Gara de Nord in under an hour from Terminal 1
Bus 780 runs as an express line between Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) Terminal 1 and Gara de Nord, the city’s main railway station about 18 km away. The stop sits just outside the arrivals area at OTP, signed for express buses. Tickets cost only a few lei compared to 60–80 lei for an airport taxi into town, so this is the budget move if you’re rail-connecting at Gara de Nord.
The 780 is part of the Bucharest city bus network, operated by STB, not a private shuttle. That means you use regular STB tickets or travel cards, which you buy from the kiosk near the airport bus stop marked with the STB logo and route numbers. Validate the card or ticket immediately after boarding in the yellow validator machines; inspectors do write fines on these airport lines.
Ride time between OTP and Gara de Nord usually sits around 40–60 minutes for the 18 km route, depending on DN1 traffic into Bucharest. Seats are standard city-bus style with standing room in the middle section; there’s no underfloor luggage hold, so bags stay with you. If you’re hauling a 23 kg checked suitcase plus a carry-on, plan to grab a spot near the rear doors to stay out of the flow.
Service frequency varies by time of day, but headways typically fall in the 20–40 minute range during daytime hours. Late evening intervals can stretch longer, so if you land after 22:00, check the posted timetable at the stop or on the STB route board before committing. If you’ve just missed a 780 and don’t want to wait 30 minutes, compare that wait plus ride time against a 25–30 minute taxi run.
Practical tip: buy your STB ticket or reload your card at the airport kiosk before you line up, because drivers on the 780 do not reliably sell tickets and inspectors at Gara de Nord sometimes board right at the station approach.