Bucharest Airport (OTP) SIM Cards: Where to Buy & Alternatives

Yes, you can buy a SIM card at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP), also called Otopeni, at the Relay shop in the corridor connecting Arrivals and Departures. Buying there suits visitors who need a physical SIM after landing; arranging an eSIM beforehand is more practical if you want to leave the terminal without shopping.

Where to Buy a SIM Card at Bucharest Airport

Head to the connecting corridor between the Arrivals and Departures buildings, in the public area. The important distinction is between buying a new SIM and adding credit to a number you already have.

Services checked on 22 October 2026 against the airport’s SIM purchasing information. Current airport price not reliably published.

Relay: the Connecting-Corridor Shop

The specific Relay shop in the connecting corridor is listed as open 06:30–23:30, local time. Other Relay locations appear as open 24 hours in the airport’s shop directory, but those entries should not be used as the opening hours for this SIM-selling branch.

Allow for the time needed to collect your bags and reach the public hall. Landing shortly before 23:30 leaves little margin for buying and setting up a SIM.

Relay is a general retailer. Its confirmed presence does not establish a dedicated Orange or Vodafone service counter, and the airport’s SIM information does not specify the current operator selection. Ask which starter packs are available before choosing a network.

If you are still deciding between a local SIM, home roaming and mobile data bought before departure, our guide to internet options in Romania explains the broader choices.

What to Check Before Paying

There is no reliably published, complete current airport SIM price. Compare the amount needed to leave with working data, including the starter SIM, any required recharge and any separately charged setup service.

Ask the seller these four questions:

• What is the complete amount payable? Get the total in Romanian lei, including any applicable taxes and service charges.

• What does it include? Establish the data allowance, validity, local number and any calls or SMS.

• Is the package already active? Find out whether inserting the SIM is enough or whether a recharge or activation step remains.

• Does it cover the rest of your itinerary? Domestic Romanian data and roaming allowances are separate considerations.

Payment methods, tourist-specific identification requirements and activation assistance are not detailed in the airport’s SIM listing. Keep your passport or national ID available, and establish the seller’s requirements before paying. Carrying identification is practical preparation; it should not be confused with a verified claim that every Romanian prepaid purchase requires passport registration.

Your phone must also accept another operator’s SIM and have a suitable physical SIM slot. Before leaving, wait for the package activation confirmation, turn off Wi-Fi and try loading a webpage. Keep the receipt and SIM packaging.

Is Buying a SIM in Bucharest Better Value?

Buying in the city gives you time to compare offers and discuss setup at an operator store. It makes sense if your airport transfer is already arranged and you need substantial data or a Romanian number during a longer stay.

Romanian prepaid offers can include large domestic allowances. As checked on 22 October 2026, Orange’s national 3€-credit starter offer included 150 GB for 28 days, with no roaming access. That is an operator offer expressed in credit units—not a verified total payable at the airport or confirmation that Relay stocks the same package.

The useful comparison is therefore the complete airport purchase versus the complete city-store purchase, including the same benefits. A recharge denomination alone cannot establish how much you will save.

Our guide to buying a tourist SIM in Romania covers local plans and purchasing options in more detail.

Check your existing plan before buying another SIM. Eligible EU/EEA customers visiting Romania can generally use domestic allowances under roam-like-at-home rules, subject to their plan and fair-use limits. If your included roaming allowance covers the trip, keeping your current SIM may be the simplest choice.

Roafly eSIM: Arrange Your Data Before Arrival

Roafly’s Romania eSIM lets you arrange mobile data before travelling, removing the need to find an available starter pack or reach the shop during opening hours. It suits visitors who mainly need maps, messaging, bookings and internet access.

The plans are data-only, with hotspot use supported within the purchased allowance and top-ups available. They do not provide a Romanian phone number, regular voice minutes or SMS. If those are important, a local prepaid SIM deserves consideration.

Use an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone. Install the eSIM over a stable internet connection before departure and follow the supplied instructions for enabling it in Romania. Keep data roaming on your home line disabled unless you intend to use that line’s roaming service.

If you want to compare providers and allowances before selecting a package, see our Romania eSIM comparison.

Wi-Fi and Late-Night Arrivals

Free Wi-Fi is available at Bucharest Airport and can help you retrieve a booking or contact your accommodation. Ask airport information staff for the current network and sign-in instructions; this guide does not rely on an unverified network name or promise a particular connection speed.

Download your accommodation address, transfer instructions and an offline map before flying. Airport Wi-Fi is useful inside the terminal, while mobile data keeps those services available after you leave.

If you expect to reach the public hall after the Relay shop’s listed closing time, arrange connectivity beforehand or plan to buy a SIM in Bucharest the following day. An existing roaming allowance, a preinstalled eSIM or a prearranged transfer can each remove the need to solve everything at the airport.

Keep the rest of your arrival preparation separate from the SIM purchase: review Romania’s airport customs rules before packing, and use our Romania safety guide when planning your first journey into the city.

Relay is a practical first stop for a physical SIM during its listed hours. City shopping suits visitors who can wait and want to compare local offers; Roafly suits those who want their travel data arranged before landing.