The public transport in Bucharest

The means of public transportation in Bucharest can be a bit tricky compared to other countries, so it's best to know what to expect when arriving.

METRO




TRAMS & BUSES

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. A total lack of air conditioning makes the use of public transport highly undesirable at any time of year. Anyway, tickets valid for one journey cost 8,000 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). Ticket inspectors ( controlor ) are ubiquitous, and if you are caught without a ticket you'll pay a fine. Pickpocketing is as rife as can be: the 783 (airport express), 331, 335 and 300 bus routes, as well as all the trolleybus routes that pass Piata Universitatii and tram 21 and 32 are notoriously bad. Buses are also badly lit at night, and generally empty. Travel on expres buses (slow, noisy Parisian hand-me-downs) requires buying a special magnetic ticket, available from the RATB kiosks at Piata Romana. The RATB head office is at (H-5), Calea Serban Voda 164-168, tel. 336 56 50, www.ratb.ro