Bistrița is the capital city of Bistrița-Năsăud County, in northern Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistrița River. The city has a population of 78,877 inhabitants as of 2021 and administers six villages: Ghinda, Sărata, Sigmir, Slătinița, Unirea and Viișoara. There is a project for the creation of a metropolitan area that will contain the municipality of Bistrița and 3 surrounding localities, whose combined population would be over 91,600 inhabitants.