Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, a Danube-plain metropolis of about 1.7 million people known for the monumental Palace of the Parliament, a revived medieval Old Town, grand Calea Victoriei and its belle epoque 'Little Paris' boulevards. It combines Ottoman-era inns, Brancovenesc churches, interwar villas and communist-era blocks with a lively cafe, bar and live-music scene.
- Public
- Metrorex runs five metro lines (M1-M5) that reach the main sights, Gara de Nord and the south and west; STB buses, trams and trolleybuses fill the gaps. The CFR Călători airport train from Gara de Nord reaches Henri Coandă Airport in about 20 minutes
- Taxi
- Bolt and Uber are cheap and reliable and are the safest way to get a taxi; street taxis exist but overcharging of tourists is common, so use the apps or a phoned dispatcher
- Rental
- Useful only for day trips out of the city (Prahova Valley, Argeș, Târgoviște); central Bucharest has heavy traffic, aggressive driving and scarce paid parking
- Walking
- The Old Town (Lipscani), Calea Victoriei and Piața Revoluției are walkable, but pavements are often uneven or blocked by parked cars and distances between districts are long
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 2/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Ride-hailing is the standard way to take a taxi in Bucharest. Bolt and Uber both operate city-wide with fixed upfront prices, and a short city ride usually costs 15-35 lei ($3-8). Street taxis are legal but some drivers inflate fares for foreigners.
- Apps
- Bolt, Uber, Clever Taxi (app)
- Phone Dispatch
- Meridian Taxi: 9444 (dial from a Romanian SIM, or +40 21 9444 from abroad), Cristaxi: 9461 (dial from a Romanian SIM)
- Typical Costs
- Airport otp to center
- 60-100 lei ($13-22), 25-40 minutes depending on traffic
- Gara de nord to old town
- 15-25 lei ($3-5.50)
- Base tariff
- Legal city tariff about 4-5 lei per km ($0.90-1.10); ride-hailing surge can double fares at night and in rain
- Tips
- Order the ride in the app and match the plate number before getting in, If using a street taxi, insist the meter is running and the tariff sticker shows 'lei/km', Never get into an unmarked car offering a ride in Arrivals or at Gara de Nord
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Bucharest is a large, flat, sprawling city. The five-line Metrorex metro is the fastest way across it, STB surface transport (buses, trams, trolleybuses) covers the rest, and Bolt or Uber taxis are cheap enough to be the default at night. Two airports serve the capital: Henri Coandă (OTP) at Otopeni, linked to Gara de Nord by a 20-minute CFR Călători train, and Aurel Vlaicu (Băneasa, BBU), which handles mainly business and general aviation. Gara de Nord is the national rail hub for trips to Brașov, Sinaia, Constanța and beyond. A rental car is useful only for day trips outside the city.
Airports
Henri Coandă International Airport (Otopeni)
Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (Băneasa)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Bolt
Uber
Moovit
Google Maps
STB (stb.ro)
Metrorex (metrorex.ro)
CFR Călători (cfrcalatori.ro)
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Metro tickets are bought at the ticket machines and booths in each station; the single-trip fare was raised in 2026 (roughly 5-7 lei, about $1.10-1.50), so read the price on the machine
The STB bus, tram and trolleybus single ticket is bought from kiosks or machines at major stops or on the STB app; validate it in the yellow/orange validator as soon as you board (inspectors fine unvalidated passengers)
Taxi from the airport: use the Bolt or Uber app or the official taxi desks in the arrivals hall; expect 60-100 lei ($13-22) to the Old Town, never accept a driver who approaches you in the terminal
The airport train from Gara de Nord (Platform listed on the departures board as 'Aeroport Henri Coandă') costs about 6 lei ($1.30) and takes about 20 minutes; buy the ticket at the CFR booth or machine in Gara de Nord rather than from the conductor, who charges double
Always check that a street taxi has the tariff (lei/km) displayed on the door; the legal maximum is about 4-5 lei/km ($0.90-1.10) in the city
Carry coins or a contactless bank card; contactless payment is accepted on STB lines and at Metrorex turnstiles in many (not all) stations
Beware pickpockets on the M1 and M4 lines and in Gara de Nord, especially at rush hour and on the airport bus
Rush hour (7:30-10:00 and 16:30-19:30) paralyses surface traffic; the metro is far faster for crossing the city