is among the cheapest airport connections anywhere in Europe, and the 9 km distance means even the slowest option gets you there quickly. For a taxi, let the arrivals kiosk quote you. For anything outside the city, book a fixed price.
Fares are set by CTP Cluj-Napoca and revised periodically — check ctpcj.ro for the current price.