About Murighiol
Murighiol is the seat of the commune of the same name, on the southern edge of the Danube Delta, on the shore of a lake, about 38 km from Tulcea. The name, of Turkish origin, means “dusky lake”. The village has just over a thousand inhabitants (1,211 at the 2021 census) and is one of the gateways to the delta with no Navrom ships: boats leave its harbour for the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, the southern lakes and the lagoons towards Razim.
People have lived here for a long time: a necropolis in the village yielded Getic traces from the 4th century BC, and ~2.5 km away stands Halmyris Fortress. In the 19th century Turks and Tatars lived here; after the War of Independence Lipovans came in from Caraorman and Uzlina, driven out by floods, followed by Ukrainian families.
Uzlina belongs to the same commune, a hamlet on the channels north of the village, ~7 km from Murighiol, founded before 1800 by Ukrainian fishermen and left with 11 inhabitants in 2021. The name probably comes from a Slavic word for “knot”, because the waterways to Lakes Uzlina and Isac meet here.
What you can see
The village is quiet, with fishermen's lanes and gardens, and the attraction starts at the harbour, ~1.2 km east of the centre, on the Sfântu Gheorghe arm. The Reserve Administration has approved four water routes from here: route 5 (Dranov channel, Gura Portiței, Dunavăț channel), route 6 (Dunavăț, Cocoș, Mustaca and Centură channels, with an extension towards Lake Razim), route 7 (Uzlina, Lakes Uzlina and Isac, Gârla Perivolovca) and route 8 (Uzlina, Litcov channel, Crișan channel, Lakes Puiu and Erenciuc). Routes 7 and 8 pass narrow reed-lined channels, willow groves and waterbirds.
Near the village, the D3 hike leads towards Lake Sărături, an 87 ha salt lake and strictly protected zone where black-winged stilts and avocets nest; entering the zone outside the approved route is forbidden. On the road out of the village towards Halmyris, the marshy plain towards the Danube begins.
Good to know
The ARBDD access permit is compulsory on the water routes and can also be paid in cash at the information centre in the village. No Navrom ships call at Murighiol: the Tulcea – Sfântu Gheorghe line calls at Mahmudia, 9 km away, and the boat rides run on private boats.
Information verified on 30 October 2026.
- A trip on ARBDD routes 7 and 8, through Uzlina, along narrow reed-lined channels and willow groves.
- Lakes Uzlina and Isac, with waterbirds and cormorants in the willows.
- The Sfântu Gheorghe arm, seen from a boat, next to the village harbour.
- The D3 hike towards Lake Sărături, the strictly protected zone with stilts and avocets.
- Halmyris Fortress, ~2.5 km away, for the Roman ruins by the Danube.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Tulcea, on the DJ 222C via Mahmudia, ~38 km (~40 minutes); from Constanța ~148 km (~2½ hours, on the DN22 towards Tulcea, then county roads), from Bucharest ~360 km (~4½ hours, A2 and DN22). The harbour is on Strada Portului (DJ 229L), ~1.2 km east of the centre, and the road goes on to Halmyris Fortress. Uzlina is reached on the DJ 229M, ~7 km from the village.
Public transport: buses and minibuses run between Tulcea and Murighiol; the timetable is not published online and can be checked at the Tulcea bus station. No Navrom ships call at Murighiol; the nearest stop on the Sfântu Gheorghe line is Mahmudia, 9 km away.
- Where to park
Leave the car in the village or at the harbour, in the paid car parks by the landing stages, for the length of the boat trip. Do not park next to banks, water or reedbeds: ARBDD forbids stopping there.
- Fees & discounts
The village is free to visit, but the water routes require the ARBDD access permit: 5 lei/day, 15 lei/7 days, 30 lei until the end of the year; free for children, pupils, students, pensioners, people with disabilities and locals. It is sold at permise.ddbra.ro, by SMS to 7494 or in cash at the information centre in Murighiol. Boat rides are offered by private boatmen, who set their own prices.
- Rules
Carry the ARBDD permit and your ID; they are checked on the water. A life jacket is compulsory in the boat. Strictly protected zones, such as Sărăturile Murighiol, are closed to visitors outside the approved routes. In the reserve, tents and caravans may only be set up at authorised camping sites. Recreational fishing needs a separate ARBDD permit, and drones need ARBDD authorisation. This is a lived-in village: ask before photographing people or yards.
- Facilities
ARBDD information centre, permit payable in cash · landing stage at the harbour · guesthouses in the village and at Uzlina · no adapted access on pontoons and boats
Frequently asked questions about Murighiol
How much is a ticket to Murighiol?
A ticket to Murighiol costs 5 lei/day (ARBDD permit; village is free). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Murighiol?
Opening hours at Murighiol: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Murighiol take?
A visit to Murighiol takes about 3½ – 4 hours (1 hour in the village; 3–6 hours on the water).
Can you visit Murighiol with kids?
Yes, Murighiol is suitable for children (life jacket, mosquito spray).
Where can I park at Murighiol?
There is paid parking at Murighiol (in the village and at the harbour, paid). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Murighiol?
Murighiol is located at Strada Lacului 8 (town hall); the harbour is on Strada Portului, ~1.2 km east, Murighiol, Tulcea County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Murighiol?
The best season for Murighiol: May – September (May–June, birds nesting).
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