The train: the fastest confirmed option
According to the airport's own access page, a train service runs around the clock between the airport and Gara de Nord, Bucharest's main railway station, at 40-minute intervals, with a journey time of approximately 20 minutes. The same page notes that, because of ongoing parking-area construction work at the time it was reviewed, the station is accessible only through the ground floor of the Arrivals terminal, with directional signage guiding passengers there. The airport's page does not list a current fare and directs passengers to Romania's national timetable site, mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro, for detailed schedules.
The bus: cheaper and well integrated with city transport
STB's lines 100 and 442 connect the airport directly with downtown Bucharest. According to the airport's own page, line 100 provides rapid transport between the airport and central Bucharest, running at 15-minute intervals during the day and 30-minute intervals at night. A single metropolitan ticket costs 3 lei and is valid for 90 minutes, payable by STB travel card, contactless bank card, SMS code, or a tourist travel card, per the same source. As with the train, both bus lines currently stop only at the "Aeroport Henri Coandă" departures-side stop in front of the Departures terminal, since the arrivals-side stop is temporarily closed for construction, according to the airport's page.
The bus is the better option if your accommodation sits closer to a stop along its route than to Gara de Nord, or if you're already planning to use Bucharest's STB network (buses, trams and metro) during your stay and want a ticket type that carries over.
The metro: not open yet
It's worth correcting a common assumption directly: there is currently no metro line running to Henri Coandă Airport. The airport's own page states that Metro Line 6, intended to connect Gara de Nord with the airport, was under construction at the time this guide was reviewed, with no completion date confirmed on that page. If you've read older or third-party material suggesting a metro option already exists, treat the airport's own current statement as the more reliable source.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxi and ride-hailing services operate from the airport, per the airport's own navigation structure, though this guide did not extract specific fare or pickup-location detail for that page. As with most major airports, using the officially marked taxi rank or a licensed ride-hailing app, rather than an unsolicited approach inside the terminal, is the safer default.
Beyond Bucharest: how CFR intercity trains work
Romania's national rail operator, CFR Călători, runs domestic InterCity and Regio train categories connecting Bucharest with the rest of the country, alongside international services to several neighbouring countries, according to CFR's own site. Tickets can be bought online, through the CFR Călători mobile app, or at station ticket windows, and the operator lists discounts for students, seniors and other groups, though this guide did not confirm the specific current terms of those discounts for foreign visitors.
Journey times and comfort vary considerably by train category — InterCity services are generally faster and more comfortable than Regio trains, which stop more frequently and can be considerably slower on longer routes. Compare categories directly on CFR's own booking site for your specific journey before assuming a "train to X" option is the fast one.
Comparing your options from the airport
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Fast, 24-hour service to Gara de Nord | Fare not listed on airport's page; check on the day |
| Bus (100/442) | Cheap, flat 3 lei fare, useful if headed near a stop | Slower than the train in traffic |
| Taxi/ride-hailing | Door-to-door convenience | Higher cost; confirm fare before riding |
| Metro | Not yet available | Line 6 was still under construction |
Buying tickets before versus after you land
For the airport train and bus, this guide could not confirm whether tickets are sold on board, at a machine, or only through an app, so build in a few minutes at the platform or stop to work out the current payment method rather than assuming a specific one in advance. For onward CFR travel, buying in advance through the operator's own booking channel is generally worth doing for popular routes or peak travel dates, since Romania's rail network, like most European systems, can see certain InterCity departures sell out on high-demand days even though many Regio services allow a more flexible, buy-on-the-day approach.
Before you leave the arrivals hall
Confirm the current train fare and check whether the Arrivals-terminal-only access for the train and bus stops is still in effect on your travel date, since both reflect ongoing construction work described on the airport's own site at the time this guide was written. For onward travel within Romania — toward Transylvania's Saxon church villages, for instance — compare CFR's InterCity and Regio options directly on the operator's own booking platform before choosing a departure.