Bucharest's main station: Location map
Bucharest has one main station, the imposing Gara de Nord (Bucureşti Nord), opened in 1872.
Bucharest's imposing Gara de Nord showing the main entrance and impressive colonnaded portico. The taxi rank is under the portico.
Overview
In communist days the interior was as dark and intimidating as the exterior, it's now vastly improved and even features a McDonald's, KFC and Subway.
The concourse is shaped like a letter 'T'. The crossbar of the T runs from east to west across the width of the station with platforms 1-14 lined up alongside it. There's an exit on either side of the station. The vertical part of the T is a broad passageway running south to the main entrance, colonnaded portico and taxi rank.
A two-story building runs down the middle of the vertical part of the 'T' splitting it into two narrower passageways, you'll find the main ticket office, Astra Trans Carpatic ticket office and left luggage in this part of the 'T'.
Station concourse, at the head of the 'T' with platforms lined up on the right, the broad passageway to the portico on the left.
This is the information office at the head of the 'T'. Platform 6 is behind me. Note McDonald's on the corner!
The main ticket office is down the passageway to the left of the information office. The left luggage office and the Astra Trans Carpatic ticket window are down the passageway to the right of the information office. Walk either side of the information office to reach the main station exit and taxi rank.
Platforms
The station is a terminus, with platforms numbered from 1 to 14 left to right as you stand on the concourse and look towards the platforms. Expect platform numbers to be posted on the departure boards anything from 10 to 30 minutes before departure.
There are no ticket barriers, gates or checks, just free and open level access from street to concourse to platform to train.
Tickets & reservations
International tickets are bought at ticket window 1 in a room marked Case de bilete, see the photo below. If you walk in through the main station entrance with the imposing portico (see topmost photo on this page) , it's that broad passageway towards the platforms, on the right. To find it from the platforms, walk 50m into the passageway opposite platform 8, between MacDonald's and the information office.
If you're collecting tickets bought online here, do it the day before or earlier in the day if you can, not at the last minute. The international window closes for breaks at various times of day, and although there's often no queue, when there are people ahead of you it can take time to get served.
The main CFR (Romanian Railways) ticket office entrance, on the left-hand side of the passageway from opposite platform 6 to the main exit & portico.
Inside the main CFR ticket office, showing ticket window 1 on the left, for international tickets & reservations.
The Astra Trans Carpatic ticket window, on the left in the passageway from opposite platform 8 to the main exit & portico.
Left luggage, ATMs, toilets
If you walk down the passageway opposite platform 5 towards the main station exit with the portico, the left luggage office is on the right, next to the Regio Calatori ticket office, see the photo below. See the left luggage page for opening hours & prices.
There are privately-run luggage lockers too, but these are more expensive as they charge per hour, see www.romobility.ro and see the left luggage page for prices.
There are plenty of ATM cash points around the station. There are toilets opposite platform 12.
Food & drink
There is a McDonalds on the main concourse opposite platform 8. There's a KFC, Subway & Starbucks at the east end of the concourse near platform 14, and there are many kiosks selling drinks and snacks.
The Bistro Nord (www.facebook.com/bistronord) on the east side of the station near platform 14 has been recommended, see the photo below. It serves inexpensive Romanian & Moldovan food, open 08:00-22:00 daily, ideal for a meal and a beer before a sleeper departure. It has some outdoor seating at the side of the station too.
Supermarket
There's a Carrefour Express minimarket on the concourse opposite platform 3, open early until late at night 7 days a week, ideal for stocking up for your journey.
Taxis
The official station taxi rank is at the front of the station, in that impressive portico as shown below. Only use the official yellow taxis, ignore any touts. Do not use taxis, even cars that appear to be taxis, from anywhere else outside the station. Consider using Uber.
Metro
Bucharest Nord has its own metro station on line M1 & M4. For a metro map & information see www.metrorex.ro.
Things to see in Bucharest
The Palace of Parliament (formerly Ceaușescu's palace) is a 36-minute walk from the Gara de Nord, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_the_Parliament.
The Arcul de triumf is a 41-minute walk from the Gara de Nord, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcul_de_Triumf.
Hotels
Hotels near the station
The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord, Hello Hotels Gara de Nord & Euro Hotel Grivita are all just a 350m 5 minute walk from the station, inexpensive with good reviews. I personally didn't get on with the Grivita in spite of its good reviews, perhaps try Hello Hotels Gara de Nord. The Ibis Styles Bucharest Center is an 18-minute hike from the station (see walking map), but would be a reliable choice.
Athenee Palace Hotel - recommended!
The IHG Athenee Palace Hotel is a luxury 5-star hotel located next to the Atheneum in central Bucharest, just a short taxi or Uber ride from the station. It scores over 9/10 in reviews and I can personally recommend it. Great breakfast, and it has a good restaurant too. The room rate varies significantly, expensive some dates but often remarkably affordable. Check prices and see!
But the real reason I just had to stay here can be found in the hotel's Wikipedia entry: A New York Times foreign correspondent wrote about it pre-WW2, "This was a comfortable establishment with excellent service…a corrupt staff always seeking to change a customer's money at black-market rates and continual competition by ladies of easy or nonexistent virtue to share the warmth of a client's bed." During WW2 it was home to both British spies and Gestapo, “The meeting place of the Continental spies, political conspirators, adventurers, concession hunters, and financial manipulators.” And from 1948 when the hotel was nationalized by the Communist government, they famously bugged every room, tapped every phone and every pay phone within 800m, and staffed the entire hotel with informers. See en.wikipedia.org...Athenee_Palace_Bucharest. Fortunately, things have improved a bit...
