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Transport from Bucharest Airport: My Tips
Otopeni Airport can be reached by public transport bus lines 100 and 442.
Although there is a train directly to the terminal, the bus remains a more convenient and much more frequent way to get to the centre.
| Line | Destination | Travel time | Price | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 100 | Piata Unirii | 45 minutes | 3 ron - 90 minutes (bus, tram) 5 ron - 120 minutes (bus, tram, metro) |
12 minutes |
| CFR train | Bucuresti-Nord | 23 minutes | 6,50 ron | 40 minutes |
| Train T.F.C. | Bucuresti-Nord | 23 minutes | 6,50 ron | 7-8x daily |
Cheapest hotels in Bucharest here
Bus
There are two bus lines arriving at the terminal. The fare system is the same for all buses going to the terminal.
Tickets
Tickets can only be bought at a kiosk at the bus stop or at a ticket machine, the driver does not sell tickets. On buses marked with the "Visa" logo, you can also pay with your own contactless card.
You can also pay your fare via the 24Pay mobile app (see Google Play / App Store).
Classic fares are sold in the form of a "Mulitplu" card, on which two rides are loaded. It is not possible to purchase a single-ride ticket at the airport.
You can buy a 24-hour ticket for 8 ron (buses + trams) or for 14 ron (metro + buses + trams).
- 3 ron - transfer for 90 minutes (buses + trams only)
- 7 ron - transfer for 120 minutes (buses, trams, metro)
If you pay inside the bus by attaching your own card, you will actually pay only 3 or 7 lei. If you buy a Multipl card, you will always pay for two tickets, i.e. 6 ron or 14 ron, which you can then use at any time for your next trip around the city or back to the airport.
Detailed fare information can be found on the website: stbsa.ro.
Line 100
The fastest way to get to the city is by bus line 100, which stops right outside the terminal. This line used to be numbered 100, but was renumbered in December 2023.
The bus goes directly to the historic centre to the central square "Piata Unirii" and stops at the other important squares "Piata Victoriei" and "Piata Romana".
From the airport, the bus takes about 45 minutes to the Piata Unirii terminus. The line is express and stops only at selected stops.
Timetable and route
There is currently only one public bus line to Bucharest Airport:
Line 100 runs 24/7 with a frequency of about once every 15 minutes during the day and once every 30 minutes at night. At weekends the interval is extended to 20 minutes.
- Detailed timetable: stbsa.ro/eng/schedule
- Hotel tip directly on Piata Unirii: Europa Royale Bucharest ****
Line 442
Bus 442 provides additional connections, especially for trips to the airport area or the Therme Spa and Wellness Centre in the north of Bucharest.
Line 442 does not go to the centre of Bucharest, but ends at the Piata Presei stop. There is no transfer to the metro along the way.
- Detailed timetable: stbsa.ro/eng/schedule
Train
Another option is to take the train from the station right by the terminal.
Trains only run once every 40 minutes. However, this option is preferable if you want to continue further by train in Romania, as all trains terminate at Bucuresti-Nord Central Station.
The journey to the main station takes between 21 and 25 minutes.
There are two train companies that run to the airport, each with their own tickets.
You can also pay your fare via the 24Pay mobile app (see Google Play / App Store).
- A tip for a great-rated hotel near Gara da Nord station: Elizeu Hotel ***
CFR
The CFR Călători stops run at intervals of 40 minutes during the day and 90 minutes at night.
A ticket for 6,50 ron You can buy a ticket at the vending machine at the station and also on the train with the conductor's card. You can also buy tickets online in advance on the web: bilete.cfrcalatori.ro. In all cases, you can pay in cash or by card.
You can buy a transfer ticket for anywhere in Romania right at the airport.
- Search for connections (the airport is under the name "Aeroport Henri Coanda"): cfrcalatori.ro/en
- Airport line information: cfrcalatori.ro/henri-coanda-airport
T.F.C.
The connection between the airport and Bucurest-Nord station is completed by the private carrier T.F.C. with its red trains.
Jízdenku za 6,50 ron can only be purchased on board the train (you can also pay by card) or online at the company's website: transferoviarcalatori.ro. Although the ticket price is the same as the CFR, the carriers do not recognize each other's tickets.
T.F.C. trains run at a very irregular frequency of about 8 times a day. A detailed timetable can be found at: transferoviarcalatori.ro/en/henri-coanda.
Taxi / Uber
Licensed taxis run in the centre of Bucharest according to the taxi meter. A trip to central Piata Unirii will cost around 45 ron.
Uber is also officially allowed to go to the airport and can offer slightly lower prices between 35 ron and 40 ron. After ordering through the mobile app, you usually won't wait more than 5 minutes.
Rent a car
If you're heading out of the airport not to the centre of Bucharest, where a car would be just fine, but to the Romanian countryside or the mountains, there are plenty of local and international car rental companies in the terminal.
Weekly rental prices range from 120 eur.
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Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
2 comments
J0x
Translated from cestee.cz
The CFR train ticket can also be bought on the https://play.google.com/store/ap....ImtMobile app and costs 6.5 RON. A TFC ticket costs the same.
Kryštof Hájek
Translated from cestee.cz
Thanks, I'll edit and update the buses as well.
If you need to walk from the airport, e.g. to nearby hotels or the car museum, the quickest and safest way is to walk from the airport to the train station, walk along the platform to the end of the platform and down the stairs. Then follow the GPS navigation.