![Bucharest, in southern Romania, is the country's capital and commercial center.]()
Image: Pixabay
Welcome to fascinating Bucharest! Secure a cheap airport rental car to explore the capital city of Romania.
Home of the iconic Palatul Parlamentului government building, Bucharest often gets overlooked by tourists on their way to Transylvania. Give it a chance, this capital city offers superb museums such as the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, beautiful green space like the Cismigiu Garden and trendy cafes all throughout the city. Gasp over 17th-century Orthodox churches and the exquisite Romanian Athenaeum.
After a few days in the city, hop in your rental car to explore the Romanian countryside, visiting Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova and more.
Hiring a cheap Bucharest rental car with Airport Rentals
Book your Romania car hire with Airport Rentals to save time and money. You can instantly compare multiple vendors and hundreds of vehicles all in one place. Just type in your travel dates, click ‘search’ and voila! A large inventory of rental deals will appear before you. Simplify your search using the preference filters to favour your ideal type of car, rental brand and more.
Once you’ve made your final selection, complete your secure booking to receive instant confirmation and benefits such as unlimited mileage. Never worry about hidden fees, and enjoy access to our 24/7 customer service team to answer questions at any time.
Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport is Romania’s busiest airport located in Otopeni, just 16 kilometres north of the city. Each year over 10 million travellers pass through this airport, which offers a selection of cafes, bars, restaurants and even ice cream stands. The airport also hosts a barber/beauty salon, a pharmacy, free WiFi and heaps of duty-free shopping. Locate your rental car kiosk in the passageway between the Departures and Arrivals Terminal.
If you are picking up a rental car from a downtown Bucharest location, take the express train or public bus, or hail a taxi to the city.
Guide to driving a car hire in Bucharest
Use our guide on driving tips, directions and parking in Bucharest.
Driving from the Henri Coanda International Airport to downtown Bucharest
The drive from Henri Coanda International Airport to Bucharest is 25 minutes. Exit the airport heading south on DN1 and continue on DN1/E60 until exiting onto DN5/DN6 at the roundabout. Keep left to stay on DN6 to arrive in the city centre.
Driving tips for your Bucharest rental car
Driving passively is not recommended in Bucharest. Drive confidently and never use your horn in the city limits, as it’s considered rude to the locals.
Romania car hire driving tips
● Drive on the right side of the road, overtake on the left.
● Be prepared to share the road with horse-drawn carriages, cyclists and pedestrians.
● Use your hazard lights if you are turning off the highway.
● Avoid driving at night when possible, as roads are not well lit and loitering livestock pose a danger.
● Always carry a road kit including a warning triangle, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and reflective jacket.
● Visiting in winter? Be sure to check out our winter driving guide.
Parking options at the Airport and downtown Bucharest
For short-term parking at Bucharest Airport, use the public lot directly across from the terminal at a rate of 3 Lei per 30 minutes. For long-term parking, pay 40 Lei per day.
Find both private car parks and government-owned spaces in the city of Bucharest. The city spots cost 1.5 Lei per hour during the hours of 9am to 5pm. Look for the blue “P” signs, meaning parking permitted, and always carry cash as credit cards are not accepted. For private lots, expect to pay around 1.5 Lei per 30 minutes.
Is this your first European road trip? Read our top tips for driving in a foreign country.
