Centru, the historic core of Cluj-Napoca, has the densest and most varied educational offering in the city — it holds the highest concentration of private institutions, alongside long-established public kindergartens. We’ve gathered all 30 institutions in Centru verified on piticluj.ro: 22 kindergartens and 8 nurseries, of which 11 are public and 19 private, many with a Hungarian, English, or German section. Below you’ll find the full list with addresses and contact details, plus the enrollment steps for the 2026-2027 school year.

Nurseries in Centru (ages 0-3)

All 8 nurseries in Centru are private — the centre has no public nurseries, so for a state-run nursery you’ll need to look at the neighbouring districts as well. The prices below are approximate, monthly:

For a public nursery (free, with a meal fee), enrollment is done through the municipality at creseclujnapoca.ro. The detailed steps are in our guide on enrolling at a public nursery.

Public kindergartens in Centru

Centru has 11 public kindergartens, free (with a meal fee of roughly ~250 RON/month). Many operate as networks with a main site and structures scattered around the centre:

Because the structures of one kindergarten can be a few streets apart, it’s worth checking exactly which address hosts the group you want before submitting your file.

Private kindergartens in Centru

Centru concentrates 11 private kindergartens — from Montessori pedagogy and international programmes to faith-based kindergartens teaching in Hungarian. Prices are approximate, monthly:

Private fees vary widely — see our guide on how much a private kindergarten costs in Cluj for a detailed comparison.

Kindergartens and nurseries with a Hungarian or English section in Centru

Hungarian families have many Hungarian-language options in Centru: the Csemete Bölcsőde, János Zsigmond Unitárius Bölcsőde, and Szent Imre Bölcsőde nurseries, the faith-based kindergartens Csemete Reformată, János Zsigmond Kollégium, Kolozsvári Református Kollégium, and Szent Imre Óvoda, plus the Hungarian sections of the Albă ca Zăpada and Parfum de Tei public kindergartens. The full city- and county-wide list is in the guide on Hungarian-language kindergartens.

For English-language teaching, the options in Centru include Colina International School, Hand in Hand Montessori, Happy Hearts, Montessori Transilvania Decebal, and the English section of Grădinița UBB — details in the English-language kindergartens guide.

How to enroll: 2026-2027 calendar and criteria

Romania’s Ministry of Education approved the following calendar for the 2026-2027 school year (orders OMEC no. 3706/2026 and 3707/2026, per ISJ Cluj):

  • 18 – 22 May 2026 — Re-enrollment of children already attending
  • 25 May – 18 June 2026 — First enrollment phase for new children
  • 22 June – 9 July 2026 — Second enrollment phase
  • 17 – 27 August 2026 — Adjustment phase

Important: enrollment does not work on a “first come, first served” basis — the order in which you submit your application is not a criterion. When the number of applications to a kindergarten exceeds available places, children are ranked by the general and specific criteria in the methodology. Proximity of residence may count as a specific criterion set by each institution, but it is not a guaranteed automatic priority for kindergartens — confirm the situation directly with your chosen kindergarten or with ISJ Cluj.

Documents needed

For the enrollment file you’ll generally need: the application form, the child’s birth certificate, the parents’ ID cards, proof of employment, and a sworn statement. The full list, with downloadable templates and special cases (divorced parents, parental leave), is in the Documents needed guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best kindergarten in Centru? There’s no single answer — it depends on your priorities: extended-day programme, language of instruction, distance from home, or budget. Use the filters on the interactive map to compare the neighbourhood’s 30 institutions by these criteria.

Are there public nurseries in Centru? No — all 8 nurseries in Centru are private. For a state-run nursery you’ll need to look at the neighbouring districts; enrollment is done through creseclujnapoca.ro.

Are there Hungarian-language kindergartens in Centru? Yes — Centru has several Hungarian institutions (Csemete, János Zsigmond, Kolozsvári Református, Szent Imre), plus the Hungarian sections of the Albă ca Zăpada and Parfum de Tei public kindergartens.

How much does a kindergarten in Centru cost? Public kindergartens and nurseries are free, with a meal fee of roughly ~250 RON/month. Private ones vary widely — from ~1500 RON/month at faith-based kindergartens up to ~6000-9000 RON/month at the international schools.

How do I reach Centru’s kindergartens by public transport? Centru is the central hub of the Cluj-Napoca CTP network and easy to reach from any neighbourhood. For current routes and timetables, see ctpcj.ro.

See every institution in the neighbourhood

Explore the kindergartens and nurseries in Centru on the dedicated neighbourhood page or on the interactive piticluj.ro map, filtering by locality, language, category, and type. For the general selection steps, also read How to choose the right kindergarten.