Romania

Bucharest serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Romania, positioned in Southeast Europe. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Bucharest contains the Palace of the Parliament — the world's second largest administrative building by volume, constructed by Nicolae Ceaușescu at enormous human cost in the 1980s by demolishing a fifth of the historic city — a building so vast that sections remain unfurnished decades after his execution.

With a population of approximately 19.2M, Romania is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Romanian, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Romania is reached via the dialling code +40. Romanian folk embroidery, the ie blouse with its regional geometric patterns, carries enough cultural significance that it inspired Henri Matisse's La Blouse Roumaine of 1940 — and the garment has undergone a genuine grassroots revival among young Romanians since the 2010s.

Romania spans 238,391 km², in the Southeast Europe subregion of Europe. Geographically centred around 46.0°N, 25.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Europe convention.

The official currency is the Romanian leu (lei), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Romania's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+02:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Romania is Sarmale. Food culture in Romania is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.

Football / Gymnastics holds a special place in the heart of Romania's national identity. Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics — the first in gymnastics history, awarded to a 14-year-old from Onești — was so unprecedented that the scoreboard could only display 1.00, and the moment remains the defining image of Romanian sporting achievement.

The highest point in Romania is Moldoveanu, rising to 2,544 metres above sea level. The Danube Delta, where Europe's second-longest river fragments into 300 channels before reaching the Black Sea, is one of the continent's most important wetland ecosystems — home to 300 bird species and European populations of pelicans that were nearly extinct elsewhere.