View source for Place:Bucharest

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Romania}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Bucharest
| native_name        = {{lang|ro|București|italics=unset}}
| native_name_lang   = RO
| settlement_type    = Capital city and municipality
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border             = infobox
| total_width        = 300
| image_style        = infobox
| perrow             = 1/2/2/1/2
| caption_align      = center
| image1             = Ateneul Român 1.jpg
| caption1           = Romanian Athenaeum
| image2             = פרלמנט רומניה.jpg
| caption2           = Palace of Parliament
| image3             = Biblioteca Central de la Universidad de Bucarest, Bucarest, Rumanía, 2016-05-29, DD 97-99 HDR.jpg
| caption3           = Central University Library
| caption4           = Bucharest Old Town
| image5             = Palatul de Justiție.jpg
| caption5           = Palace of Justice
| image6             = BucharestSkyline.png
| caption6           = Floreasca
| image7             = Palacio CEC, Bucarest, Rumanía, 2016-05-29, DD 91-93 HDR.jpg
| caption7           = CEC Palace
| image8             = Herastrau Park B-II-a-A-18802 1.jpg
| caption8           = King Michael I Park
| image9             = RO B - Banca Chrissoveloni, fatada secundara.jpg
| caption9           = Bucharest Old Town
| image10            = City Gate Towers.jpg
| caption10          = City Gate Towers
}}
| image_flag         = ROU Bucharest Flag.svg
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Bucharest.svg
| shield_size        = 
| nicknames          = Paris of the East
| motto              = ''Patria și dreptul meu''<br />(<small>The Homeland and my right</small>)
| mapsize            = 230px
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bucharest in Romania
| pushpin_map        = Romania#Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|25|57|N|26|6|14|E|region:RO_city(1900000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flagicon|Romania}} Romania
| subdivision_type1  = Development region
| subdivision_name1  = București – Ilfov
| subdivision_type2  = County
| subdivision_name2  = Municipality of Bucharest
| parts_type         = Sectors
| parts              = 6 sectors
| established_title  = First attested
| established_date   = 1459
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Strong Mayor–Council
| leader_title2      = Legislature
| leader_name2       = General Council
| leader_title1      = Mayor
| leader_name1       = Nicușor Dan ([[Social:Independent politician|Ind.]])
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insse.ro/cms/sites/default/files/field/publicatii/anuarul_statistic_al_romaniei_carte-ed.2022.pdf  |title=Romanian Statistical Yearbook (2022) – 1.8 Administrative organisation of Romanian territory, on December 31, 2021 (pg.17)|publisher=INSSE|access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref>
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +02:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +03:00
| area_total_km2     = 240
| area_total_sq_mi   = 93
| area_metro_km2     = 1,803
| elevation_m        = 55.8–91.5
| elevation_ft       = 183.1–300.2
| population_total   = 1,716,961 <!-- Do not replace with estimates' numbers as these numbers are from the most recent official statistical data. -->
| population_as_of   = 2021 census
| population_footnotes = <ref name="RPL2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tabel-1.03_1.3.1-si-1.03.2.xls|title=Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021|publisher=INSSE|language=ro|date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 7,277
| population_density_metro_km2 = 1,278
| pop_est_as_of      = January 2023
| population_est     = 1,739,297
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="Population2023">{{cite web |url=http://statistici.insse.ro:8077/tempo-online/#/pages/tables/insse-table |title=POP105A - Populația rezidentă la 1 Ianuarie pe grupe de vârste, sexe și medii de rezidență, macroregiuni, regiuni de dezvoltare și județe |publisher=INSSE (TEMPO - statiscal data) |website=www.insse.ro/cms/en |date=5 September 2023 |access-date=23 September 2023 |language=ro}}</ref>
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 2,304,408 (Bucharest-Ilfov)<ref name="Population2023"/>
| population_rank    = 1st in Romania (8th in the EU)
| population_demonyms = Bucharester ([[Social:English language|en]])<br />''bucureștean'', ''bucureșteancă'' ([[Social:Romanian language|ro]])
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type1 = [[Finance:Gross domestic product|GDP]] Nominal {{Nobold|(2024)}}
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="GDP.Bucharest">{{Cite web|title=1.1. Valoarea produsului intern brut pe judeţe (pg.3) / 1.2. Produsul intern brut pe locuitor, pe judeţe (pg.5) |url=https://cnp.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Prognoza-2023-2027-in-profil-teritorial-aferenta-Prognozei-macroeconomice-de-toamna-2023.pdf |publisher=National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis - Romanian Government |website=www.cnp.ro |date=January 2024 |access-date=15 January 2024 |language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Indicatori Macroeconomici - 2024 / €/RON = 5.00 (pg.2) |url=https://cnp.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Prognoza-de-TOAMNA-2023-2027.pdf |publisher=National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis - Romanian Government |website=www.cnp.ro |date=November 2023 |access-date=15 January 2024 |language=ro}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = City
| demographics1_info1 = € 88.18&nbsp;billion (25.4% of Romania)
| demographics1_title2 = Metro
| demographics1_info2 = € 97.74&nbsp;billion (28.2% of Romania)
| demographics1_title3 = Per capita  (City)
| demographics1_info3 = € 50,751<ref name="GDP.Bucharest" />
| blank_name         = [[Engineering:Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info         = 0.963<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/ROU/?levels=1+4&years=2021+2020+2019&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0 | title=Sub-national HDI – Subnational HDI – Global Data Lab | access-date=1 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ | archive-date=23 September 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> – <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| official_name      = City of Bucharest
| postal_code        = 0100xx-0201xx, 0201xx-0300xx, 0365xx
| postal2_code_type  = 0100xx-0201xx, 0201xx-0300xx, 0365xx
| founder            = [[Biology:Vlad the Impaler|Vlad the Impaler]]
| blank_name_sec2    = International Airports
| blank_info_sec2    = {{ubl|Băneasa Airport|Otopeni Airport}}
| blank2_info_sec1   = Metro
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| area_code          = +40 31
| blank2_name_sec1   = Rapid transit system
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_blank_emblem = Word mark of Bucharest.svg
| leader_name3       = Bucharest constituency
| leader_title3      = EP
}}

'''Bucharest''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|b|uː|k|ə|ˈ|r|ɛ|s|t}} {{respell|BOO|kə|REST}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|b|uː|k|ə|r|ɛ|s|t}} {{respell|-|rest}}; {{lang-ro|București}} {{IPA-ro|bukuˈreʃtʲ||Ro-București.ogg}}) is the capital and largest city of Romania. It is described as the cultural, financial, entertainment, and media centre in the country with a significant influence in [[Place:Eastern Europe|Eastern Europe]] as well. In [[Earth:Geopolitics|geopolitical]] regards, Bucharest has been and still is an important capital of a state situated in [[Place:Central and Eastern Europe|Central and Eastern Europe]], where noteworthy [[Earth:Summit|summit]]s had taken place (for example the 2008 Bucharest summit). It is also a city with a significant influence in terms of education, tourism, research, technology, health care, art, fashion, sports, and politics. Bucharest is a major economic center in Romania, with a diverse and growing economy that includes industries such as IT, finance, and manufacturing. The city has also seen significant investment in infrastructure, with new roads, bridges, and public transportation systems being built to improve connectivity and mobility. It is located in the south-east of Romania, on the banks of the Dâmbovița river, less than {{convert|60|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the [[Place:Danube|Danube]] River and the border with Bulgaria. It is also one of the most populated cities of the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] (EU) within city limits and the most populated capital in Eastern Europe. It was the capital of Wallachia from 1659 to 1859 and the capital of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (Romanian United Principalities, later the [[History:Kingdom of Romania|Kingdom of Romania]]) from 1859 to 1881.

Bucharest was first mentioned in documents in 1459. The city became capital in 1862 and is the centre of Romanian media, culture, and art. Its architecture is a mix of historical (mostly Eclectic, but also [[History:Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] and Art Nouveau), interbellum ([[Engineering:Bauhaus|Bauhaus]], Art Deco, and Romanian Revival architecture), [[Social:Socialist realism|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 ({{lang-ro|Micul Paris}}) or Paris of the East ({{lang-ro|Parisul Estului}}).<ref>[http://museum.ici.ro/mbucur/english/micparis.htm Bucharest, the small Paris of the East] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221002454/http://museum.ici.ro/mbucur/english/micparis.htm |date=21 February 2006 }}, on the Museums from Romania web site.</ref> 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.<ref>Bucica, 2000, p. 6.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qualitestgroup.com/blog/uncategorized/bucharest-is-booming/|title=Bucharest is Booming|publisher=qualitestgroup.com|date=23 April 2019|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805053938/https://www.qualitestgroup.com/blog/uncategorized/bucharest-is-booming/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is one of the fastest-growing high-tech cities in Europe, according to the [[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]], [[Company:CBRE Group|CBRE]], TechCrunch, and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pentalog.com/blog/high-tech-city-bucharest|title=High-Tech Cities: Have You Ever Tried Coffee in Bucharest?|website=Pentalog|date=17 April 2019|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520005412/https://www.pentalog.com/blog/high-tech-city-bucharest|archive-date=20 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a0652dba-632f-11e7-8814-0ac7eb84e5f1|title=How Romania became a popular tech destination|website=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]]|date=19 September 2019|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927042536/https://www.ft.com/content/a0652dba-632f-11e7-8814-0ac7eb84e5f1|archive-date=27 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniajournal.ro/business/bucharest-in-the-top-of-cities-with-the-most-experts-in-high-tech-industry/|title=Bucharest, In The Top Of Cities With The Most Experts In High-Tech Industry|website=Romania Journal|date=11 February 2019|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-date=29 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529151218/https://www.romaniajournal.ro/business/bucharest-in-the-top-of-cities-with-the-most-experts-in-high-tech-industry/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eu-startups.com/2019/05/10-romanian-startups-to-look-out-for-in-2019-and-beyond/|title=10 Romanian startups to look out for in 2019 and beyond|website=eu-startups.com|date=29 May 2019|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113142748/https://www.eu-startups.com/2019/05/10-romanian-startups-to-look-out-for-in-2019-and-beyond/|archive-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/06/the-silicon-valley-of-transylvania/|title=The Silicon Valley of Transylvania|website=TechCrunch|date=6 April 2016|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413223601/https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/06/the-silicon-valley-of-transylvania/|archive-date=13 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Company:UiPath|UiPath]], a global startup founded in Bucharest, has reached over $10&nbsp;billion in valuation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/uipath-is-said-to-raise-new-funds-at-35-billion-valuation|title=Software Maker UiPath Raises Funds at $35 Billion Valuation|date=1 February 2021|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2 February 2021|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202190334/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/uipath-is-said-to-raise-new-funds-at-35-billion-valuation|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, the historical city centre was listed as 'endangered' by the World Monuments Watch.<ref
name="wmf.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmf.org/watch/watch_year/2016|title=- World Monuments Fund|website=Wmf.org|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022044/https://www.wmf.org/watch/watch_year/2016|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, Bucharest was the European city with the highest growth of tourists who stay over night, according to the [[Company:Mastercard|Mastercard]] Global Index of Urban Destinations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://business-review.eu/news/mastercard-study-bucharest-is-the-european-city-with-the-highest-growth-of-tourists-148885|title=Mastercard study: Bucharest is the European city with the highest growth of tourists' number|website=business-review.eu|date=29 September 2017|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726002152/http://business-review.eu/news/mastercard-study-bucharest-is-the-european-city-with-the-highest-growth-of-tourists-148885|archive-date=26 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/bucharest-surpasses-european-destinations-study/|title=Bucharest has highest potential for development in Europe|website=travelandtourworld.com|date=15 October 2015|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805041618/http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/bucharest-surpasses-european-destinations-study/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2023, there were 1.74 million inhabitants living within the city limits,<ref name="Population2023"/> and adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the proposed metropolitan area of Bucharest would have a population of 2.3&nbsp;million people.<ref name="Population2023"/> In 2020, the government used 2.5&nbsp;million people as the basis for pandemic reports.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 October 2020|title=Bâlbele autorităţilor: Populaţia Capitalei, o enigmă. Aşadar, nici rata de infectare la mia de locuitori nu e clară –Document|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/eveniment/avertisment-rata-infectare-bucuresti-depasit-3-cazuri-mia-locuitori-1_5f8573fc5163ec4271d5525f/index.html|access-date=13 October 2020|website=adevarul.ro|language=en|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018154619/https://adevarul.ro/news/eveniment/avertisment-rata-infectare-bucuresti-depasit-3-cazuri-mia-locuitori-1_5f8573fc5163ec4271d5525f/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bucharest is the eighth largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, behind [[Place:Warsaw|Warsaw]], {{wipe|Poland}} and one position ahead of [[Place:Budapest|Budapest]], Hungary.

Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and the richest capital and city in the region, surpassing Budapest a few years ago.<ref>PriceWaterhouseCoopers Global [http://www.pwcglobal.com/ro/eng/ins-sol/spec-int/Regional%20Attractiveness%20Index.pdf Regional Attractiveness Report Romania] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313160507/http://www.pwcglobal.com/ro/eng/ins-sol/spec-int/Regional%20Attractiveness%20Index.pdf |date=13 March 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailynewshungary.com/people-in-bucharest-really-live-better-than-people-in-budapest/|title=Do people in Bucharest really live better than people in Budapest?|date=2 January 2022|newspaper=Daily News Hungary}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://business-review.eu/business/romanias-regions-bucharest-is-now-richer-than-budapest-banat-and-transylvania-are-more-developed-than-most-of-hungary-eu-data-show-197250|title=Romania's regions. Bucharest is now richer than Budapest, Banat and Transylvania are more developed than most of Hungary, EU data show|date=27 February 2019|newspaper=Business Review}}</ref>

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' ({{lang-ro|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.

== Etymology ==

The Romanian name ''București'' has an unverified origin. Tradition connects the founding of Bucharest with the name of ''Bucur'', who was a prince, an outlaw, a fisherman, a shepherd or a hunter, according to different legends. In [[Social:Romanian language|Romanian]], the word stem ''bucurie'' means 'joy' ('happiness'),<ref>Rosetti, II. p.110</ref> and it is believed to be of Dacian origin,<ref>Ion I. Russu, Limba traco-dacilor, 1967, Editura științifică</ref> hence the city Bucharest means 'city of joy'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cutler|first=Nellie|date=2011|chapter=Southeastern Europe|title=Time for Kids World Atlas|edition=Rev. and updated|publisher=Time for Kids Books|location=New York, NY|page=68|isbn=978-1-60320-884-0}}</ref>

Other etymologies are given by early scholars, including the one of an [[Place:Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] traveller, Evliya Çelebi, who claimed that Bucharest was named after a certain 'Abu-Kariș', from the tribe of 'Bani-Kureiș'. In 1781, Austrian historian Franz Sulzer claimed that it was related to ''bucurie'' (joy), ''bucuros'' (joyful), or ''a se bucura'' (to be joyful), while an early 19th-century book published in [[Place:Vienna|Vienna]] assumed its name to be derived from 'Bukovie', a [[Biology:Beech|beech]] forest.<ref name=Georgescu77>Georgescu et al., p.76-77</ref> In [[Social:English language|English]], the city's name was formerly rendered as ''Bukarest''. <!-- repeat The full official city name is "The Municipality of Bucharest" ({{lang-ro|Municipiul București}}). -->A native or resident of Bucharest is called a 'Bucharester' (Romanian: ''bucureștean'').

== History ==
{{For timeline}}
[[File:Nicolae Ionescu - Victory Avenue in 1923, Sunday at noon.jpg|thumb|Bucharest in 1923 during Romania's golden age, the interwar period]]
[[File:Hotel Continental - Calea Victoriei.jpg|thumb|Often compared to the Champs-Élysées, the current Calea Victoriei becomes a pedestrian zone on the weekend.]]
Bucharest's history alternated periods of development and decline from the early settlements in [[History:Classical antiquity|antiquity]] until its consolidation as the national capital of Romania late in the 19th century. First mentioned as the 'Citadel of București' in 1459, it became the residence of the ruler of Wallachia, Voivode [[Biology:Vlad the Impaler|Vlad the Impaler]].<ref name=Giurescu>Giurescu, C.C., 1976, History of Bucharest, Bucharest: The Publishing House for Sports and Tourism</ref>{{rp|23}}

The Ottomans appointed Greek administrators (Phanariotes) to run the town ({{Lang-ota|بكرش|translit=Bukreş}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.osmanlicasozlukler.com/kamusulalam/tafsil-8131-me9.html|title=Kamus'ul Alam|last=Semseddin|first=Sâmî|year=1898|volume=2|location=Istanbul|pages=533|chapter=بكرش|author-link=Sami Frashëri}}</ref>) from the 18th century. The 1821 Wallachian uprising initiated by Tudor Vladimirescu led to the end of the rule of Constantinople Greeks in Bucharest.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Între Orient și Occident. Țările române la începutul epocii moderne (1800–1848)|last = Djuvara|first = Neagu|publisher = Humanitas|year = 2013|isbn = 978-973-50-4083-3}}</ref>

The Old Princely Court (''Curtea Veche'') was erected by Mircea Ciobanul in the mid-16th century. Under subsequent rulers, Bucharest was established as the summer residence of the royal court. During the years to come, it competed with Târgoviște on the status of capital city after an increase in the importance of Southern Muntenia brought about by the demands of the ''suzerain'' power – the [[Place:Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire]].

Bucharest finally became the permanent location of the Wallachian court after 1698 (starting with the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu).

Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, and hit by Caragea's plague in 1813–14, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia (three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution. Later, an [[Place:Austrian Empire|Austrian]] garrison took possession after the Russian departure (remaining in the city until March 1857). On 23 March 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings, destroying a third of the city. 

In 1862, after Wallachia and [[Place:Moldavia|Moldavia]] were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation's capital city. In 1881, it became the political centre of the newly proclaimed [[History:Kingdom of Romania|Kingdom of Romania]] under King Carol I. During the second half of the 19th century, the city's population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. During this period, [[Physics:Gas lighting|gas lighting]], horse-drawn trams, and limited [[Physics:Electrification|electrification]] were introduced.<ref>Giurescu, p.154-161, 169–171</ref> The Dâmbovița River was also massively channelled in 1883, thus putting a stop to previously endemic floods like the 1865 flooding of Bucharest.<ref>Giurescu, p.157, 161, 163</ref> The Fortifications of Bucharest were built. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of 'Paris of the East' (''Parisul Estului''), with the Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Élysées. 

Between 6 December 1916 and November 1918, the city was occupied by [[Place:German Empire|German]] forces as a result of the Battle of Bucharest, with the official capital temporarily moved to [[Place:Iași|Iași]] (also called Jassy), in the Moldavia region. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of [[Social:Greater Romania|Greater Romania]]. In the interwar years, Bucharest's urban development continued, with the city gaining an average of 30,000 new residents each year. Also, some of the city's main landmarks were built in this period, including Arcul de Triumf and Palatul Telefoanelor.<ref>Giurescu, p.191-195</ref> However, the Great Depression in Romania took its toll on Bucharest's citizens, culminating in the Grivița Strike of 1933.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/integral_tradition/irongua.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025083507/http://www.geocities.com/integral_tradition/irongua.html|archive-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead|title=Data |website=geocities.com}}</ref>

In January 1941, the city was the scene of the Legionnaires' rebellion and Bucharest pogrom. As the capital of an Axis country and a major transit point for Axis troops en route to the Eastern Front, Bucharest suffered heavy damage during World War II due to Allied bombings. On 23 August 1944, Bucharest was the site of the royal coup which brought Romania into the Allied camp. The city suffered a short period of Nazi Luftwaffe bombings, as well as a failed attempt by German troops to regain the city.
[[File:Curtea Veche 1.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|The Old Princely Court (''Curtea Veche''), the former residence of ruler Vlad the Impaler, is located in the Old Town.]]
After the establishment of communism in Romania, the city continued growing. New districts were constructed, most of them dominated by tower blocks. During Nicolae Ceaușescu's leadership (1965–89), a part of the historic city was demolished and replaced by '[[Social:Socialist realism|Socialist realism]]' style development: (1) the Centrul Civic (the Civic Centre) and (2) the Palace of the Parliament, for which an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceaușescu's megalomaniac plans. On 4 March 1977, an earthquake centred in Vrancea, about {{convert|135|km|2|abbr=on}} away, claimed 1,500 lives and caused further damage to the historic centre.

The Romanian Revolution of 1989 began with massive anti-Ceaușescu protests in [[Place:Timișoara|Timișoara]] in December 1989 and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of the Communist regime. Dissatisfied with the postrevolutionary leadership of the National Salvation Front, some student leagues and opposition groups organised anti-Communist rallies in early 1990, which caused the political change.

Since 2000, the city has been continuously modernised. Residential and commercial developments are underway, particularly in the northern districts; Bucharest's old historic centre has undergone restoration since the mid-2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-tenants-of-the-old-town/ |title=The Tenants of the Old Town |work=Los Angeles Review of Books |last=Grama |first=Emanuela |date=1 September 2021 |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

In 2015, 64 people were killed in the Colectiv nightclub fire. Later the Romanian capital saw the 2017–2019 Romanian protests against the judicial reforms,<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|title = Thousands of Romanians rally against ruling party's judicial overhaul|newspaper = Reuters|date = 26 November 2017|access-date = 15 August 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180816061556/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|archive-date = 16 August 2018|url-status = live}}</ref> with a 2018 protest ending with 450 people injured.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/en/romania-tens-of-thousands-protest-for-second-night-running/a-45049450 | title=Romania: Tens of thousands protest for second night running &#124; DW &#124; 12 August 2018 | website=Deutsche Welle | access-date=15 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812175803/https://www.dw.com/en/romania-tens-of-thousands-protest-for-second-night-running/a-45049450 | archive-date=12 August 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Treaties ===
The following treaties were  signed in the city:
* Treaty of Bucharest (1812), between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire ending the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812)
* Treaty of Bucharest (1886), between Serbia and Bulgaria ending the Serbian–Bulgarian War
* Treaty of Bucharest (1913), between Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece ending of the Second Balkan War
* Treaty of Bucharest (1916), a treaty of alliance between Romania and the Entente Powers
* Treaty of Bucharest (1918), between Romania and the Central Powers

== Geography ==
=== General ===
[[File:Bucuresti de sus.jpg|thumb|right|Bucharest is Romania's capital and largest city.]]

The city is situated on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, which flows into the Argeș River, a tributary of the Danube. Several lakes{{spaced ndash}}the most important of which are Lake Herăstrău, Lake Floreasca, Lake Tei, and Lake Colentina{{spaced ndash}}stretch across the northern parts of the city, along the Colentina River, a tributary of the Dâmbovița. In addition, in the centre of the capital is a small artificial lake{{spaced ndash}}Lake Cișmigiu{{spaced ndash}}surrounded by the Cișmigiu Gardens. These gardens have a rich history, having been frequented by poets and writers. Opened in 1847 and based on the plans of German architect Carl F.W. Meyer, the gardens are the main recreational facility in the city centre.
[[File:Parcul Herastrau park lake Bucharest Bucuresti Romania 2.JPG|thumb|right|King Michael I Park]]
[[File:Lacul Vacaresti - Delta Vacaresti - Vara.jpg|thumb|right|Văcărești Nature Park]]
[[File:Parcul_Carol_-_toamna.jpg|thumb|right|Carol Park]]
[[File:2017_Cismigiu,_Bucuresti_(3).jpg|thumb|right|Cișmigiu Gardens]]
[[File:Tineretului_lake.jpg|thumb|right|Tineretului Park]]
Bucharest parks and gardens also include Herăstrău Park, Tineretului Park and the Botanical Garden. Herăstrău Park is located in the northern part of the city, around Lake Herăstrău, and includes the site the Village Museum. [[Biology:Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History|Grigore Antipa Museum]] is also near in the Victoriei Square. One of its best known locations are Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest and Berăria H (one of the largest beer halls in Europe). Tineretului Park was created in 1965 and designed as the main recreational space for southern Bucharest. It contains a Mini Town which is a play area for kids. The Botanical Garden, located in the Cotroceni neighbourhood a bit west of the city centre, is the largest of its kind in Romania and contains over 10,000 species of plants (many of them exotic); it originated as the pleasure park of the royal family.<ref>[http://www.onlinegallery.ro/gradina_bot_bucurestie.html Botanical Garden] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929164505/http://onlinegallery.ro/gradina_bot_bucurestie.html |date=29 September 2006 }}, onlinegallery.ro. Retrieved 13 October 2006.</ref> Besides them, there are many other smaller parks that should be visited, some of them being still large. Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park, Kiseleff Park, Carol Park, Izvor Park, Grădina Icoanei, Circului Park and Moghioroș Park are a few of them. Other large parks in Bucharest are: National Park, Tei Park, Eroilor Park and Crângași Park with Morii Lake.

Lake Văcărești is located in the southern part of the city. Over 190 hectares, including 90 hectares of water, host 97 species of birds, half of them protected by law, and at least seven species of mammals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-mediu-20841205-fotogalerie-cum-afectata-fauna-din-delta-vacaresti-incendii-distrugeri-dureaza-atat-mult-protejarea-zonei.htm|title=Fotogalerie – Cum e afectata fauna din Delta Vacaresti de incendii si distrugeri si de ce dureaza atat de mult protejarea zonei|website=HotNews|access-date=20 May 2016|date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512043647/http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-mediu-20841205-fotogalerie-cum-afectata-fauna-din-delta-vacaresti-incendii-distrugeri-dureaza-atat-mult-protejarea-zonei.htm|archive-date=12 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The lake is surrounded by buildings of flats and is an odd result of human intervention and nature taking its course. The area was a small village that Ceaușescu attempted to convert into a lake. After demolishing the houses and building the concrete basin, the plan was abandoned following the 1989 revolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/delta-vacaresti-privita-etajul-17-s-a-transformat-lacul-ceausescu-parcul-natural-urban-astazi-1_53942e620d133766a865a7b1/index.html|title=Delta Văcăreşti, privită de la etajul 17. Cum s-a transformat lacul lui Ceauşescu în parcul natural urban de astăzi|website=adevarul.ro|date=8 June 2014 |access-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501235910/http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/delta-vacaresti-privita-etajul-17-s-a-transformat-lacul-ceausescu-parcul-natural-urban-astazi-1_53942e620d133766a865a7b1/index.html|archive-date=1 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> For nearly two decades, the area shifted from being an abandoned green space where children could play and sunbathe, to being contested by previous owners of the land there, to being closed for redevelopment into a sports centre. The redevelopment deal failed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parcnaturalvacaresti.ro/delta-dintre-blocuri/|title=Delta dintre blocuri {{!}} Parcul Natural Văcărești {{!}} "delta" dintre blocuri|website=parcnaturalvacaresti.ro|access-date=20 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508135303/http://parcnaturalvacaresti.ro/delta-dintre-blocuri/|archive-date=8 May 2016}}</ref> and over the following years, the green space grew into a unique habitat. In May 2016, the lake was declared a national park, the Văcărești Nature Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parcnaturalvacaresti.ro/parcul-natural-vacaresti-a-fost-aprobat-oficial/|title=Parcul Natural Văcărești a fost aprobat oficial {{!}} Parcul Natural Văcărești {{!}} "delta" dintre blocuri|website=parcnaturalvacaresti.ro|access-date=20 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624022322/http://parcnaturalvacaresti.ro/parcul-natural-vacaresti-a-fost-aprobat-oficial/|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> Dubbed the 'Delta of Bucharest', the area is protected.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mediafax.ro/social/cgmb-a-avizat-declararea-lacului-vacaresti-arie-naturala-protejata-14356050 |title=CGMB a avizat declararea lacului Văcăreşti arie naturală protejată |work=Mediafax |author=Andrei Dumitrescu |date=28 May 2015 |access-date=19 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610134223/http://www.mediafax.ro/social/cgmb-a-avizat-declararea-lacului-vacaresti-arie-naturala-protejata-14356050 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Bucharest is situated in the center of the Romanian Plain, in an area once covered by the Vlăsiei Forest, which after it was cleared, gave way for a fertile flatland. As with many cities, Bucharest is traditionally considered to be built upon seven hills, similar to the seven hills of Rome. Bucharest's seven hills are: Mihai Vodă, Dealul Mitropoliei, Radu Vodă, Cotroceni, Dealul Spirii, Văcărești, and Sfântu Gheorghe Nou.

The city has an area of {{convert|226|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}. The altitude varies from {{convert|55.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} at the Dâmbovița bridge in Cățelu, southeastern Bucharest and {{convert|91.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} at the Militari church. The city has a roughly round shape, with the centre situated in the cross-way of the main north–south/east-west axes at University Square. The milestone for Romania's Kilometre Zero is placed just south of University Square in front of the New St. George Church (Sfântul Gheorghe Nou) at St. George Square (Piața Sfântul Gheorghe). Bucharest's radius, from University Square to the city limits in all directions, varies from  {{convert|10|to|12|km|0|abbr=on}}.

Until recently, the regions surrounding Bucharest were largely rural, but after 1989, suburbs started to be built around Bucharest, in the surrounding Ilfov County. Further urban consolidation is expected to take place in the late 2010s, when the 'Bucharest Metropolitan Area' plan will become operational, incorporating additional communes and cities from the Ilfov and other neighbouring counties.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BMA will be extended to the Danube|url=http://www.cotidianul.ro/zona-metropolitana-bucuresti-ilfov-se-va-intinde-pana-la-dunare-148959/|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160517125859/http://www.cotidianul.ro/zona-metropolitana-bucuresti-ilfov-se-va-intinde-pana-la-dunare-148959/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 May 2016|date=13 June 2011}}</ref>

== Climate ==

Bucharest has a [[Earth:Humid continental climate|humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'' by the 0&nbsp;°C isotherm), or a [[Earth:Humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical climate]] ([[Earth:Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa'' by the -3&nbsp;°C isotherm), with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Owing to its position on the Romanian Plain, the city's winters can get windy, though some of the winds are mitigated due to urbanisation. Winter temperatures often dip below {{convert|0|°C}}, sometimes even to {{convert|-10|°C}}. In summer, the average high temperature is {{convert|29.8|°C}} (the average for July and August). Temperatures frequently reach {{convert|35|to|40|°C|°F}} in midsummer in the city centre. Although average precipitation in summer is moderate, occasional heavy storms occur. During spring and autumn, daytime temperatures vary between {{convert|17|and|22|°C|°F}}, and precipitation during spring tends to be higher than in summer, with more frequent yet milder periods of rain.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sfetcu|first=Nicolae|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90TrCgAAQBAJ&q=Bucurestiul+are+un+climat+de+tranzi%C8%9Bie,+cu+influen%C8%9Be+at%C3%A2t+continentale+c%C3%A2t+%C5%9Fi+%C8%99i+subtropicale+(clasificarea+climatic%C4%83+Koppen+Cfa+/+Dfa+/+Cfb+/+Dfb).&pg=PT23|title=Bucharest Tourist Guide (Ghid turistic București): Pocket Edition (Ediția de buzunar)|date=14 November 2015|publisher=Nicolae Sfetcu|language=en|access-date=29 May 2021|archive-date=29 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529151215/https://books.google.com/books?id=90TrCgAAQBAJ&q=Bucurestiul+are+un+climat+de+tranzi%C8%9Bie%2C+cu+influen%C8%9Be+at%C3%A2t+continentale+c%C3%A2t+%C5%9Fi+%C8%99i+subtropicale+%28clasificarea+climatic%C4%83+Koppen+Cfa+%2F+Dfa+%2F+Cfb+%2F+Dfb%29.&pg=PT23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=2451&cityname=Bucharest,+Romania|title=Bucharest, Romania Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202154622/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=2451&cityname=Bucharest,+Romania|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Bucharest Băneasa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width=auto
| Jan record high C = 20.9
| Feb record high C = 24.1
| Mar record high C = 29.0
| Apr record high C = 32.2
| May record high C = 36.9
| Jun record high C = 39.0
| Jul record high C = 42.6
| Aug record high C = 41.0
| Sep record high C = 38.5
| Oct record high C = 35.2
| Nov record high C = 25.1
| Dec record high C = 18.4
|year record high C = 42.6
|Jan high C = 3.0
|Feb high C = 6.3
|Mar high C = 12.3
|Apr high C = 18.5
|May high C = 24.1
|Jun high C = 28.1
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 30.6
|Sep high C = 25.0
|Oct high C = 18.0
|Nov high C = 10.5
|Dec high C = 4.2
|year high C = 17.6
|Jan mean C = -1.5
|Feb mean C = 0.6
|Mar mean C = 5.6
|Apr mean C = 11.4
|May mean C = 16.8
|Jun mean C = 21.1
|Jul mean C = 23.0
|Aug mean C = 22.4
|Sep mean C = 16.8
|Oct mean C = 10.7
|Nov mean C = 5.3
|Dec mean C = 0.0
|year mean C = 11.0
|Jan low C = -5.0
|Feb low C = -3.5
|Mar low C = 0.3
|Apr low C = 4.9
|May low C = 9.7
|Jun low C = 13.9
|Jul low C = 15.6
|Aug low C = 15.2
|Sep low C = 10.7
|Oct low C = 5.7
|Nov low C = 1.4
|Dec low C = -3.3
|year low C = 5.5
| Jan record low C = -32.2
| Feb record low C = -29.0
| Mar record low C = -21.7
| Apr record low C = -9.5
| May record low C = -5.0
| Jun record low C = 4.5
| Jul record low C = 7.4
| Aug record low C = 5.2
| Sep record low C = -3.1
| Oct record low C = -8.0
| Nov record low C = -19.4
| Dec record low C = -25.6
|year record low C = -32.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 40.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 33.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 42.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 50.2
|May precipitation mm = 70.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 82.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 68.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 48.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 60.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 43.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 47.0
|year precipitation mm = 648.1
|Jan snow cm = 13.7
|Feb snow cm = 11.0
|Mar snow cm = 10.5
|Apr snow cm = 1.5
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.0
|Nov snow cm = 8.8
|Dec snow cm = 10.5
|year snow cm = 56.0
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.1
|Feb precipitation days = 5.4
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 6.2
|May precipitation days = 8.4
|Jun precipitation days = 8.3
|Jul precipitation days = 7.1
|Aug precipitation days = 5.2
|Sep precipitation days = 4.9
|Oct precipitation days = 5.6
|Nov precipitation days = 5.4
|Dec precipitation days = 6.7
|year precipitation days = 75.6	
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 63
|May humidity = 62
|Jun humidity = 61
|Jul humidity = 58
|Aug humidity = 57
|Sep humidity = 61
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 84
|Dec humidity = 87
|year humidity = 
|Jan dew point C = -4.2
|Feb dew point C = -2.7
|Mar dew point C = 0.9
|Apr dew point C = 5.4
|May dew point C = 10.2
|Jun dew point C = 13.9
|Jul dew point C = 15.3
|Aug dew point C = 14.7
|Sep dew point C = 11.6
|Oct dew point C = 6.8
|Nov dew point C = 2.5
|Dec dew point C = -1.3
|Jan sun = 78.8
|Feb sun = 107.1
|Mar sun = 156.7
|Apr sun = 195.3
|May sun = 245.4
|Jun sun = 259.4
|Jul sun = 293.4
|Aug sun = 283.0
|Sep sun = 208.7
|Oct sun = 149.6
|Nov sun = 84.8
|Dec sun = 63.9
|year sun = 2126.1
|Jan uv = 1
|Feb uv = 2
|Mar uv = 3
|Apr uv = 5
|May uv = 7
|Jun uv = 8
|Jul uv = 8
|Aug uv = 7
|Sep uv = 5
|Oct uv = 3
|Nov uv = 2
|Dec uv = 1
|source 1 = NOAA (dew point and snowfall 1961–1990)<ref name= NOAA9120>{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Romania/CSV/BucurestiBaneasa_15420.csv
|title = București Băneasa Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[Organization:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = August 29, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230829030044/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Romania/CSV/BucurestiBaneasa_15420.csv
|archive-date = 2023-08-29}}</ref><ref name= NOAA>{{Cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/RO/15420.TXT
|title = București Băneasa Climate Normals 1961–1990
|publisher = [[Organization:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = 21 March 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230829025758/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/RO/15420.TXT
|archive-date = 2023-08-29}}</ref>
|source 2 = Administrația Națională de Meteorologie (extremes),<ref name=extremes>{{Cite web
|url = http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/europa/romania/bucuresti-baneasa/
|title = București Băneasa: Record mensili dal 1929
|publisher = Administrația Națională de Meteorologie
|language = it
|access-date = 14 February 2016
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160401120448/http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/europa/romania/bucuresti-baneasa/
|archive-date = 1 April 2016
|url-status = live
}}</ref> Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity, 1931–1960)<ref name=DMI>{{cite web 
|last1 = Cappelen 
|first1 = John 
|last2 = Jensen 
|first2 = Jens 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf 
|archive-date = April 27, 2013 
|url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf 
|work = Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960) 
|title = RUMÆNIEN - BUCURESTI/IMH
|page = 216
|publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute 
|language = da 
|access-date = August 29, 2023}}</ref> and Weather Atlas<ref>{{Cite web
|url = https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/romania/bucharest-climate
|title = Bucharest, Romania – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast
|publisher = Yu Media Group
|website = Weather Atlas
|language = en
|access-date = 3 July 2019
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190703202341/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/romania/bucharest-climate
|archive-date = 3 July 2019
|url-status = live}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

== Government == 
=== Administration === 

Bucharest has a unique status in Romanian administration, since it is the only municipal area that is not part of a county. Its population, however, is larger than that of any other Romanian county, hence the power of the Bucharest General Municipality (''Primăria Generală''), which is the capital's local government body, is the same as any other Romanian county council.

The Municipality of Bucharest, along with the surrounding Ilfov County, is part of the București – Ilfov development region project, which is equivalent to NUTS-II regions in the European Union and is used both by the EU and the Romanian government for statistical analysis, and to co-ordinate regional development projects and manage funds from the EU. The Bucharest-Ilfov development region is not, however, an administrative entity yet.
[[File:Bucureşti sectoare.svg|thumb|Sectors of Bucharest]]
The city government is headed by a general mayor (''Primar General''). Since 29 October 2020 onwards, it is Nicușor Dan, currently an independent politician previously backed by the PNL-USR PLUS centre-right alliance at the 2020 Romanian local elections. Decisions are approved and discussed by the capital's General Council (''Consiliu General'') made up of 55 elected councilors. Furthermore, the city is divided into six administrative sectors (''sectoare''), each of which has its own 27-seat sectoral council, town hall, and mayor. The powers of the local government over a certain area are, therefore, shared both by the Bucharest municipality and the local sectoral councils with little or no overlapping of authority. The general rule is that the main capital municipality is responsible for citywide utilities such as the water and sewage system, the overall transport system, and the main boulevards, while sectoral town halls manage the contact between individuals and the local government, secondary streets and parks maintenance, schools administration, and cleaning services.

The six sectors are numbered from one to six and are disposed radially so that each one has under its administration a certain area of the city centre. They are numbered clockwise and are further divided into sectoral quarters (''cartiere'') which are not part of the official administrative division:
*'''Sector 1''' (population 227,717): Dorobanți, Băneasa, Aviației, Pipera, Aviatorilor, Primăverii, Romană, Victoriei, Herăstrău Park, Bucureștii Noi, Dămăroaia, Străulești, Grivița, 1 Mai, Băneasa Forest, Pajura, Domenii, Chibrit
*'''Sector 2''' (population 357,338): Pantelimon, Colentina, Iancului, Tei, Floreasca, Moșilor, Obor, Vatra Luminoasă, Fundeni, Plumbuita, Ștefan cel Mare, Baicului
*'''Sector 3''' (population 399,231): Vitan, Dudești, Titan, Centrul Civic, Dristor, Lipscani, Muncii, Unirii
*'''Sector 4''' (population 300,331): Berceni, Olteniței, Giurgiului, Progresul, Văcărești, Timpuri Noi, Tineretului
*'''Sector 5''' (population 288,690): Rahova, Ferentari, Giurgiului, Cotroceni, 13 Septembrie, Dealul Spirii
*'''Sector 6''' (population 371,060): Giulești, Crângași, Drumul Taberei, Militari, Grozăvești (also known as Regie), Ghencea 

Each sector is governed by a local mayor, as follows: Sector 1 – Clotilde Armand (USR, since 2020), Sector 2 – Radu Mihaiu (USR, since 2020), Sector 3 – Robert Negoiță (PRO B, since 2012), Sector 4 – Daniel Băluță (PSD, since 2016), Sector 5 – Cristian Popescu Piedone (PPU SL, since 2020),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://jurnalul.ro/stiri/observator/marian-vanghelie-suspendat-din-functia-de-primar-al-sectorului-5-cine-ii-va-prelua-atributiile-686747.html |title=Marian Vanghelie, suspendat din funcția de primar al sectorului 5. Cine îi va prelua atribuțiile |work=Jurnalul Național |date=6 April 2015 |language=ro |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617191817/http://jurnalul.ro/stiri/observator/marian-vanghelie-suspendat-din-functia-de-primar-al-sectorului-5-cine-ii-va-prelua-atributiile-686747.html |archive-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sector 6 – Ciprian Ciucu (PNL, since 2020).

Like all other local councils in Romania, the Bucharest sectoral councils, the capital's general council, and the mayors are elected every four years by the population. Additionally, Bucharest has a prefect, who is appointed by Romania's national government. The prefect is not allowed to be a member of a political party and his role is to represent the national government at the municipal level. The prefect is acting as a liaison official facilitating the implementation of national development plans and governing programs at local level. The prefect of Bucharest (as of 2021) is Alexandra Văcaru.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Conducere |publisher=Prefectul Municipiului București|url=https://b.prefectura.mai.gov.ro/acasa/despre-noi/conducere/|language=ro|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031082616/https://b.prefectura.mai.gov.ro/despre-noi/conducere/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== City general council ====

The city's general council has the following political composition, based on the results of the 2020 local elections:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#ccc" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
! style="background:#ccc" | Party
! style="background:#ccc" | Seats
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="24" | Current Council
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| Social Democratic Party (PSD)
| style="text-align: right" | '''21'''
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| Save Romania Union (USR)
| style="text-align: right" | '''17'''
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}} &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| National Liberal Party (PNL)
| style="text-align: right" | '''12'''
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| People's Movement Party (PMP)
| style="text-align: right" | '''5'''
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
|}

=== Justice system ===
[[File:Bucharest - Palace of Justice (Justizpalast) - no filter (29340923631).jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Palace of Justice seen across the Dâmbovița River in 2016]]

Bucharest's judicial system is similar to that of the Romanian counties. Each of the six sectors has its own local first-instance court (''judecătorie''), while more serious cases are directed to the Bucharest Tribunal (''Tribunalul Bucureşti''), the city's municipal court. The Bucharest Court of Appeal (''Curtea de Apel Bucureşti'') judges appeals against decisions taken by first-instance courts and tribunals in Bucharest and in five surrounding counties (Teleorman, Ialomița, Giurgiu, Călărași, and Ilfov). Bucharest is also home to Romania's supreme court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as well as to the Constitutional Court of Romania.

Bucharest has a municipal police force, the Bucharest Police (''Poliția București''), which is responsible for policing crime within the whole city, and operates a number of divisions. The Bucharest Police are headquartered on Ștefan cel Mare Blvd. in the city centre, and at precincts throughout the city. From 2004 onwards, each sector city hall also has under its administration a community police force (''Poliția Comunitară''), dealing with local community issues. Bucharest also houses the general inspectorates of the ''Gendarmerie'' and the national police.

=== Crime ===

Bucharest's crime rate is rather low in comparison to other European capital cities, with the number of total offences declining by 51% between 2000 and 2004,<ref name="crimestats">[http://b.politiaromana.ro/index.php?pag=statistica_2000_2004_ro&limba=romana Bucharest Crime Statistics 2000–2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716235025/http://b.politiaromana.ro/index.php?pag=statistica_2000_2004_ro&limba=romana |date=16 July 2011 }}, Bucharest Directorate-General of Police</ref> and by 7% between 2012 and 2013.<ref name=bucurestipolitia2013>{{Cite web|url=http://b.politiaromana.ro/pdf/bilant/Bilant+DGPMB-2013.pdf|title=DGPMB – Poliția Română|website=b.politiaromana.ro|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002071841/https://b.politiaromana.ro/pdf/bilant/Bilant+DGPMB-2013.pdf|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The violent crime rate in Bucharest remains very low, with 11 murders and 983 other violent offences taking place in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b.politiaromana.ro/pdf/Security_Marketing_Projects/PI.12.2007+en.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716235242/http://b.politiaromana.ro/pdf/Security_Marketing_Projects/PI.12.2007%20en.xls|url-status=dead|title=DGPMB – Poliția Română|archive-date=16 July 2011|website=b.politiaromana.ro}}</ref> Although violent crimes fell by 13% in 2013 compared to 2012, 19 murders (18 of which the suspects were arrested) were recorded.<ref name=bucurestipolitia2013 />

Although in the 2000s, a number of police crackdowns on organised crime gangs occurred, such as the Cămătaru clan, organised crime generally has little impact on public life. Petty crime, however, is more common, particularly in the form of pickpocketing, which occurs mainly on the city's public transport network. Confidence tricks were common in the 1990s, especially in regards to tourists, but the frequency of these incidents has since declined. However, in general, theft was reduced by 13.6% in 2013 compared to 2012.<ref name=bucurestipolitia2013 /> Levels of crime are higher in the southern districts of the city, particularly in Ferentari, a socially disadvantaged area.

Although the presence of street children was a problem in Bucharest in the 1990s, their numbers have declined in recent years, now lying at or below the average of major European capital cities.<ref name="hf">{{Cite web |url= http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/press/16-pdf3.pdf |title= Worldwide Street Children statistics |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111208075915/http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/press/16-pdf3.pdf |archive-date= 8 December 2011 |df= dmy-all }}&nbsp;{{small|(20.5&nbsp;KB)}}, Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize/Council of Europe</ref>

=== Quality of life ===

As stated by the Mercer international surveys for quality of life in cities around the world, Bucharest occupied the 94th place in 2001<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.expat.or.id/info/qualityofliving.html |title=Worldwide Quality of Living Survey |publisher=Expat.or.id |date=11 March 2002 |access-date=14 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415143434/http://www.expat.or.id/info/qualityofliving.html |archive-date=15 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> and slipped lower, to the 108th place in 2009 and the 107th place in 2010. Compared to it, Vienna occupied number one worldwide in 2011 and 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.actmedia.eu/top+story/bucharest+keeps+108+in+the+mercer+top+dedicated+to+life+quality+/20379 |title=Bucharest keeps 108 in the Mercer top dedicated to life quality |publisher=Actmedia.eu |date=30 April 2009 |access-date=14 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006194411/http://www.actmedia.eu/top%2Bstory/bucharest%2Bkeeps%2B108%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmercer%2Btop%2Bdedicated%2Bto%2Blife%2Bquality%2B/20379 |archive-date=6 October 2010 }}</ref> Warsaw ranked 84th, Istanbul 112th, and neighbours Sofia 114th and Belgrade 136th (in the 2010 rankings).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.articles.totallyexpat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/QoL-2010-Rankings.pdf |title=2010 Quality of Living global city rankings – Mercer survey |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128070248/https://www.articles.totallyexpat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/QoL-2010-Rankings.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2012 }}</ref>

Mercer Human Resource Consulting issues yearly a global ranking of the world's most livable cities based on 39 key quality-of-life issues. Among them: political stability, currency-exchange regulations, political and media censorship, school quality, housing, the environment, and public safety. Mercer collects data worldwide, in 215 cities. The difficult situation of the quality of life in Bucharest is confirmed also by a vast urbanism study, done by the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://csb2035.ro/pdf/rezumat/CSB_rezumat.pdf |title=Conceptul Strategic București 2035 ETAPA I – see page 44 ref. to quality of life in Bucharest |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125021515/http://www.csb2035.ro/pdf/rezumat/CSB_rezumat.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In 2016, Bucharest's urban situation was described as 'critical' by a Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) report that criticised the city's weak, incoherent and arbitrary public management policies, its elected officials' lack of transparency and public engagement, as well as its inadequate and unsustainable use of essential urban resources.<ref>De ce e nevoie de Legea Bucureștiului. Arhitecții au lansat Raportul pentru București 2016 [http://www.romaniacurata.ro/de-ce-e-nevoie-de-legea-bucurestiului-arhitectii-au-lansat-raportul-pentru-bucuresti-2016/ Romania Curata, 3 August 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018222706/http://www.romaniacurata.ro/de-ce-e-nevoie-de-legea-bucurestiului-arhitectii-au-lansat-raportul-pentru-bucuresti-2016/ |date=18 October 2016 }}</ref>
Bucharest's historical city centre is listed as 'endangered' by the World Monuments Watch (as of 2016).<ref name="wmf.org" />

Although many neighbourhoods, particularly in the southern part of the city, lack sufficient green space, being formed of cramped, high-density blocks of flats, Bucharest also has many parks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.romania-insider.com/green-is-good-ten-large-parks-in-bucharest/|title=Green is good: Ten large parks in Bucharest – Romania Insider|first=Irina|last=Marica|date=22 June 2015|website=Romania-insider.com|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070653/https://www.romania-insider.com/green-is-good-ten-large-parks-in-bucharest/|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Bucharest population pyramid in 2011.svg|thumb|Bucharest population pyramid in 2021]]
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote = 1851 data: ''Chambers's Encyclopaedia'',<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924087904623#page/n405/mode/2up Chambers's Encyclopaedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325054102/https://archive.org/stream/cu31924087904623#page/n405/mode/2up |date=25 March 2016 }} Vol. II, 1861 based on Brockhaus Enzyklopädie, 10th Edition</ref> 1900: ''Encyclopædia Britannica'',<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition</ref> 1941, 1948,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sas.unibuc.ro/storage/downloads/analize-regionale-9/AG48a.RECENSAMANT48.pdf|title=Populatia RPR la 25 ianuarie 1948|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410172753/https://sas.unibuc.ro/storage/downloads/analize-regionale-9/AG48a.RECENSAMANT48.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> other data:<ref>George Milea, ''Contribuții la demografia Municipiului București. Volumul 1 : Populația după recensăminte. Natalitatea. Mortalitatea'', 1933, Tipografia Curții Regale F. Göbl Fii</ref><ref>Laurențiu Rădvan, ''At Europe's Borders: Medieval Towns in the Romanian Principalities'', Brill, 2010, p.260</ref><ref>Florian Georgescu et al. ''Istoria Orașului București'', Muzeul de Istorie a Orașului București, 1965, p. 121</ref><br />Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.
|1595 | 10,000
|1650 | 20,000
|1789 | 30,030
|1831 | 60,587
|1851 | 60,000
|1859 | 121,734
|1877 | 177,646
|1900 | 282,071
|1912 | 341,321
|1930 | 639,040
|1941 | 992,536
|1948 | 1,041,807
|1956 | 1,177,661
|1966 | 1,366,684
|1972 | 1,511,239
|1977 | 1,807,239
|1982 | 1,898,323
|1987 | 1,985,393
|1992 | 2,064,474
|2002 | 1,926,334
|2011 | 1,883,425
|2021 | 1,716,961
}}

As per the 2021 census, 1,716,961 inhabitants lived within the city limits, a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2011 census.<ref name="RPL2021" /> This decrease is due to low natural increase, but also to a shift in population from the city itself to its smaller satellite towns such as Popești-Leordeni, Voluntari, Chiajna, Bragadiru, Pantelimon, Buftea and Otopeni. In a study published by the United Nations, Bucharest placed 19th among 28 cities that recorded sharp declines in population from 1990 to the mid-2010s. In particular, the population fell by 3.77%.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.incont.ro/social/orasele-care-isi-pierd-locuitorii-bucurestiul-in-top-20-localitati-ale-lumii-cu-cea-mai-mare-rata-de-scadere.html|title = Orașele care își pierd locuitorii. Bucureștiul, în topul localitatilor lumii cu cea mai mare rată de scădere a populației|date = 9 February 2014|website = inCont.ro|access-date = 25 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141225172220/http://www.incont.ro/social/orasele-care-isi-pierd-locuitorii-bucurestiul-in-top-20-localitati-ale-lumii-cu-cea-mai-mare-rata-de-scadere.html|archive-date = 25 December 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The city's population, according to the 2002 census, was 1,926,334 inhabitants,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap2.pdf|title=Romanian Statistical Yearbook|last=INS|access-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116075450/http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap2.pdf|archive-date=16 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> or 8.9% of the total population of Romania. A significant number of people commute to the city every day, mostly from the surrounding Ilfov County, but official statistics regarding their numbers do not exist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ziarero.antena3.ro/1219615094-Unul_din_trei_angajati_in_Bucuresti_e_navetist_Tot_mai_multi_si_de_tot_mai_departe|title=One out of three Bucharest employees is a commuter|date=25 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629000912/http://ziarero.antena3.ro/1219615094-Unul_din_trei_angajati_in_Bucuresti_e_navetist_Tot_mai_multi_si_de_tot_mai_departe|archive-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

Bucharest's population experienced two phases of rapid growth, the first beginning in the late 19th century when the city was consolidated as the national capital and lasting until the Second World War, and the second during the Ceaușescu years (1965–1989), when a massive urbanization campaign was launched and many people migrated from rural areas to the capital. At this time, due to Ceaușescu's decision to ban abortion and contraception, natural increase was also significant.

Bucharest is a city of high [[Earth:Population density|population density]]: 8,260/km<sup>2</sup> (21,400/sq mi),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.codatu.org/wp-content/uploads/PRESENTATION-Evaluation-of-the-performance-of-urban-public-transport-connectivity-EN.pdf |title=Evaluation of the performance of urban public transport connectivity |access-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220111559/http://www.codatu.org/wp-content/uploads/PRESENTATION-Evaluation-of-the-performance-of-urban-public-transport-connectivity-EN.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2016 }}</ref> owing to the fact that most of the population lives in high-density communist era apartment blocks (''blocuri''). However, this also depends on the part of the city: the southern boroughs have a higher density than the northern ones. Of the European Union country capital-cities, only [[Place:Paris|Paris]] and [[Place:Athens|Athens]] have a higher population density (see List of European Union cities proper by population density). In addition to blocks of flats built during the communist era, there are also older interwar ones, as well as newer ones built in the 1990s and in the 21st century. Although  apartment buildings are strongly associated with the communist era, such housing schemes were first introduced in Bucharest in the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://evz.ro/cand-a-fost-construit-primul-bloc-de-proprietari.html | title=Când a fost construit primul bloc de proprietari și unde se află. Primii împroprietăriți nu au fost bogații | date=8 November 2018 }}</ref>   

About 97.3% of the population of Bucharest for whom data are available is Romanian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://metropotam.ro/La-zi/Rezultate-recensamant-2011-pe-Bucuresti-Infografic-art7723859596/|title=Rezultate recensamant 2011 pe Bucuresti – Infografic|website=Metropotam|access-date=8 June 2020|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216134845/http://metropotam.ro/La-zi/Rezultate-recensamant-2011-pe-Bucuresti-Infografic-art7723859596|url-status=live}}</ref> Other significant ethnic groups are Romani, Hungarians, Turks, [[Religion:Jews|Jews]], Germans (mostly Regat Germans), Chinese, Russians, Ukrainians, and Italians. A relatively small number of Bucharesters are also Greeks, Armenians, Kurds, Bulgarians, Albanians, Poles,  French, Arabs, Africans (including the Afro-Romanians), Iranians, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Nepalis, Afghans, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, and Indians.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stiri.ong/resurse/despre-sector/semnele-vitale-in-bucuresti-si-iasi-localnici-in-acte-si-in-suflet |title=Semnele vitale în București și Iași. Localnici în acte și în suflet? |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208002305/https://www.stiri.ong/resurse/despre-sector/semnele-vitale-in-bucuresti-si-iasi-localnici-in-acte-si-in-suflet |archive-date=8 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://inclusiv.ro/suntem-in-plin-boom-de-muncitori-asiatici/ |title=România e în plin boom de muncitori asiatici. Dar cine sunt ei? |date=30 October 2019 |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208002308/https://inclusiv.ro/suntem-in-plin-boom-de-muncitori-asiatici/ |archive-date=8 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unhcr.org/ro/5608-copii-refugiati-afgani-bucurosi-sa-mearga-la-scoala-in-romania.html|title=Copii refugiați afgani bucuroși să meargă la școală în România|website=UNHCR România|access-date=30 July 2020|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806020543/https://www.unhcr.org/ro/5608-copii-refugiati-afgani-bucurosi-sa-mearga-la-scoala-in-romania.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ialoc.ro/restaurante-bucuresti?bucatarie=indiana,libaneza,pakistaneza,persana|title=Cele mai populare localuri din București cu specific indian, libanez, pakistanez, persan|website=ialoc.ro|access-date=30 July 2020|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525133533/https://ialoc.ro/restaurante-bucuresti?bucatarie=indiana,libaneza,pakistaneza,persana|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.b1tv.ro/eveniment/protest-centrul-capitalei-216018.html/amp | title=B1TV.ro - Erdogan, contestat în România: Protest al rezidenţilor kurzi în centrul Capitalei (VIDEO) - B1TV.ro }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/protest-al-comunitatii-iraniene-din-romania-in-fata-ambasadei-multumim-lui-trump-ca-l-a-asasinat-pe-soleimani-2853664/amp | title=Protest al comunității iraniene din România, în fața Ambasadei: "Mulțumim lui Trump că l-a asasinat pe Soleimani!" | date=11 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.ro/articole/iranienii-din-bucuresti-au-iesit-in-strada-moartea-lui-mahsa-amini-a-generat-prot | title=Iranienii din București au ieșit în stradă. Moartea lui Mahsa Amini a generat proteste în toată lumea }}</ref> 226,943 people did not declare their ethnicity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bucuresti.insse.ro/cmsbuc/rw/resource/comunicat%20date%20provizorii%20rpl%202011%20bucuresti.pdf |title=Recensământul populatiei şi al locuințelor |access-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719063019/http://www.bucuresti.insse.ro/cmsbuc/rw/resource/comunicat%20date%20provizorii%20rpl%202011%20bucuresti.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bucharestin.com/bucharest-virtual-museums/ |title=Bucharest Virtual Museums Tours &#91;Part 1&#93; - |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209022818/https://bucharestin.com/bucharest-virtual-museums/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In terms of religious affiliation, 96.1% of the population for whom data are available is [[Religion:Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox]], 1.2% is Roman Catholic, 0.5% is Muslim, and 0.4% is Romanian Greek Catholic. Despite this, only 18% of the population, of any religion, attends a place of worship once a week or more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.osf.ro/rourbana/07_religiozitate.doc |title=Open Society Institute's Survey into Religiosity in Romania |access-date=23 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623230651/http://www.osf.ro/rourbana/07_religiozitate.doc |archive-date=23 June 2006}} ([[Software:Microsoft Word|Microsoft Word]] document)</ref> The life expectancy of residents of Bucharest in 2015 was 77.8 years old, which is 2.4 years above the national average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/highest-life-expectancy-romania |title=Where is the highest life expectancy in Romania? |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=19 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908095319/https://www.romania-insider.com/highest-life-expectancy-romania/ |archive-date=8 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Economy ==

Bucharest is the centre of the Romanian economy and industry, accounting for around 24% (2017) of the country's GDP and about one-quarter of its industrial production, while being inhabited by 9% of the country's population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.erionet.org/JIM+Romania.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101013924/http://www.erionet.org/JIM%2BRomania.htm |archive-date=1 November 2013 |title=Joint Inclusion Memorandum of Romania |access-date=14 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Almost one-third of national taxes is paid by Bucharest's citizens and companies.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} The living standard in the Bucharest-Ilfov region was 145% of the EU average in 2017, according to GDP per capita at the purchasing power parity standard (adjusted to the national price level).

Bucharest area surpassed, on comparable terms, European metropolitan areas such as [[Place:Budapest|Budapest]] (139%), [[Place:Madrid|Madrid]] (125%), [[Place:Berlin|Berlin]] (118%), [[Place:Rome|Rome]] (110%), [[Place:Lisbon|Lisbon]] (102%), or [[Place:Sofia|Sofia]] (79%), and more than twice the Romanian average.<ref name="ec.europa.eu">{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/8700651/1-28022018-BP-EN/15f5fd90-ce8b-4927-9a3b-07dc255dc42a |title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 29% to 611% of the EU average in 2016 |access-date=6 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105942/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/8700651/1-28022018-BP-EN/15f5fd90-ce8b-4927-9a3b-07dc255dc42a |archive-date=3 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> After relative stagnation in the 1990s, the city's strong economic growth has revitalised infrastructure and led to the development of shopping malls, residential estates, and high-rise office buildings. In January 2013, Bucharest had an unemployment rate of 2.1%, significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.8%.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [https://archive.today/20130705203358/http://www.capital.ro/detalii-articole/stiri/amofm-rata-somajului-in-bucuresti-a-fost-de-205-la-sfarsitul-lunii-ianuarie-177923.html "AMOFM: Rata șomajului în București a fost de 2,05%, la sfârșitul lunii ianuarie"], capital.ro, 8 February 2013; accessed 22 April 2013</ref><ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.anofm.ro/node/3777 Situația statistică a șomajului înregistrat la 31 ianuarie 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708133731/http://www.anofm.ro/node/3777 |date=8 July 2018 }}, Agenția Națională Pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă; accessed 22 April 2013</ref>

[[File:Calea Floreasca - noaptea.jpg|thumb|Skyscrapers in Pipera-Floreasca]]

Bucharest's economy is centred on industry and services, with services particularly growing in importance in the last 10 years. The headquarters of 186,000 firms, including nearly all large Romanian companies, are located in Bucharest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.averea.ro/display.php?data=2005-12-16&id=13365 |title=Toti bucureștenii vor avea dosar fiscal din 2006 |access-date=1 June 2016}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''Averea'', 15 December 2005</ref> An important source of growth since 2000 has been the city's rapidly expanding property and construction sector. Bucharest is also Romania's largest centre for information technology and communications and is home to several software companies operating offshore delivery centres. Romania's largest stock exchange, the Bucharest Stock Exchange, which was merged in December 2005 with the Bucharest-based electronic stock exchange Rasdaq, plays a major role in the city's economy.

International supermarket chains such as Kaufland, Lidl, Metro, Selgros, Penny Market, Carrefour, Auchan, Cora, Profi, and Mega Image are all operating in Bucharest. The city is undergoing a retail boom. Bucharest hosts luxury brands such as Armani, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Prada, Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. Malls and large shopping centres have been built since the late 1990s, such as Băneasa Shopping City, AFI Palace Cotroceni, Mega Mall, București Mall, ParkLake Shopping Centre, Sun Plaza, Promenada Mall and longest Unirea Shopping Centre. Bucharest has over 20 malls as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/real-estate-constructii/analiza-infografic-topul-mallurilor-cu-cele-mai-mari-afaceri-din-romania-19036866|title=Analizǎ Infografic – Topul mallurilor cu cele mai mari afaceri din România|publisher=Profit TV|date=24 June 2019|language=ro|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825064929/https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/real-estate-constructii/analiza-infografic-topul-mallurilor-cu-cele-mai-mari-afaceri-din-romania-19036866|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebite.aisb.ro/index.php/top-5-malls-to-visit-in-bucharest|title=Top 5 Malls to Visit in Bucharest|publisher=Profit TV|date=23 October 2017|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825064933/https://thebite.aisb.ro/index.php/top-5-malls-to-visit-in-bucharest|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The corporations [[Company:Amazon|Amazon]], [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]], Ubisoft, [[Company:Oracle Corporation|Oracle Corporation]], or [[Company:IBM|IBM]] are all present in the Romanian capital. The top ten is also dominated by companies operating in automotive, oil & gas (such as Petrom), as well as companies in telecommunication and FMCG.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/most-wanted-employers-romania|title=Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, among most wanted employers in Romania|publisher=romania-insider.com|date=18 July 2017|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825064932/https://www.romania-insider.com/most-wanted-employers-romania|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profit.ro/stiri/amazon-a-deschis-centrul-din-bucuresti-si-pregateste-angajari-18103162|title=Amazon a deschis centrul din București și pregătește angajări|publisher=Profit TV|date=9 May 2019|language=ro|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825064930/https://www.profit.ro/stiri/amazon-a-deschis-centrul-din-bucuresti-si-pregateste-angajari-18103162|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:2017 sediul IBM.jpg|[[Company:IBM|IBM]] Bucharest
File:Skyscrapers in Bucharest.jpg|Floreasca City Center (including SkyTower and [[Company:Oracle Corporation|Oracle]] headquarters)
File:Petrom City.jpg|Petrom City
File:IMG-20171002-15321-romania-unirea-bucharest.jpg|Unirea Shopping Center
File:Bucharest Day 4 - AFI Cotroceni (9434236245).jpg|AFI Cotroceni
</gallery>

== Transport == 
Bucharest is crossed by two major international routes: Pan-European transport corridor IV and IX.

=== Public transport ===  
Bucharest's public transport system is the largest in Romania and one of the largest in Europe. It is made up of the Bucharest Metro, run by Metrorex, as well as a surface transport system run by STB (''Societatea de Transport București'', previously known as the RATB), which consists of buses, trams, [[Engineering:Trolleybus|trolleybus]]es, and light rail. In addition, a private minibus system operates there. {{As of|2007}}, a limit of 10,000 taxicab licences was imposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfin.ro/articol_8335/atacul_clonelor_in_taximetria_bucuresteana.html |title=Săptămâna Financiară &#124; Anchete &#124; Atacul clonelor în taximetria bucureșteană |publisher=Sfin.ro |access-date=7 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216081436/http://www.sfin.ro/articol_8335/atacul_clonelor_in_taximetria_bucuresteana.html |archive-date=16 February 2009 }}</ref> 

=== Railways ===
It is the hub of Romania's national railway network, run by ''Căile Ferate Române''. The main railway station is Gara de Nord ('North Station'), which provides connections to all major cities in Romania, as well as international destinations: [[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]], [[Place:Sofia|Sofia]], [[Place:Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]], [[Place:Chișinău|Chișinău]], [[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]], Chernivtsi, Lviv, [[Place:Thessaloniki|Thessaloniki]], [[Place:Vienna|Vienna]], [[Place:Budapest|Budapest]], Istanbul, [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]], etc.

The city has five other railway stations run by CFR, of which the most important are Basarab (adjacent to North Station), Obor, Băneasa, and Progresul. These are in the process of being integrated into a commuter railway serving Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov County. Seven main lines radiate out of Bucharest.

The oldest station in Bucharest is Filaret. It was inaugurated in 1869, and in 1960, the communist government turned it in a bus terminal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/bucuresti-povesti-1_531a533d0d133766a8b4de51/index.html |title=Poveștile gărilor din Bucureşti. Cum a vrut Ceauşescu să demoleze Gara de Nord, ridicată din ordinul Regelui Carol I. Filaret, prima gară din București |work=Adevărul |last=Răduță |first=Cristina |date=8 March 2014 |language=ro |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617221013/http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/bucuresti-povesti-1_531a533d0d133766a8b4de51/index.html |archive-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Otopeni-henri-coanda-airport-march-2013.jpg|260px|thumb|Henri Coandă International Airport]]

=== Air ===  
* Henri Coandă International Airport (IATA: OTP, ICAO: LROP), located {{convert|16.5|km|abbr=on}} north of the Bucharest city centre, in the town of Otopeni, Ilfov. It is the busiest airport in Romania, in terms of passenger traffic: 12,807,032 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.bucharestairports.ro/files/pages_files/AIHCB_WEBSITE_2016_2017_ROM.pdf|title = CNAB|website = bucharestairports.ro|access-date = 1 October 2018|archive-date = 29 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210529151216/http://www.bucharestairports.ro/files/pages_files/AIHCB_WEBSITE_2016_2017_ROM.pdf|url-status = live}}</ref>
* Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (IATA: BBU, ICAO: LRBS) is Bucharest's business and VIP airport. It is situated only {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} north of the Bucharest city centre, within city limits.

=== Roads === 
Bucharest is a major intersection of Romania's national road network. A few of the busiest national roads and motorways link the city to all of Romania's major cities, as well as to neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The A1 to Pitești, and from Sibiu to the Hungarian border, the A2 Sun Motorway to the Dobrogea region and Constanța, and the A3 to Ploiești all start from Bucharest.

A series of high-capacity boulevards, which generally radiate out from the city centre to the outskirts, provides a framework for the municipal road system. The main axes, which run north–south, east–west and northwest–southeast, as well as one internal and one external ring road, support the bulk of the traffic.

The city's roads are usually very crowded during rush hours, due to an increase in car ownership in recent years. In 2013, the number of cars registered in Bucharest amounted to 1,125,591.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/o-masina-doi-bucuresteni-arata-parcul-auto-capitala-1_52fa0d92c7b855ff56404c8b/index.html |title=O mașină, la doi bucureșteni. Cum arată parcul auto din Capitală |newspaper=Adevărul |access-date=11 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214234602/http://adevarul.ro/news/bucuresti/o-masina-doi-bucuresteni-arata-parcul-auto-capitala-1_52fa0d92c7b855ff56404c8b/index.html |archive-date=14 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> This results in wear and potholes appearing on busy roads, particularly secondary roads, this being identified as one of Bucharest's main infrastructural problems. A comprehensive effort on behalf of the City Hall to boost road infrastructure was made, and according to the general development plan, 2,000 roads have been repaired by 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.videanu.ro/program/index.php?pag=program&cap=13-6 |title=Rehabilitation of Urban Roads, Phase II |access-date=11 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111022247/http://www.videanu.ro/program/index.php?pag=program&cap=13-6 |archive-date=11 January 2008 }}, from the site of the General Mayor of Bucharest, Adriean Videanu</ref> The huge number of cars registered in the city forced the Romanian Auto Registry to switch to 3-digit numbers on registration plates in 2010.

On 17 June 2011, the Basarab Overpass was inaugurated and opened to traffic, thus completing the inner city traffic ring. The overpass took five years to build and is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Romania and the widest such bridge in Europe;<ref>{{Cite web|author=Noutati |url=http://pasajulbasarab.ro/bucurestenii-beneficiaza-de-cel-mai-mare-punct-intermodal-din-romania.html |title=Bucureștenii beneficiază de cel mai mare punct intermodal din România! " Pasajul Basarab |publisher=Pasajulbasarab.ro |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=15 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825200813/http://pasajulbasarab.ro/bucurestenii-beneficiaza-de-cel-mai-mare-punct-intermodal-din-romania.html |archive-date=25 August 2011 }}</ref> upon completion, traffic on the Grant Bridge and in the Gara de Nord area became noticeably more fluid.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-9227102-video-primele-efecte-ale-pasajului-basarab-cum-degrevat-traficul-podul-grant-din-zona-garii-nord.htm |title=Video – Primele efecte ale Pasajului Basarab: Cum s-a degrevat traficul de pe Podul Grant și din zona Gării de Nord – Esențial |publisher=HotNews |access-date=15 September 2011 |date=July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902024015/http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-9227102-video-primele-efecte-ale-pasajului-basarab-cum-degrevat-traficul-podul-grant-din-zona-garii-nord.htm |archive-date=2 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery class="center">  
File:LaminoruluiStation2.jpg|Bucharest Metro
File:Șoseaua Nicolae Titulescu in Bucharest.jpg|A tram in 2016
File:Bucharest Citaro bus 4165.jpg|Mercedes-Benz Citaro 
File:Podul Grozavesti - Seara.jpg|Basarab Overpass 
File:Strada Buzesti.jpg|Buzești Street
</gallery>

=== Water ===
Although it is situated on the banks of a river, Bucharest has never functioned as a port city. Other Romanian cities such as Constanța and Galați serve as the country's main ports. The unfinished Danube-Bucharest Canal, which is {{convert|73|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long and around 70% completed, could link Bucharest to the Danube River, and via the Danube-Black Sea Canal, to the Black Sea. Works on the canal were suspended in 1989, but proposals have been made to resume construction as part of the European Strategy for the Danube Region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adevarul.ro/forbes/out_front/Forbes-Canalul-Dunare-Bucuresti-Criza-mondiala_0_389361252.html|title=Danube-Bucharest Canal vs. the Global Crisis|date=13 December 2010|access-date=5 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911141425/http://www.adevarul.ro/forbes/out_front/Forbes-Canalul-Dunare-Bucuresti-Criza-mondiala_0_389361252.html|archive-date=11 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture ==

Bucharest has a growing cultural scene, in fields including the visual arts, performing arts, and nightlife. Unlike other parts of Romania, such as the Black Sea coast or [[Place:Transylvania|Transylvania]], Bucharest's cultural scene has no defined style, and instead incorporates elements of Romanian and international culture.

=== Landmarks ===

Bucharest has landmark buildings and monuments. Perhaps the most prominent of these is the Palace of the Parliament, built in the 1980s during the rule of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The largest Parliament building in the world, the palace houses the Romanian Parliament (the Chamber of Deputies, and the Senate), as well as the [[Organization:National Museum of Contemporary Art (Romania)|National Museum of Contemporary Art]]. The building boasts one of the largest convention centres in the world.

Another landmark in Bucharest is Arcul de Triumf ("The Triumphal Arch"), built in its current form in 1935 and modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A newer landmark of the city is the Memorial of Rebirth, a stylised marble pillar unveiled in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which overthrew Communism. The abstract monument sparked controversy when it was unveiled, being dubbed with names such as 'the olive on the toothpick' (''măslina-n scobitoare''), as many argued that it does not fit in its surroundings and believed that its choice was political.<ref>[http://www.sfin.ro/articol_1992/_memorialul_renasterii___ce_oribilitate_.html "Memorialul Renasterii", ce oribilitate!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217024722/http://www.sfin.ro/articol_1992/_memorialul_renasterii___ce_oribilitate_.html |date=17 February 2006 }} ("The Monument of Rebirth – how horrible!"), ''Săptămâna Financiară'', August 2005 {{in lang|ro}}</ref>

The Romanian Athenaeum building is considered a symbol of Romanian culture and since 2007 has been on the list of the Label of European Heritage sites. It was built between 1886 and 1888 by the architect Paul Louis Albert Galeron, through public funding.<ref>[http://nato.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=23698&arhiva=true Romanian Athenaeum awarded Label of European Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415042903/http://nato.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=23698&arhiva=true |date=15 April 2008 }}, Romania's Permanent Delegation to NATO</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fge.org.ro/filarmonica/istoric-ateneu/|title=Istoric Ateneu|website=FGEB|access-date=1 April 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127154413/https://www.fge.org.ro/filarmonica/istoric-ateneu/|url-status=live}}</ref>

InterContinental Bucharest is a high-rise five-star hotel near University Square and is also a landmark of the city. The building is designed so that each room has a unique panorama of the city.<ref>[http://www.hotel-bucuresti.com/hoteluri/hotel_intercontinental-39.html Hotel Intercontinental Bucharest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312005015/http://www.hotel-bucuresti.com/hoteluri/hotel_intercontinental-39.html |date=12 March 2015 }} (" 5 star hotel "), ''Hotel-bucuresti.com'',{{in lang|ro}}</ref>

House of the Spark (''Casa Scânteii'') is a replica of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. This edifice, built in the characteristic style of the large-scale Soviet projects, was intended to be representative of the new political regime and to assert the superiority of the Communist doctrine. Construction started in 1952 and was completed in 1957, a few years after Stalin's death in 1953. Popularly known as Casa Scânteii ('House of the Spark') after the name of the official gazette of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, ''Scânteia'', it was made for the purpose of bringing together under one roof all of Bucharest's official press and publishing houses. It is the only building in Bucharest featuring the Hammer and Sickle, the Red Star and other communist insignia carved into medallions adorning the façade.

Other cultural venues include the National Museum of Art of Romania, [[Biology:Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History|Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History]], Museum of the Romanian Peasant, National History Museum and the Military Museum.

<gallery class="center">
File:Triumphal Arch Bucharest 1.jpg|The Triumphal Arch was inaugurated in 1936.
File:Ansamblul de fântâni din Piața Unirii, București.jpg|Downtown Bucharest fountains in the Unirii Square
File:Libraria Carturesti Carusel - Interior ziua.jpg|Interior of the Cărturești Carusel Bookstore
File:Bucuresti, Romania. Bulevardul Magheru 2017.jpg|alt=Magheru Boulevard is one of the most expensive streets in the world|Magheru Boulevard is one of the most expensive streets in the world.<ref>[https://business24.ro/imobiliare/spatii-comerciale/magheru-locul-35-in-topul-celor-mai-scumpe-bulevarde-81857 Magheru - locul 35 in topul celor mai scumpe bulevarde]</ref><ref>[https://www.zfenglish.com/companies/retail-consumer/magheru-boulevard-is-world-s-46th-most-expensive-retail-location-survey-8683950 Magheru Boulevard Is World’s 46th Most Expensive Retail Location]</ref>
File:ThermeBucuresti.jpg|alt=Therme Bucharest spa is Europe's biggest urban beach|Therme Bucharest spa is Europe's biggest urban beach.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/29/romania-therme-bucharest-affordable-luxury-spa-thermal-pool Steamy scenes at low prices: Bucharest’s affordable luxury spa]</ref>
</gallery>

=== Visual arts ===
[[File:The Royal Palace (AP4K1357 1PS) (29291577856).jpg|thumb|right|National Museum of Art of Romania]]
[[File:Bucuresti, Romania, Muzeul National de Istorie Naturala Grigore Antipa; B-II-m-A-18983 (Interior, detaliu 31).JPG|thumb|right|Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History was reopened.]]
In terms of visual arts, the city has museums featuring both classical and contemporary Romanian art, as well as selected international works. The National Museum of Art of Romania is perhaps the best-known of Bucharest museums. It is located in the royal palace and features collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, including works by sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, as well as an international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family.

Other, smaller, museums contain specialised collections. The Zambaccian Museum, which is situated in the former home of art collector Krikor H. Zambaccian, contains works by well-known Romanian artists and international artists such as Paul Cézanne, Eugène Delacroix, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro, and Pablo Picasso.

The Gheorghe Tattarescu Museum contains portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru, ștefan Golescu, and Nicolae Bălcescu, and allegorical compositions with revolutionary (''Romania's rebirth'', 1849) and patriotic (''The Principalities' Unification'', 1857) themes. Another impressive art collection gathering important Romanian painters, can be found at the Ligia and Pompiliu Macovei residence, which is open to visitors as it is now part of the Bucharest Museum patrimony.

The Theodor Pallady Museum is situated in one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Bucharest and includes works by Romanian painter Theodor Pallady, as well as European and oriental furniture pieces. The Museum of Art Collections contains the collections of Romanian art aficionados, including Krikor Zambaccian and Theodor Pallady.

Despite the classical art galleries and museums in the city, a contemporary arts scene also exists. The [[Organization:National Museum of Contemporary Art (Romania)|National Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MNAC), situated in a wing of the Palace of the Parliament, was opened in 2004 and contains Romanian and international contemporary art. The MNAC also manages the Kalinderu MediaLab, which caters to multimedia and experimental art. Private art galleries are scattered throughout the city centre.

The palace of the National Bank of Romania houses the national numismatic collection. Exhibits include banknotes, coins, documents, photographs, maps, silver and gold bullion bars, bullion coins, and dies and moulds. The building was constructed between 1884 and 1890. The thesaurus room contains notable marble decorations.

=== Performing arts ===

[[File:Bucuresti, Romania. Teatrul ODEON. Zi de vara. Biciclista. (B-II-m-B-19854).jpg|thumb|right|Odeon Theatre in June 2018]]

Performing arts are some of the strongest cultural elements of Bucharest. The most famous symphony orchestra is National Radio Orchestra of Romania. One of the most prominent buildings is the neoclassical Romanian Athenaeum, which was founded in 1852, and hosts classical music concerts, the George Enescu Festival, and is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra.

Bucharest is home to the Romanian National Opera and the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre. Another well-known theatre in Bucharest is the State Jewish Theatre, which features plays starring world-renowned Romanian-Jewish actress Maia Morgenstern. Smaller theatres throughout the city cater to specific genres, such as the Comedy Theatre, the Nottara Theatre, the Bulandra Theatre, the Odeon Theatre, and the revue theatre of Constantin Tănase.

=== Music and nightlife ===
[[File:Liscani Street 3.jpg|thumb|The Old Town is the heart of Bucharest nightlife.]]

Bucharest is home to Romania's largest recording labels, and is often the residence of Romanian musicians. Romanian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Iris and Holograf, continue to be popular, particularly with the middle-aged, while since the beginning of the 1990s, the hip hop/rap scene has developed. Hip-hop bands and artists from Bucharest such as B.U.G. Mafia, Paraziții, and La Familia enjoy national and international recognition.

The pop-rock band Taxi have been gaining international respect, as has Spitalul de Urgență's raucous updating of traditional Romanian music. While many neighbourhood discos play ''manele'', an Oriental- and Roma-influenced genre of music that is particularly popular in Bucharest's working-class districts, the city has a rich jazz and blues scene, and to an even larger extent, house music/trance and heavy metal/punk scenes. Bucharest's jazz profile has especially risen since 2002, with the presence of two venues, Green Hours and Art Jazz, as well as an American presence alongside established Romanians.

With no central nightlife strip, entertainment venues are dispersed throughout the city, with clusters in Lipscani and Regie.

=== Cultural events and festivals ===

A number of cultural festivals are held in Bucharest throughout the year, but most festivals take place in June, July, and August. The National Opera organises the International Opera Festival every year in May and June, which includes ensembles and orchestras from all over the world.

The Romanian Athaeneum Society hosts the George Enescu Festival at locations throughout the city in September every two years (odd years). The Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Village Museum organise events throughout the year, showcasing Romanian folk arts and crafts.

In the 2000s, due to the growing prominence of the Chinese community in Bucharest, Chinese cultural events took place. The first officially organised Chinese festival was the [[Place:Chinese New Year|Chinese New Year]]'s Eve Festival of February 2005, which took place in Nichita Stănescu Park and was organised by the Bucharest City Hall.<ref>[http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=5737 Chinese New Year's Eve celebrated in Bucharest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219163629/http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=5737 |date=19 February 2006 }}, ''Bucharest Daily News'', 7 February 2005</ref>

In 2005, Bucharest was the first city in Southeastern Europe to host the international CowParade, which resulted in dozens of decorated cow sculptures being placed across the city.

In 2004, Bucharest imposed in the circle of important festivals in Eastern Europe with the Bucharest International Film Festival, an event widely acknowledged in Europe, having as guests of honour famous names from the world cinema: Andrei Konchalovsky, Danis Tanović, Nikita Mikhalkov, Rutger Hauer, Jerzy Skolimowski, Jan Harlan, Radu Mihăileanu, and many others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://b-iff.ro/poveste/ |title=Poveste |work=BIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520215804/http://b-iff.ro/poveste/ |archive-date=20 May 2014 }}</ref>

Since 2005, Bucharest has its own contemporary art biennale, the Bucharest Biennale.

<gallery class="center">
File:Ateneul Român - Vedere Frontala.jpg|Romanian Athenaeum
File:Violetta in concert. Bucharest Phylharmony.jpg|George Enescu Festival  
File:Bucuresti, Romania, OPERA ROMANA, B-II-m-B-19004 (Statuia lui George Enescu in fata OPEREI) (2).JPG|National Opera
File:Sala Radio Mihail Jora 1.jpg|Mihail Jora Hall
</gallery>

=== Traditional culture ===

[[File:Bucarest Musee national du village56.JPG|thumb|right|Traditional wooden church at Village Museum]]
Traditional Romanian culture continues to have a major influence in arts such as theatre, film, and music. Bucharest has two internationally renowned [[Social:Ethnography|ethnographic]] museums, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the open-air Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, in King Michael I Park. It contains 272 authentic buildings and peasant farms from all over Romania.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/viziteaza-muzeul |title=Vizitează muzeul |work=Muzeul Național al Satului "Dimitrie Gusti" |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031403/http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/viziteaza-muzeul |archive-date=21 May 2014 }}</ref>

The Museum of the Romanian Peasant was declared the European Museum of the Year in 1996. Patronised by the Ministry of Culture, the museum preserves and exhibits numerous collections of objects and monuments of material and spiritual culture. The Museum of the Romanian Peasant holds one of the richest collections of peasant objects in Romania, its heritage being nearly 90,000 pieces, those being divided into several collections: ceramics, costumes, textiles, wooden objects, religious objects, customs, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/index.php?page=muzeu |title=Prezentare muzeu |work=Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220631/http://www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/index.php?page=muzeu |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Museum of Romanian History is another important museum in Bucharest, containing a collection of artefacts detailing Romanian history and culture from the prehistoric times, Dacian era, medieval times, and the modern era.

=== Religion ===

Bucharest is the seat of the Patriarch of the [[Religion:Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox Church]], one of the Eastern Orthodox churches in communion with the [[Religion:Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]], and also of its subdivisions, the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja and the Archbishopric of Bucharest. Orthodox believers consider Demetrius of Basarabov to be the patron saint of the city.

The city is a centre for other Christian organizations in Romania, including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest, established in 1883, and the Romanian Greek-Catholic Eparchy of Saint Basil the Great, founded in 2014.

Bucharest also hosts six synagogues, including the Choral Temple of Bucharest, the Great Synagogue of Bucharest and the Holy Union Temple. The latter was converted into the Museum of the History of the Romanian Jewish Community, while the Great Synagogue and the Choral Temple are both active and hold regular services.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stanciulescu|first=Anda|date=1–31 March 2014|title=La Pas Prin Sinagogile Bucureștene|url=http://www.jewishfed.ro/downloads/realitatea/RE424-425.pdf|journal=Realitatea Evreiască|access-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816075112/http://www.jewishfed.ro/downloads/realitatea/RE424-425.pdf|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

A mosque with a capacity for 2,000 people<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2015/06/24/turkey-to-build-mosque-in-romania-in-exchange-for-land-for-a-church |title=Turkey to build mosque in Romania in exchange for land for a church |work=Daily Sabah |author=Ebru Şengül |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022614/https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2015/06/24/turkey-to-build-mosque-in-romania-in-exchange-for-land-for-a-church |archive-date=2 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> was in the planning stages at 22–30 Expoziției Boulevard. The project was later abandoned.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stiri.tvr.ro/exclusiv---moscheea-de-la-bucure--ti-nu-se-mai-construie--te--proiectul-a-fost-abandonat-din-motive-financiare_833417.html#view |title=Moscheea de la București nu se mai construiește. Proiectul a fost abandonat din motive financiare |work=TVR |date=12 July 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021253/http://stiri.tvr.ro/exclusiv---moscheea-de-la-bucure--ti-nu-se-mai-construie--te--proiectul-a-fost-abandonat-din-motive-financiare_833417.html#view |archive-date=4 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, there are several smaller Sunni and [[Religion:Shia Islam|Shia]] mosques active in Bucharest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evz.ro/moscheea-fundul-curtii.html|title=Moscheea din fundul curții (II). DEfiniția "musulmanului din România" convenită stabilimentul din str.Logofătul Tăutu 66|first=de|last=Arhiva|website=evz.ro|date=19 December 2017 |accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Palatul Patriarhiei - panoramio.jpg|Palace of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate
File:Biserica greaca.JPG|Greek Orthodox Church of Bucharest
File:Catedrala Sfântul Iosif din București (2023-04).jpg|St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral
File:Detalii de arhitectura.JPG|Italian Roman Catholic Church
File:Biserica „Învierii" - Anglicană.jpg|Anglican Church of the Resurrection
</gallery>

== Architecture ==
The city centre is a mixture of medieval, [[History:Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]], Art Deco, and Art Nouveau buildings, as well as 'neo-Romanian' buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century and a collection of modern buildings from the 1920s and 1930s. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} The mostly utilitarian Communist-era architecture dominates most southern boroughs. Recently built contemporary structures such as skyscrapers and office buildings complete the landscape.

=== Historical architecture === 

[[File:33, Strada Franceză, Bucharest (Romania).jpg|thumb|Curtea Veche Church]]

Of the city's [[History:Middle Ages|medieval]] architecture, most of what survived into modern times was destroyed by communist systematization, fire, and military incursions. Some medieval and renaissance edifices remain, the most notable are in the Lipscani area. This precinct contains notable buildings such as Manuc's Inn (''Hanul lui Manuc'') and the ruins of the Old Court (''Curtea Veche''); during the late Middle Ages, this area was the heart of commerce in Bucharest. From the 1970s onwards, the area went through urban decline, and many historical buildings fell into disrepair. In 2005, the Lipscani area was restored.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://urbanism.pmb.ro/Informa%C5%A3ii%20publice/Zone%20protejate%20construite/Zone%20protejate%20construite%20aprobate%20prin%20HCGMB%20nr.%202792000/lipscani.pdf|title=Lipscani, zonă protejată|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831003602/http://urbanism.pmb.ro/Informa%C5%A3ii%20publice/Zone%20protejate%20construite/Zone%20protejate%20construite%20aprobate%20prin%20HCGMB%20nr.%202792000/lipscani.pdf|archive-date=31 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To execute a massive redevelopment project during the rule of Nicolae Ceaușescu, the government conducted extensive demolition of churches and many other historic structures in Romania. According to Alexandru Budișteanu, former chief architect of Bucharest, "The sight of a church bothered Ceaușescu. It didn't matter if they demolished or moved it, as long as it was no longer in sight". Nevertheless, a project organised by Romanian engineer Eugeniu Iordăchescu was able to move many historic structures to less-prominent sites and save them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Harrison |date=2019-01-08 |title=Eugeniu Iordachescu, Romanian engineer who saved condemned churches under communist rule, dies at 89 |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/eugeniu-iordachescu-romanian-engineer-who-saved-condemned-churches-under-communist-rule-dies-at-89/2019/01/07/99c45f0c-128e-11e9-803c-4ef28312c8b9_story.html |access-date=2024-01-01 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110030453/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/eugeniu-iordachescu-romanian-engineer-who-saved-condemned-churches-under-communist-rule-dies-at-89/2019/01/07/99c45f0c-128e-11e9-803c-4ef28312c8b9_story.html |archive-date=10 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city centre has retained architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly the [[History:Interwar period|interwar period]], which is often seen as the 'golden age' of Bucharest architecture. During this time, the city grew in size and wealth, therefore seeking to emulate other large European capitals such as Paris. Much of the architecture of the time belongs to a Modern (rationalist) Architecture current, led by Horia Creangă and Marcel Iancu.

In Romania, the tendencies of innovation in the architectural language met the need of valorisation and affirmation of the national cultural identity. The Art Nouveau movement finds expression through new architectural style initiated by Ion Mincu and taken over by other prestigious architects who capitalise important references of Romanian laic and medieval ecclesiastical architecture (for example the Mogoșoaia Palace, the Stavropoleos Church or the disappeared church of Văcărești Monastery) and Romanian folk motifs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bucharestunknown.blogspot.ro/2010/06/art-nouveau-in-bucuresti.html |title=Stilul arhitectural național romantic și Art Nouveau în București |work=Unknown Bucharest |date=20 June 2010 |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904033728/http://bucharestunknown.blogspot.ro/2010/06/art-nouveau-in-bucuresti.html |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two buildings from this time are the Crețulescu Palace, housing cultural institutions including [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]'s European Centre for Higher Education, and the Cotroceni Palace, the residence of the Romanian President. Many large-scale constructions such as the Gara de Nord, the busiest railway station in the city, National Bank of Romania's headquarters, and the Telephones Company Building date from these times. In the 2000s, some historic buildings in the city centre underwent restoration. In some residential areas of the city, particularly in high-income central and northern districts, turn-of-the-20th-century villas were mostly restored beginning in the late 1990s.

<gallery class="center">
Palacio CEC, Bucarest, Rumanía, 2016-05-29, DD 91-93 HDR.jpg|CEC Palace
The Cantacuzino Palace from Bucharest (Romania).jpg|Cantacuzino Palace 
Palacio del Círculo Nacional Militar, Bucarest, Rumanía, 2016-05-29, DD 66.jpg|Palace of the National Military Circle 
Bucuresti, Romania, Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse; B-II-a-A-19837 (2).JPG|Macca Villacrosse Passage
</gallery>

=== Communist era architecture ===

A major part of Bucharest's architecture is made up of buildings constructed during the Communist era replacing the historical architecture with high-density apartment blocks – significant portions of the historic centre of Bucharest were demolished to construct one of the largest buildings in the world, the Palace of the Parliament (then officially called the House of the Republic). In Nicolae Ceaușescu's project of systematization, new buildings were built in previously historical areas, which were razed and then built upon.

One of the singular examples of this type of architecture is Centrul Civic, a development that replaced a major part of Bucharest's historic city centre with giant utilitarian buildings, mainly with [[Chemistry:Marble|marble]] or [[Earth:Travertine|travertine]] façades, inspired by North Korean architecture. The mass demolitions that occurred in the 1980s, under which an overall area of eight square kilometres of the historic centre of Bucharest were levelled, including monasteries, churches, synagogues, a hospital, and a noted Art Deco sports stadium, changed drastically the appearance of the city.

Communist-era architecture can also be found in Bucharest's residential districts, mainly in ''blocuri'', which are high-density apartment blocks that house the majority of the city's population. Initially, these apartment blocks started to be constructed in the 1960s, on relatively empty areas and fields (good examples include Pajura, Drumul Taberei, Berceni and Titan), however with the 1970s, they mostly targeted peripheral neighbourhoods such as Colentina, Pantelimon, Militari and Rahova. Construction of these apartment blocks were also often randomised, for instance some small streets were demolished and later widened with the blocks being built next to them, but other neighbouring streets were left intact (like in the example of Calea Moșilor from 1978 to 1982), or built in various patterns such as the Piața Iancului-Lizeanu apartment buildings from 1962 to 1963.

There is also communist architecture that was built in the early years of the system, in the late 1940s and 1950s. Buildings constructed in this era followed the Soviet Stalinist trend of Socialist Realism, and include the House of the Free Press (which was named ''Casa Scînteii'' during communism).

<gallery class="center">
File:פרלמנט רומניה.jpg|The Palace of the Parliament ({{lang-ro|Palatul Parlamentului}}, formerly and alternatively still known as ''Casa Poporului'') is one of the largest buildings in the world
File:AcademiaRomana12rhd.jpg|[[Organization:Romanian Academy|Romanian Academy]]'s building
File:View from the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.jpg|Centrul Civic
File:Bathroom of Palatul Primǎverii - Spring Palace - in Bucharest Romania.jpg|Nicolae Ceaușescu's residence is available to visitors.
File:Bucharest House of the Free Press.jpg|The former Casa Scînteii "I. V. Stalin"
</gallery>
{{clear}}

=== Contemporary architecture ===

Since the fall of communism in 1989, several communist-era buildings have been refurbished, modernised, and used for other purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://greateconomy.ro/povestea-fabricilor-bucurestene-transformate-in-mall-uri-sau-apartamente/|title=Fabrici comuniste, transformate in mall-uri sau apartamente|first=Redactia Great|last=Economy|date=14 September 2015|website=Greateconomy.ro|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027123813/http://greateconomy.ro/povestea-fabricilor-bucurestene-transformate-in-mall-uri-sau-apartamente/|archive-date=27 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Perhaps the best example of this is the conversion of obsolete retail complexes into shopping malls and commercial centres. These giant, circular halls, which were unofficially called hunger circuses due to the food shortages experienced in the 1980s, were constructed during the Ceaușescu era to act as produce markets and refectories, although most were left unfinished at the time of the revolution.

Modern shopping malls such as the Unirea Shopping Centre, Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania, and City Mall emerged on pre-existent structures of former hunger circuses. Another example is the conversion of a large utilitarian construction in Centrul Civic into a Marriott Hotel. This process was accelerated after 2000, when the city underwent a property boom, and many communist-era buildings in the city centre became prime real estate due to their location. Many communist-era apartment blocks have also been refurbished to improve urban appearance.

The newest contribution to Bucharest's architecture took place after the fall of communism, particularly after 2000, when the city went through a period of urban renewal{{spaced ndash}}and architectural revitalization{{spaced ndash}}on the back of Romania's economic growth. Buildings from this time are mostly made of glass and steel, and often have more than 10 stories. Examples include shopping malls (particularly the Bucharest Mall, a conversion and extension of an abandoned building), office buildings, bank headquarters, etc. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

During the last ten years, several high rise office buildings were built, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Additionally, a trend to add modern wings and façades to historic buildings has occurred, the most prominent example of which is the Bucharest Architects' Association Building, which is a modern glass-and-steel construction built inside a historic stone façade. In 2013, the Bucharest skyline enriched with a 137-m-high office building (SkyTower of Floreasca City Centre), the tallest building in Romania. Examples of modern skyscrapers built in the 21st century include Bucharest Tower Centre, Euro Tower, Nusco Tower, Cathedral Plaza, City Gate Towers, Rin Grand Hotel, Premium Plaza, Bucharest Corporate Centre, Millennium Business Centre, PGV Tower, Charles de Gaulle Plaza, Business Development Centre Bucharest, BRD Tower, and Bucharest Financial Plaza. Despite this vertical development, Romanian architects avoid designing very tall buildings due to vulnerability to earthquakes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://stiri.tvr.ro/bucurestiul-nu-este-un-oras-pentru-zgarie-nori--e-mai-degraba-un-oras-pe-orizontala_44232.html |title=Bucureștiul nu este un oraș pentru zgârie-nori, e mai degrabă un oraș pe orizontală |newspaper=Știrile TVR |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220710/http://stiri.tvr.ro/bucurestiul-nu-este-un-oras-pentru-zgarie-nori--e-mai-degraba-un-oras-pe-orizontala_44232.html |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Aside from buildings used for business and institutions, residential developments have also been built, many of which consist of high-rise office buildings and suburban residential communities. An example of a new high rise residential complex is Asmita Gardens. These developments are increasingly prominent in northern Bucharest, which is less densely populated and is home to middle- and upper-class Bucharesters due to the process of gentrification.

<gallery class="center">
View top HQ NCaranf2020 0610 170246 (50247215752).jpg|Pipera Sky Tower
BucharestBRDTower.jpg|BRD Tower and Bucharest Tower Center in Victory Square
Asmita Gardens, București, Romania (Unsplash).jpg|Asmita Gardens
Bucharest - building 8.jpg|The World Trade Center in Bucharest
</gallery>

== Education ==

Overall, 159 faculties are in 34 universities. Sixteen public universities are in Bucharest, the largest of which are the University of Bucharest, the Politehnica University of Bucharest, the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Technical University of Civil Engineering, the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, and the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest.

These are supplemented by nineteen private universities, such as the Romanian-American University.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.financiarul.ro/2009/07/13/cum-a-ajuns-spiru-haret-cea-mai-mare-universitate-din-lume/ |title=Cum a ajuns "Spiru Haret" cea mai mare universitate din lume &#124; Financiarul |publisher=Financiarul.ro |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903100950/http://www.financiarul.ro/2009/07/13/cum-a-ajuns-spiru-haret-cea-mai-mare-universitate-din-lume/ |archive-date=3 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Private universities, however, have a mixed reputation due to irregularities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gandul.info/scoala/exclusiv-universitatile-spiru-haret-si-petre-andrei-au-fost-scoase-in-afara-legii-56-000-de-absolventi-in-aer-andronescu-pentru-gandul-aceste-diplome-nu-respecta-legea-4629389 |title=Exclusiv – Universitățile "Spiru Haret" și "Petre Andrei" au fost scoase în afara legii. 56.000 de absolvenți, în aer. Andronescu, pentru Gândul: "Aceste diplome nu respectă legea" – Gandul |publisher=Gandul.info |date=11 July 2009 |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924085913/http://www.gandul.info/scoala/exclusiv-universitatile-spiru-haret-si-petre-andrei-au-fost-scoase-in-afara-legii-56-000-de-absolventi-in-aer-andronescu-pentru-gandul-aceste-diplome-nu-respecta-legea-4629389 |archive-date=24 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/eveniment/Andrei_Marga-_-Universitatile_din_tara-cele_mai_corupte_din_UE_0_190181549.html |title=Andrei Marga: "Universitățile din țară, cele mai corupte din UE" |publisher=Adevarul.ro |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119045213/http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/eveniment/Andrei_Marga-_-Universitatile_din_tara-cele_mai_corupte_din_UE_0_190181549.html |archive-date=19 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the 2020 QS World University Rankings, from Bucharest, only the University of Bucharest was included in the top universities of the world. The Politehnica University disappeared from the ranking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.g4media.ro/trei-universitati-din-romania-dispar-din-clasamentul-international-al-universitatilor-qs-babes-bolyai-si-universitatea-din-bucuresti-raman-in-categoria-801.html|title=Trei universități din România dispar din Clasamentul internațional al universităților QS. Babeș-Bolyai și Universitatea din București rămân în categoria 801+|publisher=G4Media|date=21 June 2019|language=ro|access-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824210807/https://www.g4media.ro/trei-universitati-din-romania-dispar-din-clasamentul-international-al-universitatilor-qs-babes-bolyai-si-universitatea-din-bucuresti-raman-in-categoria-801.html|archive-date=24 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Also, in recent years, the city has had increasing numbers of foreign students enrolling in its universities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cotidianul.ro/numarul_studentilor_straini_din_romania_s_a_dublat-44485.html |title=Numărul studenților străini din România s-a dublat – Cotidianul |publisher=Cotidianul.ro |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503090658/http://www.cotidianul.ro/numarul_studentilor_straini_din_romania_s_a_dublat-44485.html |archive-date=3 May 2008 }}</ref>

The first modern educational institution was the Princely Academy from Bucharest, founded in 1694 and divided in 1864 to form the present-day University of Bucharest and the Saint Sava National College, both of which are among the most prestigious of their kind in Romania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.realitatea.net/cele-mai-bune-universitati-si-specializari-din-romania_722951.html |title=Cele mai bune universități și specializări din România |publisher=Realitatea.Net |access-date=15 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920152156/http://www.realitatea.net/cele-mai-bune-universitati-si-specializari-din-romania_722951.html |archive-date=20 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/admitere-liceu-elevi_0_290371230.html |title="Sf. Sava" din București, cel mai bun liceu din țară / 9.93 ultima medie de intrare la liceu |publisher=Adevarul.ro |date=1 July 2010 |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911230559/http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/admitere-liceu-elevi_0_290371230.html |archive-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Over 450 public primary and secondary schools are in the city, all of which are administered by the Bucharest Municipal Schooling Inspectorate. Each sector also has its own Schooling Inspectorate, subordinated to the municipal one.

<gallery class="center">
File:Universitatea din Bucuresti din Piata Universitatii.jpg|University of Bucharest (UB)
File:Biblioteca Centrală Universitară - Vedere Frontala.jpg|Central University Library
File:Academia de Studii Economice.jpg|Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (ASE)
File:Palatul Facultății de Medicină din București-1.JPG|University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMFCD) 
</gallery>

== Media ==

The city is well-served by a modern landline and mobile network. Offices of Poșta Română, the national postal operator, are spread throughout the city, with the central post office ({{lang-ro|Oficiul Poștal București 1}}) located at 12 Matei Millo Street. [[Engineering:Payphone|Public telephones]] are located in many places and are operated by Telekom Romania, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom and successor of the former monopoly Romtelecom.

Bucharest is the headquarters of most national television networks and national newspapers, radio stations and online news websites. The largest daily newspapers in Bucharest include ''Evenimentul Zilei'', ''Jurnalul Național'', ''Cotidianul'', ''România Liberă'', and {{Lang|ro|Adevărul}}, while the biggest news websites are HotNews (with English and Spanish versions), Ziare.com, and ''Gândul''. During the rush hours, tabloid newspapers ''Click!'', ''Libertatea'', and ''Cancan'' are popular for commuters.

Several newspapers and media publications are based in House of the Free Press ({{lang|ro|Casa Presei Libere}}), a landmark of northern Bucharest, originally named Casa Scânteii after the Communist Romania-era official newspaper ''Scînteia''. The House of the Free Press is not the only Bucharest landmark that grew out of the media and communications industry. Palatul Telefoanelor ("The Telephone Palace") was the first major modernist building on Calea Victoriei in the city's centre, and the massive, unfinished communist-era Casa Radio looms over a park a block away from the Opera.

English-language newspapers became available in the early 1930s and reappeared in the 1990s. The two daily English-language newspapers are the ''Bucharest Daily News'' and ''Nine O' Clock''; several magazines and publications in other languages are available, such as the Hungarian-language daily ''Új Magyar Szó''.

''Observator Cultural'' covers the city's arts, and the free weekly magazines ''Șapte Seri'' ("Seven Evenings") and ''B24FUN'', list entertainment events. The city is home to the intellectual journal ''Dilema veche'' and the satire magazine ''Academia Cațavencu''. 

[https://visitbucharest.today/ Visit Bucharest Today] is another online platform promoting Bucharest as a tourist destination. It serves as a comprehensive resource for local and international travelers seeking to learn about the capital city of Romania. The online platform showcases Bucharest's rich history, cultural landmarks, hidden gems, and exciting experiences.

== Healthcare ==
[[File:Bucuresti, Romania. SPITALUL COLTEA (B-II-m-A-18220.02).jpg|right|thumb|upright=1|Colțea Hospital in 2018]]

One of the most modern hospitals in the capital is Colțea that has been re-equipped after a 90-million-euro investment in 2011. It specialises in oncological and cardiac disorders. It was built by Mihai Cantacuzino between 1701 and 1703, composed of many buildings, each with 12 to 30 beds, a church, three chapels, a school, and doctors' and teachers' houses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.romanialibera.ro/exclusiv-rl/reportaj/galerie-foto-cum-arata-noul-spital-coltea-dupa-o-investitie-de-90-de-milioane-de-dolari-214509.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181725/http://www.romanialibera.ro/exclusiv-rl/reportaj/galerie-foto-cum-arata-noul-spital-coltea-dupa-o-investitie-de-90-de-milioane-de-dolari-214509.html|url-status=dead|title=Coltea H.|archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref>

Another conventional hospital is Pantelimon, which was established in 1733 by Grigore II Ghica. The surface area of the hospital land property was {{convert|400000|m²|0|abbr=on}}. The hospital had in its inventory a house for infectious diseases and a house for persons with disabilities.

Other hospitals or clinics are Bucharest Emergency Hospital, Floreasca Emergency Clinic Hospital, Bucharest University Emergency Hospital, and Fundeni Clinical Institute or Biomedica International and Euroclinic, which are private.

== Sports == 

Football is the most widely followed sport in Bucharest, with the city having numerous club teams, including, most notably, Steaua București, Dinamo București, and Rapid București.

Arena Națională, a new stadium inaugurated on 6 September 2011, hosted the 2012 Europa League Final<ref>{{Cite web |author=Adi Dobre |url=http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/mircea-sandu-facem-inaugurarea-stadionului-national-cu-franta-939990.html |title=Mircea Sandu: "Facem inaugurarea stadionului Național cu Franța" – Naționala  |date=29 October 2010 |publisher=EVZ.ro |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518162727/http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/mircea-sandu-facem-inaugurarea-stadionului-national-cu-franta-939990.html |archive-date=18 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and has a 55,600-seat capacity, making it one of the largest stadiums in Southeastern Europe and one of the few with a roof.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/oprescu-stadionul-national-va-fi-gata-in-decembrie-2010-5182356 |title=Oprescu: "Stadionul Național va fi gata în decembrie 2010!" &#124; ProSport |publisher=Prosport.ro |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531084956/http://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/oprescu-stadionul-national-va-fi-gata-in-decembrie-2010-5182356 |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Arena-bukareszt.jpg|thumb|Arena Națională hosted the 2012 UEFA Europa League final and UEFA Euro 2020 matches.]]

Sport clubs have formed for handball, water polo, volleyball, rugby union, basketball and ice hockey. The majority of Romanian track and field athletes and most gymnasts are affiliated with clubs in Bucharest. The largest indoor arena in Bucharest is the Romexpo Dome with a seating capacity of 40,000. It can be used for boxing, kickboxing, handball and tennis. 

Bucharest hosted annual races along a temporary urban track surrounding the Palace of the Parliament, called Bucharest Ring. The Bucharest City Challenge race hosted FIA GT, FIA GT3, British F3, and [[Engineering:Dacia Logan|Logan Cup]] races.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.motorsportnews.ro/stiri-diverse/bucharest-gp-in-iulie-2011 |title=Bucharest GP în iulie 2011 |publisher=Motorsportnews.ro |date=28 September 2010 |access-date=14 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208151148/http://www.motorsportnews.ro/stiri-diverse/bucharest-gp-in-iulie-2011/ |archive-date=8 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2009, Bucharest has the largest [[Company:Ferrari|Ferrari]] Shop in Eastern Europe and the 2nd largest in Europe after Milan shop.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-store-opened-in-bucharest-romania-14141.html |title=Ferrari Store Opened in Bucharest, Romania |publisher=autoevolution.com |date=7 December 2009 |access-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824131253/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-store-opened-in-bucharest-romania-14141.html |archive-date=24 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bucuresti.tourneo.ro/cel-mai-mare-magazin-ferrari-pe-calea-victoriei_3187.html |title=Cel mai mare magazin Ferrari pe Calea Victoriei |publisher=bucuresti.tourneo.ro |date=25 November 2009 |language=ro |access-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824131257/http://bucuresti.tourneo.ro/cel-mai-mare-magazin-ferrari-pe-calea-victoriei_3187.html |archive-date=24 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The capital also hosted the international tennis tournaments WTA Bucharest Open and ATP Romanian Open. Ice hockey games are held at the Mihai Flamaropol Arena, which holds 8,000 spectators. Rugby games are held in different locations, but the most modern stadium is Arcul de Triumf Stadium, which is also home to the Romanian national rugby team.

Bucharest hosted the UEFA Euro 2020 championship at the Arena Națională or Bucharest National Arena.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://euro2020.hospitality.uefa.com/venues/bucharest|title=Bucharest &#124; UEFA Euro 2020 Hospitality|website=euro2020.hospitality.uefa.com|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317171246/https://euro2020.hospitality.uefa.com/venues/bucharest|url-status=live}}</ref> The championship took place in 2021, being postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

== Twin towns – sister cities ==
Bucharest is twinned with:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Care-i cel mai… înfrățit oraș din România? Care-i cu americanii, care-i cu rușii? Și care-i înfrățit cu Timișoara…|url=https://www.banatulazi.ro/care-i-cel-mai-infratit-oras-din-romania-care-i-cu-americanii-care-i-cu-rusii-si-care-i-infratit-cu-timisoara/|website=banatulazi.ro|publisher=Banatul Azi|language=ro|date=2016-08-06|access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Place:Amman|Amman]], Jordan
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Place:Ankara|Ankara]], Turkey
*{{flagicon|USA}} Atlanta, United States
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Place:Athens|Athens]], Greece
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Place:Beijing|Beijing]], China
*{{flagicon|MDA}} [[Place:Chișinău|Chișinău]], Moldova
*{{flagicon|SYR}} [[Place:Damascus|Damascus]], Syria
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]], Ukraine<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicuşor Dan: Am hotărât să aprobăm înfrăţirea dintre Bucureşti şi Kiev|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/social/nicusor-dan-am-hotarat-sa-aprobam-infratirea-dintre-bucuresti-si-kiev-20598398|website=mediafax.ro|publisher=Mediafax|language=ro|date=2022-03-07|access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NGR}} [[Place:Lagos|Lagos]], Nigeria
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]], Russia
*{{flagicon|CYP}} [[Place:Nicosia|Nicosia]], Cyprus
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Place:Pretoria|Pretoria]], South Africa
*{{flagicon|CAN}} Regina, Canada
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Place:Sofia|Sofia]], Bulgaria
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]], Georgia<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tbilisi, Bucharest become twin cities|url=https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/tbilisi-bucharest-become-twin-cities/|website=1tv.ge|publisher=First Channel|date=2022-05-30|access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref>
<!--rest – other form of cooperation and/or twinning ended-->
{{div col end}}

In addition, Bucharest has a partnership with:
*{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Place:Yerevan|Yerevan]], Armenia (2013)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yerevan.am: Partner Cities|url=https://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/partner-cities/|publisher=Yerevan Municipal Government|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105220142/http://www.yerevan.am/3-233-233.html|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* List of buildings in Bucharest
* List of people from Bucharest

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{Cite book |last1=Celac |first1=Mariana |last2=Carabela |first2=Octavian |last3=Marcu-Lapadat |first3=Marius |title=Bucharest Architecture – an annotated guide |publisher=Order of Architects of Romania |year=2017 |isbn=978-973-0-23884-6}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030808062837/http://www1.pmb.ro/pmb/index_en.htm Modern history of Bucharest], City Hall of Bucharest
* Șerban Cantacuzino, ''Două Orașe Distincte''. Revista Secolul XX 4/6 (1997): 11–40
* Ernie Schoffham, Luminița MacHedon, Șerban Cantacuzino, ''Romanian Modernism: The Architecture of Bucharest, 1920–1940''
* [http://www.romaniatourism.com/spec.html Romania: Arts & Architecture], Romanian Tourist Office
* Tatiana Murzin, [http://www.aboutromania.com/education.html Romanian Education] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221222932/http://www.aboutromania.com/education.html |date=21 February 2018 }}, 2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090805222854/http://www.portal.edu.ro/ Romanian Education Portal], Site for the Ministry of Education containing lists of all educational establishments.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060221002454/http://museum.ici.ro/mbucur/english/micparis.htm Bucharest, the small Paris of the East], on the Museums from Romania web site.
* Bucica, Cristina. {{Cite web|url=http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/kokkalis/GSW5/bucica.pdf |title=Legitimating Power in Capital Cities: Bucharest – Continuity Through Radical Change? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051028180259/http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/kokkalis/GSW5/bucica.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2005 }}&nbsp;{{small|(39.0&nbsp;KB)}}, 2000.

== External links ==

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