Costinești is not difficult to reach. It sits on the Romanian Black Sea coast in Constanța county, roughly 30 kilometres south of Constanța city, connected to the rest of the country by a combination of highways, train lines, and bus routes that improve — slowly, but genuinely — with each passing year. The journey is part of the experience; the coastal approach from the north, the moment the sea appears between apartment blocks and the smell of salt hits through the car window, is unmistakable.
This guide covers every realistic route from the main origin points: Bucharest, Constanța, Cluj-Napoca, and international arrival hubs including Budapest and Sofia. Journey times, rough costs, and the honest trade-offs of each option.
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Orientation: Where Is Costinești, Exactly?
Costinești occupies the southern section of Romania’s Black Sea Riviera, a stretch of coast in Constanța county that runs from Năvodari in the north to Vama Veche at the Bulgarian border in the south. The resort lies approximately:
- 30 km south of Constanța city
- 240 km east of Bucharest (via the A2/A4 motorway)
- 450 km south-east of Cluj-Napoca
- 220 km north-east of Sofia (Bulgaria)
- 550 km south-east of Budapest (Hungary)
Neighbouring resorts Eforie Sud (to the north-east) and Olimp (to the south) are within a few kilometres. There is no direct rail station at Costinești; the nearest is Eforie Sud, a short taxi or bus ride away.
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From Bucharest
By Car — Recommended for Groups
The Bucharest to Costinești drive is the classic Romanian road trip. The A2 motorway (Sun Motorway) connects Bucharest to Constanța in roughly 2 hours under normal conditions; add another 30–40 minutes to reach Costinești via the coastal D39. Total: 2.5–3 hours from central Bucharest.
During Beach Please week, expect the coastal road into Costinești to be congested on the Wednesday opening day and on Saturday evening — the two peak inbound moments. Arriving before noon or after 8pm on those days mitigates most of the delay.
Cost: Fuel for a standard car runs around €25–€35 for the return trip. Motorway tolls (Bucharest to Constanța) add around €7–€10 each way. Shared between four, the car is nearly always cheaper than any other option per head.
By Train
CFR Călători (Romanian Railways) operates services from Bucharest Gara de Nord to Constanța, with some seasonal services running directly to Mangalia — the nearest major rail station to Costinești, roughly 15 km to the south.
- Bucharest to Constanța: approximately 2.5–3 hours (InterCity service)
- Bucharest to Mangalia: approximately 4–5 hours (seasonal, slower service via the coast)
From Constanța or Mangalia, a taxi or local bus covers the final stretch to Costinești. Expect €10–€15 by taxi from Mangalia; €15–€25 from Constanța.
Cost: Train tickets from Bucharest to Constanța run approximately €10–€18 one-way; to Mangalia slightly more. Book via the CFR Călători website or app — capacity on popular summer dates fills early.
By Bus and Maxi-Taxi
Several operators run direct or near-direct coach services from Bucharest to Constanța and the coastal resorts. Maxi-taxis (shared minibuses) depart from Bucharest’s Autogara Militari and cover the route to Constanța and sometimes directly to coastal towns.
Journey time: approximately 2.5–3.5 hours
Cost: €8–€15 one-way
The catch: comfort varies considerably by operator, and during festival season departure times are tied to posted schedules that may not align with when you want to travel. The return journey on the Sunday after Beach Please involves significant competition for seats — book in advance.
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From Constanța
Constanța is the gateway city for the entire Romanian Riviera. Once you’re in Constanța, Costinești is close.
- By taxi: 30–40 minutes, €15–€25 depending on traffic. Bolt and Uber both operate in Constanța; reliability during Beach Please week can be patchy late at night.
- By local bus: Services run along the coastal route connecting the resorts. The journey takes roughly 45–60 minutes. Cheap (under €3) and entirely functional for daylight travel; less reliable late at night.
- By hire car: Rental desks at Constanța Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport (CND) give you full flexibility for the week.
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From Cluj-Napoca
Cluj to Costinești is a long drive — roughly 450 km and 5.5–6.5 hours via the A3 and A2 motorways, routed through Bucharest or Ploiești. Alternatively:
- Fly Cluj to Constanța: Seasonal flights may be available; check Romanian carriers (Tarom, HiSky, Blue Air if operational) closer to the date.
- Drive to Bucharest, then motorway east: The most predictable approach — splits the journey into a manageable Bucharest overnight.
- Train: A direct overnight connection is possible but slow (8–10 hours). For festival travel with luggage, the car is almost always more practical.
Cost by car: Fuel and tolls from Cluj approximately €55–€75 return.
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From International Hubs
Constanța Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport (CND)
CND receives summer charter and scheduled flights from several European cities — typically from the UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Israel. Check current routes with your preferred booking platform; seasonal routes are often added or confirmed in spring.
From the airport to Costinești:
- Private taxi: ~40 minutes, expect around €30–€45
- Pre-booked transfer: Several local operators offer airport transfers to the coastal resorts; often marginally cheaper than an ad-hoc taxi and much more reliable at 2am after a delayed flight
Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP)
OTP is Romania’s main international hub and handles far more European and long-haul routes than CND. From OTP, the fastest route to Costinești is by hire car (approximately 2.5–3 hours via A2) or a combination of airport express bus to Bucharest centre and then onward coach or train.
Cost of hire car from OTP: Variable, but budget €30–€60 per day for a small car in summer; compare rates across operators as pricing swings widely.
From Budapest (Hungary)
Budapest to Costinești is a considerable overland journey: approximately 550 km and 6–7 hours by road via the M5 motorway through Arad or Timișoara. This works best as part of a broader Balkan road trip rather than as a dedicated festival transfer.
By air: Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport to Bucharest OTP or Constanța CND is around 2 hours; significantly faster if the dates align.
From Sofia (Bulgaria)
Sofia to Costinești is approximately 220 km north-east via the A2/E87 — roughly 3–3.5 hours by car. This is one of the better international drive-in routes. Sofia Airport also has seasonal connections to Constanța or Bucharest.
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Once you’re in Costinești, Luna Marina sits approximately four minutes on foot from the Beach Please festival gate. Guests are welcome to leave luggage at reception from midday on arrival day, regardless of check-in time during festival week.
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Quick Checklist: Planning Your Journey
- [ ] Book train or coach tickets as early as possible — peak July dates on popular routes sell out
- [ ] If driving, check A2 motorway toll costs and plan arrival time to avoid peak congestion
- [ ] For international arrivals at CND, pre-book a transfer rather than relying on ad-hoc taxis
- [ ] Verify current CFR timetables for coastal train services closer to July — seasonal schedules change
- [ ] Identify your Sunday departure option early: the post-festival Sunday exodus is real, and late bookings suffer
- [ ] Download offline maps for Constanța county — data signal in Costinești is under strain during festival week
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The journey to Costinești is not complicated — it simply requires booking early and planning the Sunday exit as carefully as the Wednesday arrival. Do both, and you’re set.
Join the Luna Marina waitlist for early-bird festival rates and opening updates — Book Now.
