Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, located in the southeast of the country along the Dâmbovița River. It serves as the political, economic and cultural center of the nation. The city has a population of about 1.9 million in the city proper and around 2.3 million in the metropolitan area.

Its origins lie in the 15th century when a fortress was established there by Voivode Vlad III, and it is first mentioned in historical records in 1459. Bucharest became the capital of Wallachia in the late 17th century and has been the capital of Romania since 1862. The city underwent rapid growth and modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries, including a major expansion under the communist regime after World War II.

Bucharest's urban landscape blends historic districts with wide boulevards and large-scale residential blocks. The Lipscani district preserves late 18th- and 19th-century merchant architecture, while other areas reflect interwar planning and postwar construction. Notable landmarks include the Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest administrative building in the world; the Romanian Athenaeum, a major concert hall; the National Museum of Romanian History; and the Village Museum at Herăstrău Park.

The city is a major hub for services, finance, IT and education, drawing businesses and students from across Romania and the region. It has an extensive public transport system centered on the Bucharest Metro, complemented by trams and buses. The capital is served by Henri Coandă International Airport, which handles the bulk of international air traffic for the country.

Romanian is the official language; minority communities include Hungarian, Turkish and Roma. The climate is temperate continental, with hot summers and cold winters.