If you are looking for a hostel in Cluj und want to be in a very central location, Hostel Cluj-Napoca - Retro Hostel is one of the best situated options for you. You can easily explore the vibrant student city. The free breakfast is a plus and the nice reception area awaits you with plenty of information on the city and Transylvania.
The Location
This Cluj hostel is directly in the center, just a few minutes from Union Square (Piata Unirii) and directly in the narrow streets of the Old Town. You will find something to eat and drink easily, as this area is full of bars, cafés, and restaurants. However, it is a good walk away from the train station (or you can take a trolley bus) and parking your car is not so easy. You can unload in front of the hostel, but have to park on one of the side streets. There is paid parking nearly everywhere and it only works with a Romanian mobile phone, but the staff will help you with that.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are small and simple, but clean. The beds could be more stable, and the door to the room could close a little better -- all in all the rooms are very much a budget option and you should not expect much. For the bathroom, there are two toilets separated by gender on our floor. They are really tiny so a big person would have problems washing her or his hands. There are two shower stalls, which are not in a very good condition. It is hard to close the sliding doors, the handle of the faucet is broken in one, and all in all it is a damp, moist atmosphere due to a lacking window as it's on the inner side of the house. It is a hostel after all, but if you are very sensitive to the state of the sanitary facilities, this might not be your hostel.
Common Spaces
There is a common space in the cellar and a big kitchen you can use, except during breakfast time, when breakfast is prepared for the guest. There is also a big fridge where you can put your stuff after marking it with name and date. The common space in the cellar has a chilled-out atmosphere, and you can certainly have a fun evening with fellow travelers there.
Summary
There are not a lot of hostels in Cluj, so the options to chose from are little. This hostel has the advantage of a very good location and nice and helpful staff, plus the option to sit together without disturbing the people in your dorm. You should still not be too noise sensitive or bring earplugs, as there is a pub open late directly opposite and you can hear the people in the hallway and on the stairs quite well through the doors. So this hostel in Cluj might be for the traveler accustomed to travel and hostel life, eager to be directly in the center of the city and fascinated by tiny streets and old city walls just around the corner.
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Hostel Cluj-Napoca - Retro Hostel Reviews
The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Anique
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on 2018-11-14
Verified Reviews by our Community
HI - Cluj-Napoca - Retro Hostel is a neat hostel located in the central part of Cluj Napoca, Romania, open year-round. The price is one of the lowest in the city, you have all the basics that are to be expected from a hostel, and the place is remarkably clean.
The Location
The location is very good. It is just in the center of Cluj Napoca, within a very short walking distance of the major sites (the two museums and the Szeky Palace as well as an ice field where you can skate in winter are all just two minutes from the hostel) and very easy to reach. If you come by train, you can even walk to the hostel if you do not mind a thirty-minute walk. From the main train station, just get on Strada Horea, walk for about a kilometer, then turn left on Piata Unirii and look for Strada Potaissa.
The hostel is two minutes from St. Michaels Cathedral so if you are not sure about your way, ask someone to direct you to the cathedral. You could take a taxi, or there are also trams and buses if you prefer public transportation. The staff also told us there are good transportation options to the airport, which should not be a surprise as the hostel is very centrally located.
Rooms and Bathrooms
At Retro Youth hostel, you can choose between dorms and private rooms; there are blankets, linens, and beds (that are a little bit squeaky) for both types of rooms. The linens are replaced regularly and the rooms are very clean. The six-bed rooms have three bunk beds that can make some noise if the person above is a bit heavier and do not leave much space in the rooms, which are quite small. The furniture is not much -- just a table with two chairs.
There are no lockers, but if you want, you can leave some luggage at the reception. The place is clean and there are no exotic smells or stains anywhere.
There are bathrooms on both floors. They are very clean, quite modern and the water is very hot, so be careful. There are enough showers (five on a floor) but only a toilet for each sex on a floor, which might be a problem. The showers are quite small and the floor is slippery, so be careful when you take a shower -- we advise you to take slippers. The bathrooms are thoroughly cleaned daily around midnight, so you might need to wait twenty minutes for a shower around that time.
Common Spaces
There is no common space where you can actually meet the other people at the hostel, which might be a problem if you want to gather a crowd for going out. The atmosphere at the Retro Youth hostel is quiet. It is by no means a party hostel and drunken behavior is not tolerated. You can enjoy a quite peaceful stay and you can expect zero trouble at the hostel. The hostel sells beers and the prices are not much higher than buying it elsewhere, but there is not really a place where you can drink it enjoying some social atmosphere.
Amenities include a laundry room with for-pay washers and dryer; a kitchen with plenty of stove space, a refrigerator, all kind of utensils, a great variety of free tea; and two computers with internet access (but they do not function during the night) as well as Wi-Fi. You must check out by noon. One good thing is that there is no deposit.
The staff are extremely helpful and approachable and they can answer quite efficiently most of your questions concerning the city. You pay for your bed in Romanian lei so you need to have local currency when you get there.
Summary
Overall, the hostel is good and you receive good value for your money. We would definitely go there if we visit Cluj Napoca again.
George Traveller
2011-01-31
Bulgaria
Great Locaton, Helpful staff, and very clean
A good place to stay. Enjoyed my stay there.
George
2011-01-30
Bulgaria
Clean and central
The hostel is in the middle of the city, near the University. There are two large dorm rooms, which along with the showers and toilets are kept clean. The kitchen is small and pokey, but it has enough stuff to cook your own meals. Breakfast is overpriced and no one had it while I was there. There is a downstairs cellar with a table and chairs which is meant for socialising and eating but it didn't seem to get much use during my stay -- it's rather isolated. The staff are friendly and helpful. The tours they offer certainly aren't pushed on you -- it seems that it's up to guests to organise enough people for the minimum number of starters required -- and they seem reasonably priced. Overall it's a good place to stay, and the only hostel in town.
Mike
2007-07-28
Australia
This place was great. It was the cleanest I have seen around Europe. The bathroom is very, very clean and the decoration in the room was really cool. Staff are very helpful and the place has a cozy feel to it. I hope they get the common area done up. Highly recommended.
Smukii
2005-08-14
Hands down the best hostel during my travels. The staff are awesome, they will help you with anything you need (renting a car, finding a cool concert to go to, finding authentic/cheap places to eat). It has a really chill atmosphere and is very clean. The showers, laundry, and beds are excellent. Radu is the coolest!
Brad the Destroyer - Omaha, NE USA
2005-06-20
Just wanna add my opinion. It was excellent even though I was there in low season (January 2005). Beds, rooms, bathrooms, staff, location, and the people that I met there were all great. Thank you all, and go in high season, you'll find lots of excursions. It's the only one in Cluj, but it's perfect. (To Kimberly from Scotland: I didn't understand anything you told me, even when we met back in Bucuresti, sorry :-) You're cute though.)
Simon the french
2005-04-25
I stayed at Retro Hostel more than once over 2003-2004 while in I was in Romania for an extended break. I can quite honestly say that it is the best place I've had the pleasure to stay in. I was made to feel like a friend rather than a punter paying for a bed, and was given the most helpful and accurate advice for the rest of my stay in the country. The place was spotless, the facilities more than adequate, and it's situated well, close to the action and attractions of the city. Stay there!!!
roaming ginna
2005-03-16
This hostel was clean and friendly, but for Romania it's a bit expensive.
Anonymous
2004-11-13
Hostel Cluj-Napoca - Retro Hostel Reviews from the Web
Pretty decent hostel. Staff were mostly absent during the day and evening. The free coffee consisted of slightly cold slush that may have been made the previous day. I didn't really hear about any of the tours or other offerings that the hostel mentioned they offered on their webpage. The beds were a little creaky but it was nice having four beds to one bathroom.
jacobmiller2584
2022-05-23
This place was only ok. The staff was lovely and excellent.
However the space is very cramped. Not much room at all in the attic. The security is light, in my opinion.
The location was great. By the main square and everything.
stonemitch975409
2022-05-19
This place is the best. The staff are so lovely, relaxed and kind. As a first time traveller this place feels like a safe haven.
Location is great, quiet and yet near Old Town.
There's a place to store luggage which is very helpful and 2 kitchen spaces which helps spread people throughout the hostel so it doesn't get too hectic.
Only other points are if you are here on a Friday or Saturday evening make sure you have earplugs as the noise from the bars can sometimes be quite loud.
smhlovelock3220
2022-04-07
Not a bad place! Very nice location, the facilities were just okay, there was only one bathroom that I could find in the whole hostel and it wasn't a stall type situation so if we had had more people there I think it would have been an issue. Perfect for late check in though.
mcook79796
2021-12-03
The hostel has a very unique and cool aesthetic and is very centrally located making it easy to find things to do. It was quite quiet at times which is perfect if youre looking to chill out a bit. I would stay there again if I was visiting the city.
Samstevenson489797
2021-10-20
Well located hostel, although ceiling is very low in the loft rooms.
liambrady12345667
2021-10-16
My room was changed from a dorm to a single room due to a booking mix up on their end. All explained in an email before I checked which I greatly appreciated. Comfortable beds and good WiFi. Very clean.
Only downside is I could hear noise from the kitchen in my room. Slightly loud of the first night with a large group cooking at 2am. Can't blame this on the hostel though and I wouldn't hesitate to stay again.
ncartlidge931395
2021-10-14
Im sure this hostel has promise, but I did not enjoy my stay here. I stayed for 3 nights in a private room (changing rooms after the 2nd night), and neither room blocked out the sound of other guests. In the room close to reception I could hear people in the kitchen all through the night. In the upper room I was surrounded by a group of Sri Lankans currently living in the hostel who were extremely loud, shouting between rooms and floors until 3am, and who were up again at 630am.
macnevma240
2021-10-02
I couldn't help giving this place a high rating, it really is that good. Would go out of my way to stay there again.
Anonymous
2021-09-20
The staff were kind and the location was good but the bathroom situation was rough! There was no toilet paper in either bathroom for the 24 hours I stayed there. Since reception closed at 3 pm you were kind of stuck with that state all night. The showers definitely werent clean enough for me to feel comfortable using. I will say that the kitchen was well stocked and a plus. Otherwise an overall subpar experience for the price.
ashsara3997
2021-09-16
Overall good. Really liked it actually. Only bad thing is that it feels a bit cheep in some way. Squeeky beds, very tiny toilets etc. But hey, its cheep and the location is excellent.
madsp1234807
2021-08-26
Great location in the heart of downtown, rooms are not huge, but well arranged and perfectly cleaned. A lot of common spaces to hang around.
rabdahllah1333
2021-08-22
Nice clean hostel in the city centre. There were a few common rooms but we arrived late so there weren't too many people. It's in a great location, close to many bars but quiet enough.
mariusdragulin
2021-08-22
Good place in a great location!
silvica4ever8195
2021-08-21
Good location and clean. The only negative for me was thst the ensuite bathroom door didn't lock.
barbaricrunner4838
2021-07-18
This was a nice hostel. Great location. The only thing I didnt like is that the showers do not drain so they are fairly scummy
cpriebe
2021-07-11
positive: the helpfulness of the staff.
negative: the description says that they serve breakfast but they do not give, basically it is a lie
enzosf045892
2020-10-06
Very nice atmosphere with kind hospitality
Anonymous
2017-07-07
The service from the front reception guys was outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble and they went above and beyond to help with my travels on Cluj and Romania in general. Best service in Europe
Anonymous
2015-08-19
Liked: Location, atmosphere and staff Didn't like: Nothing in particular
Anonymous
2015-06-27
Description
Retro Youth Hostel is providing accommodation in shared rooms, triple rooms, double rooms and single rooms. Free hot showers and toilets are near every room, and on the ground floor there is a fully equipped modern kitchen. There is free internet access, free cofee and tea for our guests.
We also provide day tours to several local destinations such as: Maramures region, Turda Salt Mine and Gorge, Scarisoara ICE Cave, Nicula Monastery, The Bears Cave and many other.
Big discouts for long time staying guests!
Bus tickets arrangements - Budapest - Cluj and return!
For the HI and ISIC card holders we offer 5% discount.
For more infos please check www.retro.ro.
We also provide day tours to several local destinations such as: Maramures region, Turda Salt Mine and Gorge, Scarisoara ICE Cave, Nicula Monastery, The Bears Cave and many other.
Big discouts for long time staying guests!
Bus tickets arrangements - Budapest - Cluj and return!
For the HI and ISIC card holders we offer 5% discount.
For more infos please check www.retro.ro.
Location and Contact
Location
• The easiest way to find us is to ask for Saint Michael's Catholic Church. Walking up Universitatii Street, take the second right onto Potaissa street.• If you're coming from the railway station, take tram no. 101 or 102 and get off at Baritiu street (the second stop). From here, follow Regele Ferdinand street (formerly Gh. Goja) until you reach Saint Michael's Church. Another option is to take bus no. 9 at the train station and get off at the 3rd station, in the city center.
• If you choose to take a taxi, please note that the official companies like PRITAX, TERRA&FAN or DIESEL will charge you no more than 1.5 €uros from the train station or 5 €uros from the airport. Avoid any private transport offers at the train station or at the airport; many of them charge more than the regular rates.
• Airport pick-ups can be arranged for both groups and individuals.
Map
Address: Potaissa 11 - 13, Cluj-Napoca (Cluj), Romania
Hostel Cluj-Napoca - Retro Hostel is listed on the following booking sites:
Hostelworld Booking.com Not listed at HostelsClubWebsite
www.retro.ro
Phone Number:
40-264-450452
To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.
Facilities and Amenities
Digital Nomads
Groups (10+ people)
Party Hostel
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
Breakfast
Luggage Storage
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Airport Pickup
Bike Rental
City Tours
Lockers in Lobby
24 Hour Security
ATM
Bar
Board Games
Cable TV
Clothes Dryer
Concierge/Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Currency Exchange
Entirely Non-Smoking
Food/Restaurant
Gameroom
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Meeting/Banquet facilities
Movie Library/Rental
TV
Videogames
Max. Age: All Ages
Checkout: Flexible
Curfew: No Curfew
Lockout: No
Maximum Stay: Unlimited
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Open Dates: All Year
Reception Hours: 24 Hours
Size: Medium (30-60 beds)
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