Travel information
Getting around in Bucharest

Public Transportation

Bucharest's public transportation network includes:
bus (autobuz), tram (tramvai), trolley-bus (troilebuz) and subway (Metrou).

Bucharest Public Transport Tourist Card ("Card Călătorie Turist") is available to visitors and residents.

This 'combo ticket' offers unlimited rides for:

  • the train from Bucharest International Airport to Gara de Nord Terminal
  • bus 783 from Bucharest International Airport to Downtown
  • all urban, above-ground, transport: bus, tram and trolleybus
  • Bucharest Metro (subway)

Cost:

  • 20 lei / 24-hours card
  • 40 lei / 72-hours card

Buses, trams and trolley buses operate - between 5 a.m. and 11:55 p.m.

The subway operates - from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Tickets/cards must be purchased beforehand and validated upon boarding.

Travelers may be asked to show the validated ticket/card during the trip.

Travelers without a validated ticket must pay a 500 Lei ($120.00) penalty (Suprataxa).

Tickets or passes can be purchased at any kiosk displaying the STB logo.

Bucharest above-ground local transportation
(bus / tram / trolley bus) fares and passes:

  • magnetic travel card (electronic wallet): 4 Lei (approx. $0.95)
  • one-trip ticket (90 minutes): 3 Lei (approx. $0.75)
  • 10-trips (90 minutes each trip): 25 Lei (approx. $6.25)
  • day-pass: 8 Lei (approx. $1.95)
  • three-day pass: 20 Lei (approx. $5.25)
  • seven-day pass: 30 Lei (approx. $7.50);
  • above-ground month pass: 80 Lei (approx. $19.50)
  • one trip with any public transport means (above-ground and subway): 5 Lei (approx. $1.20)
    (one subway ride and 90-minutes trip with any above-ground transport means)
  • all public transport month pass: 140 Lei (approx. $33.50)
    (unlimited above-ground transportation and subway rides)

Tickets are interchangeable for the bus, tram and trolley bus, with the exception of express buses.

Express Bus 783

connects Bucharest International Airport with downtown Bucharest (bus 783 operates 24 hours a day).

Two or 10-journey tickets, as well as monthly passes, are available for all express buses.

There is direct train service from the city's main train terminal (Gara de Nord) to Bucharest international airport.

Above-ground & Subway 'combo' fares:

  • One-trip (bus/ tramway and metro - unlimited validations within 120 minutes): 5 Lei (approx. $1.25)
  • 10-trips (bus/ tramway and metro - unlimited validations within 120 minutes): 34 Lei (approx. $8.50)
  • Day Pass unlimited: 14 Lei (approx. $4.00) - unlimited rides for one day
  • 3-Day Pass unlimited: 35 Lei (approx. $8.50) - unlimited rides for one day
  • 7-Day Pass unlimited: 50 Lei (approx. $12.00) - unlimited rides for one day

Bucharest Subway (Metrou) connects the outskirts of the city with the downtown and the main train terminal (Gara de Nord); subway operates - from 5 am to 11 pm.

There are five subway lines (Metrou) in operation: M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5.

Subway stations are indicated with the letter "M" (blue, on a white board).

The final destination is indicated on the front of the train. Each stop is announced as the train nears the station.

Trains arrive every four to seven minutes during peak times and every 15-20 minutes off-peak times.

The average distance between subway stops is about one mile.

Subway fares:

  • One-trip metro card: 3 Lei (approx. $0.75)
  • Two-trips metro card: 6 Lei (approx. $1.45)
  • 10-trip metro card: 25 Lei (approx. $6.00)
  • Day Pass unlimited: 8 Lei (approx. $2.00) - unlimited rides for one day
  • 3-day pass unlimited: 20 Lei (approx. $5.00)
  • 7-day pass unlimited: 30 Lei (approx. $7.50) - unlimited rides for seven days
  • Month-pass unlimited: 80 Lei (approx. $20) - unlimited rides / calendar month

Airport Transportation

Henri Coanda International Airport / Otopeni (OTP)

  • Address: Calea Bucurestilor 224
  • Tel: (+4) 021 204.12.00 or (+4) 021 204.12.10
  • Website
  • Distance from Bucharest airport to downtown: 18 km (11 miles).

Most international flights arrive at Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport.
Airport facilities include ATM, currency exchange office, Taxi Desk and cell phone rentals.
All major car rental companies have offices located in the airport.


Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and city centre:

Several Taxi companies operate in Bucharest, and their rates vary.

Taxis can be called by using the touch screen taxi dispatch (Dispecerat Automatizat Taxi) located in the arrivals terminal, next to the Taxi Desk (Taxi la Comanda). There is no flat-rate taxi fare from the airport to Bucharest downtown however, all licensed taxis are metered.

Rate / km: 2.39 lei to 4.00 lei ($0.50 -- $0.90). There is no extra-charge for luggage.
The average fare from the airport to downton Bucharest is about 70 Lei (equivalent of $16.00).

Accepting rides from drivers who might approach you inside or in front of the terminal is not good idea; the risk of being overcharged is significant.

If you will run into a problem with any taxi in Bucharest – or if you are suspecting that you have met a dishonest driver – ask for a receipt and if possible try to write down the vehicle's license plate #.

To file a Bucharest Taxi complaint please call:

  • (+4) 021 201 3242 or (+4) 021 311.62.09 (Transportation Bureau of the Police Department) and/or
  • 021 9844 (Bucharest City Hall - Complaints) and/or
  • 021 9551 (Consumer Protection Authority).

Express Bus 783 takes travelers from the airport to the city centre, with stops at Baneasa Airport, Piata Presei Libere, Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Piata Universitatii and Piata Unirii.

Bus 783 departs from the Arrivals terminal every 15 to 20 minutes (every 40 minutes between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). The journey to Bucharest downtown takes approximately 40 minutes.

Note: Before boarding the bus, please purchase a public transportation card ("Activ Card") available from at the 'STB' ticket booth in the arrivals terminal or next to the bus stop.

The bus ticket booth is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.).

One 'Activ Card' costs 3.70 Lei (about $0.85).

To ride the bus you will also need to add the cost of the trip(s) to your card (add 7 Lei for two trips from / to the airport or 3.50 Lei for one trip). Your Activ card must be validated as you board the bus.


Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and Bucharest main train terminal (Gara de Nord):

Train:

Henri Coanda Express Train to Bucharest main train terminal (Gara de Nord)

The journey from the airport to the train station takes about 22 minutes.

One-way ticket costs 5 Lei ($1.25) for Adults or 3 Lei ($0.75) for Childrens (up to 10 y.o.).

Tickets can be purchased at the CFR kiosk International Arrivals Terminal.

Baneasa Airport

  • Address: Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti 40
  • Tel: (+4) 021 232.00.20
  • Baneasa Airport Website
  • Baneasa Airport, located five miles north of Bucharest downtown , is mostly used for private planes and budget airlines.

Public transportation between Baneasa airport and city centre:

  • Bus #131 and #783 to downtown Bucharest
  • Bus #205 to the main train terminal (Gara de Nord)
  • Taxi - $12.00 (average fare to downtown)

Baneasa airport (5 miles N of Bucharest city-centre) is the world's fourth oldest, still in operation; its arrivals/departures terminal is the first, in the world, to be built in the shape of an airplane propeller. First take-offs and landings Baneasa airfield has witnessed were those performed by aviation pioneers Louis Bleriot (1909) and Aurel Vlaicu (1910). Baneasa became an aerodrome in 1912 and an airport in 1919.

Train Transportation

Bucuresti North - main train terminal (Gara de Nord)
Address: Blvd. Garii de Nord 2
Tel: 021 9521
Bucharest's main train terminal, Gara de Nord, is located 2 miles northwest of Bucharest downtown.

The original Orient Express ran from Paris to Istanbul with several stops in Romania.

International trains

There are daily or seasonal direct trains from/to Athens, Budapest, Istanbul, Sofia and Vienna.

Trains from/to Western European cities run via Budapest.

Getting to Romania / By Train

To check international trains schedule to/ from Bucharest please visit:
RomaniaTourism International Transportation section.

To check schedules and fares for domestic trains please check
RomaniaTourism Domestic Transportation section.

Accepting rides from drivers who might approach you at the airport, train station or in the street is not a good idea; the risk of being overcharged is significant.

If you will run into a problem with any taxi in Bucharest – or if you are suspecting that you have met a dishonest driver – ask for a receipt and if possible try to write down the vehicle's license plate #.

To file a Bucharest Taxi complaint please call:

  • 021 201 3242 (Transportation Bureau of the Police Department)
  • 021 9844 (Bucharest City Hall - Complaints)
  • 021 9551 (Consumer Protection Authority).

Car Rental

All major international and local car rental companies are represented in Romania's capital city.

Shopping

Since the 1990s, brand names and high-end stores have been pushing their way into the Romanian market. From high fashion boutiques to art galleries, shopping in Bucharest can fit any taste or budget. Stroll down Blvd. Magheru from Piata Romana to Piata Universitatii for a shopping extravaganza or hit one of the many shopping malls favored by the local rich & famous.

Handicrafts (Artizanat)

Folk crafts, such as embroidered clothing and linen, painted or beaded eggs, carpets, pottery, woodcarvings and icons, make interesting gifts and souvenirs. Romanian peasants do magnificent embroidery on cotton, wool and leather. Look for blouses, skirts, exotic coats, rugs, tablecloths and lacework. Icons, new and old, painted on glass or wood are outstanding. A good selection can be found at the Romanian Peasant Museum, the Village Museum, most department stores.

Shopping Centers

Afi Palace Cotroceni Mall

Address: Blvd. Timisoara
Tel: (+4) 031 425.75.10

Baneasa Shopping City

Address: Sos. Bucuresti – Ploiesti 42
Tel: (+4) 021 306.06.58

Bucuresti Mall

Address: Calea Vitan 55-59, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 327.67.00

Grand Arena Mall

Address: Blvd. Metalurgiei 12-18, sector 4
Tel: (+4) 031 425.75.14

Mario Plaza

Address: Calea Dorobantilor 172, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 230.47.71

Plaza Romania Mall

Address: Blvd. Timisoara 26, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 407.84.16

Unirea Shopping Center

Address: Piata Unirii 1, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 303.03.07

Art Galleries

Galeria 23

Address: Str. Lipscani 63 - 65, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 0740.819.826

Open: Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Galeria Galateca

Address: Str. C. A. Rosetti 2-4

Open: Mon. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Galeria Galateea

Address: Calea Victoriei 132
Tel: (+4) 021 659.38.14

Open: Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Galeria Hanul Cu Tei

Address: Str. Blanari 5-7, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 313.01.81

Open: Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Galeria Nemtoi

Address: Calea Victoriei 126, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 312.98.00

Open: Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 8 pm, Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Galeria Noua

Address: Str. Academiei 15, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 322.81.59

Open: Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. & Tue.

Galeria Orizont

Address: Blvd. Nicolae Balcescu 23A, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 315.89.22

Open: Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Galeria Simeza

Address: Blvd. Magheru 20, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 021 659.38.25

Open: Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Book stores (Librarie)

Libraria Carturesti

Several stores in Romania's main cities
Books (quite a few in English), tea and coffe, CDs, DVDs and Vinyl Records.

Music Stores

Visitors interested in Romanian music can find pop and traditional music recordings as well as musical instruments at Magazinul Muzica

Address: Calea Victoriei 41- 43, Bucharest
Tel: (+4) 0733 108.275

Fresh Produce Markets (Piata)

Piata Amzei

Address: Str. Christian Tell 6 (between Calea Victoriei and Blvd. Magheru, near Piata Romana)
Tel: (+4) 021 211.67.26

This is the city's most centrally located outdoor market. The outdoor market is surrounded by butcheries, cheese, flower and medicinal plant shops.

Piata Dorobantilor

Address: Blvd. Radu Beller 3 - 5
Tel: (+4) 021 231.92.99

Upscale neighborhood market with a selection of fresh produce and flowers

Piata 1 Mai

Address: Blvd. Ion Mihalache 123
Tel: (+4) 021 317.14.63

Resembling an Oriental bazaar, this is the place to find everything from fresh cheese and eggs, fruits and vegetables, to flowers and household items.

Piata Obor

Address: Campul Mosilor 5
Tel: (+4) 021 252.69.54

Bucharest's biggest outdoor market; here, you can find here a huge food market and a "bazaar".

Piata Dorobantilor

Address: Blvd. Radu Beller 3 - 5
Tel: (+4) 021 231.92.99

Upscale neighborhood market with a selection of fresh produce and flowers

Piata 1 Mai

Address: Blvd. Ion Mihalache 123
Tel: (+4) 021 317.14.63

Resembling an Oriental bazaar, this is the place to find everything from fresh cheese and eggs, fruits and vegetables, to flowers and household items.

Tourist Info

Bucharest Tourist Information Office

Address: Piata Universitatii underpass (Pasajul Universitatii)
Telephone: (+4) 021 305.55.00 extension 1003
Email: turism@bucuresti-primaria.ro

Bucharest is safe and hospitable ; violent crime is almost non-existent.
As in any large city visitors are advised to take usual safety precautions.
Do not draw unnecessary attention to your person, money or jewelry and be aware of pickpockets and scam artists.
Never accept taxi / car rides, tours or guide services from strangers who approach you on the street, no matter how presentable or fluent in English.

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