Lines 441, 441B, 442, 443, 443B, 444, 446, 447, 447B, 448 and 477 run through Balotești and Otopeni to Piața Presei in north Bucharest (STB route pages).
One monthly pass covers every bus, tram and trolleybus in Bucharest and Ilfov. With the metro it is 160 lei. Children under 7 and pupils at local schools ride free.
CFR Călători runs București Nord to Henri Coandă Airport daily in about 20–25 minutes. Buy before boarding: from the conductor it costs 13 lei.
Public transport in north Ilfov: the short answer
North of Bucharest, public transport means regional buses run under the Bucharest-Ilfov transport association (TPBI) and operated by STB, the Bucharest transport company. Eleven regional lines (441, 441B, 442, 443, 443B, 444, 446, 447, 447B, 448 and 477) run down the DN1 corridor through Balotești and Otopeni to a common terminus at Piața Presei in north Bucharest. Lines 441 and 441B start in Corbeanca. There is also a direct train from the airport to Gara de Nord, and metro line M6 is under construction but will end at the airport.
So the answer depends on where the house is. Along DN1, a family can do most daily trips by bus. In the outer villages, the bus is a backup, not a plan.
In plain words: north Ilfov without a car works if you live within walking distance of a DN1 bus stop and your daily destination is north Bucharest. Further out, plan on at least one car per household.
This guide covers the public options only. For drive times on DN1 and the road works, see our article on the Balotești to Bucharest commute.
Who runs what
| Service | Operator | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Regional buses (4xx lines) | STB, on contract to TPBI | Ilfov villages to north Bucharest |
| City buses, trams, trolleybuses | STB | Inside Bucharest |
| Metro | Metrorex | Inside Bucharest; M6 to the airport under construction |
| Airport train | CFR Călători | București Nord to Henri Coandă Airport |
The practical consequence: one ticket system covers buses and trams across Bucharest and Ilfov, and an integrated ticket adds the metro. The train has its own fare, with an integrated pass option.
The regional lines that serve Balotești, Otopeni and Corbeanca
We checked each line on the official STB route pages (info.stb.ro) on 22 October 2026. All of them share the same southern section: Otopeni, Aeroport Băneasa, Gara Băneasa, Piața Presei.
| Line | Outer terminus | Passes through |
|---|---|---|
| 441 | Ostratu | Corbeanca (Primăria Corbeanca), Petrești, C.F.R. Balotești, Otopeni |
| 441B | Tamași | Corbeanca, Petrești, C.F.R. Balotești, Otopeni |
| 442 | Therme București | Petrești, C.F.R. Balotești, Henri Coandă Airport, Otopeni |
| 443 | Periș | Tâncăbești, Snagov Plaza, Primăria Balotești, Otopeni |
| 443B | Periș Sat | Tâncăbești, Primăria Balotești, Otopeni |
| 444 | Piscu | Ciolpani, Tâncăbești, Primăria Balotești, Otopeni |
| 446 | Gruiu-Lipia | Gruiu, Tâncăbești, Primăria Balotești, Otopeni |
| 447 / 447B | Gruiu-Lipia / Micșuneștii Mari | Snagov, Primăria Balotești, Otopeni |
| 448 | Moara Vlăsiei | Căciulați, Poliția Balotești, Otopeni |
| 477 | Sitaru | Grădiștea, Moara Vlăsiei, Poliția Balotești, Otopeni |
Two things the table does not tell you, and you should check yourself:
- Frequency and hours. Timetables change and differ between weekdays and weekends. Open the line on info.stb.ro or in the InfoTB app before relying on it, especially for early school runs and late returns.
- The walk to the stop. Most stops are on DN1 or the main county roads (our guides to Otopeni and Corbeanca and Snagov describe the areas). A gated community 1–2 km off the road is a different daily experience from a house on the bus route.
The Bucharest terminus is Piața Presei, by Casa Presei Libere. On the STB route pages the last stop is listed in the Piața Presei car park lane, so check where your connecting line leaves from.
What a ticket costs
STB's published fares (VAT included) for Bucharest and Ilfov:
North Ilfov without a car works if the bus stop is a short walk away and your day starts in north Bucharest.
| Ticket | Price | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| One metropolitan trip | 3 lei | All surface lines, 90 minutes |
| One metropolitan trip + metro | 7 lei | Surface lines and metro, 120 minutes |
| Monthly pass, surface | 80 lei | Unlimited buses, trams, trolleybuses |
| Monthly pass, surface + metro | 160 lei | Plus the metro |
| Monthly pass, surface + airport train | 140 lei | Plus the Gara de Nord to Airport train |
| Monthly pass, surface + metro + train | 210 lei | All three |
For families, two rules matter. Children under 7 travel free. Pupils enrolled at a school in Bucharest or Ilfov travel free on a transport card loaded with a metropolitan pass, according to STB's discounts page.
The airport train
CFR Călători runs a daily service between București Nord and Henri Coandă Airport. The trip takes about 20–25 minutes, and some trains stop at Parc Mogoșoaia and Patinoar PO. A ticket costs 6.50 lei if you buy it before boarding (ticket office, website, app, kiosk, contactless terminal on the train or SMS to 7458). From the conductor it costs 13 lei. A monthly train pass is 141 lei. These fares apply from 14 December 2025.
For a Balotești or Otopeni family, the train is mostly useful in one direction: getting from the airport to Gara de Nord and the city centre. Line 442 stops at the airport (Aeroport Henri Coandă), so bus plus train is a possible route into central Bucharest.
Metro M6: what it will and will not change
Line M6 will run 14.2 km, with 12 stations, from 1 Mai through Băneasa and Otopeni to the airport terminal, according to the project's official site. Two stations are in Otopeni itself (Otopeni and Ion I.C. Brătianu), then Aeroport Otopeni.
The opening date has moved more than once. In November 2025, Metrorex's general director said the original target was the end of 2027 and that it would now be 2028 or early 2029. At the same time, the tender for the trains had not yet been launched. Treat any date as a forecast, not a promise. Our metro M6 guide tracks the timeline in detail.
For Balotești and Corbeanca, the key fact does not change: the airport is the last station. Residents will still reach M6 by bus or car, at Otopeni or the airport.
Who can realistically live without a car
| Situation | Without a car? |
|---|---|
| House on DN1 in Otopeni, work in north Bucharest | Realistic |
| Balotești near Primăria or Petrești stops, children at school in Ilfov | Possible, check the school run timetable |
| Corbeanca centre, work in Pipera or the city centre | Possible, but long: bus to Piața Presei, then a change |
| Outer villages, early shifts or night work | Hard; plan on a car |
| Two working parents with different destinations | A car for one of them is usually needed |
How to test the route before you buy
- Find the nearest stop to the house on info.stb.ro and note the line numbers.
- Walk from the house to the stop. Check the pavement and lighting, not just the distance.
- Open each line's timetable for weekdays and weekends.
- Do the real trip once at rush hour, from the stop to your workplace or the children's school.
- Check the return trip after 20:00.
- Price it: monthly pass per adult, free travel for pupils, and the train if you fly often.
- Decide how many cars the household really needs, and only then compare houses.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Balotești to Bucharest?
Lines 443, 443B, 444, 446, 447 and 447B stop at Primăria Balotești, lines 448 and 477 at Poliția Balotești, and lines 441, 441B and 442 at C.F.R. Balotești. All of them run through Otopeni to Piața Presei in north Bucharest. Check the timetable on info.stb.ro before you travel.
Is there a bus from Corbeanca to Bucharest?
Yes. Lines 441 (from Ostratu) and 441B (from Tamași) stop at Primăria Corbeanca and continue through Petrești, Balotești and Otopeni to Piața Presei. They are the only regional lines we found that serve Corbeanca.
How much does a monthly transport pass cost in Ilfov?
80 lei for all surface lines in Bucharest and Ilfov, and 160 lei with the metro included (STB fares, VAT included). There is also a pass with the airport train for 140 lei, and one with metro and train for 210 lei.
When will metro M6 reach Otopeni?
There is no firm date. Metrorex has spoken of 2028 or early 2029, after an original target of end-2027, and the trains had not yet been ordered as of late 2025. The line ends at the airport and will not reach Balotești or Corbeanca.
Do children pay for the bus?
Children under 7 travel free. Pupils at a school in Bucharest or Ilfov travel free on a transport card loaded with a metropolitan pass, according to STB.
The bottom line
North Ilfov is not car-free country, but it is not car-only either. The DN1 corridor has eleven regional lines into north Bucharest, a monthly pass costs 80 lei, and pupils ride free. What decides whether it works for you is the walk to the stop, the timetable at your hours, and where you need to be every morning.
If you are weighing a house in Balotești, Otopeni or Corbeanca, with us or elsewhere, book a half-hour call with me. We will map your daily trips and see how many cars the move really needs.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: STB, official route pages for regional lines 441, 441B, 442, 443, 443B, 444, 446, 448, 477 (info.stb.ro) · STB, fares and discounts · CFR Călători, București Nord to Henri Coandă Airport · Magistrala 6, official project site · Economedia, Metrorex on the M6 timeline, 12 November 2025 This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Routes, fares and timetables are as published on 22 October 2026 and can change; check info.stb.ro and cfrcalatori.ro before you travel.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
