Romania

Bucharest is Romania’s capital and largest city—the seat of the presidency, parliament, and government since 1862, when the unified Romanian state centralized its institutions there. Set on the Dâmbovița River, it’s the country’s political and cultural hub, famed for the Arcul de Triumf and the colossal Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. Memory tip: Don’t confuse Bucharest with Hungary’s Budapest. Bucharest = Romania; Budapest = Hungary. You can also think “Bucha-rest? No rest—it’s the busy capital!” The other choices—Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Brașov—are important regional cities, but not the national capital.