My wife and I are arriving at Bucharest airport mid-afternoon on Sunday, Sept. 21, to join a tour of Romania. However, the tour doesn't begin until we meet it for dinner the next day, Sept. 22. Two questions:
First, any tips on best way to get from airport to our hotel in central Bucharest, Hotel Berthelot? The tour company recommends either ordering a taxi at desk in arrivals hall (approx 75-150 lei), or take express bus 783 to Piata Romana and walk about 10 minutes from there. Further research suggests that there are kiosks in arrivals hall at which to book a reliable taxi. I know that as in any city, we should not use any person offering taxi services in arrivals area informally. It looks like Uber or Bolt are also an option. Any recommendations? We likely would want to use the convenience of a taxi after a long trip but not if the risk of ripoff is too high.
Second, advice for the next day in Bucharest before meeting our tour? Our tour will later visit Revolution Square, the Parliament and nearby churches, and the Village Museum, so we would not want to do those on our free day. And while normally I would want to visit a museum or two, this is a Monday and it looks like they're all closed then. So I'm thinking that a good itinerary would be just to take a walk down Callea Victoreii street to the old town, look around there, and (either going or coming) also take a walk around Cismigiu Park which looks pretty close, and just an ordinary park but a nice place for a stroll in green space. Does this sound good, or does anyone have any other recommendations for good things to do on a Monday in Bucharest? Thank you for any advice.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5991 posts
I did find one art museum open on Mondays in Bucharest
Art Collections Museum
https://mnar.ro/en/museum-of-art-collections
Museum opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 10am-6pm
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23654 posts
I've done both a taxi from the kiosk and Uber from the airport. No problems with either.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5991 posts
I found Bus 100 on Google Maps, which I'll be taking in September.
It seems to run the same route and simillar times as Bus 783, but which Google Maps does not list. That seemed strange, so I researched and found some indications that Bus 783 no longer exists and has been succeeded by Bus 100. You should confirm this.
The good news is that Bus 100 is nearly identical to Bus 783, including the route, frequency, time to the city center and distance to walk to your hotel.
You can tap to pay to ride Bus 100.
Reference post that says "Bus 100 is the successor of bus 783, the number of the bus is different, the route is the same as before."
https://airmundo.com/en/bucharest-henri-coanda-airport/transportation/
Posted by
near San Francisco
5991 posts
Here is the Bus 100 schedule:
https://www.stb.ro/linie?100
Find the "Direction of Traffic Selection" button (Selecție sens circulație) to switch the direction to depart from the Airport and travel to the city.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23654 posts
The Uber pickup is across the street from the door you come out. I paid about 60leu last time to reach my hotel in old town. 35 min to my hotel.
Bus 100 shows on my Google maps. That works too. 45 min to my hotel.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5991 posts
It's Bus 783 that does not show on Google Maps, apparently because Bus 100 has taken over the route. Makes it easy, Budapest (100E) or Bucharest (100.)
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23654 posts
Sorry.......
Posted by
OP
Virginia
437 posts
Thanks everyone for the very helpful advice, especially (but not limited to) the updated information on the airport bus, and identifying a museum that is open on Monday.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10171 posts
I'm also planning on taking Bus 100 when I arrive in September. But if you would rather not, then do not use a taxi (I was told this by a Romanian family I met at Arches NP last month) as the risk of fraud is great. Instead, use Bolt or Uber (the family suggested Bolt, saying its rates are usually cheaper).
One place that is open on Monday is Stavropoulos Monastery, which looks to be quite beautiful. It's not a museum but would be interesting to see and it's located in the city center. https://stavropoleos.ro/
Also open on Mondays is the Museum of Communism, and Cesianu-Racoviță Palace.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23654 posts
I had no problem with the taxis Here is the airport webpage. The Uber/Bolt arrangment did give me the heebegeebies. With either if you do get ripped off ... we are talking about $5. As for safety, no issues. Just the $5 maybe; but not even that if you makes sure he starts the meter. The driver will because the city has been fining the daylights out of crooked drivers this year. I suspect things are better than they have ever been. Here is the bus page from the airport website. https://www.bucharestairports.ro/ro/transport/autobuz For a while I was going to Bucharest and Romania about once a year. I enjoy it. In particular Bucharest always appealed to the more base aspects of my nature. Where does all this come from? I have a Romanian travel buddy that has a tourist business in Bucharest.
Posted by
Arcadia, CA
644 posts
How about using Welcomepickups? I've used them in other countries, and it appears they do operate in Bucharest.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23654 posts
A good idea if it puts you at rest. Its all about enjoying the holiday.
Posted by
TX, USA
5550 posts
There are several Jewish sites open on Mondays (about 10-2 as a generalization), plus a myriad of churches to wander into, including 6:00 Vespers in the Stavropoleous Monastery.