When you see a bustling metropolis with its grand Belle Epoque buildings and wide tree-lined boulevards, you know you are in Bucharest, also called “Little Paris in the early 1900s. Bucharest experiences hot summers with temperatures going up to 40 degrees Celsius and severe winters when the temperature drops to minus 20 – 30 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Bucharest is from April – May or September – October as the weather is balmy and pleasant, and the average temperature is 25 – 29 degrees Celsius. You may experience a few rainy days, so remember to pack your umbrella and rain boots.
The best deal found on momondo in the last two weeks was a flight to Bucharest from Milan for £12. This is 96% cheaper than most flight deals to Bucharest. To find the cheapest price to Bucharest from your area, use momondo’s Airport-to-Airport Pricing Tool.
The cheapest month to fly to Bucharest from United Kingdom is in March. Flight prices, which tend to average around £57, are often lower during this time because this is during the off-season. If you don’t want to visit Bucharest in March, then you should wait until November to fly from United Kingdom, when ticket prices are also cheap, with an average price of £61.
You are more likely to see cheaper flights to Bucharest from United Kingdom when booking 28 days ahead of your departure date. In general, you can expect to find flights to Bucharest for around £104 when searching 28 days out. Don’t hesitate to check prices now though, because momondo users recently found tickets for as low as £18.
According to our data, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly to Bucharest from United Kingdom. The lowest ticket price found for a Wednesday departure recently was £126. Keep in mind that prices can always vary depending on your route and whether or not you are flying domestic or international. The most expensive day to fly to Bucharest is Saturday, with ticket prices averaging around £143.
According to our data, the cheapest time of day to fly to Bucharest is in the afternoon. momondo users have found flights departing from United Kingdom to Bucharest in the afternoon for as low as £123. Keep in mind that these prices may fluctuate based on what airline you choose and the time of year you plan to travel. Flights at midday are often more expensive, with an average ticket price of £154.
If you’re looking to do your hiking in warmer conditions, consider planning your flight to Bucharest for April, May, and June. Parks like Parcul Drumul Taberei are popular hot spots in those months.
Bucharest Otopeni Intl Airport can be an alternative airport used for travel to Bucharest.
Prices vary based on where travellers are departing from, but on average, the cheapest airport to fly to in Bucharest is Bucharest Baneasa Airport where the average price is £277pp. Users typically find the best prices when using momondo’s Airport-to-Airport Pricing Tool.
Currently, Romania travel restrictions include travel to Bucharest. Romania has restricted the entry of all travellers who are not nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Flights from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom are suspended. Romanian nationals and their families, residence permit holders, and long-stay visa holders may still enter the country. Nationals of EEA Member States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom with a residence in Romania may also enter the country. Diplomats, transport personnel, military personnel, humanitarian aid workers, travellers in family emergencies, and travellers in need of international or other humanitarian protection may also enter the country. All arriving travellers must self-isolate at home for 14 days. If you are planning to travel to Bucharest at this time, it is recommended that you stay up to date on current restrictions and follow proper safety measures while in public.
British Airways, TAROM, Blue Air, Ryanair and Wizz Air provide direct international flights to Bucharest from several destinations in UK. Other airlines flying to Bucharest include KLM, Iberia, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Air France, Air Siberia, LOT, Turkish Airlines, Alitalia, and many more.
Henri Coandă Airport, also known as Otopeni Airport, is located 16 kilometres north of Bucharest city centre and is accessible by train, bus or taxi.
Buses
Local bus Express #783 leaves from the airport terminal every 15 – 30 minutes and makes several stops in the city including the Piata Unirii (Union Square) at the city centre. Another local bus Express #780 leaves every 30 minutes from the airport and makes stops at the Baneasa Airport as well as the Gara de Nord (main railway station). The price for a single trip is 3,5 LEI. Tickets are usually purchased in the form of a contactless card called MULTIPLU (the card costs 1,6 LEI), on which a minimum of 2 journeys must be loaded. The journey time varies between 45 – 90 minutes based on traffic conditions.
Trains
Henri Coandă trains run every hour from the Airport Train station to Gara de Nord. The Airport Train station known as Punct Oprire Aeroport is 2 kilometres from the terminals and can be accessed by the airport mini-bus. A one-way ticket costs 7,7 LEI on the Regional (R) train (including the transfer to the airport station) and the journey time is 50 – 60 minutes.
Taxis
Licensed taxis with fares between 1,39 lei – 3,5 LEI per kilometre are available on the ground floor, in front of the Arrivals terminal. Typical fare from the airport to main railway station will be 30 – 50 LEI depending on traffic conditions and the taxi service you choose to take.
Rental Cars
Offices of various car rental agencies are located in the passageway between the departures and arrival terminals. You can also look for the best deals online for car rentals with momondo.
Aurel Vlaicu Airport, commonly known as Baneasa Airport is the hub of low cost airlines and is located 8 kilometres north of Bucharest city centre. You can travel from the airport to Bucharest city centre by several local bus routes (#131, #335, #148, #112 and #301), one tram line (#5) and one metro line (M2). A one-way ticket costs 1,3 LEI. Express Bus #783 and Express Bus #780 which link Otopeni Airport to the city centre and main railway station respectively, also make stops at Baneasa Airport. The ticket cost is 3,5 LEI for express routes and 1,3 LEI for all other routes. Your travel time is between 20 – 35 minutes. Taxis and car rentals are the other options to travel from the airport to the city centre.
Ground Transportation – Buses, Trams and Trolleys
Bucharest has a dense network of buses, trams and trolleys operated by RATB and they cover virtually every area of the city from 5 am to 11.30 pm. Tickets are interchangeable and typically cost 1,3 LEI for a single journey on local routes and 3,5 LEI on express routes. You will need to purchase a Multiple card for 1,6 LEI and load it with 2 – 10 trips of 1,3 LEI per trip or a 1-day pass for 8,0 LEI. The day pass allows you unlimited usage of buses, trams and trolleys (excluding the express line routes) all day long.
Underground Transportation – Bucharest Metro
The subway is operated by Metrorex and lines M1, M2, M3 and M4 cover all of Bucharest underground transportation from 5.00 am to 11.00 pm. Metro tickets cost 5,0 LE for 2 trips, 20,0 LEI for 10 trips or a 1-day pass for 8,0 LEI allows unlimited trips for the day.
On foot
Most top attractions in Bucharest are scattered throughout the city, hence exploring Bucharest on foot may not be worth it, unless you have plenty of time and are an avid walker with high endurance.
Taxis
Several taxi companies operate in Bucharest and charge by the taximeter but the fares per kilometre will vary. Remember to check the fare written on the rear door of the vehicle you travel in, and ensure that the taximeter charges you on the basis of that rate. Also, try to schedule your journeys keeping in mind that traffic during rush hour is quite heavy and your travel time can increase significantly. This applies to traveling in local buses as well.
UK Nationals
UK citizens must have a passport, but no visa is required for up to 90 days. Passport endorsed British Citizens, European Communities, British Dependent Territories Citizens or British Subjects only need a passport.
Other Nationalities
Romania is not yet part of the Schengen visa agreement. However, Schengen Visa holders do not need to get a (special) Romanian visa to visit Bucharest provided their Schengen visa allows at least 2 entries in Schengen space and the number of entries and/ or length of stay has not yet been utilised. To check if you need a visa, please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Bucharest’s landscape is an interesting mix of old historic buildings, ancient churches, lush parks, lakes, and elegant boulevards. In recent years, several restoration projects have been undertaken to bring the older structures and architecture back to their former glory. Here are a few things that you must see and do when visiting Bucharest:
Try some traditional Romanian fare such as the tripe soup, the sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), or the large range of borsch dishes, as well as the mititei (grilled minced-meat rolls). Also try out the tuică, a traditional spirit made from plums. Visit Carturesti Carusel, one of the coolest and prettiest bookshops in the heart of the city’s Old Town with a huge collection of books, vinyl, stationary, and novelty items. As is true of any busy city, be careful of pick-pockets and keep your wallets and sundry items safe in crowded public places. Also be alert around stray dogs.