Small town north of Bucharest best known as the site of Romania's main international airport.
Otopeni is a small town in Ilfov County, 15 kilometres north of Bucharest on the road to Ploiești. Most travellers know it only for the Henri Coandă International Airport, Romania's busiest airport and the main gateway to the capital. There is little reason to linger in Otopeni itself — Bucharest is easily reached by express train (about 25 minutes to Gara de Nord) or the 780 bus.
The town has grown rapidly in recent years, with new residential developments and a few business hotels catering to transit passengers. If you have a long layover and want to kill time outside the terminal, you are better off heading into Bucharest. The airport express train makes it practical to visit the capital even with just a few hours to spare. Alternatively, the Băneasa Forest — a 1,200-hectare woodland on the southern edge of the area — offers a quiet escape for a walk if you need to stretch your legs without committing to the city.
The airport is named after Henri Coandă, the Romanian engineer who built one of the world's first jet-propelled aircraft in 1910 and gave his name to the Coandă effect in fluid dynamics. A replica of his plane stands in the departures hall.
Guide
Eating Out
Otopeni's dining scene is shaped almost entirely by the airport. The terminals have the usual range of fast food, coffee chains, and sit-down restaurants oriented toward transit passengers — prices are noticeably higher than in Bucharest, and the quality is consistent with airport dining anywhere in Europe. For a proper meal at a fair price, the train to Bucharest takes 25 minutes and puts you in reach of the full range of Romanian and international cuisine in the capital.
If you are staying in the hotel zone near the airport (Novotel, Crowne Plaza), both have restaurants that are decent if unremarkable. There are a handful of local Romanian restaurants in Otopeni town itself, but they have no particular reason to visit if Bucharest is accessible.
Guide
Getting Around
Within Otopeni itself there is not much ground to cover. The airport is on the town's eastern edge and the residential areas are compact enough to walk between. For trips out of town, taxis and ride-hailing apps (Bolt and Uber both operate here) are the most flexible option — a car to Snagov Lake costs around 50–70 lei from the airport and takes 20–25 minutes depending on traffic.
The express train to Bucharest (the Henri Coandă Express) is the best way to reach the capital: trains run every 40 minutes from a station below the arrivals terminal, take 22–25 minutes to Gara de Nord, and cost around 8 lei. From Gara de Nord the Bucharest metro network connects to the rest of the city. The 780 airport express bus covers the same route but takes 40–50 minutes and is subject to Bucharest traffic. Car hire desks are in the arrivals hall if you plan to explore the broader region — the road north to Ploiești and the Prahova Valley passes directly through Otopeni.
Guide
Getting There
Otopeni is served by Henri Coandă International Airport, Romania's main international gateway. Express trains (Henri Coandă Express) run from the airport to Gara de Nord in central Bucharest every 40 minutes, taking about 22–25 minutes. Tickets cost around 8 lei and are available at airport ticket machines or at the train desk in arrivals.
The 780 airport express bus also runs to central Bucharest (Piața Unirii) throughout the day and night, taking about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis from the airport to central Bucharest cost 50–80 lei; use only taxis booked through the official airport taxi desk or ride-hailing apps such as Bolt or Uber to avoid overcharging.
