Bucharest airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Four ways cover almost every arrival: train, express bus, taxi or ride-hailing app, and a pre-booked transfer. The train is cheapest and fastest when it lines up with your landing; the bus runs around the clock; a car is the simplest door-to-door choice, especially with luggage or after midnight.

A branch line links the airport station to Bucharest's main station, Gara de Nord. The ride takes roughly 25–30 minutes and costs a few lei, which makes it the cheapest way into town. Trains run at roughly hourly intervals rather than every few minutes, so check the timetable against your landing time before you commit.

From Gara de Nord you can walk to nearby hotels, take the metro, or pick up a taxi or app car for the last leg. If your final stop is in the old town or the centre, the metro from Gara de Nord is usually quicker than staying in a car.

The station sits close to the terminal, but confirm the walking route and platform on arrival; signage is limited and the service is not designed for very late-night arrivals (check).

The express bus 783 connects the airport with central Bucharest and runs through the night, which makes it the default for arrivals when the train has stopped. Expect 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, longer at rush hour.

Buy a ticket from the machine at the stop, from a kiosk, or by card or app where available. Validate it on board. The bus stops along a central route rather than at one terminus, so check which stop is closest to your accommodation before boarding.

A second, slower bus route also serves the airport; it is cheaper but stops more often and is not worth it with heavy bags (check).

Ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to avoid fare disputes. Bolt and Uber both operate at OTP, with pickup points outside the arrivals hall. Expect RON 50–120 to the centre in 30–60 minutes, more at rush hour or in rain when surge pricing applies.

If you take a street taxi, use a marked rank at the terminal and confirm the meter or agree the price before you get in. Check the plate number against the app before you enter the car, and keep your booking on screen.

Pre-booked transfers with a driver waiting in arrivals cost more, roughly RON 100–200, but remove the language and payment friction on a first visit or a late landing (check).

Budget travellers can reach the centre for under RON 10 using the train or bus. A car costs roughly ten times that. The gap matters most if you are arriving twice, or if you plan to use public transport around Bucharest during your stay.

Prices below are 2026 estimates in lei. The site converts them to your currency.

Romania uses 230 V, 50 Hz with type C and F plugs, so a European adapter covers most devices. Tap water in Bucharest is treated and generally safe, though many locals drink bottled mineral water.

Buy a local eSIM before you land so you can book a car, check the bus stop or message your host without hunting for Wi-Fi. Keep some lei in cash for small purchases; cards are widely accepted in the city but not everywhere at the airport.

If you arrive after midnight, plan on the bus or a car rather than the train, and have your accommodation address written down for the driver. Traffic into the centre can be slow at any hour, so add buffer before a same-day onward train from Gara de Nord.