Of all the transport types in Bucharest, the RATB bus network is the most extensive. In fact, RATB’s advertisements state that one can never be further away than five minutes walking distance from a bus stop! There are 121 bus lines, most of which operate in the Municipality of Bucharest. There are even a few bus lines which provide services to the towns and villages which border Bucharest, and whose population usually commutes to Bucharest for work. For schedules and routes, visit www.ratb.ro (English section available).
We have listed the latest ticket prices below, but it is important to remember that the prices sometimes change, so do not forget to occasionally look online!
www.ratb.ro/index.php?page=tarif&id_ rubrica=1
Monthly tickets:
For one urban line: RON 30
For two urban lines: RON 35
For all urban lines: RON 50
Other types of tickets
One trip: RON 1.3
For all urban lines, valid 1 day: RON 8
For all urban lines, valid 7 days: RON 17
For all urban lines, valid 15 days: RON 25
Nine bus lines serving tourist areas near Bucharest were launched in August 2010, so far only available during weekends. They reach monasteries and other tourists sights in villages like Cernica, Mogosoaia, Ciorogarla. The price of a return ticket is RON 15.
There are also night buses in Bucharest, a service which was started in 2011. The night transportation in Bucharest starts at 23,00 hours and arrive every half an hour between 23,00 and 01,00 and 05,00 and 06,00 in the morning, and every hour between 01,00 and 06,00 hours. The price of a trip is the same as during day time, of RON 1.3. All the night buses have the letter N in front of their number (N101, N102 and so on).
A special tourist bus line was launched in 2011. It is a red double-decker bus that carrier tourists on the Bucharest City Tour route. The bus will ride daily between 10,00 and 22,00 hours on the route Piata Presei Libere, Muzeul Satului, Arcul de Triumf, Piata Victoriei, Calea Victoriei, Palatul Parlamentului, Piata Unirii, Universitate, Piata Romana, Piata Victoriei, Piata Charles de Gaulle, Soseaua Kiseleff and back to Piata Presei Libere.
The route is 15.4 km long and should take 50 minutes. Buses serving this new line arrive every 15 minutes. The price of a ticket on this line is of RON 25 (the equivalent of EUR 5.8) for adults and RON 10 (some EUR 2.2) for children up to 14 years old. The transport card bought for this fee is valid for 24 hours and can be bought from the bus.
RATB also operates a complex system of trams and light rails in the Municipality of Bucharest. Besides ten tram lines, there are currently three light rail metro lines (numbered 32, 35 and 41), all of which run in the western part of Bucharest.
Light rail metros use more modern rolling stock than trams and run on separate designated corridors.
There are also trolley buses in Bucharest. The only thing we mention about them is that sometimes their connection to the power lines may break and then you will see the driver getting out and trying to re-arrange the trolley poles to the electricity wires.
In case this takes longer than expected, it is better to get off and take a bus instead.
