Bucharest
Bucharest public transport: tickets, passes and apps
For 1–2 days, buy single tickets or a day pass on the STB app or a contactless card; for 3+ days or 8+ rides, the 72-hour or weekly pass wins. Tap the same card for every rider. If you are mostly walking the centre, skip the pass and pay per ride.
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GuideBucharest
Key facts
- Best for 1–2 dayscheck
- Single tickets or a 24-hour pass, bought in the STB app or by contactless tap
- Best for 3+ dayscheck
- 72-hour or weekly pass — cheaper once you ride more than about 8 times
- How to paycheck
- Contactless bank card on validators, STB app, or ticket machines and kiosks
- Airport linkcheck
- Bus 100 from Henri Coandă (OTP) to Gara de Nord and the centre; train also runs to Gara de Nord
- Ticket price bandcheck
- Single ride roughly RON 3; day pass roughly RON 10–15 — 2026 estimate
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON); cards accepted widely, keep small cash for kiosks
- Night servicecheck
- Limited; night buses run on some routes — check the STB app
Best ticket
The decision is simple: count your rides. If you will ride four or more times in a day, a day pass beats singles. If you stay three days or more and move around the city, a 72-hour or weekly pass is the cheapest per ride.
If you are staying in the centre and walking most of the day, singles bought by contactless tap are the least hassle — no queue, no leftover card. Families and groups should tap one card per person; a single tap does not cover two riders.
Buy in the STB app if you want to skip machines, or tap a contactless bank card directly on the validator. Both are valid on the same network.
| Ticket | Price (2026 estimate) | Zones | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ride | RON 3 | All urban lines | One journey, no transfers |
| Day pass (24 h) | RON 10–15 | All urban lines | 24 hours from first validation |
| 72-hour pass | RON 25–35 | All urban lines | 72 hours from first validation |
| Weekly pass | RON 40–60 | All urban lines | 7 days |
| Monthly pass | RON 80–120 | All urban lines | Calendar month |
| Airport bus 100 | Standard urban fare | Urban | One journey |
Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm at the machine or in the STB app before you buy.
How to pay
Contactless bank cards work on the validators inside vehicles and at metro gates: tap once at the start of each ride. The fare is charged to your card, and the same card cannot cover two people.
The STB app lets you buy singles and passes with a saved card and show a QR code or activate a ticket on your phone. Ticket machines at major stops and metro stations take cards and cash; kiosks sell paper tickets and passes.
Keep a little cash for kiosks and small shops. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in the city, but a kiosk may not take a foreign card.
- Tap a contactless bank card on the validator — one tap per rider
- Buy and store tickets in the STB app
- Use ticket machines at metro stations and major stops
- Buy paper tickets or passes at kiosks with cash or card
Zones
Bucharest's urban network is effectively one zone for trams, trolleybuses, buses and the metro inside the city. A standard urban ticket covers all of them.
Suburban lines and some airport services sit outside the urban zone and may need a different fare — check the route before you board. If you are heading to a village or a town outside the city, that is a separate ticket, usually bought at the station or on the bus.
| Area | Covered by urban ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Central Bucharest | Yes | Trams, buses, trolleybuses, metro |
| Outer city districts | Yes | Same urban fare |
| Suburban communes | No | Separate fare — check |
| Airport bus 100 | Yes | Standard urban fare |
Zone rules can change; check the STB app or the stop map.
From the airport
Henri Coandă (OTP) is about 16 km north of the centre. Bus 100 runs to Gara de Nord and the city centre and uses the standard urban fare, so a day pass or a single ticket covers it. The journey takes roughly 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
A train also links the airport to Gara de Nord; check the timetable on the day, as departures are not frequent. A taxi or Bolt costs roughly RON 50–120 to the centre and is the fastest option at night.
If you land late, check whether bus 100 is still running; night service is limited. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the reliable fallback.
| Option | Time to centre | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 100 | 30–60 min | Standard urban fare |
| Airport train | About 30 min | Standard fare — check |
| Taxi or Bolt | 30–60 min | RON 50–120 |
Traffic can double the bus time at rush hour.
Tips
Validate every ride. Inspectors do check, and an unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket. In the app, activate the ticket before boarding.
The metro is the fastest way across the city at rush hour; trams and buses are better for short hops and for reaching areas the metro does not serve.
Keep your ticket or phone screen until you leave the vehicle. If you buy a paper pass, it is usually valid from first validation, not from purchase.
- Validate every ride — inspectors check
- Metro is fastest at rush hour
- Keep your ticket until you exit
- Passes start at first validation, not purchase
- Check night bus routes in the STB app
Questions people ask
What is the best public transport ticket in Bucharest?
For 1–2 days, singles or a 24-hour pass bought by contactless tap or in the STB app. For 3+ days or more than about 8 rides, a 72-hour or weekly pass is cheaper. If you mostly walk the centre, pay per ride.
Can I pay by contactless card in Bucharest?
Yes. Tap a contactless bank card on the validator inside vehicles and at metro gates. One tap covers one rider, so each person needs their own card or ticket. The STB app is an alternative.
How much is a day pass in Bucharest?
A 24-hour pass is roughly RON 10–15 (2026 estimate), covering trams, buses, trolleybuses and the metro inside the city. Confirm the current price at a machine or in the STB app before you buy.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialSTB – Bucharest public transport operator
- officialMetrorex – Bucharest metro
- officialBucharest Henri Coandă Airport
- secondaryWikivoyage – Bucharest