Bucharest: know before you go

Bucharest has one commercial airport, Henri Coandă International, which everyone calls Otopeni (OTP), about 17 km north of the centre. Bus 100 is the cheap, round-the-clock link: it runs day and night from the arrivals and departures terminals to Piața Victoriei, Piața Romană, Universitate and Unirii Square, so it drops you into the city rather than at a station. A 2026 renovation has shifted some airport access points, so follow the signs on the day. The train is the fastest way if you are heading to Gara de Nord, the main station, and it never sits in traffic. After a late or heavy arrival, Uber or Bolt is the smoothest door-to-door option.

The metro, run by Metrorex, is the fastest way across the city, while STB runs the buses, trams and trolleybuses on the surface. The two systems use different tickets unless you buy an integrated one, so know which you are riding before you pay. For a short visit the simplest move is to tap a contactless bank card or phone at the metro turnstile or the on-board validator, no machine queue needed. Validate every single ride: inspectors board often, and forgetting to validate is the classic visitor fine. A handful of night buses run the main corridors after the metro closes.

The only city-specific charge most visitors meet is the Bucharest tourist tax, a flat 10 lei per guest per night added in licensed accommodation, so a three-night stay adds 30 lei. Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere in the centre, and you will rarely need more than small cash for markets and loose change. For the currency itself, tipping norms and what the notes look like, the Romania country guide covers it.

Bucharest is one of Europe's safer capitals, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The realistic risks are petty and easy to dodge: pickpockets in crowded Old Town bars and on packed transport, plus taxi drivers who overcharge at the airport and Gara de Nord. Use Uber or Bolt, which quote a price before you get in, and treat any taxi without a visible company name and rate card as one to skip. The one district with no reason to wander is Ferentari, in the south-east.

Tap water in Bucharest is safe to drink, so refill your bottle at the hotel and skip the plastic. The city has public hospitals and round-the-clock private clinics if you need care, and pharmacies (farmacii) sit on nearly every main street. The seasonal health note is summer heat: the wide, shadeless boulevards such as Bulevardul Unirii bake between June and August, so carry water if you walk the Civic Centre route.

Mobile data is the reliable default in Bucharest. Free WiFi is patchy on public transport and not something to plan a day around, while a local SIM or an eSIM keeps maps, ride-hailing and ticket apps running all day. Coverage in the centre is good on 4G and 5G. Two apps are worth installing before you arrive: InfoTB, for live bus and tram positions, and 24pay, for buying surface tickets on your phone.

Cover shoulders and knees when you step into an Orthodox church such as Stavropoleos or the Old Court Church, and keep your voice down inside; these are active places of worship, so behave as you would in a working church. Bucharest locals are direct but warm, and neat appearance counts in restaurants and theatres. One legal line matters in the Old Town: drinking alcohol on the street is banned outside registered bars and café terraces.

Romanian is the language everywhere, but in the centre and the tourist trade you will find enough English to get by, especially among younger people and in hotels, museums and shops. Signs and tickets are usually Romanian only, so learn a handful: bună ziua for hello, mulțumesc for thank you, vă rog for please, and cât costă? for how much is it. At STB ticket kiosks staff may not speak English, so have your destination written down or show it on your phone.

The Old Town's cobbled lanes, uneven kerbs and stepped historic courtyards are the main challenge for wheelchairs and reduced mobility, and some of the prettiest passages have no flat route. The metro has step-free access at a number of stations, but it is not uniform across the network, so check your specific station before relying on it. For reaching a particular door, ride-hailing and taxis are often the simplest answer.

Two places in Bucharest reward booking before you land. The Palace of the Parliament runs timed guided tours of its interior, a separate hour from walking the grounds, and the slots sell out, so reserve ahead and bring a passport for the security check. The Cotroceni Museum's royal apartments are by appointment only. For the airport, buy your train ticket before boarding to avoid a surcharge, and if you want a driver waiting with a sign, book a private transfer ahead.