Before leaving, it’s useful to know how to move in Bucharest that, being not particularly small, has an extensive network of public transportation.

Bus, tram and trolleybus

To use the bus (autobus), tram (tramvai) or trolleybus (troleibuz) the ticket to get is unique. You can buy it in any RATB retailer, and you will pay 2 Lei for the rechargeable card and 1.30 Lei for each route. The single card can also be used by two people simply by pressing the button marked with the number 2 on the ticket validation machine. For longer routes you can buy a 10 routes ticket for 8 Lei.

Public transports work from 05:00 to 23:30, then the night bus service will start. You will not find transport’s maps in the stations, but you should get one before you go to avoid to get lost in the confusion of the city or to ask for informations to the agents, who rarely speak or understand English. I want to share with you the maps that I’ve used: the Bus network, the Tram, Trolleybus, and night bus.

Underground (metrou)

The Bucharest Metro covers over 100 kilometers and is divided into 6 lines. The ticket is different from the others: you can buy it in the specific desk or authomatic machines inside the stations paying 5 Lei for 2 routes, or 8 Lei for 10 routes.

You can change the metro line using the same ticket, with the exception of Gara de Nord stop where, I have personally verified, having to go out and back in the same station, you need an additional ticket. The metro works from 05:30 to 23:30 and the trains run every 5-7 minutes.

Taxi

Taxis are really cheap in the Romanian capital. With the exception of a few taxi drivers placed outside the airport (ready to grab tourists just arrived asking them to pay an excessive price) taxi costs 1.40 Lei per kilometer (about 0.30 euros). Clearly, like everywhere, be sure that the car is equipped with an active taximeter. You can stop the taxi directly from the sidewalk, or contact by telephone two of the major taxi companies: CrisTaxi (+40723349461) and ProfTaxi (+40723 3297108).

Whether you choose the fastest vehicle (metro), the most comfortable (taxi) or the one that allows you to see the city from every perspective, moving in Bucharest is simple and cheap.