Bucharest residents spent over seven days a week stuck in traffic in last year, making the city the second worst European capital for traffic jams, according to the TomTom Traffic Index ranking for 2025.
Motorists spent 171 hours in traffic jams due to congestion during peak hours.
The city’s congestion index is 62.5%, an increase of 0.3 points compared to 2024, suggesting authorities have failed to address the choc-a-bloc traffic that Bucharest has become known for in recent years.
The average speed in the capital was only 18.5 km/h in 2025, and the average distance covered in 15 minutes was 4.6 km.
The absolute worst day for travel was Oct. 7 when there was a 176% congestion level at 5pm (and an average 106% congestion level throughout the day) motorists drove just 2.6 km in 15 min at 5pm.
Compared to most other European capitals, Bucharest traffic is heavier, with Brussels, Athens, or Budapest having lower congestion rates.
However, Bucharest is not the worst place for traffic in Europe. That unenviable title of being the continent’s worst city for traffic congestion went to Dublin last year where motorists spent 191 hours in traffic (almost eight days) and the average speed was 17.4 km/h.
Bucharest’s traffic gridlock began getting worse in 2015 and were the worst in Europe in 2017, technology provider TomTom said.
How did other European cities do?
Bucharest spent 171 hours in traffic in 2025, according to TomTom Traffic Index.
Brussels – 146 hours
Athens- 143 hours
Budapest- 131 hours
Vienna- 118 hours
Rome- 115 hours
Sofia and Warsaw 113 hours
Paris-109 hours
Berlin-100 hours.
