Attending an event in a foreign country can be daunting for some. Luckily, we have been doing that for almost two decades, so we will share with you our planning and ideas. Note that this is written by an older North American person, so the level of comfort and expense might be different from others.

If you are already in Europe for other events, then this should be a short flight. For most international travelers, flying into Bucharest is usually the easiest option, while Cluj can also be useful depending on connections and budget airlines. From there, you still need to get to the Brașov/Ghimbav area, where the 2026 edition is listed by the organizers.

Train options from Bucharest to Brașov are generally more straightforward than from Cluj, at least in our non-local opinion, and can usually be booked in advance. Renting a car can be a good option if you plan to explore the area more. However, carefully verify rental requirements before arrival, especially if you only have a North American driver’s license.

Or at least this was the case a few years back, when we ended up getting stuck without being able to rent a car there. There will always be “alternatives” that some people might provide at the airport with smaller or non-brand-name companies, but you probably don’t want to sign or agree to something that you don’t understand if the contract is in Romanian or you are pressured to sign.

There are plenty of convenient ways to attend the festival with the camping options provided by the organizers. The official ticket page currently lists camping options including Extreme Camping, RV camping, and RV camping with electric hookup, alongside full passes, VIP passes, teens passes, and individual day tickets.

Camping is probably the closest and most convenient way to experience the festival, particularly if you have a large group with you or you like to make new friends. After camping at festivals for over a decade, it was starting to take a toll on us older adults.

So we usually opt to stay in a hotel in Brașov, which should be one of the more practical bases for attending the event in Ghimbav. Make sure to look into booking websites that cater to European-based travelers like Booking.com or Hotels.com, as availability in smaller nearby towns can be more limited.

I am sure nobody needs to be told how to have fun. However, after attending hundreds of festivals over the years, we have developed a few must-dos:

Do not forget your sunscreen.

Do not forget your rain/wet weather gear.

Do not forget to wear comfortable shoes, which usually don’t look cool, but are functional.

Be prepared for everything: mud, heat, burning sun, rain, hail, and dropping temperatures.

We have seen it all, and anything can happen, particularly in the mountains, so do not underestimate them.

Drinking leads to dehydration and missed headliners. While we love to drink, we also learned to pace ourselves and keep drinking water to be able to hang for more than a few days. Since this event is five days long, be sure to be fully prepared for the onslaught of music and alcohol your body might or might not receive.

Romania has always been a great experience for us, so if you are on the fence about attending, do not think about it twice. Just make sure you plan accordingly and set your expectations correctly.

Get your tickets from the official Rockstadt tickets page