Gate-side Relay branches sit in Terminal 1 after security.
Relay is the generic grab-and-go newsstand at OTP Terminal 1, sitting airside after passport control and security. You see the red signage near several gates in the Schengen and non‑Schengen areas, so you don’t need to backtrack far from most boarding zones. Think last‑minute magazines, snacks, and travel odds and ends rather than a full grocery stop.
Opening hours track the flight banks, usually from early‑morning departures around 04:00 until late‑evening waves after 22:00, but individual branches can close earlier on quiet days. Prices run higher than downtown Bucharest: a 0.5L soft drink that’s 5–6 RON in the city often hits 9–10 RON here, and international magazines can be marked up a few extra euro. Card payments are standard, including contactless.
Stock is basic but predictable: bottles of water, sodas, standard chocolate bars, chips, a few sandwiches, and pre‑packed pastries. Cigarettes and SIM cards may be behind the counter in some locations, but don’t count on full electronics beyond cables, headphones, and power banks. If you want local flavor, your best bet is Romanian chocolate brands or small packs of local biscuits rather than anything freshly made.
Lines spike 20–30 minutes before boarding when several gates in Terminal 1 load at once, and cooler shelves empty fastest on hot summer days above 30°C. If you care about choice, walk over as soon as your gate posts on the screen, grab water and snacks in one go, then sit down within sight of the boarding door.