Samara was founded in 1586 and has been the centre of the region for more than 150 years. The city is situated on the picturesque bank of the river Volga, the longest river in Europe. The national park of Russia "Samarskaya Luka" is close to Samara and is surrounded by the Zhiguli Mountains which are called "the Pearl of Russia". Samara enjoys a very advantageous geographical  position: it is situated at a major junction of roads, waterways and railways (the newly built Samara Railway Station and Kinel railway junction being the biggest in Europe) and the city's international airport is easily reached. One can reach almost any place in the world from Samara. The city is the centre of a powerful industrial region with a population of more than 300 million and it possesses vast economic, industrial and intellectual potential. Samara is also one of the largest educational and scientific centres in Russia with 30 higher educational establishments (15 of them being state ones) and more than 300 colleges and vocational schools. Samara has become more and more attractive for various foreign investors, and, according to the volume of foreign trade turnover and foreign economic activities, Samara region is one of the leading economic zones in Russia.

Samara is a city of high culture and the arts. There are many museums and theatres here of which the oldest are Samara Academic Drama Theatre (150 years) and Samara Academic Opera and Ballet House (70 years). Also there is the Philharmonia which has a regular program of classical concerts and the Kubishev Theatre which has an innovative program of classical and contemporary theatre productions.

According to government statistics for socio-economic development Samara is 3rd among Russian cities and towns after Moscow and St. Petersburg.