Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Bucharest Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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I was nervous about sleeping here as I spoke no Romanian and had never spent the night at an airport. But, when I arrived there were probably 20 others doing the same, so that made me feel better. – robbo79
OTP Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport.
What to Expect
Bucharest Airport (Code: OTP) has a single terminal divided into three zones: Departures (Level 1, Schengen and non-Schengen), Arrivals (Ground Floor), and a Finger extension (gates). Facilities include many eateries and cafes, a few shops, and a grocery store. Several eateries are open 24 hours, both landside and airside, which is particularly helpful because the tap water is said to be undrinkable. Free WiFi helps pass the time, though it slows sometimes. Economy class passengers can upgrade their layover by paying to enter a few airport lounges.
Sleeping in Bucharest Airport
Overnight campers usually opt to stay at the airport for an early morning departure. Most seats have armrests, but there are a few padded benches. Bring along a sleeping bag or blanket to soften the hard floor. If you’re stuck landside, travellers recommend the hallway that connects the Departures and Arrivals areas. Security may check tickets/boarding passes overnight. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer free shuttle service for guests. See our Airport Hotels section below.
Read the latest traveller reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Bucharest Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours, landside and airside. On the landside, non-ticketed individuals may be asked to justify their presence overnight.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist; however, informal spots including padded benches and recliners are scattered around the airside. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Bucharest Airport that provide free airport transfers:
- Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Airport – The hotel is a short walk from the arrivals area. » Check Rates
- Vienna House Easy Airport Bucharest – 300m from the airport. A free airport shuttle is available upon request. » Check Rates
- Hotel Otopeni – Free airport transfers are available upon request. » Check Rates
- Motel Casa Romaneasca – Within walking distance of the airport. » Check Rates
- RIN Airport Hotel – Free roundtrip airport transfers are available upon request. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Bucharest Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge you can enter by paying at the door. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Mastercard Business Lounge – Location: International Departure Terminal, Airside, 2nd floor, above Gate 9. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door.
- Airport Business Lounge – Location: International Departure Terminal, Airside, near Gate 9. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door.
- Tarom Business Lounge – Location: International Departure Terminal, Airside, 2nd floor, above Gate 3. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door.
Related Pages: Bucharest Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
A reader tells us the airport doesn’t provide drinking water fountains, so you have to buy overpriced bottled water. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Food & Drinks
Food concessions throughout the terminal operate with varying schedules. These options are open 24 hours:
- Departures, landside, Ground Floor: Brioche Dorée • Gloria Jean Coffee • Lavazza Espression • Pizza Vino e Panino.
- Departures, airside: Brioche Doree (Gates 13 – 14) • Gloria Jean’s Coffees (Gates 1 – 2) • Left Bank (gates 1 – 2) • Hanu’ Berarilor (Gates 24 – 29) • illy Espressamente (Domestic Departures and Gates 6 – 9).
- International Arrivals, landside, 1st Floor: Segafredo Zanetti.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
A reader tells us mobile charging is available. Airside, there is a spot with 20+ charging stations. (November 2022)
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at Bucharest Airport. Connect to the “AIHCB Free” network.
More Airport Information
Baby Care Facilities – Information not available.
Chapel – Christian-Orthodox Chapel – Location: Departures Terminal, Landside, First Floor.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Several shops are open 24 hours a day, including all five locations of BestValue (both Landside and Airside).
Groceries – If you need to pick up some groceries before heading to your home in Bucharest, Carrefour Express is on the Ground Floor of the Arrivals Terminal. Hours: 24 hours.
Hair Salon – A hair salon/barber shop is available. Location: Landside, underground. Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Mon – Fri) • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Sat) • Closed (Sun).
Information Desks – If you have any questions, visit the airport information desk for assistance! Locations: Departures, Landside • Arrivals, Landside. Hours: 24 hours.
Luggage
- Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge.
- Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags from theft and damage by wrapping them in plastic. Location: Departures, landside, Check-In. Rates: 45 lei per bag.
Medical Services
- Pharmacy – 2mPharma – Location: passageway between Arrivals and Departures. Hours: Open 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
- Medical Services – Urgent and emergency medical care is available by calling 1695 and 1696 using one of the airport emergency phones.
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Arrivals, landside, 1st Floor • corridor between Departures and Arrivals terminals.
- Banking Services – Romanian Bank for Development and Western Union offer full-service banking in the airport. Location: corridor between Departures and Arrivals terminals. Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Mon-Fri.
- Currency Exchange – Foreign currency exchange offices throughout the terminal operate on varying schedules. These locations are open 24 hours: Adriatica & Company (Departures, landside) • Departures (airside, 1st floor and 2nd floor gates) • Arrivals (airside, near gates) • QUICK Exchange (in the corridor between the Departures and Arrivals terminals) • Arrivals (Ground Floor).
Post Office – Drop off your last-minute postcards at the airport’s post offices. Location: Arrivals Terminal, Ground Floor. Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Mon-Fri). In addition to postal service, Western Union money transfers and mobile phone top-ups are available.
SIM Cards – Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased at the Relay store on the passageway between the Arrivals and Departures halls.
Smoking Areas – There are designated smoking areas located on the airside.
Car Rentals
Car rental desks are located on the walkway in the Arrivals Halls. On-site car rental agencies include Autonom • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • Sixt.
Hotel Shuttles
Some area hotels provide an airport shuttle service: Vienna House Easy Airport Bucharest • Hotel Otopeni.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Ride Sharing
Uber is available in most places in Romania. A ride to the city centre will cost you about 40 lei.
Taxis
Taxis are available on-demand but must be hired using one of the touchscreen devices located in the public area of the Arrivals terminal. The touchscreen device will signal a taxi to the pickup area for you and print a receipt that you must present to the taxi driver. This system prevents taxi rip-offs from occurring. Fares range from 1.89 lei/km to 3.5 lei/km.
Train
A railway station is located just 900 meters from the airport terminals. Shuttle buses connect the station to both Arrivals and Departures. Trains from the airport train station go directly to Gara de Nord railway station, where connections can be made to regional, national and long-distance trains. At the time of this update, the cost of an adult one-way ticket is 6,8 lei, which includes the shuttle bus transfer between the airport terminals and railway station. Buses operate 24/7 and depart every 40 minutes. A ride to the centre will take you about 20 minutes. For more information, check out the CFR website.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.