Bucharest, the Romanian capital with almost two million inhabitants, has everything that a great city should have to offer. It’s no coincidence that it’s the country’s strongest economic region. Anyone who arrives in the ‘Paris of the East’ will immediately notice that life is pulsating, trade is booming and culture is flourishing. Bucharest is on the same level as other major European cities like Hamburg, Munich and Düsseldorf in the world city rankings.
Life in Bucharest
Bucharest benefits from having a large number of professionals who excel in their chosen fields, especially in the highly developed IT scene. Compared to the rest of the country, salaries in general are a lot higher, which is reflected in the amount of shopping malls and shopping facilities with which Bucharest sets standards in Eastern Europe.
Bucharest, like all of Romania, has been booming for almost 15 years. With double-digit growth rates, the country is constantly catching up and further expanding its economic importance. This long-standing upswing also benefits rural regions, with the western part of the country and Transylvania gaining greatly from this development.
Bucharest’s young, tech-savvy population makes it a creative hotspot of international stature with a distinct gastronomy, bar and club scene and pulsating nightlife. Thanks to the cultivated and traditional cafe culture, coffee connoisseurs will feel right at home.
Culture
Bucharest is characterized by its many universities, colleges, theatres, opera houses, museums and galleries. The impressive art and culture scene with its freelance and independent artists is well connected and also organizes internationally renowned events such as the Romanian Fashion Week. The Bucharest Exhibition Center hosts over 40 trade fairs each year.
Quality of life
Bucharest is known for being the ‘Paris of the East’ for good reason: The famous old town defied an earthquake as well as socialism - the impressive architecture of the Fin de Siecle is considered a highlight. Bucharest’s most famous building is the Palace of Parliament, built in the 1980s with more than 3000 rooms. It is considered the second largest administrative building in the world, and two football fields could fit inside its biggest hall.
Location
If you’re looking for some quiet time in nature, you don't have to leave the city. There are more than 15 parks in Bucharest - including the 462 acre Herastrau Park or the King Michael I Park with a 182 acre lake. Those who still want to head further into the countryside are richly rewarded with spectacular landscapes, like the world-famous Carpathian Mountains whose most famous son is Vlad III. Dracula, or ‘Count Dracula’, as he is known by millions of kids and adults around the world. The ruins of one of his palaces can also be admired in Bucharest itself.
A special mention must go out to Bucharest's extremely fast internet and mobile network, whose data transfer rates are record-breaking. It is one of the most modern in the world and shows how much Bucharest is committed to transforming itself into a modern-age superpower.
