Bucharest, Romania · Europe
Bucharest is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Sector 3, 2km from Palace of the Parliament.
Bucharest is a major city located in Bucharest, Romania. With a population of 1,877,155, it is one of the largest urban centers in Europe.
On a road trip, Bucharest sits in Romania, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Bucharest time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bucharest to your route.
Bucharest (Romanian: București [bukuˈreʃtʲ] ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.71 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 2.31 million residents, which makes Bucharest the 9thRead more
most-populous city by population within city limits in the European Union. The city has an area of 240 km2 (93 sq mi), while the metropolitan area covers 1,811 km2 (699 sq mi). The city proper is administratively known as the "Municipality of Bucharest" (Romanian: Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as that of a national county, being further subdivided into six sectors, each governed by a local mayor. Bucharest is a major cultural, political and economic hub, the country's seat of government, and the capital of the Muntenia region. It is an enclave completely surrounded by Ilfov County.
Bucharest was first mentioned in 1459, and became a center of Wallachian commerce and governance in the 16th and 17th centuries. The city became the capital of the Romanian United Principalities in 1862, and boomed after the 1881 founding of the Romanian Kingdom. In the following decades, the city became known for its cosmopolitanism and eclectic architecture, being nicknamed "Paris of the East". However, it was severely damaged in the Second World War. Under the Socialist Republic of Romania, the city again grew massively in population and area, and new developments were characterized by socialist architecture and planning, particularly Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. It is one of the fastest-growing high-tech cities in Europe. In 2016, the historical city centre was listed as "endangered" by the World Monuments Watch.
Bucharest is by far the most populous city of Romania, having reached one million inhabitants in the 1940s. In 2017, Bucharest was the European city with the highest growth of tourists who stay over night, according to the Mastercard Global Index of Urban Destinations. In 2018 and 2019, Bucharest ranked as the European destination with the highest potential for development according to the same study.
Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and the richest capital and city in the region, having surpassed Budapest since 2017. The city has a number of large convention facilities, educational institutes, cultural venues, traditional "shopping arcades" and recreational areas.
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Bucharest is located in Bucharest, Romania, Europe. The coordinates are 44.4323 latitude, 26.1063 longitude.
Bucharest has a population of approximately 1,877,155 people, making it a major city in Romania.
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Essential numbers in Romania
Rovinieta (road tax sticker) required for all national roads.
Full driving guide for Romania2 notable places within an hour's drive.
restaurant
Bucharest's storied restaurant-confectionery on Calea Victoriei, founded 1852, once the meeting place of Romania's writers and politicians: the phrase 'Capșa wit' entered the language. Restored belle-époque salons still serve its famous Joffre cake.
1 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Ceausescu-era administrative building in Bucharest, the heaviest building in the world, with guided tours of its state halls.
2 km · about 5 min drive
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