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- Book a car rental at Otopeni Airport
- Car rental desks at Otopeni Airport
- Car rental return at Otopeni Airport
- Top car rental categories at Otopeni Airport
- One-way car rentals at Otopeni Airport
- Cross-border car rental from Otopeni Airport
- Facilities at Otopeni Airport Bucharest
- Tips for renting a car at Otopeni Airport
- FAQs
Book a car rental at Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP)
If you are arriving in Bucharest by air, renting a car at Otopeni Airport is the most convenient way to travel further. OTP Airport also serves as Romania's primary international gateway and has a wide fleet of vehicles from several reputed suppliers. We help you find reasonable deals from all such companies. You can compare all the options in a single search and book the best one for your journey.
If you are a fan of the automobile industry, a 5-minute drive from OTP will take you to the "Tiriac Collection" Auto Gallery. It has an impressive collection that features rare & vintage cars owned by Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac.
Another good option after landing is to take a ~10-minute drive north from the airport to relax at Therme Bucharest, Europe's largest thermal water-based relaxation complex. It is one of the best things you can do after your long flight.
There are many nearby places you can easily visit from OTP and having a self-drive car makes it possible to explore other places in and outside Bucharest comfortably. So, eliminate the need to depend on fixed and limited public transport schedules and book your ride today to travel as per your itinerary!
Car rental desks at Otopeni Airport (OTP)
Some of the major car rental suppliers like Ace Rent a Car, Alamo, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and National have their dedicated counters inside the Otopeni Airport's main terminal complex that connects the departure and arrival terminals on the ground level.
After collecting your luggage, follow the signboards for the car rental area and head towards your selected supplier's desk. Once your paperwork is completed, a staff member will guide you towards the parking area within the airport's short-term and multi-story parking lots, just a short walking distance from OTP's main terminal exit.
If you have booked from an off-site supplier like addCar, SurPrice, AutoUnion, Avis, Budget, Carwiz or Green Motion, follow the instructions mentioned in your Rental Confirmation Voucher. Such providers have their offices just outside the airport perimeter along Calea Bucurestilor. You get free shuttle services from the arrivals area to reach their desks.
Car rental return at Otopeni Airport (OTP)
To return your rental car at Otopeni Airport (OTP), follow the road signs pointing toward "Car Rental"/"Inchirieri Auto", as you head towards the airport via DN1/Calea Bucurestilor. There is a dedicated return area where you can park the vehicle in your provider's marked lane.
For off-site suppliers, you need to first drop off the vehicle at their dedicated parking spaces before heading to the airport. After the return process is completed, the provider provides a shuttle or representative to transfer you directly to the OTP's departure terminal. It is usually a 3 to 5 minute drive.
Car rental categories at Bucharest Otopeni Airport
At OTP Airport, we provide various rental categories for all types of journey requirements. You can pick the option that goes well for your plans to explore Bucharest.
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Economy cars
Seating capacity: Up to 5 seats
Popular models: Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio
Economy cars are perfect for driving to attractions within Bucharest, which is just ~16.5 km (~10 miles) south of OTP. Such cars are convenient to visit Palace of Parliament or the Romanian Athenaeum, where parking spaces are often tight. They are also economical for stop-and-go traffic conditions, which is common in central Bucharest.
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SUVs
Seating capacity: Up to 7 seats
Popular models: Dacia Duster, Mazda CX-90
SUV category is ideal for your Romanian road trip plans from Bucharest Airport. These vehicles are suitable for mountain areas with different terrains, like that of Transfagarasan (one of Europe's popular road trips, ~2.5 to 3 hours from OTP). They are also frequently booked for national parks like "Bucegi" Natural Park (~1.5 to 2 hours north via DN1).
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Passenger vans
Seating capacity: 8 seats or more
Popular models: Renault Trafic, Ford Tourneo Custom
Minivans or passenger vans are ideal for group travel with 9 or more travelers. This category is also convenient for keeping heavy equipment for skiing, snowboarding, boots, hiking gear and tents. People mostly book vans to drive to the main Prahova Valley resorts like Sinaia (~111 km/69 miles from OTP Airport) along the DN1/E60 highway route.
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Luxury cars
Seating capacity: 4-5 seats
Popular models: BMW 5 Series, Mercedes C-Class
Bucharest is one of Romania's commercial hubs with hundreds of European corporate headquarters, which makes luxury car rental popular at Otopeni Airport. The Northern Business District is just ~12 to 14 km/7.5 to 8.5 miles south of OTP Airport. This category is ideal for projecting a professional image when attending meetings or visiting clients.
One-way car rentals at Otopeni Airport (OTP)
Many travelers prefer to keep Henri Coanda Airport as their base to start the Transylvanian road trips. This means they pick up their vehicle from OTP and go on a multi-city adventure without returning to the starting point.
We provide one-way rental deals to ease out your journey across Romania and Central Europe. Some of the popular routes with different drop-off locations include:
| Route | Approx. distance | Approx. time | Popular drop-off location |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTP Airport to Sibiu | 296 km (184 miles) | 4 hours to 4.5 hours | Sibiu International Airport (SBZ) |
| OTP Airport to Cluj-Napoca | 466 km (290 miles) | 5 hours 45 minutes to 6.5 hours | Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport (CLJ) |
| OTP Airport to Constanta/Black Sea Coast | 241 km (150 miles) | 3 hours | Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport (CND) |
| OTP Airport to Timisoara | 558 km (347 miles) | 6.5 hours to 7.5 hours | Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR) |
| OTP Airport to Brasov | 156 km (97 miles) | 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes | Brasov-Ghimbav International Airport (GHV) |
Cross-border car rental from Otopeni Airport (OTP)
With us, you can rent a car at Bucharest Airport and drive into another country. Cross-border travel is permitted by many of our listed suppliers. You get easy access to explore the Balkans and Central Europe. Since Bucharest is located in southern Romania, crossing into neighboring countries like Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia is usually permitted.
Note: Inform your provider about your cross-border travel plans beforehand so that they can arrange all the required documents like Green Card insurance, authorizing you to take that specific vehicle out of Romania.
Some suppliers may even charge an additional cross-border fee depending on your booked vehicle and destination.
Some popular international routes from OTP Airport include:
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OTP Airport to Sofia, Bulgaria
Distance: ~401 km (249 miles) Time: ~5 hours 50 minutes -
OTP Airport to Varna, Bulgaria & Black Sea Coast
Distance: ~307 km (190 miles) Time: ~4 hours 15 minutes -
OTP Airport to Transylvania to Budapest, Hungary
Distance: ~850 km (528 miles) Time: ~9 hours 30 minutes -
OTP Airport to Iron Gates Canyon to Belgrade, Serbia
Distance: ~603 km (374 miles) Time: ~7 hours 50 minutes
About Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport
| Address: | Calea Bucurestilor 224E, 075150 Otopeni, Romania |
|---|---|
| IATA Code: | OTP |
Otopeni Airport, also known as Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport, located outside Bucharest's urban area, is Romania's busiest airport. It is one of the two main airports serving Romania. Otopeni Airport is 16.5 kilometers (10.3 mi) north of Bucharest's city center and serves more than 17 million passengers annually.
The airport comprises a single passenger terminal, which is famous for its walkway, along with connecting arrivals and departures buildings. Airlines like Aegean Airlines, Air France, FlyOne, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, SkyUp Airlines and Turkish Airlines regularly operate their flights at OTP.
Facilities available at Otopeni Airport
- Free wifi and local SIM card stores
- TAROM business lounge & Airport business lounges
- 24/7 cafes and eateries
- 24/7 supermarket
- Post office & banking
- ATMs and currency exchange
- Car rental desks
- Medical first aid & 2mPharma
VIP Cars' tips for renting a car at Otopeni Airport (OTP)
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Read your Green Card document carefully before leaving Otopeni Airport. It is crucial for your cross-border travel plans. You can ask your supplier if anything is not clear.
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Winter tyres for car rentals at Otopeni Airport booked from 1st November to 31st March or 15th November to 15th April might be included in your rental amount; however, you need to verify it once you reach the counter.
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July and August are the peak travel seasons at OTP Airport; we recommend booking your vehicle at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance if planning to travel during these months.
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While collecting your rental car at Bucharest Airport, verify with your supplier whether the Rovinieta is active on the license plate (required to pay tolls digitally). Without a valid Rovinieta, driving a car on any motorways (A-roads) or national highways (DN-roads) in Romania is illegal.
