About Mahmudia
Mahmudia is a village on the bank of the Sfântu Gheorghe arm of the Danube, ~31 km from Tulcea, at the edge of the Danube Delta. It is the seat of the commune of the same name, which consists only of this village and had 2,163 inhabitants at the 2021 census: mostly Romanians, with a minority of Lipovan Russians.
Roman, Byzantine and Genoese sources call the place Salsovia; the name Mahmudia appears in Ottoman times and stayed in use after 1878. About 500 m from the north-western edge of the village lies the archaeological site of Salsovia Fortress, a listed historic monument: a Hellenistic Greek settlement, built over by a Roman fort and then a Roman-Byzantine fortress, inhabited until the early 7th century. Salsovia appears in the Itinerarium Antonini and on the Tabula Peutingeriana.
The village is a starting point for the south of the delta: the Navrom Delta ship on the Tulcea – Sfântu Gheorghe line calls here.
What you can see
On the waterfront are the ship's landing stage and, a little further on, the cranes of the cargo port; from the bank and from the water you see the Beștepe hills, which surround the village and belong to the Beștepe – Mahmudia Natura 2000 special protection area for birds (3,654 ha), protected for the migratory birds of the Via Pontica flyway. The landscape is steppe, with grassland, rocky outcrops and farmland. At the edge of the village, Salsovia Fortress is a place of history rather than something to look at: it is visited as an archaeological site, not as a landscaped ruin.
Good to know
No tourist route approved by the Reserve Administration starts from Mahmudia: for boat trips on the southern lakes you leave from Murighiol, ~9 km away, where Halmyris Fortress is as well. From Mahmudia you can go on towards Sfântu Gheorghe only by Navrom ship.
Information verified on 30 October 2026.
- The landing stage on the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, where the Navrom ship to Sfântu Gheorghe leaves from.
- The Beștepe hills, seen from the village and from the water, in the Beștepe – Mahmudia Natura 2000 area.
- The Salsovia archaeological site, from the Hellenistic settlement to the Roman-Byzantine fortress.
- The ship trip along the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, towards Sfântu Gheorghe and the Black Sea.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Tulcea ~31 km (~35 min), on county road DJ222C towards Nufăru and Mahmudia; from Bucharest ~330 km (~4½ hours), from Constanța ~160 km (~2½ hours). From Mahmudia, Murighiol is ~9 km away on the same county road.
Public transport: the Navrom Delta ship from Tulcea harbour, on the Tulcea – Sfântu Gheorghe line, calling at Bălteni de Jos and Mahmudia; from Mahmudia you can continue on the same ship to Sfântu Gheorghe.
- Where to park
In the village you park on the street, near the landing stage.
- Fees & discounts
The village is free to visit. Navrom Delta, adult, one way: on the classic ship Tulcea – Mahmudia 36 lei and Mahmudia – Sfântu Gheorghe 56 lei, on the semi-fast ship 38 lei and 66 lei; for tickets bought online the classic-ship price applies. Children under 7 and pupils travel free, and pensioners get a reduction; these tickets are bought at the ticket office or on board, with documents. Anyone continuing into the reserve needs the ARBDD access permit: 5 lei/day, 15 lei/7 days, 30 lei until the end of the year, at permise.ddbra.ro.
- Rules
On the water, carry the ARBDD permit and your ID. This is a lived-in village: do not walk into yards, and ask before photographing people. In the Natura 2000 area keep to the existing tracks, leave no litter and do not disturb the birds. At the archaeological site do not climb the walls and do not take anything from the ground.
Frequently asked questions about Mahmudia
How much is a ticket to Mahmudia?
Admission to Mahmudia is free (the village; the water trip is paid separately). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Mahmudia?
Opening hours at Mahmudia: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Mahmudia take?
A visit to Mahmudia takes about ½ – 1 hours (1–2 hours in the village and on the bank).
Can you visit Mahmudia with kids?
Yes, Mahmudia is suitable for children (mind the water's edge).
Where can I park at Mahmudia?
There is free parking at Mahmudia (on the street, in the village). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Mahmudia?
Mahmudia is located at The landing stage on the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, at the end of Strada Portului, Mahmudia, Tulcea County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Mahmudia?
The best season for Mahmudia: May – September (May–Sept., more sailings).
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