Best Areas to Live in Bucharest for Expats

Where you live in Bucharest shapes your commute, the school run and your weekends. This page gives you an honest overview of the neighborhoods our clients choose most, with a link to our full guide for each one and to the houses and apartments we currently have for rent there.

The best areas in Bucharest for expats, at a glance

• Families with children at the international schools: Pipera, Baneasa, Domenii and, further north, Corbeanca.
• A park on your doorstep: Herastrau, Primaverii, Floreasca, Dorobanti and Kiseleff.
• The buzz of the city centre: Downtown, especially Icoanei, Armeneasca and the area around Cismigiu Garden.
• More space, just outside the city: Corbeanca and Mogosoaia.

The northern suburbs and the international schools

Pipera

Pipera is home to the two biggest international schools, the British School of Bucharest and the American International School of Bucharest, as well as Cambridge School of Bucharest, and around 60% of the families with children we work with choose Pipera or a neighboring area. It is suburban living: you will need a car, and there is no public park, so it is probably not the right choice without school-aged children.

Read the Pipera guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Pipera

Baneasa

Baneasa is the other northern suburb, within the city limits in District 1. It has nice houses, compound living and good apartment options at decent prices, and the Lycée Français sits on its main road, with King’s Oak British International School nearby. It is still suburban living, so a car is really necessary.

Read the Baneasa guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Baneasa

Corbeanca

Up the road from Pipera, Corbeanca feels like a well-planned bedroom community, with wider roads, bigger plots and none of the congestion. Baneasa Mall is about 10 minutes away and the American School about 15, and we find it good value for money compared with Pipera on a like-for-like basis: an excellent option for families with children at the Pipera schools.

Read the Corbeanca guide · Houses for rent in Corbeanca

Domenii

One of the first neighborhoods expats chose in the 1990s, Domenii is mostly villas, with some stunning apartments, a peasants’ market with the best in-season produce in town, and Herastrau Park on its west side. It is about as close as you can get to the Pipera international schools while living in a historic neighborhood, and it is pricey.

Read the Domenii guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Domenii

Around the big parks

Herastrau

Bucharest’s most popular neighborhood for expats, known for its 187-hectare park, modern apartments, and easy access to the American and British schools and the Pipera office corridor.

Read the Herastrau guide · Apartments for rent in Herastrau

Primaverii

Primaverii probably has the best location of the northern neighborhoods, close to Herastrau, Bordei and Kiseleff parks, with quick routes into the city and north to Pipera. Popular with diplomats and politicians, it is probably the most expensive neighborhood in the city for housing.

Read the Primaverii guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Primaverii

Floreasca

Floreasca has kept a village feel, with popular restaurants and shopping, a mix of small blocks from the 1950s and 1960s, new blocks and minimalist villas, and a large, well-managed park with an ice rink in winter and a pool club in summer. It sits right next door to Primaverii, Dorobanti and the central neighborhoods.

Read the Floreasca guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Floreasca

Dorobanti

A tree-lined neighborhood very popular with the diplomatic community, full of villas from the 1920s to the 1940s, many of them now being restored. It borders Kiseleff Park and Floreasca Park, with Herastrau Park not far away and Piata Dorobanti for shopping and lunches. There are fewer modern apartments here.

Read the Dorobanti guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Dorobanti

Kiseleff

Properly in the city, between Kiseleff Park and Herastrau Park, with restaurants, coffee shops, its own farmers’ market and metro stations at Piata Charles de Gaulle and Piata Victoriei. Heading north to Pipera or the airport, it saves about seven minutes on the drive. If you drive, make sure your home comes with a parking space.

Read the Kiseleff guide · Apartments for rent in Kiseleff

In the city centre

Downtown

For people who need the downtown buzz, we focus on the central area south of Dorobanti, Floreasca and Primaverii. Our favorites are Icoanei and Armeneasca, which have kept a village feel just 100 meters from the cultural heart of the city, and the streets around Cismigiu Garden. Expect apartments in renovated villas more than new-build flats: charm with a bit of dust and patina.

Read the Downtown guide · Houses and apartments for rent in Downtown Bucharest

Just outside the city

Mogosoaia

Just outside the city limits to the north-west, Mogosoaia is known for its lake and palace. Lac Straulesti metro station and the Ring Road make it practical for people working downtown or in the west of the city, and good-value homes on large plots can be found here.

Read the Mogosoaia guide · Houses for rent in Mogosoaia

Which neighborhood for which school?

• American International School of Bucharest (AISB), on Bulevardul Pipera in the north of Pipera: the Pipera-Tunari area and Pipera more broadly, or Corbeanca for good value via the Ring Road.
• British School of Bucharest (BSB), on Strada Erou Iancu Nicolae in the heart of Pipera: anywhere in Pipera, especially around the school, Pipera-Tunari and the part of Pipera towards Floreasca, as well as Baneasa, Otopeni and Corbeanca.
• Cambridge School of Bucharest, also on Strada Erou Iancu Nicolae in Pipera, near Baneasa Forest: the same Pipera options as BSB.
• Lycée Français Anna de Noailles, on the DN1 (Soseaua Bucuresti-Ploiesti) in Baneasa: Baneasa and Domenii first, then Otopeni, all within about 20 minutes of the school.
• Deutsche Schule Bukarest, on Strada Coralilor by Petrom City: Baneasa and Pipera, or Herastrau, Kiseleff, Domenii and Floreasca for city lovers.
• International British School of Bucharest, in the city centre: Icoanei or Floreasca.

Other areas we cover

We also have homes for rent in Cotroceni, Aviatiei, Otopeni, Bucurestii Noi and Snagov. You can see every area on the map on our rentals page.

Frequently asked questions

Which areas of Bucharest are best for expat families?

Most families with children at the international schools choose Pipera or a neighboring area: around 60% of the families with children we work with do. Baneasa, Domenii and, further north, Corbeanca are the other favorites, depending on which school your children attend.

Which areas suit expats without school-aged children?

The neighborhoods around the parks, such as Herastrau, Primaverii, Floreasca, Dorobanti and Kiseleff, or Downtown if you want the buzz of the centre. We don’t usually recommend Pipera without school-aged children, as its social life revolves around the international schools.

What is the most expensive neighborhood in Bucharest?

Primaverii is probably the most expensive neighborhood in the city for housing, with Dorobanti in the same league. Both are popular with diplomats.

Do I need a car in Bucharest?

In the northern suburbs, yes: Pipera has hardly any pavements, and Baneasa and Corbeanca are suburban living. In Downtown and Kiseleff you can rely on the metro, taxis and public transport.

Find your home

Every property we list has been viewed in person by our team. See all our houses and apartments for rent in Bucharest, or send us your move-in date, preferred neighborhoods and budget on WhatsApp, call us on +40 744 608 211 or use our contact page, and we will send you a shortlist.