Short guide to Bucharest’s public transport, taxis and car sharing services

It is well known that the Romanian capital is among the world’s cities with the most congested traffic. So what other choices are there for those days when driving doesn't seem to be an option or for those moments when you just don’t feel like driving? How can you get around Bucharest when you are in the city for just a few days? We’ve made a list of options, which includes buses and trams, the subway, taxis, and ride sharing services such as Uber and Taxify, as well as all you need to know about them. Public transport – buses, trams, trolleybuses RATB is the company running the network of buses, trams and trolleybuses in Bucharest. In addition to the bus and tram lines linking different parts of Bucharest, there are also express bus lines to the Otopeni Airport, as well as several night lines. Moreover, the Bucharest City Tour line operates in the summer, being the perfect choice for tourists visiting the capital, while the recently launched Museums’ Line connects the main museums in Bucharest. A trip by bus, tram or trolleybus costs RON 1.3 (some 28 euro cents) while a trip by the express bus has the price of RON 3.5 (EUR 0.75). However, RATB also offers several types of subscriptions, namely one-day, 7-day or 15-day passes, and monthly passes. Their prices vary depending on the lines/line the user needs it for, with discounts being applied for students, pensioners or blood donors. The RATB travel cards can be charged at the ticket kiosks that are usually located in stations, or by SMS, and must be validated at the orange devices inside the bus/tram. More information on tickets can be found on the RATB website here (it also has an English version). Unfortunately, the buses and trams running in Bucharest are not equipped with GPS trackers and thus there is no information on the buses’ ETA in the stations. The Bucharest City hall has promised it would introduce such features in the near future. One can plan a route on the RATB website here, or with the help of mobile apps such as the Google Maps, Moovit or Transport Urban. Underground transport – the subway The Bucharest subway is ran by Metrorex. The metro system is made up of four lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4) with a total of 53 stations. Taking the subway is usually the best choice in Bucharest, even during rush hours when the capital gets extremely crowded. Unlike the buses or trams, you can estimate how much time you’ll need to reach your destination, especially as the trains’ ETA is shown in stations. Unfortunately, taking the subway is not yet an option for those who want to go to the Otopeni airport.