The first day of school brings back a familiar scenario for Bucharest drivers: clogged streets, horns, frayed nerves, and long delays. If the summer months offered slightly lighter traffic, Monday will mark the full return of students and parents to schools – and with them, traffic chaos.

Areas where traffic will be critical

First and foremost, the major boulevards crossing the city center should be avoided. Calea Victoriei, Bulevardul Unirii, Șoseaua Mihai Bravu, Ștefan cel Mare, and Iuliu Maniu will be jammed as early as 7 a.m. The reason is twofold: the normal commuter traffic combined with the increase in cars used by parents dropping off children at school.

Construction sites remain another weak spot. Areas such as Șoseaua Kiseleff, Bulevardul Ghencea, the Doamna Ghica overpass, and the extension of the metro line toward Otopeni narrow lanes and slow down circulation. Although City Hall has promised to temporarily suspend some of the works, not all projects can be halted. Drivers choosing these routes should expect serious delays.

Another sensitive point will be the large intersections near schools. Even though traffic police and local police will increase their presence, blockages are still likely around major schools and high schools in central Bucharest – for example, Piața Romană, Piața Victoriei, Piața Unirii, and Piața Sudului. In the neighborhoods, similar problems are expected near schools such as “Tudor Vianu,” “Sfântul Sava,” “Mihai Viteazul,” or “Coșbuc.”

Measures announced by the authorities

Bucharest City Hall has announced that the work schedule for the 15,000 employees in its subordinated institutions will be shifted to help reduce the morning traffic peak around 8 a.m. There are talks of extending this measure to ministries and other central institutions.

Authorities have also requested that some roadworks be paused or limited to free up lanes occupied by construction sites. In addition, during the first week of school, police teams will be stationed in major intersections and at school entrances to help ease circulation and prevent pedestrian crossings from blocking traffic.

How drivers can cope

The most important rule is time management. If last year the commute took you 30 minutes, on Monday morning you should plan for at least 45–50 minutes. Leaving 15–20 minutes earlier can make the difference between a calm drive and a stressful one.

Secondly, it is advisable to avoid main boulevards and use side streets, even if the route is longer. Navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze are indispensable, as they provide real-time traffic updates and suggest alternative routes.

For those who can, public transport, especially the metro, remains the fastest option. The M1, M2, M3, and M5 lines can save tens of minutes otherwise lost in traffic, and park-and-ride facilities are useful for commuters coming from outside the city.

Finally, drivers should be extra cautious around school zones, where illegal parking, cars stopped on hazard lights, and chaotic crossings by parents and children will temporarily block lanes.

The first day of school brings not only excitement and ceremonies but also a major traffic test for Bucharest. On Monday, the city will once again grind to a halt on its main arteries, at intersections, and in areas affected by construction works. The solutions aren’t glamorous, but they are practical: leaving earlier, using secondary routes, taking the metro where possible, and a good dose of patience.

Bucharest’s infrastructure won’t change overnight, but each driver can adjust their strategy to get through one of the most complicated mornings of the year with a little less stress.