București

București

RO
Population1,883,425
Bucharest (UK: BOO-kə-REST, US: -⁠rest; Romanian: București [bukuˈreʃtʲ] ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 2.3 million residents, which makes Bucharest the 8th most-populous city in the European Union. The city area measures 240 km2 (93 sq mi) and comprises 6 districts (Sectoare), while the metropolitan area covers 1,811 km2 (699 sq mi). Bucharest is a major cultural, political and economic hub, the country's seat of government, and the capital of the Muntenia region. Bucharest was first mentioned in documents in 1459. The city became the capital in 1862 and is the centre of Romanian media, culture, and art. Its architecture is a mix of historical (mostly Eclectic, but also Neoclassical and Art Nouveau), interbellum (Bauhaus, Art Deco, and Romanian Revival architecture), socialist era, and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nicknames of Little Paris or Paris of the East. Although buildings and districts in the historic city centre were heavily damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes, and even Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived and have been renovated. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. It is one of the fastest-growing high-tech cities in Europe. In 2016, the historical city centre was listed as "endangered" by the World Monuments Watch. In January 2023, there were 1.74 million inhabitants living within the city limits, and adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the proposed metropolitan area of Bucharest would have a population of 2.3 million people. In 2020, the government used 2.5 million people as the basis for pandemic reports. Bucharest is the eighth largest city in the European Union by population within city limits. In 2017, Bucharest was the European city with the highest growth of tourists who stay over night, according to the Mastercard Global Index of Urban Destinations. As for the past two consecutive years, 2018 and 2019, Bucharest ranked as the European destination with the highest potential for development according to the same study. Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and the richest capital and city in the region, having surpassed Budapest since 2017. The city has a number of large convention facilities, educational institutes, cultural venues, traditional "shopping arcades" and recreational areas. The city proper is administratively known as the "Municipality of Bucharest" (Romanian: Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as that of a national county, being further subdivided into six sectors, each governed by a local mayor.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in București

Casa Presei Libere

Casa Presei Libere

The House of the Free Press (Romanian: Casa Presei Libere), known under Communist rule as Casa Scînteii, 'House of The …

Biserica „Sfânta Maria a Darurilor” - Bărăției

Biserica „Sfânta Maria a Darurilor” - Bărăției

Bărăția is one of the Roman Catholic churches in Bucharest, Romania. It is located in central Bucharest, on the I. …

Cercul Militar Național

Cercul Militar Național

The Palace of the National Military Circle, also known as the Officers' Circle Palace (Romanian:Cercul Militar Național) is located on …

Palatul Parlamentului

Palatul Parlamentului

The Palace of the Parliament (Romanian: Palatul Parlamentului), also known as the House of the Republic (Casa Republicii) or the …

Templul Coral

Templul Coral

The Choral Temple (Romanian: Templul Coral) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 9-11 Sf. Vineri Street, in …

Muzeul CFR

Muzeul CFR

Palatul Voievodal Curtea Veche

Palatul Voievodal Curtea Veche

Curtea Veche (the Old Princely Court) was built as a palace or residence during the rule of Vlad III Dracula …

Muzeul de Artă Veche Apuseană Dumitru Minovici

Muzeul de Artă Veche Apuseană Dumitru Minovici

Muzeul Național al Aviației Române

Muzeul Național al Aviației Române

The National Museum of Romanian Aviation (Romanian: Muzeul Național al Aviației Române) is an aviation museum owned by the General …

Muzeul de Artă Recentă

Muzeul de Artă Recentă

The Museum of Recent Art (Romanian: Muzeul de Artă Recentă, or MARe) is a contemporary art museum in Bucharest, Romania. …

Piața Universității

Piața Universității

University Square (Romanian: Piața Universității) is located in Bucharest city centre, near the University of Bucharest. It is served by …

Palatul Regal

Palatul Regal

The Royal Palace (Romanian: Palatul Regal) of Bucharest, known as Palace of the Republic (Romanian: Palatul Republicii) between 1948 and …

Biblioteca Centrală Universitară Carol I

Biblioteca Centrală Universitară Carol I

The “Carol I” Central University Library of Bucharest (Romanian: Biblioteca Centrală Universitară „Carol I”) is a library in central Bucharest, …

Muzeul Național Tehnic "Prof. ing. Dimitrie Leonida"

Muzeul Național Tehnic "Prof. ing. Dimitrie Leonida"

The Dimitrie Leonida Technical Museum was founded in 1909 by Dimitrie Leonida, inspired by the München Technical Museum, he had …

Arcul de Triumf

Arcul de Triumf

Arcul de Triumf (Romanian; "The Triumphal Arch") is a triumphal arch located on the Kiseleff Road, in the northern part …

Muzeul Tudor Arghezi

Muzeul Tudor Arghezi

The Memorial House of Tudor Arghezi, also known as Casa Mărțișor, is a historic monument located in the Dealul Piscului …

Observatorul Astronomic Municipal "Amiral Vasile Urseanu" Bucuresti

Observatorul Astronomic Municipal "Amiral Vasile Urseanu" Bucuresti

The Bucharest Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at no. 21 Lascăr Catargiu Boulevard, Bucharest, Romania. It is Bucharest's only …

Palatul Primăverii (fosta locuință a lui Nicolae Ceaușescu)

Palatul Primăverii (fosta locuință a lui Nicolae Ceaușescu)

Muzeul Nicolae Minovici

Muzeul Nicolae Minovici

The Dr. Nicolae Minovici Folk Art Museum (Romanian: Muzeul de Artă Populară „Prof. Dr. Nicolae Minovici”) is a museum located …

Palatul Poștelor

Palatul Poștelor

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