Travelling from London to Bucharest: what you need to know
You can take your pick of a range of airports when planning a flight from London to Bucharest. Check out your options for flying out of London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also service London.
Hop off the plane at Bucharest's primary gateway, Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP).
Jump on a direct London to Bucharest flight and you'll be flying for an average of 3 hours 10 minutes.
Bucharest is two hours ahead of London and is in the UTC+2 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 14 departures a week to choose from. If you prefer starting your day later, the last flight from London to Bucharest is with British Airways at 20:05. Go for the first LHR to OTP departure operated by British Airways at 08:45 to make the most of your arrival in Bucharest.
To ensure you make your London to Bucharest flight, allow plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
Flying during a peak time like July? School holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Bucharest
To pick up cheap London to Bucharest flights, book as early as possible. Airlines usually offer lower fares when flights first go on sale.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from London to Bucharest across every month. It's a good way to find a bargain if your travel plans aren't set in stone.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from London to Bucharest by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your London to Bucharest flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
If you're looking for a direct flight from London to Bucharest, you can leave from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Fly from LHR to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) in one seamless trip.
British Airways is a popular carrier that offers direct London to Bucharest plane tickets leaving from LHR.
We make it easy to book a London to Bucharest flight with a stopover. To see all your options departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, pick a flight with a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
LHR is about 26 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
Want a handy hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from London to Bucharest, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Of all flights leaving London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% touch down on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Consider booking your direct flight from London to Bucharest out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Nonstop connections from LGW will get you to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP).
Book your direct London to Bucharest plane ticket with Wizz Air Malta. This is one of the top airlines that operates this route out of LGW.
Visit family or friends or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your London to Bucharest flight, here's where you can stop when leaving from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
You can reach LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport will take roughly 30 minutes to cover the 40 kilometres or so.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your flight from London to Bucharest? Unwind in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your adventure officially starts. Stay at one of these accommodation options:
When it comes to keeping flights punctual, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 69%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can jump on a direct flight from London to Bucharest jetting out of Stansted Airport (STN). Book a ticket and travel straight to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP).
Ryanair is one airline that offers direct London to Bucharest plane tickets from STN.
You can lock in a ticket from London to Bucharest with a stop or two out of Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and Bucharest:
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Pisa International Airport (PSA)
The trip to STN from the centre of London is around 1 hour 25 minutes on public transport. If you prefer to travel by car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Sleep a little longer and still make your London to Bucharest flight with time to spare. These accommodation options near Stansted Airport make departure day effortless if you're jetting off early:
Flights that take off from STN touch down at their destination on schedule 64.73% of the time.
Arriving in Bucharest
Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) is approximately 14 kilometres from central Bucharest. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 35 minutes.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 35 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from London to Bucharest, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these accommodation options near OTP:
Pick up a Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport rental car and discover Bucharest and beyond with your own wheels. Klass Wagen, Pricecarz and Surprice are popular providers to choose from here.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your ride from Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport about one week before your trip.
Best time to go to Bucharest
April is the quietest month for flights from London to Bucharest, while July is the most popular. Find the best time to go to Bucharest based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Lock in a London to Bucharest ticket departing in August if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Bucharest to range from 17ºC (63ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
January has average temperatures of between -9ºC (16ºF) and 8ºC (46ºF). Search for cheap flights from London to Bucharest around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Bucharest
Once you've booked your flight from London to Bucharest, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Bucharest:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Museum of the Palace of the Parliament, Old Town and The Revolution Square Fountain are top sights which should feature on any good Bucharest itinerary.
Explore more of Romania
You've done Bucharest, now it's time to explore more of Romania. Journey around 322 kilometres north to Iasi to tick off its leading sights. From Palace of Culture to Saint Nicholas Church and Golia Monastery, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you want to check out another great destination in Romania, head for Cluj-Napoca, about 322 kilometres north-west of Bucharest. St. Michael's Church, Hoia Baciu Forest and Banffy Palace are key reasons to visit.