Buying a Sim Card at Bucharest Airport in 2026 – Prices & Best eSIM

If you’re traveling to Romania and landing at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), chances are you’ll want mobile data immediately.

I’ve personally bought prepaid SIM cards at Bucharest Airport and also tested multiple eSIMs for Romania. In this updated 2026 guide, I’ll show you exactly:

• where to buy a SIM card at Bucharest Airport
• current airport SIM card prices
• the cheapest options for budget travelers
• why I usually choose an eSIM for Romania instead
• and what I recommend based on real experience

 

 

I also recorded my arrival at Bucharest Airport and buying a tourist SIM card — you’ll find that video embedded below so you can see the process yourself.

For cheaper Romania sim card deals for tourists you need to buy a sim card in a phone store in Bucharest city center or simply buy your sim card for traveling in Romania on the internet.

For more info check out Traveltomtom's guide about the best prepaid sim cards for Romania. 

Quick Answer: Can You Buy a Prepaid SIM Card at Bucharest Airport?

Yes.

You can buy prepaid SIM cards at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP) inside the arrivals hall at the Relay convenience store. Vodafone and Orange tourist SIM cards typically cost around 60 Lei (about $13 USD).

However, airport SIM cards are more expensive than city-center stores and for most travelers buying a Romania eSIM online before arrival is easier and often cheaper.

If you need an eSIM then get one online before arrival in Romania because at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP) the Relay store only sells physical prepaid sim cards for tourists. Check out Traveltomtom's guide for the best eSIMs for traveling to Romania in 2026.

Is Bucharest one of your stops in Europe and are you visiting multiple countries then you probably want to check out Traveltomtom's guide for the best sim cards for visiting Europe in 2026.

Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Bucharest Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My Recommendation (2026)

If your phone supports eSIM, I strongly recommend buying a Romania eSIM online before your trip. This is what I personally do now.

Why?

• You’re connected the moment you land
• No hunting for shops after a long flight
• No SIM swapping in the arrivals hall
• Perfect for ordering a taxi, using Google Maps, or messaging before you are even through customs.

eSIMs for Romania already start from just $1 USD. For more info check out Traveltomtom's Romania eSIM guide for 2026.

I still test local SIM cards at airports for my guides, but for convenience alone, eSIM wins every time.

For budget travelers arriving in Bucharest, my advice is simple:

• Best option: Romania eSIM (buy before you fly)
• Second best: Buy a prepaid SIM in the city
• Last resort: Buy SIM card at Bucharest Airport

Airport SIMs work, but you pay extra for convenience. They are more expensive than sim cards in phone stores in Bucharest. More info in my guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Romania.

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If you are traveling onwards to other continents on this trip, for example to Turkey then there are also international prepaid sim cards in the form of physical sim cards and eSIMs which are valid in up to 141 countries around the world.

Best eSIM for Romania in 2026

I’ve used Romania eSIMs on multiple trips and tested several providers. These are solid eSIM providers that you can trust.

Important: your phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible. If you’re unsure, check your device before purchasing.

Airalo Romania eSIM

Good for short trips and budget travelers.

Typical plans:

• 1 GB – 7 days – around $4.50
• 3 GB – 30 days – around $9.50
• 5 GB – 30 days – around $13
• 10 GB – 30 days – around $21
• 20 GB – 30 days – around $32

Data only (no calls or SMS), but perfect for WhatsApp, navigation, and browsing. Setup takes less than two minutes with a QR code.

Click here for more info or to order a Romania eSIM via Airalo.

The Noroc eSIMs from Airalo operate on the 4G/LTE network of Vodafone and on the 5G network of Orange. Yes, the Noroc eSIMs for Romania are 5G ready, but data is only valid in Romania.

SimOptions Romania / Europe eSIM

SimOptions is a great eSIM if you’re visiting multiple countries in Europe.

Popular plans:

• 1 GB – 7 days – around $4.50
• 3 GB – 15 days – around $9.50
• 10 GB Europe – 30 days – around $22.90
• 30 GB Europe – 30 days – around $44.90

I often choose SimOptions when Romania is part of a bigger Europe trip.

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Romania via SimOptions.

Interested to see a comparison of the best eSIMs for Europe then check out my guide in the link.

Arrival at Bucharest International Airport OTP

Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport is modern but not huge.

After immigration and baggage claim, you enter the arrivals hall. This is where budget travelers usually look for a SIM card.

I’ve done this myself.

There are no official Orange or Vodafone stores inside the terminal. Instead, SIM cards are sold through a small convenience shop called Relay.

Service is basic, don’t expect staff to install the SIM or help with settings. You will have to do all of this yourself and this is exactly why I now prefer arriving with an eSIM already active.

Where to buy a sim card at Bucharest Airport

There is only one place at Bucharest Airport where you can buy a sim card and that is at the Relay convenience store. The Relay shop is open 24 hours and you can pay by card and cash.

There are no big signs of sim cards, but you can see them displayed behind the counter.

The Relay store is on your right hand side when you walk into the arrival hall from the luggage belts. Don't worry Bucharest Airport is pretty small and although the Relay shop is also very small you still can't miss it.

Prices prepaid sim cards Bucharest Airport

All the information below is up to date as of February 2026 and prices are in LEU: $1 USD = 4.3 Leu and 10 Leu = $2.3 USD.

At the Relay store they sell two Romania prepaid sim cards and it is very simple:

Vodafone

• 150 GB data + 2,000 minutes for 28 days = 60 Leu - $14 USD

Orange

• 100 GB data + 1,000 minutes for 28 days = 60 Leu - $14 USD

There are no eSIMs available, only physical prepaid sim cards.

Important notes:

• These SIM cards only work in Romania
• EU roaming is not included
• Airport pricing is higher than city stores

On both sim card packages it says €5 credit, but that reflects the exact data plan + minutes above.

You do NOT need a passport or any form of registration. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards, you put them in your phone and they should instantly work.

Best sim card for tourists at Bucharest Airport

So which one to choose: Vodafone or Orange?

As you can see both sim cards cost 60 Leu ($14 USD) so there is no price difference. But based on the package you would assume that Vodafone is the best sim card to buy as it gives you more data.

However...

For my articles about the best prepaid sim card in Romania and the best eSIMs for Romania I also researched the mobile data network coverage maps and came to the easy conclusion that Orange has by far a much wider and more extensive 4G/5G network in Romania compared to Vodafone.

Therefore Traveltomtom rates Orange as the best sim card for Romania and also the best sim card for tourists at Bucharest Airport.

Buying a SIM Card in Bucharest City (Cheaper Option)

If you don’t need data immediately, buying in town is more budget-friendly.

Orange, Vodafone, and Telekom stores in Bucharest offer prepaid plans starting around:

• $7–10 USD
• SIM cards with 100+ GB of data

For long stays, this is the cheapest physical SIM card option. For more info check out my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Romania.

But again: you’ll need to reach the city first, which means no data on arrival unless you use roaming or WiFi.

My Personal Experience Buying a SIM Card at Bucharest Airport

I tested the airport SIM process myself for this guide.

After landing at OTP, I walked into the Relay store in arrivals and asked for a prepaid SIM. The staff handed me a Vodafone tourist SIM, but I asked for an Orange sim card as they have a much wider 4G/5G network.

After she hesitated she handed me the Orange prepaid sim card package. I paid around 60 Lei, inserted the physical sim card myself, went on flight mode for 10 seconds, then back to normal and within just a couple seconds the I was online.

My 4G data connection worked fine. Later in the city I had 5G which was fast and reliable.

But honestly?

I did it because I wanted to test what it is like to buy a sim card at Bucharest Airport. With an eSIM I would have been online already as soon as the plane lands.

That’s why nowadays I usually land in Bucharest connected with an eSIM and don’t even think about buying prepaid SIM cards anymore.

Every time I am traveling in Europe I get an esIM from either Airalo or SimOptions depending on how long my Europe trip is. Mostly I go for an Orange 5G ready esIM with 50 GB data from SimOptions or for shorter trips a 5 GB data Eurolink esIM from Airalo.

Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world and everywhere I go I write sim card guides for other travelers to find the best sim card for their trip. That is why on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Tirana, Albania, Prague, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, China, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, South Africa and many more.

Traveltomtom is the most complete sim card blog on the internet. Next time you are planning your trip abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and leet me help you save money!

Airport SIM vs eSIM vs City SIM

Bucharest Airport SIM

Pros:

• Immediate access after landing

Cons:

• More expensive
• Limited choice
• No setup help

Romania eSIM (online)

Pros:

• Instant connection on arrival
• No physical SIM needed
• Best for short trips
• Buy before travel

Cons:

• Requires eSIM compatible phone
• Less value for money

City Center SIM

Pros:

• Cheapest option
• More plans available
• Help with setting up

Cons:

• No data until you reach town

FAQ – SIM Cards at Bucharest Airport

Can I buy a SIM card at Bucharest Airport?

Yes. Prepaid SIM cards are sold in the arrivals hall, usually at Relay convenience stores.

Is eSIM better than buying a SIM at Bucharest Airport?

For most travelers, yes. eSIM is faster, easier, and often cheaper.

Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Romania?

Currently, prepaid SIM cards are usually sold without ID, but this can change.

Does Bucharest Airport SIM include EU roaming?

Most airport tourist SIM cards are Romania-only.

How much data do you need?

I consider myself a very heavy data user, but even on a crazy day I won’t use more than 5 GB per day. On average I use about 2-3 GB per day, mostly on social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.

Always make sure you don’t have Google Drive or iCloud enabled on data, but only on WiFi. As well as automatic updates. Turn it off on data, so you are not uploading all your Romania holiday photos and videos directly to the cloud and using all your data. 

Conclusion: What I Recommend in 2026

• Use a Romania eSIM if your phone supports it.
• Buy a city SIM if you’re staying longer and want the cheapest rates.
• Only buy a SIM at Bucharest Airport if you need data immediately and didn’t prepare in advance.

You’ll save money, time, and hassle if you use my tips on how to stay connected when traveling to Bucharest. If you have any questions then please leave me a comment below and I will try to help you out.

Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my 850K Instagram account or 1.8 Million TikTok account. Follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.

Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of February 2026 I have visited more than 165 countries, still about 30 to go, but no rush.

Enjoy your trip to Bucharest!

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• romania
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