Public transport in Bucharest

Bucharest Metro

Opened in 1979, Bucharest’s metro is improving. Now with four lines and 39 stations, the system is clean, reliable, safe and cheap.

The most frequently used line is the north-south M2 line (going from Pipera to IMGB, taking in Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Universitate and Unirii on the way). Services on line M3, which serves Gara de Nord and many residential areas, can be infrequent, as can line M1, which runs on a similar route.

Line M4 is brand new, but only currently has four stations serving residential districts in the northwest of the city. Tickets valid for two journeys cost 2.50 lei, tickets valid for ten journeys cost a bargain 8.00 lei. Yes folks: in Bucharest the metro is cheaper than the bus.
  
Trains run between 05:30 - 23:30 and are supposed to run with a frequency of between 3-12 minutes.



Trams, Buses & Trolleybuses

Even though the public transport network is cheap, extensive and reliable, taking a bus, trolleybus or tram can be a headache due to the amount of people that cram on to the blasted things. Anyway, tickets valid for one journey cost 1.30 lei and must be purchased before climbing aboard, then punched in one of the strange looking devices located all over the vehicle (watch how others do it first).

If you are going to be staying a while in Bucharest and plan on using public transport a lot, invest in an Activ Card, a pre-paid electronic card. 

A bit like a London Transport Oyster card, you can buy them at most RATB kiosks and load them up with as much credit as you like. The card itself is free, but on purchase you need to load it with a minimum 25 lei.

The biggest draw is that you can use them on both surface trans[port and the metro.

Ticket inspectors (controlor) are ubiquitous, and if you are caught without a ticket you’ll pay a fine of 50 lei. Pickpockets are rife on all forms of public transport in Bucharest.