Romania captivates visitors with its medieval castles, fortified churches, and the legendary Dracula's Bran Castle. From the painted monasteries of Bucovina to the Danube Delta's wildlife and the vibrant streets of Bucharest, Romania offers a perfect blend of history, nature, and culture.
- Public
- Bucharest has an excellent metro system (4 lines) plus integrated bus, tram, and trolleybus networks. Other major cities (Cluj, Brașov, Timișoara, Iași) have good bus and tram coverage. Rural areas have limited public transport.
- Taxi
- Bolt and Uber are highly reliable, affordable, and widely available in all cities. Traditional licensed taxis using meters are safe; unlicensed airport taxis should be avoided.
- Rental
- Car hire valuable for reaching Transylvania villages, painted monasteries, and rural areas not served by trains. International companies plus local firms available at airports and city centers.
- Walking
- Bucharest Old Town, Brașov, Sibiu, and Sighișoara historic centers are very walkable. City outskirts and suburbs designed for cars; use transport for distances over 2km.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- Express Bus 783: $1.20, 40-60 minutes to center
- Shuttle
- Taxi: $15-20, 30-45 minutes
- Bus
- Uber/Bolt: $10-15, 30-40 minutes
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
{'availability': 'All cities have extensive bus/tram networks', 'cost': '$0.50-1 per trip, day passes $2-3', 'ticketing': 'Buy from kiosks, validate on board, controllers check frequently', 'notes': 'Bucharest has integrated bus/tram/trolleybus system'}
Alternatives
metro, taxi, rideshare
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- $0.50-0.80
- Apps
- Uber, Bolt (most popular), Free Now
- App Names
- Uber, Bolt (most popular), Free Now
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Cost: Generally cheaper than trains - Bucharest-Brașov: $7-10, 3 hours
Flights
Routes: Limited - mainly Bucharest to Cluj, Timișoara, Iași
Cost: $30-80 one-way
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Airports
Henri Coandă International Airport
From centre: 17 km north of Bucharest
Options: Express Bus 783: $1.20, 40-60 minutes to center; Taxi: $15-20, 30-45 minutes; Uber/Bolt: $10-15, 30-40 minutes; Train to Gara de Nord: $1, 25 minutes
Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport
From centre: 9 km east of Cluj-Napoca
Options: Airport Bus: $1, 30 minutes; Taxi: $8-12, 20 minutes; Uber/Bolt: $5-8, 15-20 minutes
Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport
From centre: 12 km northeast of Timișoara
Options: Express Bus E4: $1, 35 minutes; Taxi: $10-15, 25 minutes; Uber/Bolt: $7-10, 20 minutes
Sibiu International Airport
From centre: 5 km west of Sibiu
Options: Airport Bus 11A: $0.80, 20 minutes; Taxi: $5-8, 15 minutes
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Bolt
Best ride-sharing app in Romania — more affordable than Uber, wider driver availability outside Bucharest, and faster pickup times in cities
CFR Călători app
Official Romanian Railways app for booking intercity train tickets with 20-30% discounts vs station price; required for popular IC train routes
STB Bucharest
Official Bucharest public transport app showing real-time bus and tram positions, route planning, and digital ticket purchase for metro and surface transport
Waze / Google Maps
Both work well in Romania for navigation; Waze particularly good for avoiding Bucharest traffic and reporting speed cameras on intercity routes
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Bolt (not Uber) is the go-to ride-share app in Romania — usually cheaper and more drivers available, especially outside Bucharest
Book intercity IC train tickets at cfrcalatori.ro in advance — popular routes Bucharest-Brașov and Bucharest-Cluj sell out on weekends during peak season
Validate bus/tram tickets immediately after boarding in all cities — controllers check frequently and fines for unvalidated tickets are $15-25
Driving a car in Bucharest is not recommended for visitors — traffic is chaotic, parking difficult and expensive, and public transport plus Bolt covers all tourist sites
The Bucharest metro is the fastest and cheapest way to cross the city — purchase a 10-trip card ($2.50) for best value rather than buying single tickets ($0.60 each)