About Crișan
Crișan is a fishing village in the middle of the Danube Delta, on the bank of the Sulina branch, about halfway between Tulcea and Sulina. It is the seat of Crișan commune, which also includes Mila 23 and the village of Caraorman, and it has no road at all: it can only be reached by water. It has 423 inhabitants (2021 census) and lives mainly from fishing.
The settlement was officially founded in 1900, at the initiative of the prefect Ioan Nenițescu, as a Romanian village called Carmen Sylva, after Queen Elisabeth's pen name; it received the name Crișan in 1947. Romanians, Lipovans and Ukrainians live in the commune, and in 1973 the village was declared, on an experimental basis, a tourist village.
Crișan lies in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, and the delta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
What to see
Crișan is visited for its waterfront and for what leaves from here. Along the bank of the Sulina branch there are houses, pontoons and fishing boats moored under willows, and the Navrom Delta ship on the Tulcea – Sulina line calls at the village. From Crișan one launch runs along a canal to Pădurea Caraorman, another to Mila 23, and several boat routes approved by ARBDD start here towards Lake Roșu, Lake Trei Iezere and Sulina.
The village has the information centre of the Reserve Administration (ARBDD), where visitors can find information on routes and where the access permit can also be paid for in cash.
Good to know
There is no road: the ship from Tulcea calls at Crișan, and the launches to Mila 23 and Caraorman leave in the afternoon and come back the next morning, so a visit to those villages usually means a night. The ARBDD access permit is compulsory. Since May 2026, ARBDD Decision no. 139 bans every vehicle in the Caraorman forest apart from authorised ones, so the forest is visited without vehicles.
Information verified on 30 October 2026.
- The bank of the Sulina branch, with pontoons and fishing boats, when the Navrom ship goes by.
- The launch to Mila 23, the Lipovan village with the tower of the Ivan Patzaichin Museum.
- The launch along the canal to Caraorman, the start of the way to the oak forest.
- The ARBDD information centre in the village, for routes and the access permit.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: only as far as Tulcea, from where you continue by water: ~297 km from Bucharest (~4 hours), ~132 km from Constanța (~2 hours), ~91 km from Brăila (~1½ hours). The car stays in Tulcea; there is no road to Crișan.
Public transport: train or coach to Tulcea, then the Navrom Delta ship on the Tulcea – Sulina line, which calls at Crișan. The Navrom launches to Mila 23 and Caraorman leave from Crișan; more simply, boatmen in Tulcea run boat trips on the ARBDD routes Tulcea – Mila 23 – Crișan or along the Litcov canal to Crișan.
- Where to park
Crișan cannot be reached by car. Leave the car in Tulcea, in the paid car parks of the port (the River Station or Port Tulcea Aval, where the private boats leave from).
- Fees & discounts
The village is free to visit, but everyone entering the delta needs the ARBDD permit: 5 lei/day, 15 lei/week, 30 lei until the end of the year; it can be bought at permise.ddbra.ro, by SMS to 7494, at SelfPay stations or in cash at the ARBDD information centre in Crișan. Navrom Delta 2026, classic ship, adult, one way: Tulcea – Crișan 50 lei, Crișan – Mila 23 or Caraorman 30 lei; children under 7 travel free, pensioners get a 50% discount.
- Rules
Carry the ARBDD permit and an ID; checks are made on the water. A life jacket is compulsory in the boat. It is an inhabited village: do not enter yards and ask before photographing people. On the canals, keep away from bird colonies and do not leave rubbish; recreational fishing needs a separate permit. Drones need ARBDD authorisation. In the Caraorman forest vehicles are banned.
- Facilities
ARBDD information centre · pontoons for ships and boats · small shops and bars · card payment is not guaranteed, bring cash · mobile signal in the village, weak on the canals · no accessible access to pontoons and boats
Frequently asked questions about Crișan
How much is a ticket to Crișan?
A ticket to Crișan costs 5 lei/day (ARBDD permit; the village is free). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Crișan?
Opening hours at Crișan: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Crișan take?
A visit to Crișan takes about 1½ – 2 hours (2 hours; longer with a night).
Can you visit Crișan with kids?
Yes, Crișan is suitable for children (life jacket, mosquito spray).
Where can I park at Crișan?
There is paid parking at Crișan (only in Tulcea; no road to the village). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Crișan?
Crișan is located at On the bank of the Sulina branch, in the village centre, Crișan, Tulcea County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Crișan?
The best season for Crișan: May – September (May–September, daily sailings).
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