Gate-side duty free near departures in Terminal 1
Travel Value sits airside in Terminal 1 at Bucharest Henri Coandă, just past security and passport control before the non‑Schengen gates. It runs roughly from early-morning departures to the last evening waves, tracking the main flight banks rather than strict posted hours, so assume something like 04:00–22:00. You can loop through it on the standard walk from security to most gates without detouring off the main corridor.
This is the airport’s core duty free shop, with liquor, perfume, cosmetics, tobacco, snacks, and some Romanian souvenirs under the “Travel Value” branding. Expect the usual 1‑liter spirits promos and multi‑buy deals on chocolate (3‑for offers show up often around Lindt and Milka). Prices run closer to downtown Bucharest retail than to Western Europe airports, but don’t assume everything is cheaper than in the city; spot‑check with your phone if you care.
Selection skews heavily to big brands: Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniel’s, Absolut, Marlboro, plus the usual L’Oréal and Dior counters. You’ll also see some local touches like Romanian wines from Dealu Mare and Cotnari, plus “Dracula”‑branded sweets near the middle gondolas. Packaging on glass bottles is hit‑or‑miss, so if you’re on a tight 1‑bag cabin allowance on a low‑cost flight, think about box size against your 40 x 30 x 20 cm limit.
Payment is straightforward: prices are posted in euros and lei, and cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) run fine for even small 10–15 RON snack buys. Lines spike 30–45 minutes before the big Wizz Air banks to London, Rome, and Madrid. Tip: if you want time to compare bottle prices, walk through right after security instead of waiting until your gate posts on the FIDS screens.