Car Hire Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP)

If you are driving in Romania for the first time or have just arrived in Europe, make sure you familiarise yourself with Romanian driving rules before picking up your car. Some key road rules in Romania include driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Be aware that trams must be overtaken on the right. On approaching a tram stop where there is no pedestrian area, you must stop at least 5 metres from the last carriage. Mobile phones can only be used as a built-in audio device. Children under the age of 12 years are not allowed to travel in the front passenger seat. A child up to 3 years old must use an appropriate child seat for their size.

What are the age requirements for renting a car in Bucharest?

The minimum age to rent a car with Avis in Bucharest and the rest of Romania is 18. However, depending on your age and/or the age of any other additional driver, at the time of taking over (under 21; between 21 and 25) we charge a supplement for under 25s and restrict access to certain car groups. There is currently no maximum age for hiring a rental car, so long as you have had a full, valid, licence for at least 1 year. Some additional steps may be required for those who are over the age of 70 on the date of the scheduled return. When you book, you’ll be told if there are any maximum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you’re not sure, please check your booking confirmation email – or call the reservations team. 

What documents do I need to hire a car in Romania?

To hire a car in Bucharest, Romania, you just need to bring your:

• Driving licence
• The credit card used to make your booking (if it's a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card),
• Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred  card),
• Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence) taken in the last 10 years.

Can I pick up my rental car in Bucharest and return it to another location?

One-way car rental with Avis makes it easy to go from A to B without driving full circle. That means you can collect your Avis hire car from Bucharest Airport and then return it to another Avis office whether that’s in Romania or even another country in Eastern Europe. Many of our Avis locations offer a 24-hour drop-off facility, which makes a one-way car hire hassle-free and very user-friendly. Simply check out our many available one-way journeys and start planning your route. When you are ready to book, just specify your destination in the booking panel and we will arrange it for you.

Is it worth hiring a car in Bucharest?

While Bucharest is easy to access via the city’s good public transport network of metro, trams, buses, and trolleybuses, but the city is vast and to explore it properly as well as travel further afield, you’ll want to hire a car to travel. Renting a car at Bucharest International Airport gives you the freedom of independent travel as well as the opportunity to plan a Romanian road trip.

The Avis team at Bucharest Airport are experts on Bucharest and the surrounding area and can offer advice on the best routes to take and make your trip a smooth one from the moment you touch down.

What is parking like in Bucharest?

Parking in Bucharest is easiest on the outskirts of the city in one of the many park and ride schemes operated by the city’s metro although there are some central car parks and on street parking which is chargeable in zones.

 You can find out more about the zones and parking options from the city council.

From the Avis car park at Bucharest Airport to the centre of Bucharest is a drive of 18.3km which will take around 40min depending on the time of day. Head south from the airport and take the DN1 and E60 following signs to the centre of the city.

The bustling Romanian capital, once dubbed ‘Little Paris’, is a cosmopolitan city with an eclectic past evident in the city’s striking architecture. Once there, wander the old town, called Lipscani, which escaped destruction under communism and boasts a mix of architecture from the 19th century and communist-era buildings.

The Palace of the Parliament is also open to visitors for guided tours, recalling the final days of communism in Romania. Other notable structures include the Arcul de Triumf, built as a monument to WWI soldiers, which shares a similarity to the original in Paris.

Culture seekers will find many museums throughout Bucharest dedicated to art, history and culture. One of the most celebrated is the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, which looks into the country’s traditional heritage. The Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, aimed at children, is a great place to explore as a family.

A gateway to the rest of Romania, Bucharest is the perfect place to begin your road trip. While many tourists use Bucharest as a base to explore Transylvania, the regions surrounding the capital are laden with history and folklore and offer top day trip destinations. Drive just two hours from Bucharest and you’ll reach a wealth of fascinating attractions and scenic villages.

Poenari

Take the E81 west for 40 minutes and you’ll arrive at Poenari Castle – a fortress built by Dracula himself. While many travel over three times as far to visit Bran Castle in Transylvania, Poenari is a much closer alternative. Climb the 1,480 steps to the top of the ruined castle for stunning views of the Carpathian mountains.

Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle

Just under two hours north on the DN1, the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery is a quaint stop to visit as you make your way to Peles Castle, just 2km further. This beautiful Renaissance castle houses a museum, while guided visits reveal its unique architectural details.

Ruse

Take the DN5 south for 90 minutes and cross the Romanian border into Ruse, Bulgaria’s most important city on the Danube river. A rich cultural selection, including many museums and monuments, will soon fill your itinerary. Be sure to visit the Pantheon of the National Revival, which commemorates local lives lost in the Russo-Turkish War, and the Museum of the Urban Lifestyle in Ruse, featuring recreated period rooms that provide a fascinating insight into ancient local life.