tours danube delta

• Danube Delta

Respect for NATURE We run only slow tours

Our tours with slow boat - 2024.

Discover the majestic beauty of the Danube Delta on a slow boat excursion. Enjoy a leisurely, noiseless journey and admire the delta’s splendor as if on a big screen. The spacious outdoor terraces, wooden deck for barefoot walking, and exceptional ship services and professional guide will contribute  dream vacation. Experience the tranquility of the delta, surrounded by birds and nature, all while cruising on one of the most beautiful boats from the delta.

Book the Ultimate Danube Delta Birdwatching Experience

Three-day / 2-night tour in the Danube Delta

The three-day / 2-night tour in the Danube Delta is done by slow boat, capacity of max. 12 people. It lends itself to formed groups,

Two days in the Danube Delta by slow boat

This tour is done by slow boat and is intended for those who do not have much time dedicated to the delta (this time), but

One day trip in the Danube Delta – Romania

We organize day trips in the Danube Delta, by slow boat. A beautiful experience, in a trip where we combine the quietness of the slow

5-12 september birding in the Danube Delta – Romania.

Autumn in the delta is definitely magical. The colors of the trees, the stew, the warm autumn colors, all these make the delta an excellent

Our tours with slow boat - 2025

19-26 April spring 2025 Birding in the Danube Delta – Romania

  Day 1. Transfer from the airport to Tulcea, in the Insula hotel. Accommodation in this beautiful hotel, located near the Danube. Dinner together making

28 april – 5 may 2025 Birdwatching tours in the Danube Delta – Romania

The best way to take in the majestic beauty of the Danube Delta is on a cheerful ship services and professional guiding will reward your

6 – 13 mai 2025 Birdwatching and photo nature trip in the Danube Delta – Romania

    The best way to take in the majestic beauty of the Danube Delta is on a cheerful ship services and professional guiding will

14 – 21 mai 2025 Birdwatching and photo nature tour in the Danube Delta – Romania 2025

21 – 28 may 2025 Birdwatching and photo nature tour in the Danube Delta – Romania

Full Tour. No places available WE DISCOVER TOGETHER THE DANUBE DELTA The best way to take in the majestic beauty of the Danube Delta is

29 may – 5 june 2025 Birdwatching and photonature trip in the Danube Delta – Romania

6 – 13 june 2025 Birdwatching and photo nature trip in the Danube Delta – Romania

WE DISCOVER TOGETHER THE DANUBE DELTA The best way to take in the majestic beauty of the Danube Delta is on a cheerful ship services

14 – 21 june 2025 Birdwatching and photonature trip in Danube Delta – Romania

Day 1. Transfer from the airport to Tulcea, in the Insula hotel. Accommodation in this beautiful hotel, located near the Danube. Dinner together making the

22 – 29 june 2025 Birdwatching and photo nature trip in the Danube Delta – Romania

Culinary recipes from the danube delta.

Carp baked in the oven

Baked carp is definitely one of the basic recipes of Delta cuisine. Of course, this dish can be made with other fish but the most suitable is...

In another pan, onions cut into slices, fat bell pepper  or flesh,  sliced, and thin slices of carrots are fried. Definitely some peppercorns and...

Who hasn’t eaten a real fish borș from the delta? Most tourists come to this miraculous place and for the exceptional seafood cuisine, its...

The spectacular Danube Delta: Nature's Miracle Garden

After a 2860 km journey (which is the entire length of the Danube river) starting from the Black Forest mountains in Germany, passing through ten countries and four capitals, the mighty Danube river reaches its destination: the Black Sea.

The Upper Danube region is in the Germany – Austria region, while the Lower Danube region is in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine region.

Before its waters become part of the sea, the Danube creates one last natural miracle: the Danube Delta, the best-preserved delta area on the continent. The 5800 hectares delta is the largest continuous marshland in Europe!

When referring to the Danube Delta, Romania and Ukraine each have their shares. But the Romanian part of the Danube Delta is far bigger, with 3,446 km2 (1,331 sq mi) out of the total of 4,152 km2 (1,603 sq mi).

Together with the seaside resorts in Constanta county, the Delta and the Danube’s journey into the Black Sea make up the Romanian Black Sea coast. Stretching over 245 km, the many Romanian Black Sea resorts cater to everyone's tastes: family, luxury or party holidays. It's also a great choice for a family holiday in Romania .

If you are looking for a truly unique experience, the equivalent of an African Safari, and probably the best time, the Danube Delta biosphere reserve is a great option as it is the third-largest biodiversity in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef and Ecuador’s Galapagos Island.

It is, without a doubt, one of the most important tourist attractions in Romania and a major Romanian national park .

How to visit the Danube Delta

A day trip will not suffice to complete your experience in the Delta Dunării. It would take a minimum of 4 full days of exploring the canals, tasting traditional food, resting, and discovering the local culture to get an idea of the uniqueness of the region.

4-Day Danube Delta: Birds, Letea Village & Lakes [Group Trip]

Start from: Tulcea

The Delta is made up of a series of communicating narrow channels which can only be crossed by small boats. There are three main distributary channels or arms the Danube splits into before spilling into the Black Sea: the Chilia arm, the Sulina arm, and Sfântu Gheorghe arm (St. George).

The best time to visit the Danube Delta is early summer to late autumn (April to September). Mosquitos can sometimes become a nuisance but mostly for a short time in the mornings and evenings (about half an hour). Nothing a little mosquito repellent can't handle.

As you would think, the best way to get around the delta is by boat. Not only because of the very narrow canals that make it impossible to cross with large ships but, since it is a Unesco World Heritage Site, it must remain unspoiled for the species of fish, hundreds of species of birds, aquatic plants, and overall, the entire biosphere.

Of all the nature reserves in Romania, the Delta is the one with the strictest conditions. There are even small patches of land, like tiny islands, where certain bird species nest, like the great white pelicans (Pelicanus Onocrotalus). Boats are not allowed to come near them, especially motorized boats so as not to disturb the birds, as well as on account of the shallow water in some areas.

There are plenty of private boat services that you can use to travel from one place to another. There is no way you will ever get bored in the Danube Delta. Because of its complex ecosystems and ever-changing weather, you will experience something new every day.

In terms of things to do, there is a wide range of activities you can enjoy. With millions of birds nesting in the delta year after year, bird watching is a thing you don't even have to try hard for unless you're looking for some unique or rare species.

Places to visit in the Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is the second largest in Europe, after the Volga delta, created by the Volga river, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The biggest city in the vicinity is Tulcea, the administrative municipality of Tulcea county.

The villages in the Delta are in Tulcea county. But not all of Tulcea is on water. Locals refer to them as Delta villages and “mainland” villages, and the county is much more than just the Delta for anyone interested in visiting.

The biggest town in the Delta is Sulina. It is not a large city in the sense you might expect, but you will find restaurants, stores, accommodation, and a beach. It is the perfect place for people looking for a holiday away from the crowded Romanian seaside beaches.

Its glory days were in the 19th century when it used to be an important harbor on the Sulina branch, trading with people from Europe and the Middle East.

Some even settled here, making for a diverse population and a cosmopolitan town. Little of the old architecture remains, like the old lighthouse or maritime cemetery, but the ones that do, are a testament to Sulina’s cosmopolitan days.

A number of small towns like Sfantu Gheorghe and Chilia, or the small village of Mila 23, and remote villages make up the human establishment in the Delta. Some have existed since the beginning, others are artificial constructions.

An incredible documentary about the Delta's wildlife

Birds and vegetation in the Delta

So while the Delta is home to an impressive number of different species of birds, like the pygmy cormorant, is the best place for a fishing trip, has wild horses, and other rare species of animals like the jackals and raccoon dogs, it also hosts a unique local culture with (you guessed it!) its own gastronomic wonders.

Summed up, about 5000 + species, especially massive amounts of waterbirds of all kinds, share a surface of 5000+ square kilometers, making it one of the most impressive nature reserves as well as a favorite staging area for passage birds and a wintering ground for migrating waterbirds from the boreal forests, the tundras, and the steppes.

The Danube Delta offers a total area of 5800 square kilometer (2240 square miles) wildlife sanctuary, sheltering more than 5400 species of plants and animals.

Actually, the delta is a place of superlatives. Apart from being Europe’s largest wetland area, it hosts the largest colony of pelicans and the largest number of fish species in the country.

But the species of birds found in the Delta are probably the main reason people visit, especially the popular pygmy cormorant and the Dalmatian pelican.

So obviously the most popular activity here is the birdwatching boat tour. The Delta is a halting place for several migratory birds - the entire world population of red-breasted goose (Branta Ruficollis) flocks here to spend the winter every year. The most iconic bird in the Delta is the Dalmatian pelican (Pelicanus crispus), while the biggest birds of prey are the white-tailed eagles, which sit on top of the food chain.

Recent climate change and human intervention, like intense drone photography of natural nesting places, have driven exotic birds to the area, like a flock of colorful flamingos which has arrived here in 2022 near Jurilovca and have made a home in the dammed and enclosed space where they feel better protected.

The many existing water habitats have led to massive productivity, with the delta becoming home to an impressive number of species of freshwater fish.

The Delta fauna species are unique, and even animals thought to have become extinct in Romania like the beavers, are making a comeback. There is an immense potential for wetland restoration in the area as the numerous lakes included in the network of canals and branches can be re-flooded and once again become part of the Danube river dynamics.

The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is the largest European wetland, with reed beds, and fixed and mobile sand dunes. A common sight in the delta are reed plants along the waterline and floating reed islands. The waters of the Danube are beautifully decorated with water lilies, making even your dullest photos look like Danube Delta stock photos. Beauty at every turn!

Wildlife and wild sceneries

A rare site for many world travelers: the wild horses in Letea forest. It is amazing to see animals our mind is trained to see as domesticated in their natural habitat, roaming free, and in huge numbers –now almost 2000. As far as day trips go, this is probably one of the most impressive.

The forest itself is representative of the unique climate conditions in the area, as it develops in the depressions between the dunes. Its trees are oak, ash, elm, aspen, linden, and willow, among others.

There is also a vast range of shrubs like blackthorn, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), rosehip, alder buckthorn, common buckthorn, sea buckthorn, French tamarisk, and vines.

A unique local culture and cuisine

The delta is in the Romanian region of Dobrogea, one historically inhabited by various ethnic groups like Lipovan Russians, Turks, Tatars, Ukrainians, and Bulgarians, apart from the Romanians. Representative of the area are the houses painted in white and bright blue, the fishing utensils adorning each front yard, the wooden boats, and the fish-based gastronomy. Local people here live in harmony and they respect each other’s traditions and religions.

Going on boat trips, fishing, and tasting the local cuisine go hand in hand, and you will thoroughly enjoy it. You can have the best time watching the stunning sunrises and sunsets and visiting the many lakes that are part of the Danube Delta.

2-Day Danube Delta & Birdwatching Tour from Bucharest

Start from: Bucharest

Accommodations in the area range from local villas, where your hosts cater to your every need, including taking you out on their wooden boats and guiding your journey. Or fancy resorts with expensive and impressive restaurants, swimming pools, and guided tours with modern boats from local partners. Either way, any type of tourist can find an accommodation suited to their taste and budget.

And speaking of taste, the fish soup (storceag) is something you cannot leave the delta without trying. If you get a chance to join some fishermen, in a small patch of land, for a bowl of soup, the experience will be even more authentic.

Remember that the Danube Delta is a vast swampland full of canals, vegetation, and patches of land, the last major remaining wetland in Europe, and the main reason it is on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Official maps of where bird flocks nest do not exist, and what usually happens is that the network of locals and fishermen communicate with guides and Danube Delta personnel on bird and fauna movements. Tour itineraries are planned based on this in the mornings, so we recommend hiring a local guide to navigate the Delta and see some wildlife.

Tourist attractions in the Danube Delta

All tours to the Delta start from Tulcea, the administrative center of the county. This is where all the big museums, like the Ethnography and Folklore Museum and the Natural History Museum, are, as well as the Delta Aquarium. The city has plenty of comfortable hotels, restaurants, and a beautiful waterfront locals and tourists enjoy walking on.

Once you are nice and settled, you can start to think about all the day trips you wish to take while you are here. Letea forest is one of the best places to visit, where you can see wild horses. Mila 23 is a colorful fishermen’s village with many accommodation places for tourists and local eateries if you know how to find them.

There are similar locations like Sarichioi, Murhighiol, Mahmudia, Sulina, Sfantu Gheorghe, and Gura Portitei.

The latter is quite a unique location, as it is a small resort located exactly where the Danube meets the sea, offering tourists both the beauty of the delta and the immensity of the Black Sea in one place. They can swim in the sea, lie on the beach, and take a water bike, and pedal on the channels on the other side of the resort. Once a week, the resort managers will have a group of Lipovans over, dressed in traditional clothes, to perform traditional Russian songs by a campfire. The restaurant there serves fresh fish caught by the resort employees.

Enisala, the only medieval fortress in the area, dating back to the 1300s, is impressive. The area around it is beautiful. However, it is difficult to get there without a private car. And since you already made the 4-hour journey from Bucharest and already rented a car, make sure to check out the Macin mountains in Tulcea county, the lowest in Romania, but very impressive with their emerald lakes and rocks older than the dinosaurs.

When you visit the Danube Delta region, you do it for the massive deltaland and the natural experience. While the local community is very diverse and has a vibrant culture, the area was not spoiled with intricate constructions. Every time your boat takes a turn, you get to see something beautiful and unique, a nature lovers’ paradise.

Places to visit

• City Travel Guides (5)
• All Tourist Attractions (22)
• Tourist Regions (5)

Related tours

The danube delta tour: nature's wonder, danube delta tour from bucharest, check our tours.

• By category

4 times a year we prepare a newsletter with local stories, places and our special insights about Romanian culture and local life that will inspire you to visit our country and have an authentic local experience. Would you like to get it?

Follow Romanian Friend on:

#romanianfriend.

Danube Delta tour

Danube Delta Tour

Birdwatching , Danube Delta , Danube Delta Cruises , Wildlife

A seven days Danube Delta tour on board the four star floating hotel. This tour suites the birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike as it explores the main parts of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in search of birds, mammals and plants. The exploration will be made by small motor boat specially build for bird-watching accompanied by a guide specialist. There is no better way to explore this wetland than on board a floating hotel. 

Prices start at 800 EUR

TOUR MAP – DANUBE DELTA

Single room policy

This trip offers single room occupancy with a surcharge. On some occasions the availability of singles on the floating hotels has to be confirmed.  

Dates and prices

This tour can be organised on request

Accommodation, transfers, full board, day trips by  boat, guide.

Enquire now

Email Address

The IBIS TOURS experience

We believe no two holidays should be the same and a human touch can make all the difference.

We take the time to get to know you so we can help you plan an unforgettable holiday.

A Complete Travel Guide To The Danube Delta, Romania

Tucked away on the edge of eastern Romania, the Danube Delta is the ideal place to reconnect with nature, escape everything and reset your inner balance. Life is slow and untroubled, though you must see it with your eyes and experience everything the Danube Delta offers. The pieces of information found on the internet are quite elusive; therefore, I put together a complete travel guide to the Danube Delta, and I hope I’ll give you a glimpse of this gorgeous place. Following this article, you’ll be able to put together an excellent itinerary.

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you  make a purchase  through my link.*

Table of Contents

Things to Know Before Traveling to the Danube Delta

Facts about the danube delta.

The Danube River is the second-largest river in Europe and flows through nine countries before reaching the Black Sea in Romania, where it forms the second-largest Delta in Europe. The confluence point of the Danube Delta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and a paradise for many species of fish and birds.

The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is home to over 300 resident and migratory bird species and boasts the third-largest biodiversity in the world. More than 60% of the area remains untouched by human influence.

This unique place covers over 5,000 square kilometers and has three main channels: Sfântu Gheorghe (St George) in the south, Sulina in the middle, and Chilia in the north. The city of Sulina and 28 villages in the Danube Delta can only be reached by water.

Remember to purchase a visitor’s permit when exploring the Delta by boat.

Best time to visit the Danube Delta

Spring is the best time to visit the Danube Delta if you want to see the white and yellow water lilies blooming. It is the period when nature comes back to life, and the birdwatching season starts intensively.

Summertime is perfect if you love the sun and the heat. However, it’s also when mosquitoes are most aggressive, so make sure to bring insect repellent and wear long sleeves. Don’t forget to wear a hat, sunglasses, and SPF protection.

Early autumn is excellent for birdwatching, taking boat trips, and discovering new places. The temperatures are dropping, making the exploration enjoyable.

Exploring the Danube Delta in the winter is something magical and a bucket list experience. Imagine frozen waters, trees covered in snow and quietness everywhere you look. Did you know that you can actually spot around 100 species of birds around this time of the year? And the best part is that there are no mosquitoes to bother you. You simply need the right equipment: waterproof cold-weather clothes and a dose of adrenaline.

I remember seeing a photo of swans moving graciously on the frozen lakes, and I can’t stop thinking that I need to return one day during winter.

Remember, most hotels, restaurants, and activities run only from early summer to late autumn.

How many days do I need in the Danube Delta?

As I mentioned earlier, the Danube Delta is the ideal place to reconnect with nature, escape everything, and reset your inner balance. Life is slow and untroubled, so you should consider spending at least three days there to get a first impression.

Five days allow you to get a glimpse of different places, appreciate nature, relax and cruise the channels.

Consider spending two full days exploring various places so you can see as much as possible from this complete guide to the Danube Delta

How to visit the Danube Delta?

The easiest way to discover the Danube Delta is to rent a car . You can stop whenever you want, visit places along the route, try new activities, and have the freedom to change plans at the last minute.

Getting places can be tricky, and the area takes life at a slower pace, but that is the beauty of the Danube Delta. With your own four wheels, you control your time and schedule. Depending on how many people are in your group, renting a car might even work out to be cheaper than other forms of transportation. 

Check out the best rental deals for Romania HERE .

Although we love to travel independently, some places are better visited with a guided tour. I think the easiest way to get a glimpse of the Danube Delta with zero stress is to book a tour.

Danube Delta 2-Day trip from Bucharest:

You will be picked up from your location in Bucharest, and for the next two days, you don’t have to worry about the itinerary. You’ll have the chance to visit Tulcea, the ancient port city on the Danube Delta, and enjoy bird watching or fishing on a boat ride. Overnight accommodation with breakfast at a hotel in the Danube Delta. Sounds promising?

BOOK YOUR 2-DAY DANUBE DELTA TOUR FROM BUCHAREST HERE.

Danube Delta day trip from Tulcea:

Enjoy a relaxed day on a small-group guided tour of the Danube Delta. After making an early start you’ll be taken to some of the most beautiful and significant areas of the Delta. Visit local villages like Mila 23 and past picturesque lakes on the way to the Letea Forest, Europe’s northernmost subtropical forest. Look out for wild horses and migratory birds from your safari car.

Read more about this Guided Day Trip to the Danube Delta, Tulcea, HERE .

Places to Visit For a Complete Travel Guide to The Danube Delta 

There are many places to visit and things to do in the Danube Delta; therefore, it’s hard to choose from. Some locations can be reached by car, while others can only be reached by water. With the help of this complete travel guide to the Danube Delta, I hope you can plan your trip to this part of the world effortlessly.

The old town of Tulcea is the main entry gate into the Danube Delta and is also an important industrial port town. Many choose Tulcea as a base for day trips to the Danube Delta. You can reach the city by car from Constanta in almost 2 hours (130 kilometers) or Bucuresti in 3 hours and 30 minutes (300 kilometers).

If you wish to visit Tulcea, you will need no more than a half-day, but if you are short on time, you can skip it from your complete travel guide to the Danube Delta.

Danube Delta Musem

One of the best places to visit in Tulcea is the Danube Delta Museum, an exciting and informative site for adults and children. The aquarium on the ground floor and the exhibition of stuffed wild birds and animals on the upper floor provide information about the Danube Delta’s flora and fauna. This small museum should take no more than 2 hours to visit.

Address :  14 Noiembrie Street, No.1

Opening Hours :  09:00 – 17:00, closed on Mondays.

Azizyie Mosque 

The Azizyie Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Romania and a vital prayer place for the region’s Muslim community. What makes this place unique is the beautiful prayer room and the height of the minaret.

Address: 14 Noiembrie Street ,  only 200m from the Donau Delta Museum.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

St. Nicholas Cathedral is a beautiful and imposing monument built over a century in Byzantine style on the sites of older churches. It is worth a quick stop for a moment of silence.

Danube Promenade

It is not something to include in this complete guide to the Danube Delta, but if you’ve made it to Tulcea, head to the Danube Promenade. Go for a walk along the promenade and pass the old churches, the Heroes Monument, and the old buildings dating back to the communist era.

Getting from Tulcea to Sulina

Take the speed boat or ferry from Tulcea to Sulina, where the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. You can stay for a couple of hours in Sulina, spend some time in the sun, and return later in the afternoon. Or you can stay for more days in Sulina and take day trips into the Delta from there.

Tulcea – Sulina, by speed boat, only 1 hour 15 minutes, 60Ron/adult. For reservations, departing hours, and prices, read more here .

Tulcea – Sulina, by ferry, almost 4 hours. For reservations and departing hours, read more here .

A ferry is a great option to travel between Tulcea and Sulina, but it takes longer than a speed boat.

The small village of Crisan is 7 kilometers long, with only four guesthouses. It is the best place to relax and enjoy the silence and the views. Situated on the Sulina arm, it can be reached only by water.

Due to its excellent location, you can spend a few nights in Crisan and go on day boat trips to explore Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe branches. Cross the Danube Delta’s lakes and canals and visit the small villages of Mila 23 and Caraorman.

The Danube Delta joins the Black Sea at Sulina, Romania’s easternmost point. Once a famous meeting point for adventurers and traders, Sulina is now a dozy city. With a population of less than 4,000, the port town can only be reached by water.

There is not much going on here, but you can choose Sulina as a base for day trips. Find a nice and cozy accommodation, explore the Danube Delta, lay in the sun at the Black Sea, and indulge in some traditional cuisine.

Don’t be shocked if you see a few cars in Sulina; most are used as taxis, driving tourists between the beach and the promenade, which is a reasonably 2.5-kilometer ride.

Sulina’s Promenade

The speed boats take you directly to Sulina’s promenade, a colorful and vibrant part of the town. You will find many day trip proposals along the promenade, so find one that suits you and go on an adventure. Or relax at one of the many terraces and spoil yourself with a traditional Romanian meal.

The Old Lighthouse

The old Lighthouse, built in 1870, was once situated right near the confluence of the Danube into the Black Sea. The building is a small museum now, far away from the river, proof of the vast land advance.

Sulina Cemetery

On the way to Sulina Beach, you will bump into Sulina Cemetery. Although an exciting place, the cemetery is in poor condition. It is a mix of cultures; that’s why you will find Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish funeral stones.

Sulina Beach

Once you get to the beach, you will find an organized area with lounges, umbrellas, beach bars, and restaurants. If you prefer a wild stretch of beach, walk further, and you will find an empty beach. What better way to relax than laying out in the sun with a good book in your hand, listening to the waves crashing, and watching the seagulls playing around?

Sfântu Gheorghe (St. George)

The village of Sfantu Gheorghe, where the Danube river meets the Black Sea, is only accessible by boat. It is a fishing village with a population of almost 800 people. You can choose Sfantu Gheorghe as a base for your day trips in the Danube Delta, riding down the canals and exploring the sites.

Or spend a perfect holiday on an empty beach, with no one around you, only some begging seagulls. I would highly recommend staying at Green Village , a beautiful resort designed with attention to detail. If you ask me, Sfantu Gheorghe is a place you can’t miss from this travel guide to the Danube Delta.

The empty beach of Sfantu Gheorghe: such a beautiful place!

Murighiol is a beautiful small village with beautiful Slavic motifs on most houses. The name translates as “Violet Lake,” coming from the lovely reflection of Murighiol’s lake in the evening. Once a Turkish community, it is now a tourism hub of the Danube Delta.

While many choose Tulcea, Sulina, or Sfantu Gheorghe as a gateway to the Danube Delta, I highly recommend choosing Murighiol. The best part is that you can reach Murighiol by car or by boat. If you wish to kick almost everything from this travel guide to the Danube Delta, Murighiol is the place to start.

There is plenty of accommodation and boat trips to choose from. Murighiol is also connected to the Sfantu Gheorghe branch, canals, and lakes. From Murighiol, you can blend adventure and wildlife with relaxation and comfort.

Situated on a hill and close to Murighiol, the village of Uzlina was home to a Lipovan fishing community for more than 200 years. Nowadays, besides fishing, Lipovans also deal with tourism. You can enjoy the silence and explore the wonders of the Danube Delta from one of the fancy accommodations. Remember, Uzlina can only be reached by boat.

Home to the Olympic canoe champion Ivan Patzaichin, Mila 23 is one of the most visited villages in the Danube Delta. Reached only by boat, you can spend a couple of days at Mila 23 and take boat trips from here.

The first thing you’ll bump into as soon as you get out of the boat is an honor panel of the Olympic achievements of men and women born and raised in Mila 23.

A visit to Mila 23 takes no more than one hour. First, take a walk around the village and admire the colorful houses, alleys, old boats, and fishing nets.  After strolling around the village, relax at one of the terraces and enjoy a cold drink away from the burning sun.

Caraorman, or “Black Forest,” is an old fishermen’s village, and the only way to reach it is by boat. Ceausescu planned to build a glass company on this sandy establishment, but this never occurred after the revolution in 1989. So, instead, you will witness abandoned residential buildings constructed for the employees.

The only inhabitants of the buildings now are the donkeys. During the summer months, they go upstairs seeking cooler temperatures. Don’t be afraid of them; they’ll happily appear in your selfies in exchange for some treats. You won’t miss the donkeys – they’ll be there to greet you as soon as you disembark from the boat.

You can tour the Caraorman Forest with a local guide if time allows. The four-wheel drive must be prearranged beforehand, so let your boatman or guest house know. In the forest, you can spot 400-year-old oaks that are growing from sand.

Letea Forest 

One of the highlights of this travel guide to the Danube Delta is a trip to Letea Forest (Padurea Letea). Established in 1938, it is the oldest nature reserve in the country. Letea Forest was once completely underwater and was Europe’s northernmost subtropical forest. It is one of the few places in Europe where you can see wild horses. Your visit begins in Letea Village and can be arranged in advance with your guest house, resort, or boatman.

The small town of Babadag can be reached by car. There is not much going on, but you can incorporate it into your itinerary if you have plenty of time.

Mosque “Gazi Ali Paşa”

Gazi Ali Pasa is an old Turkish mosque dated around the 16 century. Although restored and beautiful, there is not much information around, so there is nothing more to do here besides taking some pictures.

Address: Geamiei Street, Babadag

Sari Saltuk Baba Dede Memorial

Around the 12 century, Sari Saltuk asked permission from the Emperor to settle in the area together with the 10,000 Turkish families he was leading. The memorial was built in 1484 in his honor.

Address: Macin Street, Babadag

Accessible by car, the old village of Dobrudja is the place to be if you want to escape everything. It is by far my favorite place from this travel guide to the Danube Delta.

Enisala Safari Village

Enisala Safari Village is a beautiful and quiet place to indulge in the beauty of the Danube Delta. If you want a Dobudjan country experience, that’s the place to be.

We spent a few nights at Enisala Safari Village, a place where we could reconnect to nature. We woke up early in the rooster crow and enjoyed a delicious homemade breakfast and a coffee with a fortress view. What we loved the most here were the locals running this accommodation: always kind, with smiles on their faces, ready to help, giving us bits of advice and making us feel at home!

Enisala Homestead Museum

If you want to learn more about the local culture of the Danube Delta (Delta Dunarii), visit the Enisala Homestead Museum. The beautiful small museum includes a house with two rooms, a porch, and a few annexes for animals, utensils, and a kitchen. You will love the blue color of the facade and the traditional Danube Delta reed thatched roof.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Enisala Fortress

The medieval fortress of Enisala was built between the 13th and 14th centuries on a hill at an altitude of 116 meters. The fort played a commercial and political role, being one of the Black Sea’s best Genovese communities.

It’s worth a visit for its position on top of the hill, which offers lovely views over the valley, Babadag town, and Razim Lake.

TIP. For the best sunset in this complete guide to the Danube Delta, head to Enisala Fortress, as the panorama around this time of the day is gorgeous.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 20:00

Address: 2 kilometers outside the village. You can’t miss it since you will spot it from a distance.

The nearby Razim Lake, named after a Cossack leader, is the largest in the country, with a surface area of 415 square kilometers. It has a maximum measurement of 3,5 meters and small depths of 1,5 – 2 meters. The lake is an essential sweet water reservoir for irrigation and fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. A visit to the lake and the nearby area is something you shouldn’t skip from your complete guide to the Danube Delta.

The beautiful village on Razim Lake is another excellent option when it comes to experiencing the Dobrudjan lifestyle. The place is quiet, laid down, easy to reach by car, and still far from the unleased world. Walk around the sleepy village and cherish the houses painted in blue.

Once here, head to the lakeshore and admire the typical small wooden boats called “Lotca.” Take a moment to indulge in the beauty of the place before walking to the nearby Russian Orthodox church. You will be amazed by the gold domes and the blue exterior, which is very different from other churches in Romania. The village is home to a large community of Lipovans, so if you want to admire their costumes, head to the church for the Sunday morning service.

If you want to stay in Sarichioi, I highly recommend Casa Filip , which is a few steps from Lake Razim. For a memorable and authentic stay, it is definitely a go-to!

Gura Portitei

Another hidden gem of the Danube Delta is the Gura Portitei village, where the Danube meets the Black Sea. It’s a little piece of heaven, great for relaxation, sunbathing, and taking long walks on the shore. Is one of my favorite places from this complete guide to the Danube Delta.

To reach Gura Portitei, you’ll have to drive to the small village of Jurilovca. From here, embark on a speed boat, and in no more than 30 minutes, you will reach this beautiful place on earth.

Note . Prices for the speed boat at Jurilovca tend to be lower when booked in advance. Ask your host to assist you with booking one. We booked in advance and paid 60 Ron for a return ticket/person. Otherwise, a boatman will approach you, who will charge you more for a return ticket/person. The difference is not huge, so don’t go crazy if you can’t schedule it before. Another thing to keep in mind: you’ll have to let your boatman know the return hour. In case you change your mind about the return hour, ask for his phone number and call him one hour before the scheduled time.

Once you get to Gura Portitei, you’ll bump into the restaurant area. Head to the beach and leave behind the organized beach area.

Overlooking the sea, take it to the right, leave the tent area behind and walk a little bit further. You’ll have an empty beach all to yourselves. Relax, lay in the sun, swim, and do nothing! You will definitely forget about everything here. If you get hungry, return to the restaurant and have a delicious traditional fish dish.

The Best Things to Do in The Danube Delta

Taking boat rides in the danube delta.

The number one purpose for visiting the Danube Delta is to take at least one boat tour. You can arrange it through your accommodation, search online and try to find a private guide, or head to the harbor and find a boatman.

The boat will take you through narrow channels and many lakes, and you’ll have the chance to get a glimpse of what this part of the world has to offer. Bring your binoculars and discover life in its most beautiful form.

We arranged it through our accommodation, which I think is the best option, but finding someone willing to take you on a required route is hard to find. We had some struggles with our boatman at first, but as soon as he realized what we were looking for, everything went perfectly. As we came prepared with a map, we could explain what we would like to see and where we would like to go. With some suggestions from his side, we planned two beautiful day trips in the Danube Delta.

Note . We used Murighiol as a starting point for our two-day boat trips. Each boat trip took almost 10 hours; as a group of four, we paid €250 for the boat. It might sound expensive, but it was all worthwhile as we discovered many beautiful hidden gems and covered more than 150km in almost 10 hours per day.

Bring your binoculars and discover life in its most beautiful form.

Fishing in the Danube Delta

The second purpose of visiting the Danube Delta is fishing, which is practiced all year round (except the 60-day prohibition period). The Danube Delta is home to more than 160 species of saltwater and fresh fish. There are 30 areas where fishing is allowed in the Danube Delta, and the best places are the Crisan Channel, Vatafu Channel, Olguta Channel, and Fortuna Lake.

Birdwatching in the Danube Delta

Plan a day of birdwatching in the Danube Delta, one of the most important wetlands in the world. With a private guide, you can depart at a convenient time and cruise the channels at your own pace. You’ll have maybe the chance to spot the pygmy cormorant, egret, red-breasted goose or pelican.

Read more about this guided birdwatching day trip to the Danube Delta HERE .

Touring a winery while in the Daube Delta area

No visit to the Danube Delta is complete without touring one of the few wineries of the region: Macin, Niculitel, or La Sapata. The Dobrudja region is characterized by a lot of sunshine and low rainfall. Try some autochthonous wine varieties such as Fetească Alba, Feteasca Neagra, or Feteasca Regala.

Hiking the Macin Mountains

Hiking the oldest mountains in Romania, a mix of forest and grassland, is something you can’t miss from this complete guide to the Danube Delta. You will be impressed by a large number of flowers and medicinal plants. While roaming around, you might bump into some turtles, a common thing in Macin Mountains.

Discovering the Community of Lippovan Russians  

Lippovan Russians are descendants of the main Russian Orthodox Church, fled from religious persecution in the 18th century, and settled in Dobrudja and Eastern Muntenia.

If you want to meet them and see their colorful traditional costumes, head to the church for the Sunday morning service.

On our last night at Enisala Village, our host surprised us by inviting some Lipovan Russians from Sarichioi to entertain us. It was a pleasant surprise since we had never listened to this kind of music.

A Complete Guide to The Danube Delta – Our Itinerary

Day 1. touring enisala, sarichioi and babadag.

We woke up late on our first day in the Danube Delta as the weather didn’t seem promising. Our base camp was Enisala Safari Village, a beautiful, quiet place. After pampering ourselves with a delicious homemade breakfast, we wrote down some ideas. With the help of a good cup of coffee, the four of us made a pretty good plan for the days to come.

We started our day with a visit to the  Enisala Fortress  and enjoyed the views from above.

Another highlight of Enisala was Enisala Homestead Musem , a real surprise as we didn’t expect to see so many exhibits.

For lunch, we headed to Babadag. The town doesn’t offer much, but a good meal was more than welcome. We made a quick stop at the Mosque “Gazi Ali Paşa” and  “Sari Saltuk” memorial.

After that, we drove to  Sarichioi and spent some time on the shore of Razim Lake.

We walked a little bit through the village, visited the nearby church, and got a sneak peek inside the  “Casa Filip” homestay. Although not a place to visit, we got permission to get inside and see the interior. We even got up in the tower to snap a pic of the village from above.

We ended our first day embraced by silence and washed down a delicious fish and “mamaliga” dish accompanied by a glass of red wine from Dobrudja, witnessing the most beautiful sunset!

Day 2. Boat Ride: Murighiol – Uzlina – Isac Lake – Litcov Chanel -Ciamurlia Chanel – Crisan – Sulina Branch – Sulina – Murighiol 

We woke up early this morning, and the host was kind enough to pack some sandwiches for us. After a 45-minute drive, we reached Murighiol, where we met our boatman. After a quick brainstorming session, we left the shore. We spent the day on a private boat looking around, admiring nature, birdwatching, exclaiming every time we saw cormorants, pelicans, egrets, swans, bitterns, and many more.

We spotted many pelicans on Lake Isac and cruised through the Danube Delta channels until we reached the Sulina Branch and, last, Sulina village. After so many hours spent on the boat, the walk to the beach was more than welcome. We had a delicious lunch at one of the terraces along the promenade. After the little retrain, we got to the boat and returned from Sulina straight to Murighiol.

Day 3. Leisure Time at Gura Portitei

Our third day was a day spent at the beach. We prearranged a boat to take us to Gura Portitei from Jurilovca in the morning, and in no more than 30 minutes, we reached the shore. We left behind the assigned area for umbrellas and lounges, passed by the few tents, and found a secluded spot only for the four of us. It was truly incredible to find a beautiful private beach away from everything. We picked up shelves, swam, and relaxed all day long. Before our embarking time, we pampered ourselves with a delicious fish meal and a cold drink.

Picking up shells and relaxing all day long at Gura Portitei beach .

Once at Enisala, we hiked to Ensiala Fortress to witness the sunset over the valley.

Beautiful views over the valley at sunset from Enisala Fortress.

Day 4. Boat Trip: Murighiol – Isac Lake – Obretinu Mic Lake – Crisan – Dunarea Veche – Mila 23 – Caraorman Chanel – Caraorman – Puiu Lake – Erenciuc Lake – Caraorman Chanel – Caraorman – Sfantu Gheorghe – Sfantu Gheorghe Branch – Murighiol 

We woke up early once again and drove to Murighiol to meet our boatman. This day was sunnier and warmer, so we couldn’t wait to navigate different channels, see new places, and recognize more birds.

The boatman guided the boat through many narrow channels and passed various lakes, and we had the chance to see many pelicans, swans, marsh harriers, and many more.

We toured Mila 23 and embraced the beauty of the village. After that, we visited Caraorman village and took plenty of photos with the donkeys.

Our last stop was at Sfantu Gheorghe village, the oldest inhabited area in the Danube Delta. The beach was mostly deserted, so we had a beach all to ourselves.

Day 5. Visiting Tulcea and spending some time at the beach in Sulina

On our fifth day, we decided to drive to Tulcea and spend some time here. The town didn’t have much to offer, but still enough to cover a few hours of our spare time. After that, we embarked on a speed boat to Sulina, where we spent some leisure time at the beach.

A Complete Guide to The Danube Delta. Interactive Map – Points of Interest

Underneath, you’ll find a customized map that includes the locations you will visit during this hike. Just open up this article on your phone and click on the frame in the upper right corner of this map. The Google Maps app will open, and you can check all the details. I hope it helps!

Planning a Trip to Romania?

Secure your travel insurance for your trip

We never leave home without travel insurance designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong. If you’re still on the lookout for travel insurance for your trip to Romania, I highly recommend HEYMONDO , a trusted insurance provider for leisure and business trips, backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads. Their travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations and much more.

Get an eSIM before the trip

Because phones have become our most important devices, it’s necessary to have a data connection as soon as you step foot in a different country. Your home data plan might only work if you paid for a much more expensive package, finding wifi connections in airports or train stations might be tricky, and seeking a local store to buy a SIM card might be exhausting. Forget all of that! You just purchase an e-SIM, install it on your phone, and activate the plan when you’re ready to use it. Getting out of the plane and instantly connecting to data was a game changer for me. I didn’t have to waste time standing in line to get a local SIM card or finding a wifi connection to book a taxi to reach my hotel. If you ask me, getting an e-SIM is a quintessential part of traveling. There is no physical installation and no long-term commitments. And the best part is that you can always top up or purchase a new plan through the app. Pretty convenient, right? Find the best data plan for Romania HERE .

Take a look at my other travel guides about Romania:

6 DAY TRIPS FROM BRASOV

MOLDOVEANU PEAK, ONE DAY HIKE FROM BALEA LAKE

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN RASNOV

THE PERFECT 2 DAYS IN SIBIU ITINERARY FOR FIRST TIMERS

Are You on Pinterest? Save This Image for Later!

You may also like

The Perfect 2 Days In Sibiu Itinerary For First Timers

The Best Things To Do In Rasnov, Romania

6 Best Day Trips From Brasov

Very nice article about the Danube Delta. Congratulations!

Thank you so much for the kind words! I really appreciate your comment.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to my world!

I’m LIZY. Lover of new destinations. Exploring the world as often as possible. Sharing travel tips, road trip itineraries, kayaking & ski destinations.

Follow me here

• CZECH REPUBLIC
• EUROPE CITY-BREAKS
• SOUTH AFRICA

Danube Delta River Cruises

River cruises between exciting cities and unspoilt nature

A world of wonders: The Danube Delta. Experience wonderful landscapes on the A-ROSA cruises along the Danube with many exciting cities. Experience an unforgettable cruise with A-ROSA.

The Danube Delta is considered one of the most beautiful and popular travel destinations in Europe. No wonder, then, that the Danube really is the most beautiful and exciting way to reach the Black Sea.

The A-ROSA cruise ship sets sail past countryside and large cliffs and past the cities of  Vienna ,  Budapest ,  Bucharest  and our secret tip,  Belgrade . Along the way you will also get to know the World Heritage Site Wachau, situated not far from Vienna. There are endlessly beautiful photo scenes on these Danube Delta cruises, many of which will be a lasting memory.

A-ROSA SERVICE CENTER

We are happy to assist you!

Mon - Sat 9AM-6PM

Danube Intensive 2025

Complete relaxation between towering cliffs and cultural highlights..

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Budapest, Kalocsa, Mohács, Vukovar, Belgrade, Katarakten, Novi Sad, Ilok, Cruising Day, Bratislava and Melk to Passau.

from  € 2,798  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin S

Danube City & Nature 2025

A world of wonder created by nature and humans..

From Passau to Wachau, Bratislava, Ilok, Belgrade, Cruising Day, Rousse, Oltenita (Bucharest), Cruising Day, Tulcea, Oltenita (Bucharest), Giurgiu (Bucharest), Cruising Day, Turnu Severin, Katarakten, Novi Sad, Ilok, Cruising Day, Budapest, Vienna and Wachau to Passau.

from  € 3,998  pp

Danube Delta Cruise 2025

Moselle Discovery 2024

On a-rosa alea.

From Cologne to Cochem, Trier-Mehring, Bernkastel-Kues and Koblenz to Cologne.

CruiseCOUNTDOWN: Save 20 % on your River Cruise 2024

Available until 30 September 2024

from  € 648  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin A

Seine Experience Normandy with Paris 2025 - BASIC

Wake up in the city you were just dreaming about..

From Paris to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys and Vernon to Paris.

from  € 798  pp

Basic Fullboard | cabin S

Seine Rendez-vous with Paris 2025 - BASIC

The seine has plenty of time. and it’s in no rush to leave the most beautiful city in the world..

From Paris to Rouen and Vernon to Paris.

from  € 698  pp

Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2025 - BASIC

The best holidays are when you meet nice people – and yourself..

From Lyon to Viviers, Arles, Avignon and Vienne to Lyon.

from  € 598  pp

Danube Discovery 2025 - BASIC

On the danube you’ll find the city of your dreams. and then another one. and another..

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava, Krems, Melk and Linz to Passau.

from  € 548  pp

Basic Fullboard | cabin A

Rhône Route Provence 2025 - A-ROSA LUNA - BASIC

More beautiful images during a trip are not to be had. for the album and for the heart..

From Lyon to Viviers, Arles, Avignon and Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage to Lyon.

from  € 998  pp

Rhône Route Provence 2025 - A-ROSA STELLA - BASIC

From Lyon to Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage, Avignon, Arles, Viviers and Vienne to Lyon.

Rhône Route Méditerranée 2025 - A-ROSA LUNA - BASIC

Cast off for savoir vivre, art and life..

From Lyon to Viviers, Avignon, Arles, Port St. Louis and Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage to Lyon.

Rhône Route Méditerranée 2025 - A-ROSA STELLA - BASIC

From Lyon to Viviers, Arles, Port St. Louis, Avignon and Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage to Lyon.

Northern Rhine Experience 2025 - BASIC

Listen, because the rhine has so many stories to tell.

From Cologne to Willemstad, Ghent, Passing the seaport of Westerschelde, Passing the seaport of Antwerp, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Panorama Cruise Markermeer & IJsselmeer, Hoorn and Emmerich to Cologne.

Danube Classics 2025 - BASIC

Calm waters through europe's stormy history..

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems and Melk to Passau.

Basic Fullboard | cabin A3

Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2025 - BASIC

Travelling the rhine across western europe..

From Cologne to Willemstad, Ghent, Vlissingen, Brussels, Gorinchem and Emmerich to Cologne.

Danube City Panorama 2025 - BASIC

From Passau to Wachau, Tulln, Bratislava, Budapest, Esztergom, Vienna and Linz to Passau.

from  € 1,398  pp

Southern Rhine Nature Experience 2025 - BASIC

No wonder that the rhine has so much to tell..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Breisach, Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Koblenz 2025 - BASIC

Experience the best of the city and nature.

From Cologne to Nijmegen, Düsseldorf, Koblenz, Loreley Valley, Mainz and Rüdesheim to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Oberwesel 2025 - BASIC

An unforgettable trip between legendary cities.

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Frankfurt, Mainz, Cochem, Koblenz and Rhein in Flammen Oberwesel to Cologne.

from  € 1,098  pp

Rhine Experience St. Goar 2025 - BASIC

Where the fabulous splendour of fairy-tale landscapes sparkles and shines..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Frankfurt, Mainz, Cochem and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Panorama 2025 - BASIC

As if all the sights have gathered together for a photo op on the riverbank..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz, Loreley Valley, Koblenz, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Harbor tour Rotterdam and Emmerich to Cologne.

Moselle Romance 2025 - BASIC

Where the rhine whisks away the sweet moselle for a romantic journey..

From Cologne to Treis-Karden, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier-Mehring, Traben Trarbach, Cochem and Koblenz to Cologne.

Northern Rhine & Moselle Experience 2025 - BASIC

City holiday with country romance..

From Cologne to Cochem, Trier-Mehring, Bernkastel-Kues, Koblenz, Nijmegen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Harbor tour Rotterdam and Emmerich to Cologne.

from  € 1,498  pp

Main & Moselle Experience 2025 - BASIC

Cast off & toast - on your dream cruise.

From Cologne to Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Koblenz, Frankfurt, Aschaffenburg and Mainz to Cologne.

Rhine Experience & the Sea 2025 - BASIC

A view to distant horizons, great artists, vibrant city life and veritable treasures..

From Cologne to Willemstad, Antwerp, Passing the seaport of Antwerp, Passing the seaport of Westerschelde, Ghent, Dordrecht, Lelystad, Wadden Sea, Harlingen, Panorama Cruise Markermeer & IJsselmeer, Harlingen, Hoorn and Emmerich to Cologne.

Rhine Metropolises 2025 - BASIC

Make your way to belgian treasures, dutch lust for life and riverboats on the ruhr..

From Cologne to Willemstad, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf to Cologne.

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer 2025 - BASIC

Towards the ijsselmeer – the largest lake in the netherlands.

From Cologne to Dordrecht, Huizen, Panorama Cruise Markermeer & IJsselmeer, Enkhuizen, Panorama Cruise Markermeer & IJsselmeer, Hoorn, Nijmegen and Wesel to Cologne.

Southern Rhine City Experience 2025 - BASIC

Just you, me and our river cruise on the rhine..

From Frankfurt to Speyer, Strasbourg, Basel, Breisach and Mainz to Frankfurt.

Main & Middle Rhine Experience 2025 - BASIC

Your dream cruise to legendary metropolises.

From Frankfurt to Cologne, Königswinter, Koblenz, Loreley Valley, Rüdesheim and Mainz to Frankfurt.

Rhine City Experiences 2025 - BASIC

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht to Cologne.

Basic Fullboard | cabin B

Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2025 - BASIC

Spend your time on deck dreaming – but don't miss the dream-like landscape..

From Cologne to Harbor tour Antwerp, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Harbor tour Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Cruising Day to Cologne.

Danube Christmas 2024

A gift with the dark blue ribbon of the danube..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Bratislava, Vienna and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 1,068  pp

Danube Enchanting Christmas Markets 2024

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Bratislava, Krems, Melk and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Rhine Enchanting Christmas 2024

To enjoy a relaxed christmas on the rhine is no fairy tale..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Legends 2024

On the a-rosa alea & a-rosa clea.

Rhine Mini Cruise Netherlands 2024

On the a-rosa clea.

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Nijmegen to Cologne.

Rhine Christmas Frankfurt 2024

On a-rosa clea.

From Cologne to Frankfurt, Mainz and Koblenz to Cologne.

Danube Christmas Markets 2024

You take the leading role in this christmas tale..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Bratislava and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 498  pp

Danube Enchanting Christmas 2024

The perfect accompaniment to christmas: a poetic journey..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Melk, Vienna, Bratislava and Cruising Day to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Rhine Christmas Markets 2024

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Mainz, Frankfurt and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 654  pp

A cruise that’s as festive as any sleigh ride.

Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2024

Merry christmas everywhere.

€ 150 pp SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

from  € 768  pp

Rhine Christmas Strasbourg 2024

From Cologne to Cruising Day, Strasbourg (Kehl), Germersheim (Speyer) and Rüdesheim to Cologne.

from  € 1,232  pp

Rhine Christmas Dream 2024

Head north, from santa to sinterklaas..

From Cologne to Antwerp, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2025

Danube Classics 2024

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 1,797  pp

Northern Rhine & Moselle Experience 2025

from  € 1,648  pp

Rhine Experience Oberwesel 2025

Rhine Experience Koblenz 2025

from  € 1,198  pp

Main & Moselle Experience 2025

Southern Rhine Nature Experience 2025

Kein wunder, dass der rhein so viel zu erzählen hat..

Southern Rhine Experience 2025

Experience your dream vacation on the rhine.

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Breisach, Basel, Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz, Loreley Valley and Koblenz to Cologne.

Northern Rhine Experience 2025

Southern Rhine New Year's Dream 2025

Celebrate the new year with your dream cruise on the rhine.

From Frankfurt to Rüdesheim, Speyer, Breisach, Basel, Strasbourg and Mainz to Frankfurt.

Southern Rhine Christmas 2025

This year there will be no pre-christmas stress with your dream holiday.

From Frankfurt to Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Wiesbaden, Speyer, Strasbourg, Mannheim and Mainz to Frankfurt.

Main River Discovery Nuremberg - Frankfurt 2025

The river cruise of your dreams sets course towards the main river.

From Nuremberg to Bamberg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg and Miltenberg to Frankfurt.

Main River Discovery Frankfurt - Nuremberg 2025

On this cruise, moments become lifelong memories.

From Frankfurt to Aschaffenburg, Wertheim, Würzburg, Schweinfurt and Bamberg to Nuremberg.

Rhine Panorama 2025

from  € 1,298  pp

Southern Rhine City Experience 2025

Northern Rhine New Year's Dream 2025

Where's the best party in amsterdam everywhere in amsterdam..

From Cologne to Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Nijmegen to Cologne.

Rhine Enchanting New Year 2025

We not only keep the best for last. we also keep it for starters.

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Mainz, Frankfurt, Koblenz and Bonn to Cologne.

Rhine New Year 2025

New: on a-rosa silva.

From Cologne to Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Nijmegen to Cologne.

Rhine Christmas 2025

Celebrate where people know how to do it..

From Cologne to Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Koblenz, Frankfurt and Mainz to Cologne.

Rhine Experience & the Sea 2025

From Cologne to Willemstad, Antwerp, Passing the seaport of Antwerp, Passing the seaport of Westerschelde, Ghent, Dordrecht, Lelystad, Wadden Sea, Harlingen, Panorama Cruise Markermeer & IJsselmeer, Hoorn and Emmerich to Cologne.

Rhine Enchanting Christmas 2025

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz, Loreley Valley and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Experience St. Goar 2025

Rhine Christmas Dream 2025

Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2025

Rhine Christmas Markets 2025

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Mainz, Frankfurt, Loreley Valley and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Bingen 2025

Discover the magic of the rhine first hand.

From Cologne to Cochem, Boppard, Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt and Rüdesheim to Cologne.

Danube Enchanting New Year's 2025

The old year ends like the new one begins: with a new outlook..

From Passau to Wachau, Cruising Day, Budapest, Vienna, Dürnstein and Linz to Passau.

Danube New Year's Dream 2025

New year's resolution: marvel as often as today..

From Passau to Wachau, Cruising Day, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Wachau and Vienna to Passau.

Danube New Year's 2025

End the old year as the new one begins: with new prospects..

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Cruising Day to Passau.

Danube Christmas 2025

Christmas fairytale: a river cruise on the danube.

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava, Dürnstein, Melk and Linz to Passau.

Danube Enchanting Christmas 2025

From Passau to Melk, Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava and Cruising Day to Passau.

Danube Christmas Dream 2025

From Passau to Wachau, Bratislava, Vienna and Melk to Passau.

Danube Christmas Markets 2025

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava and Linz to Passau.

Danube Enchanting Christmas Markets 2025

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava, Krems, Wachau, Melk and Linz to Passau.

Rhône Route Panorama 2025

Searched the rhône, found peace..

From Lyon to Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Lyon, Viviers, Arles, Port St. Louis, Avignon and Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage to Lyon.

from  € 1,548  pp

Rhône Route Intensive 2025

Welcome to “midi” - meaning either “midday” or “high summer”..

From Lyon to Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus, Mâcon, Trévoux, Viviers, Port St. Louis, Arles, Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage and Vienne to Lyon.

Rhône Route Méditerranée 2025 - A-ROSA LUNA

Moselle Romance 2025

Rhône Wine & Gusto 2025

Traveling like a god in france..

From Lyon to Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Viviers, Arles, Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Vienne to Lyon.

from  € 1,948  pp

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer 2025

Moselle Discovery 2025

Take a slow boat to complete relaxation..

Main & Middle Rhine Experience 2025

Main River Enchanting Christmas Markets 2025

A special winter fairytale on the danube.

From Nuremberg to Regensburg and Kelheim to Nuremberg.

from  € 898  pp

Main River Romance 2025

The most romantic river cruise on the main..

From Frankfurt to Wertheim, Würzburg and Miltenberg to Frankfurt.

Mini Cruise Main 2025

A river cruise full of magical main river moments..

From Frankfurt to Wertheim and Aschaffenburg to Frankfurt.

Rhine Legends 2025

What dreams are made of: wild landscapes and lonely castles..

Rhine Metropolises 2025

Danube Mini Cruise Cities & Nature 2024

A short trip that will long remain in hearts and minds..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Wachau, Vienna, Bratislava and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 348  pp

Rhine City Experiences 2024

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin B

Rhine Mini Cruise Main & Lorelei 2024

To experience a little romance doesn't demand an eternity..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Frankfurt and Koblenz to Cologne.

Rhine Mini Cruise Main & Lorelei 2025

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Frankfurt, Loreley Valley and Koblenz to Cologne.

Crazy, diverse and entirely endearing.

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Emmerich to Cologne.

Rhine Mini Cruise Netherlands 2025

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Harbor tour Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Tour of lights Amsterdam and Emmerich to Cologne.

Rhine New Year's City Experience 2025

Happy new year in holland & belgium.

From Cologne to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Dordrecht and Nijmegen to Cologne.

from  € 1,698  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin G

Rhine Christmas City Experience 2025

So much to see - so much to celebrate.

From Cologne to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerp and Cruising Day to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2025

Rhine City Experiences 2025

from  € 948  pp

Douro Culinary Highlights 2025

A taste of holiday.

From Porto to Régua, Pinhão, Barca d'Alva, Vega Terron, Pinhão, Régua and Leverinho to Porto.

Rhône Route Méditerranée 2025 - A-ROSA STELLA

Douro Experience 2025

Chasing the sun.

Rhône Route Provence 2025 - A-ROSA LUNA

Rhône Route Provence 2025 - A-ROSA STELLA

Danube City Panorama 2025

from  € 1,798  pp

Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2025

Danube Classics Vienna 2025

A composition of culture and relaxation, history and indulgence..

From Vienna to Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems, Melk, Passau and Wachau to Vienna.

Danube Discovery 2025

Danube Mini Cruise 2025

From Passau to Wachau, Vienna, Melk, Ybbs and Linz to Passau.

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin A3

Danube Classics 2025

Seine Panorama 2025

Paris is sparkling like the stars in the sky..

From Paris to Rouen, Le Havre, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys, Vernon and La Roche-Guyon to Paris.

Seine Rendez-vous with Paris 2025

from  € 655  pp

Rhine New Year's 2024

On a-rosa alea & a-rosa clea.

From Cologne to Cruising Day, Strasbourg (Kehl), Basel, Speyer, Rüdesheim and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 2,047  pp

from  € 1,683  pp

from  € 1,419  pp

Rhine Christmas City Experience 2024

from  € 2,297  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin C

Moselle Romance 2024

From Cologne to Treis-Karden, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier-Mehring, Cochem and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 2,146  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin D

Southern Rhine Experience 2024

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Breisach, Basel, Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 1,446  pp

Rhine Experience North 2024

From Cologne to Willemstad, Ghent, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hoorn and Nijmegen to Cologne.

Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2024

From Cologne to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Cruising Day to Cologne.

from  € 996  pp

From Cologne to Treis-Karden, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier-Mehring, Zell, Cochem and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 1,646  pp

Rhine Discovery St. Goar 2024

From Cologne to Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt and Rüdesheim to Cologne.

Rhine Discovery Oberwesel 2024

I'm all fired up.

Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2024

from  € 1,296  pp

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer 2024

From Cologne to Willemstad, Huizen, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Nijmegen and Wesel to Cologne.

from  € 896  pp

Rhine Metropolises 2024

Seine Experience the Normandy 2024

from  € 696  pp

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA STELLA

From Lyon to Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Trévoux, Lyon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Avignon, Arles, Viviers and Le Pouzin to Lyon.

from  € 1,496  pp

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA LUNA

From Lyon to Mâcon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus, Lyon, Arles, Avignon, Viviers and La Voulte to Lyon.

Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2024

Douro Experience 2024

Danube Classics Vienna 2024

From Vienna to Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems, Melk and Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna.

Danube Discovery 2024

from  € 546  pp

Rhine Christmas Markets 2024 - BASIC

from  € 454  pp

Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2024 - BASIC

from  € 568  pp

Moselle Romance 2024 - BASIC

from  € 1,997  pp

Rhine Experience North 2024 - BASIC

Moselle Discovery 2024 - BASIC

from  € 668  pp

Rhine Legends 2024 - BASIC

from  € 496  pp

Rhine Mini Cruise Netherlands 2024 - BASIC

from  € 1,119  pp

from  € 2,247  pp

from  € 1,269  pp

Rhine Metropolises 2024 - BASIC

from  € 446  pp

from  € 1,096  pp

Rhine Enchanting Christmas 2024 - BASIC

Danube New Year's 2024 - BASIC

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Cruising Day to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Rhine Christmas Dream 2024 - BASIC

from  € 918  pp

Danube Enchanting New Year's 2024 - BASIC

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Cruising Day, Budapest, Vienna, Dürnstein and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2024 - BASIC

Basic Fullboard | cabin G

Danube Classics Vienna 2024 - BASIC

Rhine Discovery Oberwesel 2024 - BASIC

Rhine Discovery St. Goar 2024 - BASIC

Danube Christmas Dream 2024 - BASIC

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Danube Enchanting Christmas 2024 - BASIC

Danube Enchanting Christmas Markets 2024 - BASIC

Danube Christmas 2024 - BASIC

Danube Christmas Markets 2024 - BASIC

from  € 1,597  pp

Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2024 - BASIC

from  € 1,596  pp

Basic Fullboard | cabin D

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA LUNA - BASIC

from  € 796  pp

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA STELLA - BASIC

Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2024 - BASIC

Seine Experience the Normandy 2024 - BASIC

from  € 1,049  pp

Danube Discovery 2024 - BASIC

from  € 354  pp

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer - BASIC

Towards the ijsselmeer – the largest lake in the netherlands.

Danube Classics 2024 - BASIC

Rhine City Experiences 2024 - BASIC

Rhine Mini Cruise Main & Lorelei 2024 - BASIC

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer

Rhine Culinary Highlights 2024

A journey to delight the senses. on the river. and at the table..

From Cologne to Cochem, Koblenz, Nierstein, Mainz, Oestrich-Winkel, Rüdesheim, Boppard and Bonn to Cologne.

from  € 969  pp

from  € 599  pp

from  € 905  pp

Rhine New Year's City Experience 2024

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Amsterdam and Cruising Day to Cologne.

from  € 2,547  pp

Rhine Christmas City Experience 2024 - BASIC

Basic Fullboard | cabin C

from  € 1,697  pp

Rhine New Year's Dream 2024

from  € 2,647  pp

Rhine Enchanting New Year's 2024

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Speyer, Mainz, Frankfurt, Koblenz and Bonn to Cologne.

from  € 1,847  pp

from  € 1,099  pp

Danube New Year's 2024

Danube New Year's Dream 2024

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Cruising Day, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Danube Enchanting New Year's 2024

€ 200 pp SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

Douro Culinary Highlights 2024

From Porto to Régua, Pinhão, Vega Terron, Barca d'Alva, Pinhão, Régua, Bitetos and Cais da Lixa to Porto.

SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT € 200 pp

from  € 2,349  pp

Danube Christmas Dream 2024

from  € 1,499  pp

€ 100 pp EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

Rhône Culinary Highlights 2024

From Lyon to Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Viviers, Arles, Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Vienne to Lyon.

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT € 100 pp

Available until 29 February 2024

from  € 699  pp

Danube Mini Cruise Cities & Nature 2024 - BASIC

from  € 318  pp

Seine Experience Normandy with Paris 2025

The Danube Delta

Main attractions.

• Danube Delta
• Danube Delta Info Access Interesting Facts Places to explore Activities Facts & Figures The Delta seen by visitors
• Danube Delta Travel Planner Transportation Accommodation Food Tourist Info Maps

DANUBE DELTA INFO Access Interesting Facts Places to explore Danube Delta Activities Facts & Figures The Delta seen by visitors

DANUBE DELTA TRAVEL PLANNER Transportation Accommodation Food Tourist Info Maps

Danube Delta - Highlights

The mighty Danube River flows 1,788 miles from its springs in Germany's Black Forest to the Black Sea. Just before reaching the sea it forms the second largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas: 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands. The Danube Delta is a wildlife enthusiast's (especially a bird watcher's) paradise. Visitors can spend several days exploring Danube Delta's canals and passages, teaming with the highest concentration of bird colonies in all of Europe. The maze of canals bordered by thatch, willows and oaks entangled in lianas, offers the perfect breeding ground for countless species of birds, some of them from as far away as China and Africa. Egyptian white pelicans arrive to the Danube Delta every spring to raise their young, and Arctic geese come here to escape the harsh winters of Northern Europe. Some 300 species of birds make Danube's Delta their home, including cormorants, white tailed eagles and glossy ibises. Bird watching season lasts from mid-spring to late summer. Birds are not the only inhabitants of the Delta. There is also a rich community of fish and animals; from wildcats, foxes and wolves, to even an occasional boar or deer. Altogether, 3,450 animal species and 1,700 plant species call Danube Delta home.

The Delta can be explored as part of a Danube River Cruise or on day trips/ boat excursions from towns of Tulcea , Mahmudia and Murighiol. Tulcea is the largest town in the area and has good hotels and quite a few restaurants that specialize in fish dishes. The most interesting museum in Tulcea is, arguably, the Museum of the Danube Delta .

» The Danube River is the most international river on the planet - its course runs across — or forms a part of the borders of ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, and four capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.

» Formed over a period of more than 10,000 years, the Danube Delta continues to grow due to the 67 million tons of alluvia deposited every year by the Danube River.

» The Delta is formed around the three main channels of the Danube, named after their respective ports: Chilia (in the north), Sulina (in the middle), and Sfantu Gheorghe (in the south).

» The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve has the third largest biodiversity in the world (over 5,500 flora and fauna species), exceeded only by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Galapagos Archipelago in Ecuador.

» The Danube Delta is home to over 60% of the world's population of pygmy cormorants ( phalacrocorax pygmeus ), 50% of red-breasted geese ( branta ruficollis ) and the largest number of white pelicans ( pelecanus onocrotalus ) and Dalmatian pelicans ( pelecanus crispus ) in Europe.

» It also is home to the world's largest reed bed expanse – 625, 000 acres / 240,000 ha.

» Some 15,000 people inhabit the Delta area, living in 28 villages and one town (Sulina).

» The area was first attested by Herodot of Halicarnas (484 – 425 B.C.).

» More then half of the Delta Biosphere Reserve is virtually intact.

Places to explore in the Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is comprised of an intricate network of waterways and lakes divided between the three main estuary channels of the Danube. This area of floating reed islands, forests, pastures and sand dunes covers 3,000 square miles and is home to a fascinating mix of cultures and people as well as a vast array of wildlife. Located at the tip of the three channels, Tulcea makes a great starting point for exploring the Danube Delta.

Chilia Arm of Danube river

Bratul Chilia Tulcea – Chilia Veche - Periprava Access: Scheduled boat service between Tulcea and Periprava with stops in: Ceatalchioi, Plaur, Pardina, Tatanir and Chilia Veche The youngest arm of the Danube Delta stretches 72 miles along the border between Romania and the Ukraine and has the greatest flow of water of the three arms (approximately 60%) . Its shores are home to several scattered villages – Patlagean, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Tatanir – and Chilia Veche, a settlement with a long history (initially a Greek colony called Achillea). Centuries ago, Chilia was a port on the Black Sea, a vital link between Europe and the Orient. In time, the alluvium deposited by the Danube has extended the land ever further into the Black Sea. Today, Chilia stands more than 25 miles from the sea. First documented in 1241 in the works of the Persian chronicler, Rashid al-Din, Chilia Veche was the site of a battle between the armies of Mahomed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, and forces led by Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler). A town on the Ukrainian side of the Danube, known as Novo Kilia ( Chilia Noua -'Newer Chilia') was founded to counteract the Ottoman Empire, in the 15th century, by voivode Stephen the Great. Lake Rosca ( Lacul Rosca ), a strictly protected reserve located between Chilia Veche and Periprava, is home to Europe's largest white pelican colony; the area also harbors geese, egrets and storks. Periprava, downstream from Chilia Veche, is the last site served by passenger boats on the Chilia arm. South of Periprava, visitors can explore Letea Forest Reserve ( Padurea Letea ) home to rich wildlife including trees more than 500 years old. Oak, black poplar, elm, ash and thorny shrubs are smothered in the tropical creeper named periploca, a Mediterranean plant with reddish-brown bark and simple, glossy leaves, giving the Letea Forest its tropical looks. Here, you may encounter black-bellied foxes, wild horses, boars, falcons and white-tailed eagles. The surrounding sand dunes are home to tortoises and lizards.

Sulina Arm of Danube river

The Sulina Arm, shortest of the three, stretches some 42 miles from Tulcea to Sulina. Although it carries only 18% of the total water flow of Danube river, Sulina branch is the main navigation route for passenger and commercial traffic. Between 1880 and 1902, a canal was dug to facilitate river traffic, shortening the natural course of the Sulina arm and allowing for easier access to villages in the Delta.

Vilage Maliuc (15 miles east of Tulcea) Maliuc is one of the Danube Delta's youngest settlements, located south of Lake Fortuna, one of delta's largest lakes. Swans, moor hens and wild ducks mingle with other species; white pelicans often gather in huge numbers to feed and roost around lake Fortuna.

Village Crisan (28 miles east of Tulcea) Crisan is the main stepping-off point between Tulcea and Sulina. This village of fishermen, with a few houses and a fishery spreading on both banks of the Danube, makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding lakes and canals. From Crisan, visitors can rent a boat, or a lotca (traditional row-boat), and travel on the Old Danube Canal to Mila 23 and Caraorman settlements ( Black Forest in Turkish) village and to Caraorman Forest , a nature reserve home to brown oak trees, white and black poplars, white willows and fluffy ash surrounded by sandbanks. Owls, white-tailed eagles, falcons, wildcats, boars and wolves, as well as many rare plants, thrive in the area.

Mila 23 Engineers mapped the course of the Danube in miles, starting with mile 0 in port of Sulina (Black Sea). Hence, 23 miles inland, visitors will find Mila 23, a quaint traditional fishing village. located on a bend of the Sulina arm known as the 'Old Danube' ( Dunarea Veche ). Mila 23 is one of the main settlements of a small community of descendants of Russian refugees Lipoveni . In the early 18th century the Lipoveni fled Russia from religious persecution and settled in the Danube Delta where they make their living from fishing, livestock breeding and reed harvesting.

Town of Sulina Sulina, the terminus point for cruise ships sailing across the Danube Delta, was mentioned for the first time more than 1,000 years ago under the name of Selina in a work written by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenetes. During the 19th century the Danube river became a major waterway, suitable for commercial shipping and town of Sulina served as headquarters for the European Danube Commission. Traders, workers and businessmen from Europe and the Middle East, as well as adventurers and sea pirates were attracted to - and lived their life in - Sulina. Today, the only proof of the existence of Sulina's former international community is the local cemetery; Anglican, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish tombstones lay one next to the other.

Sfantu Gheoghe Arm of Danube river

Bratul Sfantu Gheorghe Tulcea – Sfantu Gheorghe Access: Scheduled boat service between Tulcea and Sulina with stops in: Balteni de Jos, Mahmudia and Murighiol A number of interesting villages dot the banks of the Sfantu Gheorghe arm, which stretches for some 67 miles and carries 23% of the Danube's total water flow. Mahmudia and Dunavatu de Jos were founded either atop or near Greek, Roman and Byzantine vestiges.

Village Murighiol , a traditional fishing village, is home to ruined Roman city of Halmyris, one of the most important ancient sites in Romania. Halmyris was continuously inhabited from the 6th century BC to the 7th century AD. Although a basilica and a crypt containing the tomb of Epictet and Astion, the earliest Romanian Christian martyrs, have been discovered here, much of the ruins remain unexcavated. A visit offers the chance to see an ancient city still in the process of being uncovered.

Murighiol is the jump-off point for boats to Uzlina. Located 24 miles east of Tulcea, Uzlina is home to the offices of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Jacques Cousteau Foundation. Cormoran Tourist Complex in Uzlina provides facilities for hiring boats and guides to venture into some of the more interesting parts of the Delta. First mentioned in 1318, the fishing village of Sfantu Gheorghe is known for its traditional cooking including sturgeon fish soup called Storceag . Sfantu Gheorghe is also known as the most important center for black caviar harvesting. A 20-minutes walk, east of Sfantu Gheorghe will take visitors to one of the longest strips of beach on the Romanian Black Sea coast.

Danube Delta Activities

Visit historic sites, explore the waterways in a canoe or traditional fisherman boat, catch a sunset you'll never forget, sample wine from vineyards dating back to the Roman Empire and savor some of the finest caviar in the world, the beluga sturgeon from the Black Sea!

A bird-watchers' paradise, the Danube Delta offers the opportunity to spot more than 300 species of migratory and resident birds, including eagles, egrets, vultures, geese, cranes, ibises, cormorants, swans and pelicans. Located on the 45th parallel, the Danube Delta makes for a perfect stopping-off point between the Equator and the North Pole for millions of migratory birds.

Some of the most important species of bird in the Danube Delta include:

White Pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotalus ) In March, swaths of white pelicans leave the Nile Delta and the Red Sea to come nest in the Danube Delta. The Delta is home to Europe's largest breeding population (some 3,500 pairs). Best seen: March to October

Dalmatian Pelican ( Pelecanus crispus ) After decades of decline, this species' numbers have slowly begun to increase in the Delta. Currently, some 150 pairs have been spotted in several small colonies. Best seen: April to October; some pairs may stay over the winter.

Small Egret ( Egretta garzetta ) A migratory species protected by law, the small egret lives in marshy areas and nests in small willows. Best seen: April to October; some pairs may stay over the winter.

Pygmy Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax pygmeus ) Best seen: April to October; some pairs may stay over the winter.

Ferruginous Duck ( Aythya nyroca ) The Danube Delta may be the last place in Europe to see this declining species. In August and September, large numbers often gather at Somova Lake, just west of Tulcea. Best seen: March to October

Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) In winter, thousands of this species – almost half of the entire world population – reside on the Razim-Sinoe lagoon and coastal plain to the south of the Delta. Best seen: Late October to March

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) More than 30% of the European population nests in the reed beds of the delta. Best seen: April to September

Danube Delta's waters teem with some 160 species of fresh - and salt- water fish. Species that are abundant include:

Carp – Cyprinus carpio Fishing areas: Sontea Canal, Sfantu Gheorghe Branch, Dunarea Veche, Chilia Branch Season: Early July to September

Pike – Esox lucius ( Stiuca in Romanian) Fishing areas: Lake Fortuna, Sontea Channel, Holbina area, Bogdaproste, Lake Rosu, Lake Lumina, Uzlina area Season: Early July to December

Pike Perch – Stizostedion lucioperca ( Șalău in Romanian) Fishing areas: Channel 5, Lake Sinoe, Sfantu Gheorghe village area Season: June to September

Cat Fish - Silurus glanis ( Somn in Romanian) Fishing areas: Sulina Branch, Chilia Branch Season: April; July to October

Caras – Carassius auratus gibelio,   Biban – Perca fluviatilis,   Platica – Abramis brama danubi,   Oblete – Alburnus alburnus,   Rosioara – Scardinius erythrorhtalmus,   Avat - Aspius aspius,   Lin - Tinca tinca, Scrumbia de Dunăre - Alosa immaculata.

Danube Delta Facts & Figures

Parts of this section are courtesy of the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, UNEP-WCMC

The entire delta region comprises 1,974,000 acres of which 1,678,000 acres are in Romania and 301,468 acres in the Ukraine. The Razelm-Sinoie lagoon complex adds a further 218,000 acres.

Sea-level to 49 feet

The Delta has been classified into 12 habitat types as follows: - aquatic habitats - lakes (2.60 ft - 8.2 ft depth) covered with flooded reedbeds, - 'plaur' - flooded islets, - flooded reeds and willows, - riverine forest of willows and poplars, - cane-fields, - sandy and muddy beaches, - wet meadows, - dry meadows (arid), - human settlements, - sandy and rocky areas, - steep banks, - forests on high ground.

The prevailing continental climate, with only 18 inches of annual rainfall, is influenced by proximity to the sea and the humidity rising from countless inland lakes and small waterways.

This is the largest continuous marshland in Europe which includes the greatest stretch of reedbeds probably in the world. The marsh vegetation is dominated by reeds Phragmites australis which form floating or fixed islands of decaying vegetation ('plaur') with some Typha angustifolia and Scirpus sp . Reeds cover some 420,000 acres and 'plaur' 247,000 whilst the total area not included is only 36,570 acres.

There are also water lilies Nymphaea alba , Nuphar luteus and Stratiodes alloides . The higher ground supports stands of Salix, Populus, Alnus and Quercus. Sandy areas are covered with feather grass Stipa sp. and other steppe species.

Forest elements are best observed in Letea Forest, occurring in a series of bands along dunes up to 820 feet long and 33 feet wide, where trees reach 115 feet in height. The species present are Quercus robur, Q. pedunculiflora, Populus alba, P.nigra, Fraxinus ornus, F. angustifolia, F. palisae, Pyrus pyraster, Tilia tomentosa, Ulmus sp., and the occasional Alnus glutinosa . Among the shrubs are Crataegus monogyna, Euonimus europea, Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Rhamnus frangula, R. catharctica, Viburnum opulus, Berberis vulgaris, Hippophae rhamnoides, Tamarix spp . and occasional Corylus avellana. The distinctive feature of the forest is the abundance of climbing plants including Periploca graeca, Clematis vitalba, Vitis sylvestris and Humulus lupulus . In spring, the ground is carpeted with Convallaria majalis . Particularly rare and threatened plants include Convolvulus persica, Ephedra distachya, Merendera sobolifera, Plantago coronopus and Petunia parviflora.

Over 300 species of bird have been recorded, of which over 176 species breed, the most important being:

• Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (3,000 pairs)
• Pygmy cormorant P. pygmeus (K) (2,500 pairs comprising 61% of the world's population)
• White pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus (2,500 pairs comprising 50% of the Palaearctic breeding population)
• Dalmatian pelican P. crispus (E) (estimated at 150 pairs, perhaps now only 25-40 pairs, on the floating islands on lake Hrecisca, which represents 5% of the world population)
• Night heron Nycticorax nycticorax (2,100 pairs), squacco heron Ardeola ralloides (2,150 pairs)
• Great white heron Egretta alba (700 pairs)
• Little egret E. garzetta (1,400 pairs)
• Purple heron Ardea purpurea (1,250 pairs)
• Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus (1,500 pairs)
• White stork Ciconia ciconia (many)
• Mute swan Cygnus olor (500 pairs)
• White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (V) (8 pairs)
• Marsh harrier Circus aeruginous (300+ pairs)
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus (3 pairs)
• Saker falcon Falco cherrug (1-2 pairs)
• Red-footed falcon F. vespertinus (150 pairs)
• Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensis (1,700 pairs)
• Common tern S. hirundo (20,000+ pairs)
• whiskered tern Chlidonias hybridus (20,000+) and black tern C. niger (10,000-20,000 pairs)
• White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala possibly still breeds
• Slender-billed curlew Numenius tenuirostris (K) has occurred on passage (28 in 1971 and one or two in 1989)

The Delta holds huge numbers of Anatidae in the winter with counts of 500,000 white-fronted goose Anser albifrons (but only 64,000-77,500 in 1982), up to 500 lesser white-fronted goose A. erythropus , 45,000 red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis (a globally threatened species with almost 95% of the world wintering population present here), 150,000 teal Anas crecca , 200,000 mallard A. platyrhynchos , 14,000 pintail A. acuta, 40,000 shovelor A. clypeata , 32,400 red-crested pochard Netta rufina , 970,000 pochard A. ferina, 13,000 ferruginous duck A. nyroca , and 1,500 red-breasted merganser Mergus albellus . In winter there is a concentration of some 30-40 Haliaeetus albicilla.

The Delta is very important for fish with 45 fresh water species present including threatened representatives of the Acipensenidae .

Otter Lutra lutra , stoat Mustela erminea , and European mink Mustela lutreola , as well as wild cat Felis sylvestris are to be found on the floating islands. The mink population, although its size is unknown, is significant in European terms.

The forest areas contain several rare reptiles, including Vipera ursini , Elaphe longissiuma , and Eremias arguta deserti .

The very long history of trading along the Danube is evident from remains of Greek and Roman settlements. Villages surrounding the Delta show Turkish influences.

Estimated at about 12,000, population of the Danube Delta is distributed along the three main waterways, Chilia, Sulina and Sfantu Gheorghe. Local population has been involved in small-scale, low-intensity use of natural resources, such as fishing (10,000 boats are registered), cattle grazing and beekeeping. The centre of commercial activity in the Delta is the freeport of Sulina. In the late 1980s the town underwent rapid expansion with 500 new dwellings being built, a hotel and a shipping centre to handle 3,500 ships annually. Other developments have taken place at Chilia Veche, Sfantu Gheorghe, 1 Mai, Unirea and Independenta.

The Delta is the meeting point of Palaearctic and Mediterranean biogeographic zones and represents a unique dynamic wetland ecosystem containing a rich biodiversity of wetland habitats. The site is internationally significant for birds, both breeding and migratory, including a number of globally-threatened species. It is also a vitally important buffer system between the hydrographical basin of the River Danube and the Black Sea.

The Delta seen by visitors

(Excerpts of an article by Ms. Nina Darnton, New York-based freelance journalist).

A visit to the Danube Delta usually begins in town of Tulcea, a two-hour drive from Constanta. As I boarded a small, brightly painted boat and headed for the delta, I entered a world that seemed almost anachronistic. Here, at the gateway to the 2,200-square-mile Danube delta wetlands, I found lakes and channels with crystal-clear water, and a network of islands, covered in swaying reeds, that would be blanketed by wildflowers in summer. The delta is a haven for bird-watchers; willow, ash, and white poplar trees provide nesting sites for more than 300 species of birds over the course of a year. The silence was broken only by chirping and the sound of oars cutting through the water as fishermen rowed by.

The Delta Biosphere Reserve has placed strict limits on future exploitation of the region. Scientists have divided the delta into three types of areas: those in which controlled fishing and hunting are permitted; those in which tourism may be carefully developed; and those that are completely off-limits to all but the scientists studying them.

IN LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER, the delta, bursting with life, is a breeding ground for hundreds of bird species, including the majestic white-and-pale-pink Dalmatian pelican. Like the pelicans, a number of birds found here nest in colonies, some as many as 5,000 strong. In summer, bird-watchers can see thousands of pelicans and huge flocks of the crimson-backed glossy ibis, with its long, curved beak. During breeding time, when the birds' colors are at their most brilliant, you might catch sight of some other rare species, such as the pygmy cormorant or the red-breasted goose. Or you might hear the call of an egret, and then spot a group of pelicans lifting gracefully into the air in a blur of black-and-white-tipped wings.

"You go out on one of these boats," says Gomoiu, the reserve's first governor, describing a trip on the delta. "You leave your line over the back all day to catch your dinner and then you see thousands of pelicans so close you can feel their breath."

Danube Delta Essentials

Visitors need a permit to enter the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Permits can purchased from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (ARBDD) as well as from travel agencies and hotels in Tulcea. Park fees: Day permit: 5 Lei (approx. $1.25) / visitor Week pass: 15 Lei ($3.25) / visitor Car access permit: 10 Lei (approx. $2.25) / car / day. Boat access permit: 20 Lei (approx. $4.50) / boat / week. Separate permits are required for fishing or hunting. Recreational fishing permits are offered for free. On-Line Permits

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration ( ARBDD ) Address: Str. Portului 34 A , Tulcea Telephone: (+4) 0240 518.924 E-mail Website Open: Mon. — Fri.: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed: Sat. & Sun.

Please E-mail Us if you require a list of tour operators that can arrange Danube Delta tours and excursions.

To experience the best of the Delta's flora and fauna, consider a multi-day trip. The best options to reach more remote areas or wildlife sanctuaries are a private boat or kayak (independent travel or guided tour). Make sure you have packed some drinking water and a strong mosquito repellent when exploring the Danube Delta.

Transportation / How to reach the Danube Delta

Navrom water transport company operates Danube Delta scheduled boat transportation from Tulcea to Sfantu Gheorghe, Periprava and Sulina as well as from Crisan to Caraorman and Mila 23. Danube delta boat transportation: schedules and ticket price info. Tickets are sold On-Line and at at Navrom terminals.

Navrom - Romania's National Water Transport Company Navrom Delta S.A. Address: Str. Portului 26 - Tulcea Tel: (+4) 0240 511.528 E-mail

Transportation with private motor boats, rowboats and kayaks is available in Tulcea as well as in other villages in the Danube Delta.

For information on companies that are offering private boat transportation, please contact Tulcea Tourist Information Center

Danube Delta Accommodations

Accommodations options range from hotels to floating hotels, B&Bs and private homes in the following locations: Chilia Veche, Crișan, Dunavățu de Jos, Gura Portiței, Isaceea, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Murighiol, Mila 23, Samova, Sfântu Gheorghe, Sulina, Tulcea, Turcoaia, Uzlina

Upscale hotels in the Danube Delta include:

New Lebada Address: Mal Stang 63, Crișan 827060

Danube Delta Resort Address: Strada Principala, 101, Crișan 827060

New Egreta Address: Str. Egretei nr.7, Dunavăţu de Jos 827152

Delta Boutique & Carmen Silva Address: DC2, Crișan 827060

Green Village Address: Sfântu Gheorghe 827195

Campsites are available in: Crisan, Murighiol, Sfantu Gheorghe, Shores of Lake Rosu ( Lacul Rosu )

Danube Delta Food

To get a full flavor Danube Delta cuisine visitors can try the local Fisherman's Borscht, Danube herring, grilled sturgeon fish and zander croquettes, washed down with locally produced Aligote, Muscat or Merlot wine.

Fisherman's borscht ( Borsul Pescartului ) recipe is quite simple: – In a large cast-iron pot water is brought to a boil with vegetables. 10 to 15 species of small fish are then added. The fish stock obtained is strained and the small fish discarded. Big chunks of sturgeon, carp or pike are then coocked in the broth; spices are added. Fisherman's borscht makes two dishes: first, the soup and then the big chunks of fish are sprinkled with chili pepper or garlic. Another populas dish in the Danube Delta is Saramura , big chunks of grilled carp in seasoned brine, served with polenta and garlic sauce ( mujdei de usturoi ).   Saramura comes from Latin " Salamoia / Salimuria " (salt water).

Danube Delta Tourist Info

Tulcea Tourist Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Tulcea Address: Str. Garii 26, Tulcea Telephone: (+4) 0240 519.130 E-mail Facebook Open:   Mon. -- Thu.: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.;     Fri.: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tulcea Tourist Information Center offerss maps, brochures, information and trips to the Danube Delta.

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration Administraţia Rezervaţiei Biosferei Delta Dunării - ARBDD Address: Str. Portului 34 A, Tulcea Telephone: (+4) 0240 518.945 E-mail Website Open:   Mon. -- Thu.: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.;     Fri.: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Services: information, Danube Delta tours, park permits and fishing licenses.

Crisan Information Center Centrul de Documentare si Educatie Ecologica Crisan Address: Crisan - Malul Drept, next to Hotel Lebada Open: May to October: Tue. — Fri.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat.: 8 a.m. – noon

Sulina Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Sulina Address: Strada I-1 197, Sulina Open: May to October: Tue. — Fri.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun.: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Discover Sulina - Tourism Promotion Association Descopera Sulina Website Facebook

Murighiol Tourist Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Murighiol Address: Strada Portului 93, Murighiol Murighiol more info

Chilia Tourist Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Chilia Address: Strada Dunarii 48, Chilia Open: May to October: Tue. — Fri.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun.: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Crisan Tourist Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Crisan Address: Crişan- malul drept, next to hotel Lebada Open: May to October: Tue. — Fri.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat.: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Sfântu Gheorghe Tourist Information Center Centrul de Informare Turistica Sfântu Gheorghe Address: Strada I-a nr. 39

Map of Romania Tourist Attractions and Main Roads Map of southeastern Romania - Danube Delta area Danube Delta map

• Black Sea Resorts
• Castles & Fortresses
• Medieval Towns
• The Carpathian Mountains
• The Painted Monasteries
• Medical Spas
• Traditional Villages
• World Heritage Sites

How To Visit The Danube Delta Romania With Danube Delta Tours

Posted on Last updated: December 15, 2023

Categories Romania

Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.

Are you heading to Romania and looking for something exciting and different?Want to explore one of Europe’s last great wildernesses and it’s largest protected area?

Then you have to visit the Danube Delta, a nature lovers paradise and a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and what better way than with a Discover Danube Delta tour !

Read on to learn how to visit the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in Romania and to discover why it is such a magical place!

How To Visit The Danube Delta Romania With Discover Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is located in the far-east of Romania and is the best preserved of Europe’s deltas where over half of the Delta Biosphere Reserve is completely intact.

So, what is the Danube Delta Romania? It’s 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands mark the end of the journey for the mighty Danube River which flows 2877 kilometers from its springs in Germany’s the Black Forest to its final destination: the Black Sea.

The Danube Delta (Delta Dunării in Romanian) is accessed from Tulcea but don’t be fooled into thinking you can just turn up and drive to it!

And make sure you know the best time of year to visit the Danube Delta.

This place is huge and there are no roads or paths through it – your only option is via its many waterways and for you to do this you will want expert help.

Discover Danube Tours are a small eco-tourism operator that specializes in showing you the best the delta has to offer in the amount of time you have. Want to see gorgeous vistas, rare and exotic birds and have photos that make everyone go WOW?

Then you’ll be in good hands!

Built up over 10,000 years, the Danube Delta still continues to grow up to 40 meters per year, largely due to the deposition of over 67 million tons of alluvial sediments annually!

Sadly I only had one day so after discussing my needs with their fantastic team we decided the Day Trip through the Danube Delta to Letea Forest would suit me best. 

I arrived early in the morning and was promptly introduced to “Johnny English”, our expert guide / ornithologist for the day.

We set off down the quiet side channels of the Danube, the morning mist still rising off the placid water as the suns rays danced through the forest.

Johnny enthusiastically pointed out rare and interesting birds along the way, with the kind of detail that makes you really fall in love with a place.

If you like reading about the Danbue Delta UNESCO Site you might also like:

• Romanian UNESCO Sites You Should Visit!
• 50 of the Best Places to Visit in Romania
• Top Five Things to Do in Malta: Diving, History, Nature and More
• Should you volunteer with Wildlife in Costa Rica (and what to expect)?
• Swimming With Whale Sharks From Tulum Mexico
• Ultimate Guide To Tikal National Park UNESCO Site in Guatemala

A heron is not just a heron, but a species that travels half the globe to be here, wintering in North Africa and Spain . Another similar species winters in the Danube and summers in the Arctic.

Johnny however knows when to just let you enjoy the peace and serenity of your surrounding, but always eager to answer any questions! [Well maybe not every question…We still are not entirely sure what this is!]

The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve actually has the third largest biodiversity count in the world with over 5,500 flora and fauna species! Only the Great Barrier Reef  and the Galapagos Archipelago have more!

A white-tailed Eagle soars above and I felt a little shiver run down my spine. Next a feeding frenzy of Cormorant and White Pelicans straight ahead.

Did you know Pelicans can’t dive so rely on the Cormorants to rally the fish and drive them to the surface. They can then eat up to 4kg of fish a day!!

Johnny was quick to explain that’s not everyday however or this incredible natural paradise would quickly be fished out!

During the day we explored major channels and tiny lakes barely half a meter deep. A major benefit of Discover Danube Delta’s boats is they are small and nimble, able to get to places others cannot and focus on small groups rather than rely on huge numbers and big boats like other less reputable operators in the area.

Their boats are also roofless allowing everyone to get a good view of the birds above and magical photos with clear lines of sight.

If your worries about being too hot like I was, don’t be … there is a nice breeze along the channel and if anything I was a tad cold  (it was 35 degrees the day I went!).

Did you know that the Danube River is actually the world’s most international river! It runs through or borders 9 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine. Crazy right!

Overall I loved visiting the Danube Delta Romania. It’s such a stunning natural environment and one of the last extensive wetlands in Europe and yet many people don’t even know it exists.

It is not overrun with tourists and reputable operators like Discover Danube Delta Tours help ensure its ongoing protection by sustainably and respectfully introducing tourists to its wonders while providing incomes to locals who might otherwise turn to illegal fishing or farming.

We managed to only see around 40 of the 350 or so birds that call the Danube their home and if you have the time

I’d recommend talking to Discover Danube Delta Tours about their longer stay options – next time I would love to try their overnight kayaking option to really get close to the incredible wildlife and the more inaccessible areas!

If your heading this way be sure to contact the guys at Discover Danube Delta  Tours and you will be in good hands.  As always please let me know your thoughts below in the comments, love to hear from you!

• Two Castles in One Day Tour – 12 hours
• Bucharest City Tour by Night – 1.5 hours
• Bucharest City Tour & Wine Tasting – 2.5 hours
• Bucharest Evening Tour & Traditional Dinner – 3 hours
• Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours
• Half-Day Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours
• The Last Days of Communism Tour – 4 hours
• Mogosoaia Palace & Snagov Monastery Tour – 5 hours
• Wines of Wallachia Tasting Tour – 8 hours
• One Day Tour from Bucharest to Constanta – 10 hours
• The Real Dracula Tour – 11 hours
• Experience Bulgaria Tour – 11 hours
• Transylvania Break Tour – 2 days
• Danube Delta Tour – 2 days
• Transfagarasan & Medieval City of Sibiu Tour – 2 days
• Medieval Transylvania Tour – 3 days
• Private Half-Day City Tour of Bucharest – 5 hours
• Private Full-Day Sightseeing Tour of Bucharest – 8 hours
• Slanic Salt Mine & Wine Tasting Tour – 8 hours
• Peles Royal Castle & Wine Tasting Tour – 9 hours
• In the Footsteps of Dracula Tour – 11 hours
• Private Trip to Peles Castle & Bran Dracula Castle – 12 hours
• One Day Tour to Bulgaria – 11 hours
• The Black Sea & Danube Delta Tour – 2 days
• Medieval City of Brasov Tour (Kronstadt) – 2 days
• Medieval City of Sibiu Tour (Hermannstadt) – 2 days
• Bucovina & Transylvania Tour – 3 days
• Romanian UNESCO Heritage Tour – 4 days
• Magic Transylvania Tour – 4 days
• Transylvanian Medieval Castles & Fortified Churches Tour – 4 days
• Maramures, Bucovina & Danube Delta Tour – 5 days
• Transylvania – 12 tours
• Bucharest – 9 tours
• Muntenia Wallachia – 8 tours
• Danube Delta – 3 tours
• Bucovina – 3 tours
• Bulgaria – 2 tours
• Maramures – 1 tour
• Tour Search

Adding item to wishlist requires an account

Already a member.

Username or E-mail

Forget Password?

Don't have an account? Create one.

Why book with us.

• Small-groups always
• Certificate of Excellence
• Fun & Friendly local guides
• Customer care available 24/7
• 15+ years experience

Have a question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are happy to talk to you.

0040.735.525.710 [email protected]

Romania tour: the Black Sea & Danube Delta Tour

The Black Sea coast is a vital region of Romania, and during the Black Sea & Danube Delta Tour, you will understand why. Here, old ruins are whispering long gone stories about ancient Greek and Roman colonists who populated over 2 000 years ago, the West shore of the Black Sea.

In Constanta, you will travel back in time and find out more about these colonists.

The trip’s primary attraction is Danube Delta, the second-largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga and the best preserved on the continent. It represents a natural treasure included of Romania on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with unique landscape, fauna, and flora. All these in just two days!

Private tour by AC car/minibus

459 Euros per person/ages 7+ 

Operation period

May 1st – Sep 3oth

Operating days

Tuesday – Sunday

Starting time

Departure point.

Pickup & drop-off at your address in Bucharest

English (other languages available on request for an additional fee)

Price Includes

• Transport by AC car/minibus
• Pickup & drop-off at your address in Bucharest
• English speaking Tour Guide
• Accommodation with breakfast included in double room at 3* hotel
• Boat trip in the Danube Delta

Price Excludes

• Entrance fees
• Lunch & dinner
• Photo fees at the visited sites (if required)
• Hotel extras

Additional benefits for our customers

• 10% discount at best restaurants in Bucharest including famous locations such as Hard Rock Cafe, Caru’ cu bere, Hanu’ lui Manuc, Pescarus,
• 30% discount at Museum of Senses
• 25% discount and a free group photo at 3D Museum

Black Sea Danube & Delta Tour in Romania – Highlights

• Private tour in Romania for a more personal and intimate experience.
• Funny, Friendly, Experienced Guide: Feel welcome, relaxed, and able to enjoy the tour to its fullest. Ask your burning questions and learn from your knowledgeable guide.
• Explore the Danube Delta (UNESCO Heritage)
• Visit Constanta - the ancient city of Tomis, on the Romanian Black Sea Coast
• Enjoy a boat trip on the Danube Delta's channels

Know before you book

• The tour includes accommodation in a 3-star hotel, a good standard within the Romanian hotel rating system. However, if you want, we can upgrade you to a 4-star hotel for an additional fee.

Romania travel - photos

Itinerary - The Black Sea & Romania Danube Delta Tour

Day 1 bucharest – constanta – tulcea ( 352 km).

The Black Sea & Danube Delta Tour in Romania starts with a pickup from your hotel at 08:00 am and drive to Constanta , the oldest city on the Romanian territory (657 BC). In the area, a Greek colony called Tomis was founded. Later on, the Romans have conquered the Greek settlements and renamed them Constantiana, after the sister of the Roman Emperor Constantin the Great. Nowadays, Constanta became the largest harbor at the Black Sea and the fourth largest commercial harbor in Europe. In the Old Town you will visit: The Museum of History & Archeology, The Roman Edifice with mosaic (the largest mosaic from the Roman Empire), the statue representing Publius Ovidius Naso, The Muslim Mosque built by the first king of Romania, Carol Ist as an homage to the local Muslim community (going up in the Minaret Tower you can have a splendid panoramic view of the whole city of Constanta), The Orthodox Cathedral dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul (monument of Byzantine architectural style), The Aquarium Constanta, the first public aquarium in Romania, and the Genoese lighthouse first built in the 13th century, and rebuilt in the present shape in 1858-1860.

Lunch in Constanta followed by a drive to Tulcea.

The Romanian city of Tulcea is known as “The gate to the Danube Delta.” The city’s Greek ancient name was Aegyssus, dating from the 8th century B.C. and later conquered by the Roman Empire. After a walk on the harbor’s promenade, you will check into your hotel for dinner & accommodation.

Day 2 TULCEA – DANUBE DELTA (boat ride) – BUCHAREST (350 km)

Breakfast in the morning at the hotel.

Today, you will go deeper into Danube Delta on a boat tour, the major attraction of the day.

Danube Delta  is unique in the world, and it is the largest delta of a river in Europe. Here there are 327 species of birds, 133 species of fish, and typical vegetation of wetlands. Thanks to all these natural riches, The Danube Delta was classified as part of UNESCO world heritage in 1991. 

During the Danube Delta boat tour, you will see one of Europe’s most beautiful places, including outstanding and typical landscapes (water lands) and many birds as pelicans, cormorants, egrets, herons, swans, etc.

After the boat tour, you will enjoy lunch and then prepare to leave Danube Delta’s natural lands and head back to Bucharest.

Drop off at your hotel and end of the tour.

Can I cancel my booking if I cannot travel because of the restrictions/health concerns for COVID-19?

Of course, you can cancel at least one day before departure.

If I make a booking, is the tour guaranteed to go?

At least 2 people are required for this activity to take place. If the minimum number of people is not reached, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

Can I make a booking for a solo traveler?

Of course. The total amount will be blocked on your card and either charged if we can confirm the tour on your date or rejected if we cannot confirm the tour for your date.

Related Tours

Transylvanian Medieval Castles & Fortified Churches Tour

Transfagarasan & Medieval City of Sibiu Tour

Proceed booking, or continue as guest.

• Route planner

Danube Delta

The best walks and hikes in the Danube Delta

Want to go hiking in the Danube Delta to explore more of this corner of Tulcea? In this guide, we’ve reviewed our full collection of hikes and walking routes in the Danube Delta to bring you the best hiking routes in the region. To see which of our walks in the Danube Delta is the right one for you, browse real tips and photos uploaded by other hikers—and see what they had to say about each walk.

Plan. Save. Navigate. Your best adventures await.

Start today with a free komoot account.

Lacul Ciuperca loop from Tulcea Oraș

Enisala fortress loop from tulcea.

Let us show you the way with the komoot mobile app

Lacul ciuperca loop from dalas, dealul mare – dumitru loop from niculițel, măngălăria – dealul teke loop from telița, lacul ciuperca – plaja ciuperca loop from cartier e3, discover more tours around danube delta.

Our Tour recommendations are based on thousands of activities completed by other people on komoot.

Popular around Danube Delta

Find the perfect Tour

Explore the most popular tours in the danube delta.

Cycling in the Danube Delta

Discover the most popular attractions in the Danube Delta

Attractions in the Danube Delta

Explore more of Tulcea : Browse the best Hikes in other regions.

• Munții Măcinului National Park