Living in Tei, Bucharest
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The lake district in the north-east: water, greenery, a technical university and rents lower than in the smart north.
Tei is a district in the north-east of Bucharest built around the chain of lakes that runs across the city, the Colentina system. It takes its name from the lime trees and has an unusual look for Bucharest: water, greenery and a density below the average, with blocks from the 1960s and 1970s standing next to streets of older low houses.
Who lives here
It is a mixed, many-sided district. Long-standing families in the blocks, students and lecturers attached to the technical university hub that has its buildings here, young couples drawn by the greenery and by rents more affordable than in the smart north. It is an area that changes slowly and without jolts.
What it is like by day
By day Tei is quiet and residential. Life is concentrated along the main roads and around the lakes, where there are walkways, benches and open spaces. Parcul Circului, with Bucharest's circus, is one of the landmarks of the area and one of the pleasantest parks in the north-eastern quadrant. The inner streets are calm, with the slow rhythm of neighbourhoods where people have lived for decades.
What it is like in the evening
The evening is unhurried. A few bars and restaurants along the main streets and around the water, but no nightlife: anyone looking for bars moves towards the centre or towards Floreasca. In summer the lakeshores and the parks stay busy until late, and that is perhaps when the district is at its best.
Getting around
Tei is not crossed by the metro but it is bordered by it: Ștefan cel Mare station on the M1 sits right on the south-western edge, and Obor on the M1 and Aurel Vlaicu on the M2 are also a short distance away. From the heart of Tei it is about ten minutes on foot or a few tram stops. Trams and buses are numerous and connect the area well to Obor and to the centre.
Eating and shopping
Everyday shopping is done in the chain supermarkets and local shops along the main roads; for a wider choice there is the great Obor market, not far away, one of the most important in the city. There are restaurants and cafés, calibrated for local customers rather than for visitors.
When NOT to choose it
If you are looking for nightlife, there is none here. Some blocks are dated and maintenance varies a great deal from building to building. It is the right choice for anyone who wants greenery, water and a calm district while paying less; the wrong one for anyone who lives by bars downstairs and needs the metro directly under the house.