Sofia to Bucharest flights
Bucharest lies 296 km (184 mi) north-east of Sofia, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 8 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Sofia | Bucharest | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Bulgaria | Romania |
| Population | 1.2 million | 1.9 million |
| Elevation | 562 m (1,844 ft) | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Europe/Sofia) | UTC+3 (Europe/Bucharest) |
| Nearest large airport | SOF, 8 km out | BBU, 8 km out |
What changes when you arrive in Bucharest
Crossing from Bulgaria into Romania: money changes from the Lev to the Leu (RON); the dialling code becomes +40; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257.
Airports at each end
Leaving Sofia
Sofia is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Sofia Airport (SOF), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, whose 11,811-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Bucharest
Bucharest is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, whose 10,499-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP, 16 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport | BBU | 8 km (5 mi) | 10,499 ft | 297 ft |
| Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport | OTP | 16 km (10 mi) | 11,484 ft | 314 ft |
Book a flight to Bucharest
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Staying in Bucharest
Our booking partner lists 4,113+ places to stay in Bucharest (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 854 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (446), and 11 are five-star. Across 676 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9.2 out of 10. Guests have left 474,482 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Bucharest
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Bucharest from Sofia?
296 km (184 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Sofia.
How long does it take to get from Sofia to Bucharest by air?
About 1 h 8 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sofia and Bucharest?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Sofia to Bucharest flights?
Typically Sofia Airport (SOF) to Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU); Bucharest also has OTP.
What currency do I need in Bucharest?
The Leu (RON).
Where can I stay in Bucharest?
Our booking partner lists 4,113+ places to stay in Bucharest, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.