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Bucharest – Transport & Getting Around
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Bucharest Airport to City Center
Bucharest has only one operational airport. The Bucharest airport (called Henri Coanda) is located in Otopeni, at 17 km from the central area of Bucharest (Universitate).
You have a few options to get from the Bucharest airport to the city.
Bucharest Airport to City Center by Taxi
The fastest and the easiest one is to take a taxi. As you exit the airport, you’ll find two lines of taxis – to the right there are the premium ones that cost almost $1US per km; to the left, there are the cheaper ones, with rates of $0.7 US per km.
The distance between Henri Coanda airport and Universitate (the center of Bucharest) is 17km. Depending on where in Bucharest you want to go, the taxi will cost you $15 – $25 US.
Taxi drivers can’t take cards. You’ll need cash to pay for the ride. Some of them may accept US dollars, but it’s probably best to exchange money inside the airport. The exchange rate is very bad, so don’t change a lot of money.
Always use the taxis in front of the airport. Don’t go with anyone else who promises you a ride to the city! This can be very dangerous (otherwise Bucharest is a safe city).
Bucharest Airport to City Center by Bus
There is express bus lines that connect Bucharest with the Bucuresti Henri Coanda International Airport. Here they are:
Bus no 100 connects the airport to Bucharest Center (Piata Unirii)
This bus line meets M2 metro line at Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Universitate and Piata Unirii.
It also meets M1 metro line at Piata Victoriei and Piata Unirii.
If you are for the first time in Bucharest, chances are that your hotel is somewhere on the 100 line.
Here are the schedules of the 100 express bus line departing from the Bucuresti Henri Coanda International Airport.
The cost of a one-way ride is 3 lei.
Special Tip: Bus drivers in Bucharest don’t sell tickets. You can buy tickets from the special booths located nearby the bus stops.
As of October 2020, you can use your contactless credit or debit card to pay for the trip.
Bucharest Airport to City Center by Private Transport
You can arrange your transportation before your arrival to Bucharest. There are many transport companies that offer this service.
If you need a group transfer, you can try this one, here.
If you are alone or in a group of maximum four, you can try the private transfer services here, here or here. The last option is a premium one. It costs a little more than the others, but it is more comfortable.
The ride can take anywhere from 40 minutes to one hour and a half. There’s only one route linking Bucharest to its international airport. Should an accident occur, you can find yourself in trouble, as there won’t be any way to take another route. During rush hours, this road becomes extremely busy. Also, there’s no metro to the airport.
If you want to be on the safe side, consider this a 1.5 hours drive, particularly when you leave Bucharest and you have a flight to catch.
Bucharest Airport to City Center by Train
Inside the airport, you’ll find signs pointing to the train station.
Trains run every 30 minutes or so, and they take you to Gara de Nord (The North Train Station).
This is a very convenient option. Should you be travelling to other parts of Romania, you’ll want to take this train to avoid entering the city center (that can be very busy at times).
Transportation & Getting Around in Bucharest
Bucharest has Uber, so you can use it, if you want. The service is reliable, the drivers are nice, and the cars are clean. Fares depend on the time of the day. They are higher by night, during rush hours and on national holidays.
There’s also Bolt, another ridesharing company. I like it and I use it.
Taxi services are also fine, provided that you use an app to order your rides. Star Taxi is probably the most popular taxi app to use in Bucharest. The basic service fares are around $0.7 US per km.
Taxi drivers don’t take cards, so you’ll need cash. Some may accept US dollars or Euros, but you shouldn’t rely on that. If needed, change some money in the airport, but only the minimum to be able to get to your hotel. Currency exchange rates in the airport are the worst of all.
Taking a taxi from the Old Center by night is something to avoid. Most of them are there to scam tourists and locals alike. If you need a ride from the Old Center to your hotel by night, make sure you use a taxi app or Uber.
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