Bucharest is the fifth most congested city in the world and the fourth most congested in Europe, according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2025. The ranking highlights the ongoing traffic struggles in Romania’s capital, which also sits at 22nd place globally for travel time efficiency.
The average travel time for a 10 km journey in Bucharest now stands at 31 minutes and 9 seconds, which is a 20-second increase compared to the previous year’s Traffic Index. Congestion levels in the city are now at 48%, up by 2% from 2023, exacerbating the daily commute for residents and adding strain on the city’s infrastructure.
The worst day for traffic in 2024 occurred on Tuesday, November 12, when the average travel time for 10 km reached an astounding 42 minutes and 53 seconds. Due to the increasing congestion, drivers in Bucharest collectively lost 6 days and 6 hours of their lives in traffic—a 5-hour 22-minute increase over the previous year.
London (United Kingdom) continues to hold the title of the most congested city in Europe, with an average travel time per 10 km of 33 minutes and 17 seconds. Following London are Dublin (Ireland), with 32 minutes and 45 seconds, and Barcelona (Spain), with 31 minutes and 13 seconds.
The TomTom Traffic Index, which ranks 501 cities across 62 countries on 6 continents, provides critical insights into global traffic patterns and congestion levels. In addition to Bucharest, the top three most congested cities worldwide are Barranquilla (Colombia), Kolkata, and Bengaluru (India).