About Jurilovca
Jurilovca is a Lipovan fishing village on the northern shore of Lake Golovița, in the Razim–Sinoe lagoon complex of northern Dobruja. It has some 2,000 inhabitants and belongs to the commune of the same name, which also includes the villages of Vișina and Sălcioara. The Lipovans, Old Believer Russians who came from the lands of the Don and the Dnieper, founded it in 1826, and by the end of the 19th century it was already an important fishing centre of the delta region. The village still lives from fishing today.
The village is the southern gateway to the delta: from the tourist harbour boats leave for Gura Portiței, about 20 minutes across the lake, and 7 km to the east, on Cape Doloșman, lie the ruins of Argamum Citadel, a Greek colony founded in the 7th century BC. Lake Razim stretches away to the north.
What you can see
The village core is compact, with lanes that cross at right angles. The old Lipovan houses have white and blue façades and reed roofs, and almost every yard holds a Lipovan bathhouse, a separate building that works as a sauna. The Old Rite church of the Protection of the Mother of God is the centre of village life: its patronal feast, on 14 October, is the most important celebration of the community, and traditional dress, in red, blue and green, is required at services. Religious holidays follow the old-style calendar.
At the harbour, fishing boats and pleasure craft lie in rows, and from here you set out onto the lake, towards the little island of Bisericuța and Cape Doloșman. Lipovan cooking is built on fish: cabbage soup, vareniciki (dumplings), pampușki, fish aspic and dried salted fish. Local crafts are reed working, fish processing and carpentry.
Good to know
The ARBDD access permit is needed for boat trips on the lagoon and for the crossing to Gura Portiței. Departures for Gura Portiței depend on the weather and on the decision of the head of the landing stage.
Information verified on 30 October 2026.
- The tourist harbour on Golovița, with fishing and pleasure boats, where the boat for Gura Portiței departs.
- Lipovan houses with white and blue façades and reed roofs, along the straight lanes of the village.
- The Old Rite church of the Protection of the Mother of God, with its feast on 14 October.
- A boat trip on Golovița and Razim, towards the islet of Bisericuța and Cape Doloșman.
- Lipovan fishermen's cooking: cabbage soup, pampușki and dried salted fish.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Jurilovca is ~60 km from Tulcea, ~100 km from Constanța and ~310 km from Bucharest (3–3½ hours, on the A2 and then north on the DN22 through Babadag, from where the DJ222 runs ~26 km down to the village). The car stays in the village or at the harbour, where the boat departs.
Public transport: minibuses run from Tulcea to Jurilovca, with only a few services a day; from Constanța you change at Babadag. Beyond that, towards Gura Portiței, there is no transport other than the boat.
- Where to park
At the Jurilovca landing stage, the private car park of the Gura Portiței resort has 120 spaces, free and monitored by CCTV; the reception where the boat transfer is paid for is on the same site. In high season it is worth arriving 15–20 minutes before the boat leaves.
- Fees & discounts
The village can be visited free of charge. On the water you need the ARBDD tourist access permit: 5 lei for one day, 15 lei for 7 days, 30 lei until the end of the year, free for pupils, students, pensioners, people with disabilities and locals; it is bought online at permise.ddbra.ro. The resort's boat transfer to Gura Portiței costs 50 lei per person each way, with no booking; private boats from the harbour run around the clock, but fares rise sharply after 18:00.
- Rules
This is a lived-in village: do not enter yards and ask before photographing people. Enter the church quietly and in decent dress, with no photos during services. A life jacket is worn on the boat, and the ARBDD permit should be kept to hand on the lagoon. Recreational fishing needs a separate permit, and drones need ARBDD authorisation.
- Facilities
Tourist harbour with pontoons · car park at the harbour · petrol station near the harbour · tourist information centre near the harbour · shops in the village
Frequently asked questions about Jurilovca
How much is a ticket to Jurilovca?
Admission to Jurilovca is free (ARBDD permit on the water only). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Jurilovca?
Opening hours at Jurilovca: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Jurilovca take?
A visit to Jurilovca takes about 1½ – 2 hours (village and harbour).
Can you visit Jurilovca with kids?
Yes, Jurilovca is suitable for children (easy walk, life jacket on the boat).
Where can I park at Jurilovca?
There is free parking at Jurilovca (at the harbour, ~120 spaces). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Jurilovca?
Jurilovca is located at The tourist harbour on the shore of Lake Golovița, at the southern end of the village, Jurilovca, Tulcea County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Jurilovca?
The best season for Jurilovca: May – September (summer, for boats and the beach).
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