The pilot announces descent into Bucharest. You peer out the window, catching your first glimpse of Romania's capital sprawling below. In twenty minutes, you'll be on the ground at Henri Coandă International Airport—a facility that might not be on every travel influencer's radar, but handles 14 million passengers annually with surprising efficiency.

What happens next depends entirely on how well you've planned.

First Impressions: Henri Coandă International Airport

Let's clear up the naming confusion right away. Officially, it's Henri Coandă International Airport, named after a Romanian aviation pioneer who invented the first jet plane (fun fact for your next pub quiz). The airport code is OTP. Locals still call it Otopeni, after the nearby town. All three names refer to the same place, about 16.5 kilometers north of downtown Bucharest.

Unlike the sprawling terminals of Frankfurt or Istanbul where you might need a shuttle bus just to change concourses, Henri Coandă is refreshingly straightforward. One main terminal building. Departures upstairs, arrivals downstairs. Gates you can actually walk to. It's the kind of layout where you won't accidentally end up in the wrong terminal wondering how you got so lost.

The airport was extensively renovated over the past decade. What emerges is a facility that feels distinctly European—clean, modern, efficient, with good signage in Romanian and English. It won't blow your mind with architectural innovation, but it won't frustrate you with confusing layouts either.

The Arrival Experience: What Actually Happens

Your plane touches down. Everyone immediately unbuckles (despite the seatbelt sign still being illuminated—this is universal human behavior). The taxiing takes about five to ten minutes, and then you're walking through the jet bridge into arrivals.

For Non-Schengen Flights:

You follow signs to passport control. If you're from the EU or EEA and have a biometric passport, you can breeze through the automated gates—they read your passport, take your photo, and wave you through. The whole process takes maybe 30 seconds.

Non-EU citizens join a separate queue for manual passport checks by border police. These officers are professional but not exactly effusive. Have your passport ready, your visa if required, and maybe a confirmation of your hotel booking. They'll ask where you're staying and how long you're in Romania. Standard questions, nothing invasive.

Wait times vary wildly. Early morning flights from the Middle East or late afternoon arrivals from Western Europe can create queues. Budget 10-25 minutes, potentially longer if three wide-body flights land simultaneously.

For Schengen Flights:

You skip passport control entirely and head straight to baggage claim. This is the beauty of flying in from within the Schengen zone—you're technically already in the same immigration area.

Baggage Claim:

The carousels are clearly marked with flight numbers on overhead screens. Bucharest's baggage handlers are neither particularly fast nor particularly slow—just average. Your bags will start appearing 15-30 minutes after landing. The airport provides free luggage trolleys, which is genuinely nice and not to be taken for granted.

If your bags don't appear, there's a lost luggage desk staffed by your airline's ground handling team. They speak English. File your claim immediately.

Customs:

You'll walk through customs, which in Romania is mostly a formality unless you're carrying something unusual. Most travelers go through the green "nothing to declare" channel without stopping. Random checks happen but are infrequent.

Total Time:

From landing to arrivals hall, budget 30-60 minutes for non-Schengen flights, 20-40 minutes for Schengen flights. During peak times, add another 10-20 minutes.

For detailed information on private transfer services and meeting your driver, see: [Private Airport Transfer Services at Henri Coandă International Airport](#).

The Departures Story: Leaving Bucharest

You'll eventually need to fly out, and Henri Coandă's departures process is equally straightforward.

Recommended Arrival Times:
- Schengen flights: 2 hours before departure
- International flights: 2.5 to 3 hours before departure
- Peak season or holidays: Add 30 minutes to be safe

Check-in counters are clearly numbered, and screens throughout the terminal display which airlines are checking in where. Most major carriers offer online check-in, which speeds things up considerably—you just drop your bags and proceed to security.

Security follows standard European protocols. Liquids in 100ml containers in a clear plastic bag, laptops out, belts and jackets off. The lines move reasonably efficiently. Standard wait is 10-30 minutes, though early morning departures (6-9 AM) can push this to 45 minutes.

Once through security, you enter the airside area, which is where Henri Coandă actually shines.

Shopping, Dining, and Killing Time

Duty-Free Shopping:

The duty-free area is extensive—perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, Romanian souvenirs. Prices are competitive with other European airports. If you forgot to buy that bottle of țuică (Romanian plum brandy) for your friend back home, this is your last chance.

Food and Drink:

- Starbucks for those who need their familiar caffeine fix
- McDonald's and KFC for fast food
- Local Romanian cafes serving excellent coffee (Romanians take their coffee seriously)
- Sit-down restaurants offering both Romanian and international cuisine
- Grab-and-go options for sandwiches, salads, and snacks

Prices are airport-premium—expect to pay 20-30% more than in the city. A coffee that costs €2 in town will run you €3-3.50 here. Not egregious by airport standards, honestly.

If you have Priority Pass or fly business class, you can access the Wizz Air lounge or one of the airline-specific lounges. They offer the usual amenities: comfortable seating, free food and drinks, WiFi, sometimes showers. Nothing spectacular, but a pleasant place to wait.

Free Amenities:

WiFi throughout the terminal is free and unlimited. Charging stations are available at most gates. There are prayer rooms, baby changing facilities, and even a small play area for children (though it's nothing elaborate).

Connectivity: Getting Online

Airport WiFi:

Network name: "OTP Airport Free WiFi"

Connect, open your browser, accept the terms and conditions, and you're online. The connection is reasonably fast for browsing and messaging. Streaming video is possible but not ideal. No time limits, which is refreshing.

SIM Cards:

As soon as you exit to the arrivals hall, you'll see kiosks for Orange, Vodafone, and Telekom Romania. All offer prepaid tourist packages:

- €5-15 gets you 10-50GB of data
- Includes Romanian minutes and SMS
- Crucially, includes EU roaming (you can use it across Europe)
- Requires your passport for registration

The coverage is excellent throughout Romania. Staff speak English. The whole process takes five minutes.

Buy a SIM card if you need reliable data, want to use Uber or Bolt, need Google Maps for navigation, or plan to stay connected without relying on hotel WiFi.

For comprehensive airport details and all your transfer options, check out: [Bucharest Airport (OTP) - Complete Transfer Guide 2025](#).

Getting to the City: The Full Menu of Options

This is where airport guides usually lose people in a sea of options. Let's break it down simply.

Option 1: Private Pre-Booked Transfer (€37-64)

You book online before your trip. Your driver monitors your flight, meets you at arrivals with a name sign, and drives you directly to your hotel.

Journey time: 20-35 minutes to city center 
Best for: Most travelers, especially first-timers, families, groups, anyone with luggage 
Book at: bucharesttransfer.com

This is the option we generally recommend because it eliminates stress and costs only modestly more than alternatives.

Option 2: Official Taxi 

Queue at the taxi rank outside arrivals, take the next available cab, pay by meter at your destination.

Journey time: 20-45 minutes depending on traffic 
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers comfortable with uncertainty 
Risk level: Moderate (stick to official rank, ensure meter is running)

For detailed taxi pricing: [How Much is a Taxi from Bucharest Airport to City Center?](#)

Option 3: Uber/Bolt 

Request via app, wait for pickup (10-20 minutes), travel to destination.

Journey time: 20-40 minutes 
Best for: Tech-savvy travelers with data connection 
Note: Subject to surge pricing during peak times

Option 4: Express Bus 780/783 

Public bus from airport to Gara de Nord railway station, then metro or walk to final destination.

Journey time: 45-70 minutes just for the bus, plus additional time for onward travel 
Best for: Budget travelers with minimal luggage and time to spare 
Schedule: First bus ~5:30 AM, last bus ~11:30 PM

For a complete comparison of all options to the popular Old Town area: [Otopeni Airport to Bucharest Old Town: All Transfer Options](#)

The Truth About Bucharest Traffic

Anyone writing an airport guide who doesn't mention traffic is lying to you.

Bucharest traffic can be intense. Not quite Rome or Athens levels of chaos, but definitely not Copenhagen either. The city's roads were designed for far fewer cars than currently use them.

Peak Times to Avoid:

Morning rush: 7:30-10:00 AM (everyone heading into the city)
Evening rush: 4:30-7:30 PM (everyone heading home)

During these periods, your 25-minute journey can stretch to 45-50 minutes. Fridays are particularly brutal—the evening rush starts earlier and lasts longer.


If you're catching a departing flight during rush hour, add 30-45 minutes buffer to your expected journey time.

For detailed information on distances, travel times, and costs to different parts of the city: [Airport Transfer to Bucharest City Center - Distance, Time & Cost](#)