Bucharest ranks 68th globally in a new ranking of the world’s best 100 city brands, according to the inaugural Brand Finance City Index. The ranking is based on a global survey of close to 15,000 members of the public conducted in April 2023 in 20 countries on all continents.
With a Brand Finance City Index score of 60.5/100, Bucharest is gradually gaining recognition on the global stage. But, across some of the markets included in the research, Bucharest receives weaker familiarity scores in comparison to fellow European capital cities.
Romania’s capital received higher scores in key metrics such as consideration (55th), liveability (55th), and governance (47th). This suggests that as familiarity increases, Bucharest’s positive attributes become clearer to a broader range of global respondents.
Having undergone a significant cultural transformation in recent years, the city is known for its eclectic blend of architectural styles, ranging from the grandeur of the Belle Époque buildings to the imposing Soviet-era structures.
This was recognised through attributes such as beautiful architecture (46th), a Rich history and heritage (51st), and Great museums and art galleries (50th) that create a distinct character and serves as a reminder of the city’s rich history.
With a score of 84.6 out of 100, driven by its high familiarity among respondents worldwide, London has recorded stronger brand perceptions than any other city in the study, being followed by New York City (83) and Paris (79.7).
To arrive at a comprehensive assessment of the city brands in the ranking, alongside measuring familiarity, the survey asked the respondents about the general reputation and their personal consideration of each city as a place to live, work locally, work remotely, study, retire, visit, or invest in.
The evaluation of preferences across these seven dimensions was complemented by perceptions of 45 underlying city brand attributes, grouped under seven pillars, such as Business & Investment or Sustainability & Transport.
