Cheap Flights to Bucharest

Discover Bucharest

Cheap Flights to Bucharest, Romania (BUCH)

Why visit Bucharest?

Bucharest is Romania’s dynamic capital, and the country’s largest city. A mixture of Bauhaus and neoclassical architecture, tree-lined avenues, and a great culinary scene, the city has earned the moniker ‘Little Paris’. Visit this delightful city and you will discover its museums, cafes, bars, galleries, and gorgeous parks.

Things to do in Bucharest

Visit the Palace of Parliament first, the largest parliamentary building in the world. You can go on tours of the building, and learn about its construction and the history of what took place there, a great introduction into the city.

From there, it’s worth going to the beautiful churches that litter the city, such as the Stavropoleos Church in the old part of town with its wonderful carvings and pretty courtyard, to the 18^th century Antim Monastery, with its bell tower and sculptures on the church’s wooden doors.

Visit the city’s art museums, of which there are many, from the National Museum of Art, to the Zorzoni and H’art Galleries, both of which focus on contemporary and cutting edge artists.

For a little outdoor beauty, visit the Cismigiu Gardens, or the Harastrau Park, both of which harken to the city’s reputation of being like Paris, with the splendor of the garden’s lakes, bridges and ambling walks.

Outside the city, you can visit an island in Lake Snagnov, where the infamous Vlad the Impaler is said to be buried. The inspiration for Bram Stoker’s titular character of Dracula, this makes for an atmospheric and eerie trip, and a great tale to tell your loved ones when you get back home.

Best time to visit Bucharest

· Summer (June-August) is the best time to visit this city, when the weather is sunny and a pleasant 19-22°C

· The shoulder seasons are pleasant, with temperatures ranging from about 6-16°C, so pack layers.

· Winters in this city are very frigid, often dropping below zero, so make sure you carry enough warm clothing with you if you visit during this season.

Best time to book

· Booking about 7 months ahead of your planned holiday dates is the best time to snag a good deal on flights to Europe.

Expect to pay

· Romanian Leu (RON).

· A coffee in this lively capital should come to about 7.60RON ($2.50).

Arriving in Bucharest by plane

· You’ll find that there are two international airports in Bucharest, the Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) halso called Otopeni, and the Aurel Vlaicu international Airport (BBU) also known as Baneasa. Almost all Australian flights will be directed to the Henru Coanda Airport (OTP), as that is the larger facility. Airlines flying to this city include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Austrian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air Serbia, British Airways and Air France.

· Both airports have a decent range of facilities, though Henri Coada Airport has the lion’s share of amenities, with foreign exchange desks, ATMs, shops, restaurants and postal services.

· Frankfurt (FRA), Singapore (SIN) and Hong Kong (HKG) are typical stopovers on this route.

Visa requirements

· Australians do not need a visa for travelling to Romania, and should be issued a stay of 90 days. However, it is important to check the smart traveller website for any changes to these conditions before you fly.

Transportation to city centre

· You can get a taxi from OTP Airport into Bucharest’s downtown area, but please be aware that you can be overcharged for this service. Order a taxi within the terminals from one of the kiosks, hold onto the ticket issued, and expect a fare to come to about 30-90RON ($12-30).

· There are buses and trains from both airports into the city, but arranging an airport transfer before flying might be the better option if you are new to Bucharest.

· Care rental agencies operate in the airports but our search tool can sniff out better prices well in advance of your trip.

Where to stay in Bucharest

· The Old Town, is cheaper than the downtown area of Bucharest, and is a good spot for people wanting to explore the nightlife, stay close to a decent range of attractions, and embrace the atmospheric feel of this historic side of the city.

· Piata Uniri is a good all-rounder, with more hotel options, close links to the Old Town.

· Piata Romana has a more upmarket feel to it, and the neighbourhood has kept a lot of its older buildings, and a good deal of its charm.

Useful tips before you go

· Tipping is normal in Romania, and usually around 10%.

· It is advised that you do not discuss political or controversial subjects with people you do not know very well.  

Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of June 2016