Henri Coandă International Airport: getting there from northern Bucharest

Where the airport is

Henri Coandă International Airport is in Otopeni, Ilfov County, north of Bucharest. The Romanian Wikipedia places it 16 kilometers from the center of the capital, and the English one 16.5 kilometers.

The name

Until May 2004 it was called Otopeni International Airport. The current name honors the inventor Henri Coandă. The sources consulted give different years for the start of civil traffic (1969 or 1970), so we do not state it here.

By bus 100

According to Wikipedia, express line 100 connects Piața Unirii with the airport, non-stop, with buses every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. Since April 22, 2026, because of works near the Arrivals terminal, lines 100 and 442 stop at the shared stop “Aeroport Henri Coandă Plecări” (Departures), which is due to be renamed “Aeroport Henri Coandă”. The measure stays until the construction site is finished, Economedia wrote, without giving an end date. Check the route and timetable on stbsa.ro before you leave.

By train from Gara de Nord

According to the Romanian Wikipedia, the railway line between Gara de Nord and the airport opened on December 13, 2020, with one train about every 40 minutes and a journey of about 20 minutes. The English Wikipedia gives 20–25 minutes. In a press release dated July 28, 2026, CFR Călători announced night works on this route on July 30/31, 2026, with trains canceled and replaced, so the current timetable should be checked on cfrcalatori.ro.

The metro to the airport

The metro link, line M6, is described by the Romanian Wikipedia as a project, with completion estimated in 2027, while the English one calls it “under construction”. We found no official date for it to enter service, so we do not state one.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Pipera to Henri Coandă airport without a car?

One option is metro M2 to Piața Unirii, then express line 100. Alternatively, the train from Gara de Nord. The journey time depends on traffic and the timetable, so use the STB or CFR journey planner.

Does the train to the airport also run at night?

The English Wikipedia indicates one train every 40 minutes, 24 hours a day. However, CFR Călători announced night works with canceled trains on July 30/31, 2026. Check CFR Călători announcements.

How many passengers does the airport have?

Wikipedia (English) gives 17,001,578 passengers in 2025, 6.61% more than in 2024. The figure comes from a single source.