Travel & stay
Everything you need to get to Romania Kendama Open: flights from anywhere in the world, the airport train and bus, hotels for every budget with December prices, and a map.
Venue: in Bucharest, announced soon. Every area recommended on this page is central and on the metro, so you can stay there whatever the venue. Plan to arrive on Friday 18 December and leave on Monday 21 December.
Flights
Fly into Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP). It has direct flights to most of Europe and the Middle East; from further away it is usually one stop.
Pick a region on the map or in the list to see routes, travel times and fares.
| Flying from | Typical route and airlines | Travel time | Return fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western and Central Europe | Direct from most capitals and big cities: Wizz Air, Ryanair, TAROM, Lufthansa, Austrian, KLM, Air France, ITA, LOT, Swiss | 2–3.5 h | €60–250 |
| UK and Ireland | Direct from London (Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick), Dublin and other UK airports | 3–3.5 h | £60–250 |
| Southern Europe, Turkey, Balkans | Direct from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Aegean) | 1–4 h | €50–220 |
| Middle East | Direct from Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (flydubai), Abu Dhabi (Etihad) and Tel Aviv | 3.5–5 h | $250–650 |
| USA and Canada | 1 stop via Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Warsaw or Istanbul | 12–17 h | $650–1,300 |
| Latin America | 1–2 stops via Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Frankfurt or Istanbul | 16–26 h | $900–1,800 |
| Asia | 1 stop via Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or a European hub | 11–20 h | $600–1,400 |
| Australia and New Zealand | 1–2 stops via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Singapore | 22–32 h | A$1,800–3,200 |
| Africa | 1 stop via Istanbul, Cairo, Doha, Paris or Frankfurt | 6–15 h | $500–1,200 |
Indicative economy return fares for mid-December, booked 4 to 8 weeks ahead. Prices change every day and the week before Christmas fills up fast, so book early. Low-cost airlines charge extra for cabin bags.
Airport to the city
Three easy ways. The bus costs 3 RON (lei) and the train about 7 RON; a ride-hailing car is still cheap by Western standards.
A short shuttle bus takes you from Arrivals to the airport station; the train ticket includes it. From Gara de Nord, take metro M1 or M4. Timetable on cfrcalatori.ro.
The stop is outside Arrivals. Tap a contactless bank card on the validator inside the bus (one tap per person), or buy a card at the STB kiosk.
Order in the app or use the official taxi touchscreens in Arrivals. Say no to drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
Getting around
Five lines, M1 to M5. Line M2 runs north to south through Piața Victoriei, Piața Romană, Universitate and Piața Unirii. About 5 RON (lei) per trip; tap a contactless card at the gate or buy a card at the ticket desk. Roughly 05:00 to 23:00.
A dense network that covers the whole city. A trip costs 3 RON (lei), for buses and trams alike: pay with a contactless card on board, a reloadable STB card, or the 24pay app.
Uber and Bolt are cheap: most trips in the centre cost 15–40 RON (lei). The Old Town, Universitate, Unirii and Piața Romană are 10–25 minutes apart on foot.
Fares are approximate and can change. Check stb.ro and metrorex.ro before you travel.
Where to stay
Stay near metro line M2 and you are never far from anything.
Cobbled streets, food and nightlife, all walkable. Lively late at night.
M2 Universitate · bus 100Central and a bit calmer, with cafés and many mid-range hotels.
M2, M1 · bus 100Metro hub next to the Old Town. Easy to get anywhere.
M1, M2, M3 · bus 100The cheapest beds and the airport train. Less charming, fine for a short stay.
M1, M4 · airport trainSocial hostel in the middle of the Old Town. Good for solo players and small crews.
Hostel with a rooftop bar, a few minutes from Universitate metro.
Simple rooms next to the main train station and the airport train.
Next to Izvor metro and the Palace of the Parliament.
Large rooms by Cișmigiu Gardens, walking distance to the Old Town.
Quiet street near Piața Romană metro (M2).
On Calea Victoriei, between the Old Town and Piața Romană. Has a pool.
Old Town location, a short walk from Universitate metro and bus 100.
Big hotel with gym, spa and pool, close to Piața Romană.
Five-star hotel next to the Palace of the Parliament.
Boutique hotel in a restored 1920s bank, in the Old Town.
Splitting an apartment is often the cheapest way for a crew of 3 to 6. Look near a metro station on line M2.
Typical December prices per night in RON (lei), taxes included, for the room (or a dorm bed); euros as a guide, 1 € ≈ 5 RON. Check the live price for your dates; book early, December weekends are busy. These are suggestions, not partner hotels.
Map
Sample budget
| Per person, without flights | Tight | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Bed or room (3 nights) | 200–375 RON hostel, ≈ €40–75 | 600–1,050 RON shared mid-range room, ≈ €120–210 |
| Food and drinks (3 days) | 200–300 RON ≈ €40–60 | 400–650 RON ≈ €80–130 |
| Airport transfers | 6 RON bus, both ways | 160–300 RON Uber or Bolt, ≈ €30–60 |
| Getting around | 25–50 RON ≈ €5–10 | 100–175 RON ≈ €20–35 |
| Total | About 430–725 RON ≈ €85–145 | About 1,260–2,175 RON ≈ €250–435 |
All amounts in RON (lei), with euros as a guide (1 € ≈ 5 RON). A casual lunch costs 40–70 RON, dinner 60–120 RON, a coffee 12–20 RON. Entry tickets for RKO are not included; they are coming soon.
By train or bus
Trains from all over Romania arrive at Gara de Nord. Book on cfrcalatori.ro; buses (FlixBus and others) are often faster from smaller cities.
| From | Best way | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Ploiești | Train | About 1 h |
| Buzău | Train | About 1.5–2 h |
| Pitești | Train or bus | About 2 h |
| Constanța | Train | About 2–2.5 h |
| Brașov | Train | About 2.5–3 h |
| Craiova | Train | About 3 h |
| Iași, Suceava | Train, or fly (about 1 h) | 6–7 h by train |
| Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Oradea | Fly to OTP (about 1 h) or night train | 8–10 h by train |
| Chișinău, Sofia, Budapest, Istanbul | Bus or train, or fly | 7–14 h by land |
Coming as a club or a big group? Write to office@asociatiakendama.ro and we will help you plan.
