Tunari grew from 5,336 residents in 2011 to 9,617 in 2021, according to INS censuses. It has two villages, Tunari and Dimieni.
INS counts 7,645 homes in Tunari at the end of 2025, up from 4,553 at the end of 2021. In 2021–2025, 4,018 homes were completed.
The 2025–2026 school network lists one state middle school in Tunari, working in two shifts, one state kindergarten with sites, and no high school.
Tunari: the short answer
Tunari is a commune (comună) in Ilfov County, about 8 km north of Bucharest, wedged between Voluntari's Pipera district to the south, the town of Otopeni to the west and the airport and Balotești to the north. It has two villages, Tunari and Dimieni. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), it had 9,617 residents in 2021, up from 5,336 in 2011: growth of about 80% in a decade.
Construction has not slowed since. INS data show that Tunari's housing stock rose from 4,553 homes at the end of 2021 to 7,645 at the end of 2025, an increase of about two thirds in four years. Public services have grown more slowly: the official school network lists one state school and one state kindergarten in the commune.
In plain words: Tunari offers new homes close to Pipera and the airport, but it is a commune that is still catching up with its own growth. Check the street, the school place and the route before you sign.
Tunari in numbers
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Commune, Ilfov County | INS |
| Villages | Tunari (9,112 residents), Dimieni (505) | INS, 2021 census |
| Residents, 2011 census | 5,336 | INS |
| Residents, 2021 census | 9,617 | INS |
| Area | about 32 km² | Tunari town hall |
| Homes, end of 2021 | 4,553 | INS, TEMPO LOC101B |
| Homes, end of 2025 | 7,645 | INS, TEMPO LOC101B |
| New homes completed, 2021–2025 | 4,018 | INS, TEMPO LOC104B |
Where Tunari is
The town hall's own description places the commune about 8 km from Bucharest, on the old road Bucharest–Pipera–Tunari–Dimieni. Its borders are drawn largely by railways and roads:
- South: the Pipera area of Voluntari, beyond the Bucharest–Constanța railway and the Otopeni–Ștefănești segment of Bucharest's old ring road (Șoseaua de Centură).
- North: Henri Coandă Airport and the commune of Balotești, beyond the Bucharest–Urziceni railway.
- West: the town of Otopeni.
- East: the commune of Ștefăneștii de Jos.
To the south-west, Tunari also touches Bucharest's Sector 1 near the Tunari forest, whose western edge marks part of the sector's boundary. For an overview of Otopeni next door, see our Otopeni guide.
A boom you can see in the statistics
Few places around Bucharest have changed as quickly. Here is the number of homes completed each year, according to INS.
| Year | Homes completed in Tunari |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 159 |
| 2018 | 423 |
| 2020 | 453 |
| 2021 | 926 |
| 2022 | 953 |
| 2023 | 706 |
| 2024 | 682 |
| 2025 | 751 |
Two further figures help describe what is being built. INS also records the living area of the housing stock. At the end of 2025, it works out at about 66 m² per home in Tunari, against about 75 m² in Balotești and about 101 m² in Voluntari. A lower average usually points to a larger share of apartments and smaller units in new complexes, although it is an average and says nothing about any specific street.
The census adds the human side. According to 2021 census data, more than half of Tunari's residents were born in another county, and people aged 30 to 39 were the largest ten-year age group. In other words, many of the people living here arrived recently, often as young families.
History, briefly
The town hall notes that Tunari has 9 historic monuments and 5 archaeological sites. The village church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, was built in 1702 by Marica Brâncoveanu, wife of the ruling prince of Wallachia, in the Brâncovenesc style. The village of Dimieni was demolished in 1987, during the Ceaușescu era, and its residents were moved to Otopeni; some returned after 1989.
Schools and kindergartens
The national school network for 2025–2026, published by the Ministry of Education, lists four units in Tunari:
Tunari offers new homes close to Pipera and the airport, but it is a commune that is still catching up with its own growth.
| Unit | Funding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school no. 1 (Școala Gimnazială nr. 1) | State | Two shifts a day |
| Kindergarten no. 1, with sites including Dimieni | State | Long programme |
| Two private kindergartens | Fee-paying |
There is no high school and no crèche in the commune's register. For a population close to 10,000, with many young families, that means older children usually study elsewhere, in Otopeni, Voluntari or Bucharest, and that places at the state school are worth asking about early. Our guide to kindergartens and schools in north Bucharest covers the wider area.
Getting around
Buses. Line 459, run by Serviciul de Transport Voluntari under the Bucharest-Ilfov transport association, runs from Tunari, with its terminus on 1 Decembrie street, to Aurel Vlaicu metro station on line M2. Since 17 October 2026, it has been on a temporary diversion because of tram works on Bulevardul Dimitrie Pompeiu, so check the current route.
Metro. The nearest metro stations are Pipera and Aurel Vlaicu on M2, in Bucharest, and in future the M6 stations planned in Otopeni. Our article on public transport in Ilfov without a car explains tickets and passes.
Roads. Tunari sits between the DN1 to the west and Pipera to the south. The old ring road runs along its southern edge. The A0 ring motorway section between the DN1 at Corbeanca and the DN2 at Afumați is open and crosses northern Ilfov. The main practical question is the morning route through Pipera, which is congested at peak hours.
Tunari and Balotești: the facts side by side
| Tunari | Balotești | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2011 | 5,336 | 8,314 |
| Residents, 2021 | 9,617 | 11,210 |
| Change 2011–2021 | about +80% | about +35% |
| Homes, end of 2025 | 7,645 | 6,659 |
| New homes, 2021–2025 | 4,018 | 1,018 |
| Average living area per home, 2025 | about 66 m² | about 75 m² |
| State school units in the network | 1 school, 1 kindergarten (with sites) | 1 school + 1 site, 3 kindergarten units |
Tunari is closer to Pipera and has built four times as many homes as Balotești in five years. Balotești is further north, past the airport, with fewer and on average larger homes. Our Balotești guide covers it in detail.
Who Tunari suits, and who less so
| Suits | Suits less |
|---|---|
| Families working in Pipera, Băneasa or at the airport | People who need a high school within walking distance |
| Buyers of a first new apartment or a smaller house | Those looking for a settled, finished neighbourhood |
| People who want to be close to the city boundary | Anyone who cannot live next to building sites |
Before you buy in Tunari: a checklist
- Check the land register extract. Confirm with ANCPI that the home and the land are registered in the seller's name and free of charges.
- Ask about the street. Is it public and paved? Is it in the commune's street register (nomenclatura stradală)? Are water and sewage connected to public networks, or to a private system?
- Look at the plots around you. Ask the town hall's planning office about the urbanism certificate of the neighbouring land. The office receives planning documents on Tuesday mornings, according to the town hall's website.
- Ask the school about places and shifts. One state school serves the whole commune.
- Drive the route at peak time. To Pipera, to the airport and to your workplace.
- Hire an independent lawyer. The developer's lawyer represents the developer, not you.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tunari?
Tunari is a commune in Ilfov County, about 8 km north of Bucharest. It lies between Voluntari's Pipera area to the south, Otopeni to the west and the airport and Balotești to the north.
How many people live in Tunari?
According to the INS 2021 census, 9,617: 9,112 in Tunari village and 505 in Dimieni. In 2011 the commune had 5,336 residents.
Is there a school in Tunari?
Yes. The 2025–2026 school network lists one state middle school, working in two shifts, and one state kindergarten with several sites. There is no high school in the commune, so older pupils study in neighbouring towns or in Bucharest.
How do you get from Tunari to the metro?
Line 459 links Tunari with Aurel Vlaicu metro station on line M2. Pipera station is also close by car. Check the current route, as several lines in the area are diverted in autumn 2026.
Is Tunari part of Voluntari or Otopeni?
No. Tunari is a separate commune with its own town hall and local council. It borders both Voluntari and Otopeni.
The bottom line
Tunari is the clearest example of how fast the ring around Bucharest is filling up. It offers new homes a short drive from Pipera and the airport. In exchange, you buy into a commune whose schools, streets and services are still catching up.
If you are comparing Tunari with Voluntari, Otopeni or the communes further north, book a half-hour call with me. We will look at the official figures and your daily routes together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: INS, 2021 census, resident population by locality and village (Table 1.22) · INS TEMPO Online, LOC101B, LOC103B and LOC104B · Tunari town hall, presentation of the commune · Ministry of Education, school network 2025–2026 (data.gov.ro) · Serviciul de Transport Voluntari, lines and notices · City Population, Tunari census series and 2021 structure (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. Bus routes, school places and planning rules change; check them with the operator, the school and the town hall, 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.
