Bucharest has a relatively efficient public transportation system which operates from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tram, bus, minibus and trolley-bus tickets can be bought from the yellow colored kiosks or some hotels. The fastest means of public transport is the metro.
• Metro
The Metro is the best way to get around the city center, from 5 a.m. until 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays. Access by magnetic card available at each station entrance. A two fare card costs 4 RON, a ten fare card costs 10 RON, one day subscription is 6 RON, one month subscription is 50 RON and you can buy this magnetic cards from the kiosks posted near the ticket gate entrance. It is the most reliable system of public transport in the city.
•
Buses,
trams
and
trolley
buses
Bucharest has a local bus service named RATB running from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. You will also find
trams, trolley buses (ro = tramvai and troleibuz) and express buses. Tickets are interchangeable for these means of transport (except express buses). The express bus system is more useful for reaching destinations outside the city center, as only a few express buses actually pass through the center itself. Tickets for urban buses, trolley buses, trams or express buses can be purchased from the yellow kiosks near bus and tram stops, open from 5.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Right now a ticket for buses, trams or trolley buses cost 1.3 RON and a monthly subscription for all the internal lines is 50 RON. Punch them yourself aboard the vehicle, if you can get to the machine through the crush. Most locals use season tickets, checked by plain-clothes inspectors.Express buses operate similarly to the metro, using magnetic tickets. For express line 783, making the connection between city centre and Henri Coanda International Airport, you need to buy magnetic cards.
•
Taxi
Taxis wait at taxi ranks in front of hotels or at special designed taxi stations and can also be hailed on the street, although telephoning ahead is the least risky way of securing a taxi.It is better to establish the price of the trip at the beginning. A typical trip from/to the airport is about 15- 20 Euros, depending on the taxi company and distance to the hotel. You can also call a taxi by phoning 021.9444, 021.9494, 021.9451, 021.9424, 021.9425, 021.9631, 021.9411 etc. City-licensed taxis have registration numbers on the door and price/km which can vary from 1,39 Ron/km to 3 Ron/km during the night.
• MaxiTaxi
Another means of transport is the maxi taxi. Their route goes from Pia.a Romana to Pia.a Unirii and from the Opera Româna to Bulevardul Carol I, every ten minutes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
They can be hailed by a wave of the hand.
• DrivinginBucharest
Driving around Bucharest can be confusing. Sometimes the streets are not clearly marked and some have unexpected potholes. However, it can be a useful way of getting around, especially to the city’s
outskirts. Traffic is bad especially during rush hours, between 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.The car parks cost about 0,5 - 1 € for the first hour, which is given to a parking attendant as soon as the
car is parked - fees for staying beyond one hour are collected on departure. There are no parking meters.
NotethatthisdescriptionisallbasedontemporaryresidenceinRomania,whichisthenormalstatusforex-patemployees.
A. RULES
Under Romanian legislation there are 2 categories of drivers: I. EU citizens . can drive in Romania using their national driving license. II. Foreign citizens . can use their home driving license for the first 90 days after arrival. Aftertheexpirationdateofthe90dayperiodtheyhave3options:• If they come from one of the countries listed in the table below which have a treaty with Romania, they can exchange their home country license for a Romanian one: • They can pass a Romanian test and obtain a Romanian License. • They can continue to drive using an international driving license issued by the country of origin.
ROMANIAN LEGISLATION
The following is a short summary of the Romanian legislation regarding foreigners wishing to drive in Romania.
NotethatthisdescriptionisallbasedontemporaryresidenceinRomania,whichisthenormalstatusforex-patemployees.
A. RULES
Under Romanian legislation there are 2 categories of drivers: I. EU citizens . can drive in Romania using their national driving license. II. Foreign citizens . can use their home driving license for the first 90 days after arrival. Aftertheexpirationdateofthe90dayperiodtheyhave3options:• If they come from one of the countries listed in the table below which have a treaty with Romania, they can exchange their home country license for a Romanian one: • They can pass a Romanian test and obtain a Romanian License. • They can continue to drive using an international driving license issued by the country of origin.
ROMANIAN LEGISLATION
The following is a short summary of the Romanian legislation regarding foreigners wishing to drive in Romania.
A Albania
Armenia
E Egypt
Estonia
K Kazakhstan
Korea
Austria Kuwait
Azerbaijan F Finland
France L Leetonia
B Bahamas Liberia
Bahrain
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
G Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guyana M
Libyan
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
C
Bulgaria
Canada
Central African
H
I
Holland
Hungary
Iran
Ireland
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
D
Republic
China
Congo
Cuba
Cyprus
Denmark
J
Island
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
N
P
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Philippine
Poland
Portugal
R Russia
S San Marino
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
T Tajikistan
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U UK
Ukraine
Uruguay
USA
Uzbekistan
Z Zimbabwe
B. SANCTIONS
Please note that driving a car without a valid driving license can attract a serious sanction such as prison from 1 to 5 years.
RENTING A CAR
For business people who travel a lot, renting a car is an easier solution than traveling with the
company car. Major rental companies, listed in order, from the cheapest to the most expensive:
•
Hertz
www.hertz.ro
Address 1: 1A Drumul Garii Odai Street, Entrance A, etaj 2, offices 205-206-2016,
Phone: 004 021.407.82.00, Fax: 004 021.407.82.29
HERTZ Rent A Car - Airport Henri Coanda, Otopeni
Address 2: 224E Bucure.tilor Street, Building AS4, 1st floor ,Eastern Area
Phone: 004 021.204.12.78, Fax: 004 372.054. 862
office@hertz.ro
•
Avis
www.avis.ro
Address: 51 Theodor Pallady Boulevard, 4th floor
Phone: 004 021.210.43.44; 004 074.031.92.88; 004 072.313.20.20
Fax: 004 021.210.69.12, office@avis.ro
Working hours: Monday – Friday: 09 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Reservations
Department:
Phone: 004 021.210.43.44, Fax: 004 021.210.69.12
reservations@avis.ro
Customer
service: customerservice@avis.ro
Sales: sales@avis.ro
Car
rental
with
driver: cds@avis.ro
•
Budget
www.budgetro.ro
Address: 9 Mihail Moxa Street
office@budgetro.ro
•
Europcar
www.europcar.com.ro
Address: 17 Grigore Mora Street
Phone: 004 021.310.17.97, Fax: 004 021.310.17.96
office@europcar.com.ro
•
Sixt
www.sixt.ro
Address: Otopeni International Airport
Phone: 004 021.201.46.26
Airport Info
Henri
Coanda
Airport Otopeni (international flights)
www.otp-airport.ro
Phone: 004 021.201.40.00
Trains
The Romanian state railway, SNCFR provides a reliable and often scenic means of transport to destinations outside Bucharest. All trains arrive and leave from the Bucharest North Station. Tickets can be bought at the station or from the International Agency of Romanian Railway (SNCFR).Phone: 004 021.223.08.80/04.55
INTERNATIONAL TRAINS
7. Furniture & Appliances
Bosphor
Express
Bucharest - Ruse - Istanbul
Bulgaria
Express
Bucharest - Ruse - Gorna Oriahovita -Levski
Pleven
Cerven
Brig
Mezdra
Sofia
Bucharest
Belgrad
Bucharest - Belgrad
Bucharest
Thessaloniki
Bucharest - Ruse - Sofia - Thessaloniki
Alutus
Bucharest - Budapest - Bratislava - Prague - Berlin
Ovidius
Bucharest - Budapest
Pannonia
Express
Bucharest - Budapest - Bratislava - Prague - Vienna - Munich
Carpa.i
Bucharest - Krakow (+1 day) - Warszawa
Romania
Express
Bucharest - Kiev - Moscow
Bucharest
Express
Bucharest - Belgrad
Dacia
Express
Bucharest - Budapest - Vienna
Ister
Bucharest - Budapest
In order to buy tickets, you should address the CFR railway agencies,
but no more than 10 days before the departure date:
CFR Bucharest Agency 1 - Address: 10-14 Domni.a Anastasia Street
Phone: 004 021.313.26.42
CFR Bucharest Agency 2 - Address: 139 Calea Grivi.ei
Phone: 004 021.316.89.47