There are multiple ways of getting to Bucharest, Romania (OTP). It will depend on what city you're departing from and the flights operating out of that city. I use search engines like CheapoAir.com or the app Rome2Rio to help me search for available routes. Once I find my preferred route I book directly through the airline operating that route. I do this because if there are any delays or cancellations, the airline will be more willing to work with you if you book directly through them. Many times you will find that the flights will be cheaper on the operating airline's website as well.

There are multiple cities to consider when traveling through Europe to get to Bucharest, Romania (OTP). Starting in June 2024 there will be a direct flight from New York's JFK on Romanian airline, HiSky. This is the only direct flight from the US to Romania. Consider using Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS), Zurich (ZRH) or London Heathrow (LHR). !!!! PLEASE do yourselves a favor and when booking your connections through any of these international cities, make sure that you have at LEAST 2-3 hours of layover time in between flights. It may seem like a long time but you'll thank me if you have a small delay at your originating city. Trust me !!!!

It generally takes about 13-16 hours (including layover time) to get to Romania. This of course depends on your flight schedules. Here in Philadelphia we often travel through London Heathrow. The flight from Philadelphia to London is roughly 7-8 hours. The second flight from London to Bucharest is about 3 hours with around a 3 hour layover in between. Please also be aware that the first leg of your trip will likely be an overnight flight and you will arrive in your European connecting city in the morning. This can be a tiring and arduous journey, especially crossing multiple time zones.

As of May, 2025 you may need an ETIAS Visa to travel to Romania. As of right now the ETIAS application for European countries has not yet been launched and they do not have an estimated launch date. They still expect it to launch sometime this year but there will likely be a 3-6 month transitionary period where the ETIAS will not be mandatory. You can check periodically online by visiting: https://www.etiaseurope.eu. If you are traveling through (transiting) the UK (LHR) to get to Romania, you do NOT need an ETA. If you plan to spend some time in the UK before or after Romania then you will need to apply for an ETA for the specific dates you will be staying there.. You can do so here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta. Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least 7 or more months before departing. If your passport is expiring within 6 months of travel you may have issues entering the country.

Romania is 7 hours ahead of the East coast or Eastern Standard Time. We very much recommend trying to sleep as much as you can on your flights. When you arrive in Bucharest it will likely be early to late afternoon. The best way to adjust to their time zone is to stay awake as best you can until 8 or 9pm that night. Try your best NOT to nap when you arrive at your hotel.

You should book your flights ASAP. Prices will never be cheaper than what they are today as you are reading this. There is no better day of the week or cheaper time of day to book flights. There are no tricks or tips other than to purchase your flights as early as possible for the best prices. If you need any help with this or have any questions please feel free to reach out to Jen.

This is completely up to the guest and your travel comfort level! I typically only use carry on sized bags and can fit most everything I need for a week or up to two weeks of travel. If you do plan to use a carry-on bag just be aware that European size bag standards tend to be smaller than US bag size standards. They may want to check your bag at the gate (free of charge) if they feel it is too big for the aircraft cabin. Checking a bag is also a really great and easy option. It also allows you to pack liquids over the 3.4oz limit. (If this is a concern, you can find almost anything you need at a grocery/drug store in Romania). Checking a bag also gives you more room to pack ample clothing options. IF you do decide to check a bag, consider bringing a backpack sized bag into the cabin with you containing essentials like medications, toothbrush, change of clothes etc. Again, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Jen.

We typically use Uber from the airport to the hotel in Bucharest. The pickup area is marked just outside in the parking lot directly in front of where you exit baggage claim. The Uber app works the same as it does in the US. Please verify the license plate on the app with the car picking you up and the driver should also confirm your name as well. You may also use taxi's if you're more comfortable hailing a cab than using the Uber app. We prefer Uber because we can input our destination, follow the app, and we know how much the ride will be. All of this can come in handy especially if your Uber driver doesn't speak English very well.