Trains in Bucharest

Bucuresti Nord (Gara de Nord) is the main station and is on metro lines M1 and M4. CFR Calatori runs InterCity, InterRegio and Regio trains to most Romanian cities, plus night trains to Budapest and Vienna and a daily train to Sofia.

Trains leave through the day and night. InterCity and InterRegio are the fast trains, and Regio trains stop at every station and are much slower. Check times on the day you travel at mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro.

Tickets and prices

• Brasov by InterRegio, 2nd class: about 68.50 lei
• Sinaia by InterRegio: about 40 to 57 lei. Iasi: about 80 to 120 lei. Sibiu: about 90 to 110 lei
• First class costs about 30 to 50 percent more than second class
• Regio trains now need a seat reservation, which adds 5.50 lei
• Night train to Budapest (Ister): couchette from about 39 EUR, 2-bed sleeper about 84 EUR. Sofia train: about 36 EUR in 2nd class

Where to buy tickets

• Online at bilete.cfrcalatori.ro or interregional.ro, or in the CFR Calatori app. E-tickets are named, so carry ID
• Ticket offices (Case de Bilete) at Bucuresti Nord. International tickets are sold at window 1
• Ticket machines in main stations
• International tickets online at bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro
• On board you pay a higher on-board rate. You only pay the office rate if you board at a stop with no ticket office or machine and ask the conductor straight away
• Fine for travelling without a ticket or refusing to pay: 250 to 400 lei. Half the minimum if paid within 15 days

Good to know: Take an InterCity or InterRegio for any trip over an hour. Regio trains can take twice as long.

CFR Calatori conditions of carriage 2026 (official site)

Direct trains from Bucharest

• Sinaia: about 1 h 30 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori InterRegio
• Brasov: about 2 h 15 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori InterCity, InterRegio, Astra Trans Carpatic
• Constanta: about 2 h 15 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori InterCity, InterRegio
• Iasi: about 4 h 30 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori InterRegio, InterCity
• Sibiu: about 5 h 30 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori
• Cluj-Napoca: about 9 h from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori InterCity
• Timisoara: about 9 h 30 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori
• Sofia (Bulgaria): about 10 h from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori, BDZ
• Budapest (Hungary): about 14 h 20 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori, MAV
• Vienna (Austria): about 18 h 25 min from Bucuresti Nord, Dacia night train
• Kyiv (Ukraine): about 24 h 30 min from Bucuresti Nord, Sleeper train
• Ploiesti: about 40 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori
• Craiova: about 3 h 15 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori
• Sighisoara: about 6 h 20 min from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori
• Arad: about 11 h from Bucuresti Nord, CFR Calatori

Trams and metro in Bucharest

STB runs the trams, buses and trolleybuses of Bucharest. The metro is run by Metrorex and sold separately, though joint tickets cover both.

STB and the metro run from about 05:00 to 23:00. Night lines marked N run from about 23:00 to 04:30 and mostly meet at Piata Unirii.

Tickets and prices

• STB single trip (bus, tram, trolleybus): 3 lei, valid 90 minutes
• STB 24-hour ticket: 8 lei
• Joint STB and metro trip: 7 lei, valid 120 minutes. Joint 24-hour ticket: 18 lei
• Children under 7 ride STB free
• A tap with a contactless bank card on STB buys one single trip

Where to buy tickets

• Contactless bank card or phone on the validator on board (single trip)
• 24pay app for tickets on your phone
• SMS: text C to 7458 for 90 minutes or AB to 7458 for 24 hours. This costs more than the normal fare
• STB kiosks and ticket offices. These are not at every stop
• Not from the driver
• Without a valid ticket you pay an 80 lei surcharge on the spot. If you refuse it, the fine is 300 to 500 lei

Good to know: Not every vehicle has a validator. If you board one without a working validator, buy your ticket by SMS or in the 24pay app.

STB (official site)

Bucharest network

Bucharest has five metro lines run by Metrorex: M1 yellow, M2 blue, M3 red, M4 green and M5 orange. Piata Unirii is the main hub.

• Five lines: M1 (yellow), M2 (blue), M3 (red), M4 (green), M5 (orange)
• Piata Unirii links M1, M2 and M3
• Gara de Nord (M1 and M4) is the main railway station
• Piata Victoriei links M1 and M2, and Eroilor links M1, M3 and M5
• Metro fares: 5 lei for one trip, 10 lei for 2 trips, 40 lei for 10 trips, 12 lei for 24 hours, 45 lei for 7 days. The metro does not reach the airport

Buses in Bucharest

STB buses cover the whole city and use the same ticket as trams and trolleybuses. Intercity coaches leave from several coach stations around Bucharest.

City buses run from about 05:00 to 23:00, then night lines run until about 04:30. Bus 100 Express to the airport runs 24 hours.

Tickets and prices

• STB bus single trip: 3 lei, valid 90 minutes
• STB 24-hour ticket: 8 lei, covering bus, tram and trolleybus
• Joint bus and metro trip: 7 lei for 120 minutes
• Night lines: normal fare
• Intercity coaches: fares set by each coach company, check the company's site

Where to buy tickets

• Contactless bank card or phone on the validator (marked Visa on buses with card readers)
• 24pay app
• SMS: text C to 7458 (90 minutes) or AB to 7458 (24 hours)
• STB kiosks and ticket offices
• Not from the driver

Good to know: A bus ticket is not valid on the metro, and a metro ticket is not valid on buses. Buy a joint ticket if you will use both.

STB (official site)

Airport links in Bucharest

Henri Coanda Airport (OTP) is in Otopeni, about 17 km north of the centre. Bus 100 Express and a direct train both run to the city. The metro does not reach the airport.

Bus 100 Express runs every 15 minutes in the day and every 30 minutes at night, and takes about 45 minutes to Piata Unirii. The train takes about 21 to 25 minutes to Gara de Nord, roughly every 40 minutes in the day.

Tickets and prices

• Bus 100 Express: 3 lei (90 minutes), or 7 lei with the metro (120 minutes)
• Train to Bucuresti Nord: about 6 lei
• Taxi to Piata Unirii: about 45 lei by meter
• Uber and Bolt: about 35 to 40 lei

Where to buy tickets

• Bus 100 Express: tap a contactless card on board, or use the card desk and machine on the ground floor in front of Arrivals
• Text C to 7458 (90 minutes) or AB to 7458 (24 hours), or use the 24pay app
• Train: ticket machines at Bucuresti Nord and Aeroport Henri Coanda stations, ticket offices, the CFR Calatori app or the 24pay app
• Train: contactless validators on board for bank cards
• Taxi: use the meter and a licensed taxi

Good to know: The train is the fastest way to Gara de Nord. Buy your train ticket first, because controllers on the airport train no longer sell tickets.

Bucharest Airports: bus (official site)

Airport to city centre: full guide

Tips for Bucharest

• Buy a metro ticket and an STB ticket separately, or buy a joint ticket. They are not valid on each other's vehicles.
• On the metro you can tap a bank card at the gate for a single trip, so you do not need a paper card.
• Validate your ticket on every vehicle. Controllers check often and the on-the-spot surcharge is 80 lei.
• For trains, choose InterCity or InterRegio. Regio trains are slow and need a reservation too.

Apps to download

• 24pay: STB tickets and airport train tickets on your phone
• CFR Calatori: Train tickets and timetables
• Moovit: Route planning for metro, bus, tram and trolleybus
• Google Maps: Public transport directions
• Uber: Ride hailing, allowed at the airport pickup