Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) is Romania’s busiest airport, serving its capital, Bucharest.
The airport is located in Otopeni, about 16 km north of Bucharest’s city center. It is Romania’s primary international gateway and a dominant domestic airport. More than half of all domestic-bound Romanian passengers board via OTP.
In 2024, the airport handled over 16 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in Eastern Europe.
Major Airlines - TAROM, Ryanair, Wizz Air
OTP serves as a hub for 5 carriers:
TAROM: Romania’s national carrier and the largest full-service airline at Bucharest Airport.
Wizz Air: The airline with the most flights and the most routes serving OTP.
Ryanair: The low-cost giant offers flights to more than 35 destinations, including several unique seasonal routes.
HiSky: A Moldovan low-cost carrier that operates from Chișinău as well as Bucharest.
Animawings: A Romanian airline focusing on domestic connections and flights to popular holiday destinations in the summer.
OTP’s busiest international routes include London, Istanbul, Rome, Vienna, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Frankfurt, Paris, and Madrid. These routes are also served by those countries' respective national carriers, including British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Air France, KLM, and others.
Major non-European carriers serving OTP include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and flydubai.
See a full list of airlines at Bucharest Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates of OTP
OTP has one terminal split into separate Arrivals and Departures halls, joined by a central walkway lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, and other services.
Airside, there’s a finger concourse with 38 gates, separated into Domestic (Schengen included) and International (non-Schengen) areas.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Bucharest Airport
With just one terminal, transfers at OTP are smooth, as there is no need to change buildings.
However, international to domestic transfers require passing immigration and re-checking luggage. Signs are clear and in English, and walking distances are modest. A typical transfer walk is under 10 minutes.
The minimum connection times are as follows:
45 minutes for Domestic-to-Domestic.
1 hour for Domestic-to-International or vice versa.
45 minutes for International-to-International.
This assumes you have two flights with the same airline, under the same PNR, so your connection will be guaranteed. Self-transfers (e.g., with low-cost airlines) may be too risky with too little time - avoid tight connections, especially during peak times, so you don’t miss your second flight.
WiFi at Bucharest Airport
OTP offers free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. The network is “AIHCB Free” and connectivity is generally reliable. Usage requires no registration.
Lounges also provide their own dedicated Wi-Fi networks with faster speeds.
Lounges at OTP
Bucharest Otopeni Airport provides several premium lounges.
The Dacia Business Lounge (formerly TAROM Business Lounge) is located airside in the International Departures area, on the 2nd floor, above Gate 3. While it doesn’t gather impressive guest satisfaction feedback, it provides the expected necessities from a lounge, chiefly premium Wi-Fi, TV, newspapers, info monitors, and a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks, coffee, sweets, and snacks.
The Mastercard Business Lounge is located near Gate 9. It offers a similar array of services, though once again suffers in quality.
Several smaller, independent, pay-per-use lounges are also available at the airport.
Most lounges are open 24/7.
Dining Options at Henri Coandă International Airport
Dining at OTP is varied, with a focus on practicality and speed, rather than fine dining and gourmet.
Go to The Spot - Urban Gastronomy if you want to try hearty Romanian classics such as sarmale and mămăligă, but also have international options in the same place. It is a modern self-service eatery where you create your plate and pay based on your selection. Options also include Italian, BBQ, Middle Eastern cuisine, and vegetarian options. It’s located in the Departures area.
The fast food staple names - Burger King, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut - can all be found at OTP Airport.
For a quick snack or a non-pretentious but delicious lunch, you can check out City Grill in the Arrivals area. Next to it is Brioche Dorée, where you can grab pastries, gourmet sandwiches, and fresh salads.
For coffee, a favorite place for frequent fliers is Five to go. And if you just want a pretzel, AiCovrig (open 24/7 in Departures) has got you covered.
Other notable places to eat at Bucharest Airport include Vivo Fusion Food Bar by Carlsberg for gourmet burgers, Gioelia by Cremeria for artisanal Italian gelato, and Gate 9 Pub for non-Schengen-bound passengers who want a drink before their flight.
Transport to and from Bucharest Otopeni Airport
OTP is well-connected to the city via affordable rail and road transport, both public and private.
A train link to Gara de Nord (Bucharest North Station) departs every ~40 minutes, with a travel time of 25 minutes. The single ticket price is 6.8 RON, which includes the shuttle bus to take you from the terminal to the train station (or the other way around). The train station is about 900 meters from the terminal.
Express bus 100 serves Piața Unirii and Gara de Nord and operates 24/7. A ticket costs 3 RON with a journey time of around 60 minutes, depending on traffic. Line 442 complements it by linking the airport with Piata Presei.
Regulated taxis can be called using touch-screen kiosks in Arrivals. Fares are mandated by law to be between 2.29 and 3.50 RON per km. This makes fares to the city center around 50-80 RON.
Similarly, ride-hail platforms like Uber and Bolt are also available at OTP, through their respective apps.
A future Metro Line M6 is under construction and expected to open by 2028, linking OTP with the Bucharest Metro via Gara de Nord.
Lastly, rent a car offices are located in the Arrivals Terminal, on the ground floor. Names include Avis, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt, among others.
Parking at OTP Airport
Bucharest Airport OTP provides 7 parking areas, plus a dedicated lot for buses. Of these, 4 are currently open to the public. They include P7 and P2 for short-term and P5 and P3 for long-term parking.
Prices are approximately 10 RON for the first 30 minutes, then 20 RON per hour in short-term lots and 100 RON per day in long-term lots (maximum duration: 30 days).
Hotels near Henri Coandă International Airport
Bucharest Airport does not have hotels within its terminal. The nearest option is Hilton Garden Inn Aeroportul București, located just 400 meters north of the terminal. It is a 4-star hotel and perhaps the most upscale accommodation near the airport.
Several alternatives are available on the west side of the main road #1, about 900 meters from the terminal building. These include Vienna House Easy Airport Bucharest, Casa Românească, and several villas and apartments. Most offer complimentary shuttle service.
Bucharest, Romania
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