Practical info for participants

To help ensure a pleasant and worry-free arrival in Bucharest, we have prepared a short guide to the public transportation options available from Henri Coandă International Airport (Otopeni) to the city, along with some useful information about Bucharest’s public transportation network.

Important note regarding your arrival: renovation and refurbishment works are currently being carried out inside Otopeni Airport. As a result, some usual passenger routes and signs may be temporarily changed.

Please do not worry: airport staff are available to assist you and can direct you to the train, bus, or taxi stations.

How to Get from Otopeni Airport to the City

1. By Train – the fastest option

The train provides a direct connection between the station located next to the airport’s Arrivals Terminal and Gara de Nord, Bucharest’s main railway station.

• Journey time: approximately 21 minutes
• Frequency: trains run approximately every 40 minutes, throughout the day and night
• Ticket price: approximately 5.5 RON (around €1.10)

Tickets can be purchased online at mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro.

2. By Bus – Express Line 100

Express Line 100 provides a direct connection between the airport and central Bucharest, with stops at key locations such as Piața Victoriei, Piața Universității, and Piața Unirii.

• Airport stop: located directly in front of the terminal
• Frequency: operates 24/7, approximately every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night
• Fare: approximately 3 RON (around €0.60) for a metropolitan journey valid for 90 minutes

Validity and transfers:

Your ticket is valid for 90 minutes. During this period, transfers between vehicles are included at no additional cost. When transferring, the validator will display the message “Transfer from line X to line Y”, together with the remaining validity time.

3. By Taxi or Ride-Sharing App – the most direct option

If you prefer transportation directly to your hotel, we recommend using only the following safe options:

Authorized taxis

Use the yellow touchscreen kiosks located in the Arrivals Terminal to order an authorized taxi. You will receive a receipt showing the vehicle number and the applicable fare, which is generally around 2.5–3.5 RON/km.

The taxi pick-up area is located directly outside the terminal.

Important: Please avoid accepting transportation offers from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal.

Ride-sharing apps

Bolt and Uber (considerably cheaper than in the rest of Europe) are widely used and readily available in Bucharest. You can order a car directly through the app.

The airport pick-up point is clearly signposted and is usually located on the upper level of the Departures Terminal or in a designated parking area. Please follow the instructions provided in the app when booking your ride.

Useful Information About Public Transportation in Bucharest and Payment Options

Bucharest’s public transportation network includes buses, trolleybuses, and trams operated by STB, as well as the underground metro system operated by Metrorex. The two systems are partially integrated in terms of fares and offer several convenient payment options.

Contactless Bank Card or Digital Wallet

You can pay directly on surface public transportation and at metro entrance gates by tapping your contactless bank card, smartphone, or smartwatch on the designated validators.

Apple Pay and Google Pay are also accepted where contactless payment is available.

This is one of the simplest options for visitors, as it eliminates the need to purchase a physical transportation card.

Mobile Apps

You can use the free 24pay app, available on Google Play and the App Store, to purchase tickets and passes directly using a bank card saved in the app.

Tickets purchased through the app can be used for public transportation services included in the app.

Physical Transportation Cards – Activ / Multiplu

Physical transportation cards can be purchased from STB sales centres located at various stops, as well as from ticket machines and sales points throughout the public transportation network.

SMS

Payment can also be made via SMS to 7458. Please note that this service generally requires a Romanian mobile phone SIM card.

Route Planning and Real-Time Information

For real-time route planning and information about waiting times at stops, we recommend downloading the Info Transport București (InfoTB) app.

You can also use Moovit for public transportation routes and journey planning in Bucharest.