TRAVEL TO BUCHAREST
Bucharest General Information
Location: Southern Romania
Elevation: 190-295 ft (55-90 m)
Size: City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq.km);
Metropolitan area - 587 sq.miles (1,521 sq.km)
Inhabited since: 500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD
Population: 2.2 milion (2012)
BY PLANE
Flying to Bucharest is the most straightforward manner of getting to the capital of Romania. Bucharest is serviced by two airports: Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni) and Aurel Vlaicu Airport (Băneasea).
Both of these airports connect Bucharest with major cities in Europe, such as Naples, Paris, Pisa, Rome, Dublin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Vienna, Milan, Istanbul and Budapest. They are also used by airline companies which provide domestic flights between Bucharest and all the other major airports in Romania: Cluj, Timişoara, Iaşi.
Băneasea Airport is chiefly used for charter and low-cost flights. Blue Air, German Wings, Wizz Air and MyAir are the main airline companies operating at Băneasea, whereas Otopeni Airport is the place where Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa operate.
A general feature is the passengers who land at Băneasea or Otopeni can get quite easily to anywhere in Bucharest. There are plenty of buses which connect the two airports with places like the center of the city and the North Train Station.
Airport Transportation
Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Address: Calea Bucurestilor 224
Tel: 021 204.12.00 or 204.12.10
Web: www.BucharestAirports.ro
Domestic Flights:
Scheduled domestic flights from/to Cluj-Napoca (CLJ), Iasi (IAS), Oradea (OMR), Satu Mare (SUJ), Sibiu (SBZ), Timisoara (TSR) also depart from/ arrive to Henri Coanda Airport.
For domestic flights information and reservations please visit: www.tarom.ro
Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and city centre:
Distance from Bucharest airport to downtown: 18 km (11 miles).
Several Taxi companies operate in Bucharest, and their rates can vary.
Taxis can be called by using the touch screen computer (called Dispecerat Automatizat Taxi) available next to the Taxi Desk (Taxi la Comanda) located in the arrivals terminal.
There is no flat rate taxi transportation available from Bucharest Airport to downtown.
Rate / km: 1.39 lei to 3.50 lei (about $1.00).
There is no extra-charge for luggage.
The average fare from the airport to downton Bucharest is less than 70 Lei (the equivalent of $23.00).
Do not accept rides from drivers who might approach you inside or in front of the terminal, you will risk to be overcharged.
For a free Bucharest Taxi Fare estimate please visit www.tariftaxi.ro
Fare estimates offered by TarifTaxi.ro are for the shortest route/ normal traffic conditions.
Actual fare may be more – or less - than predicted.
If you run into a problem with any taxi in Bucharest – or if you are suspecting that you have met a dishonest driver - ask for a receipt and if possible try to write down the vehicle's license plate #.
To file a Bucharest Taxi complaint please call
021 201 3242 (Transportation Bureau of the Police Department) and/or
021 9844 (Bucharest City Hall - Complaints)
021 9551 (Consumer Protection Authority).
Baneasa Airport
Address: Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti 40
Tel: 021 232.00.20 or 9713
Web: www.baneasa-airport.ro
Baneasa Airport, located six miles from downtown Bucharest, is mostly used for private planes.