Bucureștii Noi

Bucureștii Noi is a neighbourhood in the north-west of the city, in Sector 1, and exactly the kind of place no guidebook is written about: residential, ordinary, quiet. The Bucureștii Noi urban zone gathers several sub-districts — among them Bazilescu, Dămăroaia, Pajura and Chitila Triaj — and has seen sustained real-estate development in recent years, with many new housing complexes rising alongside the older houses and blocks. You don't come here for sights; you come to see what everyday Bucharest looks like, away from the tourist centre, in a part of the city that has been quietly reinventing itself.

The vibe

This is a neighbourhood of houses, blocks and traffic arteries such as Bulevardul Laminorului, with corner shops and a calm, local rhythm. To the north, the edges towards Dămăroaia and Chitila gradually lead to the city limit, where the urban fabric loosens and the feel becomes almost suburban. Much of the area's recent appeal comes from the surrounding green spaces and improved infrastructure, which is why it is sought after by people who want to live here rather than by tourists — a place chosen for everyday life, not for a weekend visit.

What to see

The heart of the neighbourhood is Parcul Bazilescu (formerly Nicolae Bălcescu), about 13.5 hectares, opened to the public in 1954. Inside it stands the Nicolae Bălcescu open-air Summer Theatre, a Soviet-style building described as a copy of the amphitheatre in Sochi, with a capacity of nearly 2,000 seats; the theatre has gone through a major rehabilitation, and the performance programme and the final state of the works are best checked before you visit. Otherwise, the park is good for a stroll or a family afternoon, with mature trees and shaded alleys that make it pleasant in summer.

Getting there

Bucureștii Noi is connected to the metro network and to surface lines heading north-west; for tickets, routes and timetables use the public transport guide. The metro link makes it easy to reach the centre in a reasonable time despite the distance. For other parts of the city, see the neighbourhoods page, and for places to eat, the restaurants here are local and unpretentious.