Flights to Bucharest
Bucharest is an easily accessible capital from all over Europe thanks to its international airport, which is also served by direct low-cost flights from Italy.
Getting to Romania is straightforward. The distance from the UK is considerable — approximately 2,000 kilometres — but thanks to numerous travel options, the journey is entirely feasible and often surprisingly affordable.
You can fly by aeroplane, which offers comfort and efficiency thanks to frequent daily connections from major airports. There are also plenty of coach services connecting numerous cities across Europe with Romania. Of course, you can travel by car or even train, though the latter may require a change or two.
Here are the best options for getting to Romania, with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Flying is by far the quickest way to reach Romania. Flight time from the UK is approximately 2 hours, and there are plenty of routes to choose from, departing from most major airports.
You can land in Bucharest or Timișoara, Romania’s two principal airports. Of the two, Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport naturally offers the widest choice of routes and flight times.
Routes between the UK and Romania are primarily operated by low-cost airlines. The most active on this route are currently Ryanair and Wizz Air, with direct flights from London Stansted, London Luton, Manchester, and other major UK airports to Bucharest and Timișoara.
Also worth noting is the presence of TAROM, Romania’s flag carrier, for those preferring a traditional airline. The Romanian airline Blue Air ceased operations permanently in 2023 after declaring insolvency.
Ticket prices are often very competitive: booking in advance can yield return offers for under £40. To save as much as possible, it’s best to book at least 4–6 weeks ahead.
Be aware of Christmas and New Year periods: fares increase significantly and flights sell out quickly. In these cases, booking several months in advance is advisable.
It’s possible to travel from the UK to Romania by coach, but you should expect a long journey. Travel time is estimated at between 30 and 50 hours, depending on your starting and destination cities.
To put this in perspective, London and Bucharest are over 2,000 kilometres apart.
Regardless of your departure city, the typical route involves travelling through continental Europe via the Channel, passing through France, and entering Eastern Europe. You’ll then travel through Slovenia and Croatia (via Zagreb), then Hungary (via Budapest), before entering Romania at the Nădlac border crossing. From there, it’s another 600 kilometres or so to Bucharest.
The main advantage of coach travel is the ability to transport generous luggage allowances without extra charges: each passenger typically has one cabin bag and one hold bag included in the fare. The overall cost is often lower than flying, particularly for travellers from central and southern Europe.
FlixBus is currently the most extensive operator, connecting numerous UK and European cities — including routes from major European hubs — with Bucharest and other Romanian destinations.
Tickets are purchased online, with fares starting from approximately £60–70 for longer European routes. Coaches are equipped with Wi-Fi, power sockets, and reclining seats.
Several specialised operators continue to serve the Europe–Romania route, with established networks across the continent:
The driving route from the UK to Romania covers considerable distance through continental Europe. The standard route passes through France, Switzerland (optional), Austria, and Hungary, before entering Romania at the Nădlac border crossing, a few kilometres from Timișoara.
An alternative route via Serbia is also possible instead of Hungary. However, you should factor in potential delays at border crossings, as Serbia is not part of the European Union. Also verify with your insurer that your vehicle is covered in Serbia.
The advantage of driving is complete autonomy: no mandatory stops, control over your schedule, and the freedom to pause in cities along the way. On the downside, the overall costs of fuel, tolls, and road taxes are higher than coach travel, and driving for 18–20 hours requires proper planning and driver rotation.
Before you set off, familiarise yourself with the road safety rules in each country you’ll pass through: speed limits, alcohol limits, and mandatory equipment vary from state to state. In Slovenia, between 15 November and 15 March, winter tyres or snow chains are mandatory.
The cost of driving varies depending on your departure point and current fuel prices. Below is an estimate of distances to reach Bucharest from major European cities:
You must also budget for electronic vignettes for Slovenia and Hungary, which are compulsory for motorway use. Neither country issues physical stickers anymore: vignettes are entirely digital, linked to your number plate, and purchased online before entering the country.
Slovenia — The weekly vignette (7 days) costs €16 for standard cars, the monthly vignette €32, and the annual vignette €117.50. For motorhomes and vehicles with front axle height exceeding 1.30 metres, category 2B rates apply (roughly double). Driving without a valid vignette risks a minimum fine of €300. Purchase at: evinjeta.dars.si.
Hungary — Here too, the vignette is electronic and linked to your number plate. A 10-day vignette for a standard car (category D1) costs 6,620 forints (approximately €17–18 at current exchange rates); the monthly vignette is around 9,200 forints. The official website ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu is the only vendor without additional commissions: beware of third-party websites reselling vignettes at inflated prices.
There are no direct trains from the UK to Romania, but rail enthusiasts have several interesting options. The most practical route passes through Vienna, from which the celebrated overnight train “Dacia” (EN 347) departs daily for Bucharest.
To reach Vienna from the UK, various train services operate via the Channel and continental Europe. From 14 December 2025, a new direct Railjet ÖBB service will connect Vienna directly with Bucharest and other Eastern European destinations. Alternatively, you can reach Vienna via established European rail networks.
For information on connections to Vienna, consult major rail booking websites or the ÖBB website.
From Vienna to Bucharest, the recommended choice is the overnight train EN 347 “Dacia”, operated jointly by ÖBB and CFR Călători. The train departs from Wien Hauptbahnhof at 19:42 and arrives at Bucharest Nord the following day around 15:00, covering approximately 18–19 hours through Budapest and Transylvania with no changes required.
Tickets are purchased through CFR Călători or ÖBB. All trains arrive at Bucuresti Nord (Piața Gării de Nord), well connected to the city centre by metro, bus, and taxi.
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