Constantin Brâncoveanu raised Mogoșoaia Palace in September 1702 for his son Ștefan. It is run by a public cultural centre under Bucharest's General Council.
Mogoșoaia had 9,820 residents in 2021, up from 7,625 in 2011 (INS). The commune has a single village.
After 402 in 2022, new home completions in Mogoșoaia fell to 29 in 2023, 76 in 2024 and 24 in 2025, according to INS.
Mogoșoaia: the short answer
Mogoșoaia is a commune (comună) in Ilfov County on Bucharest's north-western edge, bordering the city's Sector 1. It is best known for the Mogoșoaia Palace, built in 1702 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, and for its lake on the Colentina river. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), it had 9,820 residents in 2021, up from 7,625 in 2011.
Compared with the communes north and north-east of Bucharest, Mogoșoaia has grown more slowly in recent years. INS counts 4,902 homes at the end of 2025, only about 12% more than at the end of 2021, and new completions dropped sharply after 2022. Access is mainly by the DN1A road, with a railway halt on the airport line, and the northern A0 ring motorway section through the area is still being built.
In plain words: Mogoșoaia offers history, water and green space right next to the city, with less construction around you than in the north-east. The price is a narrower choice of new homes, one main road and few public schools.
Mogoșoaia in numbers
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Commune, one village (Mogoșoaia) | INS |
| Residents, 2002 census | 5,232 | INS |
| Residents, 2011 census | 7,625 | INS |
| Residents, 2021 census | 9,820 | INS |
| Homes, end of 2021 | 4,376 | INS, TEMPO LOC101B |
| Homes, end of 2025 | 4,902 | INS, TEMPO LOC101B |
| New homes completed, 2021–2025 | 765 | INS, TEMPO LOC104B |
| Average living area per home, 2025 | about 76 m² | INS, TEMPO LOC103B |
The palace: the commune's landmark
The palace and its grounds are run by the "Brâncovenesc Palaces at the Gates of Bucharest" Cultural Centre (Centrul de Cultură „Palatele Brâncovenești de la Porțile Bucureștiului”), a public cultural institution under the authority of Bucharest's General Council. According to the centre, the complex includes:
- The palace, raised in September 1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu for his second son, Ștefan. It houses a museum of court tradition, founded in 2000 around a donated collection of about 300 pieces, and hosts around ten temporary exhibitions a year.
- The Church of Saint George, built by Brâncoveanu in 1688, with a votive painting of the prince, his wife and their children.
- The English park, landscaped in 1921–1922 under the guidance of Martha Bibescu, together with the Bibescu family chapel and the greenhouses from 1890.
- A conference centre in the former d'Elchingen villa.
For residents, this means a large historic park within the commune, and a calendar of concerts, exhibitions and children's shows. The centre's own website lists the events and links to online ticket booking. For other weekend ideas in the north, see our guide to weekends around north Bucharest.
The lake
Lake Mogoșoaia is a reservoir on the Colentina river, the same river that forms the chain of lakes through north Bucharest: Băneasa, Herăstrău, Floreasca and Tei. According to Sector 1's flood defence plan, the lakes at Buftea and Mogoșoaia were among those created in the first stage of the Colentina works, completed by 1945.
Living by the water is part of the appeal, and it comes with its own checks: building rules near the shore, flood maps, and who maintains the banks. We cover these in our article on living by a lake in Ilfov.
Housing: what the statistics show
| Year | Homes completed in Mogoșoaia (INS) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 166 |
| 2020 | 161 |
| 2021 | 234 |
| 2022 | 402 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 76 |
| 2025 | 24 |
Two things follow from these figures. First, Mogoșoaia is not a building site on every street: after the peak of 2022, completions fell to a few dozen a year. The statistics do not explain why, so if you are buying on a plot or next to one, ask the town hall's planning office what can be built there today. Second, the average living area, about 76 m² per home, is close to Balotești (about 75 m²) and well below Voluntari (about 101 m²). It is an average, and the housing ranges from older village houses to villas and newer residential complexes.
The census also shows a settled population: in 2021 about 15% of residents were 65 or older, and about 21% were children under 15.
Getting there: road, rail and the ring motorway
Road. The main route is the DN1A, which runs through the built-up area of Mogoșoaia into Bucharest. The national roads company CNAIR contracted in 2023 the widening to four lanes of a 1.28 km section between the Bucharest ring road and the Chitila–Parc Mogoșoaia junction, with pedestrian underpasses. Check the current status of the works before relying on it for your daily route.
Mogoșoaia is one of the few places at Bucharest's edge where history and water set the tone more than cranes.
Rail. Some CFR Călători trains between Bucharest North station and Henri Coandă Airport stop at the Parc Mogoșoaia halt. Walking distance from the halt to a specific home varies, so measure it. Details on fares and passes are in our article on public transport in Ilfov without a car.
Bus. Regional buses run under the Bucharest-Ilfov transport association (TPBI). Route numbers in the region have changed over the years, so check the current lines in the operator's journey planner.
A0 ring motorway. The first northern lot of the A0, between the A1 and the DN1, runs through Buftea, Mogoșoaia and Corbeanca and is still under construction. As we reported in our A0 guide, the contractual deadline for that lot is April 2027, and the contractor expected an earlier opening. When it opens, it should make trips to the north and west of the region easier without crossing the city.
Schools
The Ministry of Education's school network for 2025–2026 lists five units in Mogoșoaia:
| Unit | Funding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school no. 1 (Școala Gimnazială nr. 1) | State | Two shifts a day |
| One private group (primary, middle and high school) | Fee-paying | Three units |
| One private kindergarten | Fee-paying | Long programme |
The register does not list a separate state kindergarten or a state high school in the commune. If you rely on public education, ask the school about preschool groups and places, and plan for secondary school in Bucharest or a neighbouring town.
Mogoșoaia and Balotești: the facts side by side
| Mogoșoaia | Balotești | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | North-west, next to Sector 1 | North, beyond the airport, on the DN1 |
| Residents, 2021 | 9,820 | 11,210 |
| Change 2011–2021 | about +29% | about +35% |
| Homes, end of 2025 | 4,902 | 6,659 |
| New homes, 2021–2025 | 765 | 1,018 |
| Main road | DN1A | DN1 |
| Lake | Mogoșoaia, on the Colentina | Cociovaliștea |
Both communes combine water and green space with homes close to the city. Mogoșoaia is closer to Bucharest's north-west and has a major historic landmark. Balotești, where we build Compass on the Lake, is on the DN1 near the airport. Our Balotești guide covers it.
Before you buy in Mogoșoaia: a checklist
- Read the land register extract. Check with ANCPI that the home and the land are registered and free of charges.
- Ask what can be built around you. Request the urbanism certificate (certificat de urbanism) for the neighbouring plots. Near the palace, ask whether heritage protection rules apply to your street.
- If you buy near the lake, check the flood maps of the Romanian Waters authority (Apele Române) and the building rules for the shore.
- Drive the DN1A at peak time, towards your workplace and your children's school.
- Check the street: public or private, paved or not, connected to water, sewage and gas networks.
- Hire an independent lawyer. The seller's or developer's lawyer does not represent you.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mogoșoaia?
Mogoșoaia is a commune in Ilfov County on Bucharest's north-western edge. It borders Bucharest's Sector 1 and is crossed by the DN1A road.
How many people live in Mogoșoaia?
According to the INS 2021 census, 9,820. The commune had 7,625 residents in 2011 and 5,232 in 2002.
Who built Mogoșoaia Palace?
Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu raised the palace in September 1702 for his second son, Ștefan. Today it is run by a public cultural centre under Bucharest's General Council and houses a museum of court tradition.
Can you get from Mogoșoaia to Bucharest without a car?
Yes, with limits. Some trains on the Bucharest North–Airport line stop at the Parc Mogoșoaia halt, and regional buses run under the TPBI network. Check the timetables and the walking distance from your home.
Is there a school in Mogoșoaia?
The 2025–2026 network lists one state middle school, working in two shifts, plus private units. There is no state high school in the commune.
The bottom line
Mogoșoaia is one of the few places at Bucharest's edge where history and water set the tone more than cranes. It suits families who want green space and a calmer pace close to the north-west of the city. It suits less those who need a choice of new homes, several public schools or fast transport today.
If you are weighing Mogoșoaia against the communes north of the airport, book a half-hour call with me. We will compare the official figures and your daily routes together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: INS, 2021 census, resident population by locality (Table 1.22) · INS TEMPO Online, LOC101B, LOC103B and LOC104B · Brâncovenesc Palaces Cultural Centre, presentation of the Mogoșoaia complex · Sector 1 town hall, flood defence plan extract · Ministry of Education, school network 2025–2026 (data.gov.ro) · Economedia, CNAIR contract for the DN1A widening at Mogoșoaia · City Population, Mogoșoaia census series (INS data)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures and rules are current as of 22 October 2026. Road works, timetables and planning rules change; check them with the authorities and consult an independent lawyer before any transaction.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
