Pedestrians stroll along Calea Victoriei in Bucharest on a sunny day, the broad avenue lined with trees and grand facades

Otopeni (OTP) Transfers

Airport Taxi & Ride-Share

How to get from the airport without stress: safe choices, pick-up strategy, and Old Town drop-off reality.

Reviewed June 2026 · Love Bucharest editorial team

Photo: Turgidson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The long fountain axis down Bulevardul Unirii in Bucharest, leading toward the Palace of the Parliament — The fountains of Bulevardul Unirii running toward the Palace of the Parliament.Photo: Jaimrsilva · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The safest, easiest rule: use official channels

Bucharest airport transfers are simple when the plan is simple. The airport's app-based taxi-order touchscreens and ride-share apps (Bolt/Uber) are the reliable options, both giving you a fixed or tracked price. The only real “problem” happens when an unsolicited driver approaches tourists in arrivals and a rushed decision is made.

Essentials (quick answers)

Best overall strategy

Order through the airport's app-based taxi touchscreen terminals in arrivals, or use a ride-hailing app (Bolt/Uber). Both give you a fixed or app-tracked price — never accept a ride from someone who approaches you.

What it costs

A fair fare to the centre is roughly 60–130 lei by taxi or ride-share, depending on traffic and demand. It rises in heavy traffic and can surge on apps at peak arrival waves — but it is still inexpensive by Western-European standards.

Most common mistake

Accepting a “helpful” ride offer from a tout in the arrivals hall instead of using the order terminals or an app. That is where overcharging happens; the official channels are easy and right there.

Old Town reality

Lipscani has pedestrian streets, so even a car transfer often ends with a short walk. Setting the drop-off to a nearby main street can be faster than crawling to the exact pin.

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Transfer options (choose your vibe)

Ride-share (Uber / Bolt)

Best for: Door-to-door convenience and app-tracked pricing (~60–130 lei to the centre)

Pros

✦Easy booking and cashless card payment
✦Driver, plate and price shown in the app before you go
✦Good for late arrivals, families and heavy luggage

Cons

→Designated pickup zone can move; follow the app and airport signage
→Surge pricing can push the fare up at peak arrival waves

Tip

Set the destination to a nearby main street if your accommodation is deep inside the Old Town pedestrian lanes — it is often faster than crawling to the exact pin.

Official taxi (ordered at the terminal)

Best for: Simple transfers when you would rather not use an app (~60–130 lei)

Pros

✦Order from the app-based touchscreen terminals in arrivals — they print the company and fare
✦Direct, straightforward transfer with no transfers or walking
✦Works even with a low phone battery or no mobile data

Cons

→Quality varies by driver
→You must use the terminals/official rank — confirm the meter or printed fare

Tip

Use the order touchscreens or the official rank and avoid anyone offering rides inside the terminal. Keep a little cash (lei) as a backup, though most accept cards.

Public options (bus 100 / train)

Best for: Budget travel and daytime arrivals

Pros

✦Very low cost — bus 100 is about 3 lei, the train about 6 lei
✦Bus 100 runs direct to Piața Unirii (Old Town); the train beats heavy traffic

Cons

→Transfers and walking can be awkward with luggage
→Less convenient for late-night arrivals (train runs only ~every 40 min)

Tip

If you are heading to the Old Town, express bus 100 to Piața Unirii is usually the simplest and cheapest public route.

How to order a taxi or ride-share, step by step

Find the taxi-order touchscreens

In the arrivals hall, app-based taxi-order terminals (touchscreen kiosks) let you choose a licensed company and call a car. They print a slip showing the operator and an estimated fare, so you know the price before you walk out. Because the airport is being renovated, the exact location of the terminals and the pickup ramp can move — follow the current airport signage.

Or use a ride-hailing app

Bolt and Uber both operate at Henri Coandă. Request the ride in the app, then walk to the designated ride-hailing pickup zone shown in the app and on airport signs. The app shows the driver, plate and price up front, and you pay by card — handy if you would rather not deal with cash.

Confirm before you set off

For an ordered taxi, check the meter is running or that the printed fare matches; for an app ride, check the plate against the app. A typical run to the centre is about 60–130 lei. If anything feels off, step back inside and start again — there is no pressure to take the first car.

Safety rules (simple, effective)

→Avoid unsolicited “taxi” offers inside the terminal.

→Use ride-share apps or official taxi ordering/queues.

→Confirm the destination and ask for meter use if in a taxi.

→Keep valuables secure and do not flash cash.

→If something feels wrong, step back into the terminal or a busier area and reset the plan.

Pick-up and drop-off tips

Pick-up location

Airports can have designated pick-up points. Follow in-app instructions and airport signs rather than guessing.

Offline backup

Save your accommodation address offline or screenshot it. This solves “dead battery” stress fast.

Old Town drop-offs

Choose a nearby main street drop-off and walk 5–10 minutes. It can be faster than navigating crowded lanes.

Peak traffic buffer

Road transfers can vary by traffic. If you have a tour or reservation, build extra buffer time.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Bucharest airport to the city?

A fair fare to the centre is roughly 60–130 lei by official taxi or by ride-share (Bolt/Uber), depending on traffic and the time of day. It rises in heavy traffic and apps can surge at peak arrival waves, but it is still cheap by Western-European standards. Order through the airport terminals or an app so the price is fixed or tracked.

How do the airport taxi terminals work?

In the arrivals hall, app-based taxi-order touchscreens let you pick a licensed company and call a car. The kiosk prints a slip with the operator and an estimated fare, then you go to the pickup ramp. It is the safe, no-haggle way to take a taxi — and it removes any reason to deal with a tout.

Are Uber and Bolt available at Bucharest airport?

Yes. Both Bolt and Uber operate at Henri Coandă. Request the ride in the app and walk to the designated ride-hailing pickup zone shown in the app and on airport signs. You see the driver, plate and price up front and pay by card.

What is the biggest airport taxi scam to avoid?

Accepting a ride from someone who approaches you inside the terminal. Licensed transport is ordered from the touchscreen terminals, the official rank, or a ride-hailing app — anyone offering you a ride before that is the one situation to walk past.

Should I take a taxi or public transport from the airport?

A taxi or ride-share (about 60–130 lei) is best for late arrivals, families, or lots of luggage. If you are travelling light by day and heading to the Old Town, express bus 100 (about 3 lei, direct to Piața Unirii) or the train to Gara de Nord are far cheaper and easy.

Can I pay the airport taxi by card?

Ride-hailing apps charge your card automatically. Ordered taxis increasingly accept cards too, but it is worth carrying a little cash (lei) as a backup. Decline dynamic currency conversion so you pay in lei rather than a marked-up euro rate.

Where is the airport taxi and ride-share pickup point?

Ordered taxis use a pickup ramp near arrivals; ride-hailing has its own designated zone shown in the app. Because Henri Coandă is undergoing renovation, these points can move, so follow the current airport signage and the in-app pickup instructions on the day.

Next: build the first day

Once the airport transfer is sorted, the rest of the trip becomes easy: a central base, a walking itinerary, and one anchor experience per day.

Where to Stay (Old Town)