TRANSPORT ROUTES IN BUCHAREST

Relatively safe and efficient, public transit system in Bucharest covers the entire city with buses, tramways, trolleys and metro (subway) services, operating from 5 a.m. to midnight. (click for transport map)
Ticket for public transport (1.1 Lei = 0.39 Euros) must be purchased before traveling by tram, bus or trolley-bus. It can be purchased from special kiosks found at major cross-roads and major bus stations. This type of ticket must be then punched (using the special machine that all buses and trams carry) immediately upon boarding. Tickets are not the same for surface and underground services.
Maxi Taxi are private minibuses, with 16-18 places. The fare is about the same as for the public transport (1 leu - 0.35 Euros) for any distance. The driver stops at your request. You can purchase tickets from the driver. 
For Express buses and underground (subway), there are magnetic cards. The subway is known as the "Metro" and station entrances are marked by square signs with a large white "M" on a blue background.

Taxis in Bucharest

Taxis in Bucharest are a cheap and safe way of transportation as long as you take one belonging to a company and not a private one. 
On the side of any taxi a list of prices will be displayed. 

1. 1/ The first price displayed is normally the starting price 

2. 2/ then the second is the price per kilometre 

3. 3/ the third price displayed is the stationary price. 

Prices vary from company to company so be sure to check them out before getting in. 
A typical price per kilometre is 1.2 - 1.5 RON (0,3 - 0,4 Euros) but be aware of some taxis which have outrageously high rates. Good companies are Cobalcescu, Cristaxi,  Meridian, Perozzi, XXL, Prof Taxi, Rodell, Speed, Leone and Fly Taxi. The name of the company is usually inscribed very clearly on the taxi. 
There are other good companies, but what you should avoid by any means is any taxi marked as "IND" or "Independent". 
The "independents" (taxis) charge about 4 times what a company taxi charges. 
Be aware! It is legal to do that as long as they have the price written on the car, which they have. 
They usually have 4 prices written on the car and you're guaranteed to be charged at the highest price. If you're in a taxi station and there are 4 taxis waiting but still people wait around and then flock to one taxi who just stopped to leave a passenger, then it's sure that nobody trusts the independent taxis. Always make sure that the meter is on.

Most of the taxies in Bucharest are Dacias (the national Romanian car), so don't expect a high level of comfort. 

One company that has better cars and a better level of comfort is Fly Taxi. 
It used to be a hassle to take the taxi from the airport but things have improved (in a way). 
Today there is only one company licensed to pick up passengers from the airport, the Fly Taxi company mentioned above. Their fares are comparable with other companies.

Taxi: ~20 EUR: from HENRI COANDA airport to BUCHAREST center. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Tickets:

From HENRI COANDA Airport to Bucharest North Railway Station ("Gara de Nord") routes:

Route A

Bus line 783, from Otopeni Airport to Bucharest, "Piata Victoriei" Station, (30 min frequency, 45 min duration)
Metropolitan, from "Victoriei 2" Station to "Gara de Nord" Station, (10 min frequency, 5 min duration, 1 station) .

Route B

Bus line 783, from Otopeni Airport to Bucharest, "Piata Romana" Station, (30 min frequency, 45 min duration )
Bus line: 133, from "Piata Romana" Station to "Gara de Nord" Station; (15 min frequency, 10 min duration, 4 stations )

Bucharest North Railway Station Zone Map

"ROMANA" Zone Map

From "Gara de Nord" Railway Station to Magurele routes:

Route A 

From the front of "Gara de Nord" Railway Station (index 8) Trolleybus Line 96 to the "Piata 13 Septembrie" Station (frequency 15 min, duration 25 min, 10 stations) 
From the "Piata 13 Septembrie" Station to Magurele MaxiTaxi (30 min frequency, 20 min duration, a ticket is 1.0 Lei can be buy from the driver) 

Route B 

From the front of "Gara de Nord" Railway Station (index 8) Trolleybus Line 96 to the "Depoul Alexandria" Station - the last station! (frequency 15 min, duration 35 min) 
From "Depoul Alexandria" Station 455 bus to Magurele, "Facultatea de Fizica" station - last station (frequency 30 min, duration 20 min, a ticket is 1.2 Lei and can be buy from a special kiosk in "Depoul Alexandria" Station)

From "Gara de Nord" Railway Station to "Politehnica Hotel"

Route A

From "Gara de Nord" Station with 35 tram ("CET Vest" direction) to "Pod Grozavesti" (15 min frequency, 10 min transport duration, 4 stations).

Route B

From "Gara de Nord" Station with Metro ("Republicii" direction) to "Grozavesti" Station (10 min frequency, 15 min duration, 4 station) (if you come with metro you don't change it)

From "Gara de Nord" Railway Station to SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL

Route A

From "Gara de Nord" Station with 35 tram ("CET Vest" direction) to "Bd Regiei" (15 min frequency, 8 min transport duration, 3 stations).

Route B

From "Gara de Nord" Station with Metro ("Republicii" direction) to "Pod Grozavesti" Station (10 min frequency, 15 min duration, 4 station) (if you come with metro you don't change it), from Grozavesti Bridge to SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL  five minutes walk on street "Soseaua Orhideelor"

From "Gara de Nord" Railway Station to ELIZEU HOTEL

From "Gara de Nord " Station  five minutes walk by street "Bdul Dinicu Golescu"

From Magurele to the Central University Library "Carol I" (the Welcome party place)

From Magurele "Facultatea de Fizica" Station to "Piata 13 septembrie" Station with Maxi Taxis (30 min frequency, 20 min duration). 
From "Calea 13 septembrie " Station with 226 Bus ("Piata Romana" direction) to "Bd. N. Balcescu" Station (15 min frequency, 25 min duration, 9 stations). 
From "Bd. N. Balcescu" bus station to the Central University Library "Carol I", walk 100 m back on the Dem I. Dobrescu Street and, on the right side, is the Central University Library "Carol I" (1, Boteanu Street).

From "Politehnica Hotel" to the Central University Library "Carol I" (the Welcome party place) 

Route A.

From "Pod Grozavesti" station with 601 bus ("Piata Roseti" direction) to "Universitate" Station (15 min frequency, 20 min transport duration). 
From "Universitate" bus station walk back 50 m, and turn to the right (str. Academiei), raft across to University building and straight ahead is the Central University Library "Carol I". 

Route B. 

From "Pod Grozavesti" station with 601 bus, to "Pod Eroilor" station (15 min frequency, 10 min transport duration). 
From " Pod Eroilor " Station with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction) to "Bd. N. Balcescu" Station (5 min frequency, 10 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Bd. N. Balcescu" bus station to the Central University Library "Carol I" walk 100 m back on the Dem I. Dobrescu Street and, on the right side, is the Central University Library "Carol I".

From SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL to the Central University Library "Carol I" (the Welcome party place) 

Route A 

From SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL to Grozavesti Bridge (a five minutes walk). From "Pod Grozavesti" station with 601 bus ("Piata Roseti" direction) to "Universitate" Station (15 min frequency, 20 min transport duration). 
From "Universitate" bus station walk back 50 m, and turn to the right (str. Academiei), raft across to University building and straight ahead is the Central University Library "Carol I" 

Route B. 

From SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL, "Calea Giulesti" Station, with 35 tram ("Vasile Parvan" direction) to "Piata Virgiliu" Station (15 min frequency, 10 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Berzei Station" with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction), to "Bd. N. Balcescu" Station (5 min frequency, 7 min transport duration, 2 stations). 
From "Bd. N. Balcescu" bus station to the Central University Library "Carol I" walk 100 m back on the Dem I. Dobrescu Street and, on the right side, is the Central University Library "Carol I".

From ELIZEU HOTEL to the Central University Library "Carol I" (the Welcome party place) 

From ELIZEU HOTEL, 5 min walk, is "Gara de Nord " Station. 

Route A 

From "Gara de Nord " Station with 178 bus until "Luterana" Station (15 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Luterana" Station, straight ahead (3 min walk) is Hilton Hotel. On the right side of the hotel is the Romanian Atheneum and, next building, is the Central University Library "Carol I" (1, Boteanu Street). 

Route B 

From "Gara de Nord " Station with 35 tram ("Vasile Parvan" direction) to "Piata Virgiliu" Station (15 min frequency, 5 min transport duration, 1 station). 
From "Berzei Station" with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction), to "Bd. N. Balcescu" Station (5 min frequency, 7 min transport duration, 2 stations). 
From "Bd. N. Balcescu" bus station to the Central University Library "Carol I" walk 100 m back on the Dem I. Dobrescu Street and, on the right side, is the Central University Library "Carol I".

From Magurele to Scientists' House (Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta),- (the Dinner party place)

From Magurele "Facultatea de Fizica" Station to "Piata 13 septembrie " Station with Maxi Taxis (30 min frequency, 20 min transport duration). 
From "Calea 13 septembrie" Station with 226 bus ("Piata Romana" direction), to "Piata Romana" Station (15 min frequency, 30 min transport duration, 10 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then turn to the left on the first street. After 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari).

From "Politehnica Hotel" to Scientists' House (Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta), (the Dinner party place)

From "Pod Grozavesti" station with 601 bus ("Piata Roseti" direction) to " Pod Eroilor " station (15 min frequency, 7 min transport duration). 
From " Pod Eroilor" station with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction) to "Piata Romana" station (5 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 4 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then turn to the left on the first street. After 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari).

From SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL to Scientists' House (Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta), - (the Dinner party place) 

Route A 

From SIR ORHIDEEA HOTEL to Grozavesti Bridge (a five minutes walk). 
From "Pod Grozavesti" station with 601 bus, to " Pod Eroilor " station (15 min frequency, 10 min transport duration). 
From " Pod Eroilor " bus station with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses (to "Piata Romana" direction) to "Piata Romana" Station (5 min frequency, 20 min transport duration, 4 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then turn to the left on the first street and after 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari). 

Route B 

From "Calea Giulesti" Station, with 35 tram (to "Vasile Parvan" direction) to "Piata Virgiliu" Station (15 min frequency, 10 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Berzei Station" to "Piata Romana" station with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction) (5 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then make to the left on the first street. After 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari).

From ELIZEU HOTEL to Scientists' House (Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari) - (the Dinner party place)

From ELIZEU HOTEL, a 5 min walk, is "Gara de Nord" Station. 

Route A 

From "Gara de Nord" station with 178 bus to "Cismigiu" Station (15 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 2 stations). 
From the same station ("Cismigiu") with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction), to "Piata Romana" station (5 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 2 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then turn to the left on the first street. After 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari). 

Route B 

From "Gara de Nord " station with 35 tram (to "Vasile Parvan" direction) to "Piata Virgiliu" Station (15 min frequency, 5 min transport duration, 1 station). 
From "Berzei Station" with 126, 168, 226, 368 busses ("Piata Romana" direction), to "Piata Romana" station (5 min frequency, 15 min transport duration, 3 stations). 
From "Piata Romana" bus station walk 100 m back on the same street, then turn to the left on the first street. After 100 m, on the left side, there is The Scientists' House ("Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta"), 9 Lahovari Square (Piata Lahovari).

Participants arriving by plain attend HENRI COANDA Airport (old name: OTOPENI), and must travel by bus or by taxi to the center of BUCHAREST and then by metro, bus or taxi to their accommodation places.

Last update: 07 sep. 2006