How do I get to Bucharest from the airport?
How do I get to Romania from the UK?
The best way is by plane. From the UK there are several companies that fly directly to Bucharest, the capital of Romania. There are also flights that land in other significant cities like Sibiu, Cluj Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara. According to your interests in Romania, you should book your fights to the closest airport from your base point. If you plan to visit a larger area from the country, a good idea is to book a flight that lands in Bucharest and departs from a different city, like Cluj Napoca. This way you can cross the entire Transylvania.
Low cost companies with direct flights are:
Most of the flights land in Bucharest.
How do I get from the airport to Bucharest?
There are several options:
- By bus: the 783 bus line connects Otopeni airport with Piata Unirii, the center of Bucharest. Pros: is cost wise (3.5 lei, +-0.70 € per person / way). Cons: depending on the hour, it can get stuck in traffic, thus a 20 km trassey can take more than an hour. The bus works 24 hours and you can check the timetable here. Good to know: the bus station is at the arrivals terminal and you need to buy the ticket before getting on the bus, from the cabin at the side of the bus stop.
- By train: starting with 2021 there is a train line between Otopeni airport and Gara de Nord, the main train station in Bucharest. Pros: is cost wise (4 lei, +-0.80 € per person / way) and it takes only 25 minutes to get you there. Cons: to get to Bucharest center you still have a long way to go, which can be done either by metro, bus or taxi. The train works 24 hours and you can check the timetable here. The tickets can be booked online (even with 10 minutes before embarking) or in the train station.
- By taxi: you have to be careful when booking a taxi at the Bucharest airport, as most of the drivers will try incrementing the cost. Generally, an airport transfer to Bucharest can cost somewhere between 40 – 80 lei / way (8 – 16 euros / way). In the airport there is a special service (machine) where you can call for a taxi which guarantees a fair price that the taxi driver must respect. The inconvenience is that you must wait for the taxi to come and sometimes it can take a one or two hours wait.
- By car rental: if you plan to tour the country, a good option is renting a car, either in the airport, or in Bucharest. There are many companies that rent cars with different rates. A good option is Autonom. When renting a car is good to have an inssurance against all risks, as driving in Romania is a bit chaotic and traffic accidents are common. Another good option is renting a car with driver (if you are a group of at least 4 this is the best option) or book one of our guided tours in Romania, where safe transfers are included.
How to move around in Bucharest
If you want to visit the capital of Romania, you can use public transport. Bucharest is served by metro, tram, bus and taxi. For the taxis, pay attention to the cost written on the driver’s door. Still, the best option is booking a centric accommodation and move around the historical center on foot.