Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)
About Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)
Sfântu Gheorghe is the village at the end of the arm of the same name, on the left bank of the Danube, right where the river enters the Black Sea. It lies in Tulcea County, is the only village of its commune and had 639 inhabitants at the 2021 census. It is a fishing village first recorded in the 14th century: it appears as San-Giorgio on a Genoese map of 1318. No road connects it to the rest of the country. About 123 km from Tulcea by water, it can only be reached by ship or boat, and cars are almost absent in the village.
The village is ringed by a 6.5 km dyke, built after floods in the last century, and its wide lanes of low houses and reed fences run down to channels full of fishing boats. The church is dedicated to Saint George, from whom the village takes its name. The whole area around the village lies within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, and the delta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
What you can see
Along the channel bank are pontoons, fishing boats and, at the small harbour by the landing stage, buildings with reed roofs. In the centre stand the Orthodox church, a yellow and white building with two domed towers, and the cultural centre. The village also has the Village Museum, opened in 2014 with old objects collected by a local, and the old fish-processing plant of the 1950s, now derelict.
The 57 m lighthouse of iron and glass, built in 1967, can be seen from the village, and at the river mouth the fresh water of the Danube visibly mixes with the sea. A 2 km road leads from the village to Plaja Sfântu Gheorghe; the Sacalin islands are a reserve and cannot be visited, but can be seen from a boat.
Good to know
You reach the village on the Navrom ship from Tulcea, which returns the next morning, so a visit usually means at least one night. The ARBDD access permit is compulsory, and in winter the village is almost cut off.
Information verified on 30 October 2026.
- The mouth of the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, where the fresh water of the Danube visibly mixes with the sea.
- The 57 m lighthouse of 1967, the landmark seen from the village and from the water.
- The channels and pontoons with fishing boats, seen from the village bank.
- The church dedicated to Saint George, in the village centre.
- A boat ride towards the Sacalin islands, to see the reserve's birds.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: as far as Tulcea, then on by water; no road leads to the village. From Bucharest ~300 km (~4 hours), from Constanța ~130 km (~2 hours), from Brăila or Galați ~90 km (~1½ hours). The car stays in Tulcea or Murighiol, from where boat transfers leave by reservation.
Public transport: train or coach to Tulcea, then the Navrom Delta ship on the Tulcea – Sfântu Gheorghe line from the river station, calling at Bălteni de Jos and Mahmudia. The ship leaves Tulcea in the afternoon and returns early the next morning.
- Where to park
The village cannot be reached by car. Leave the car in Tulcea, in the paid car parks near the harbour, or in Murighiol if your transfer to the village leaves from there.
- Fees & discounts
The village itself is free, but anyone entering the delta needs the ARBDD permit: 5 lei/day, 15 lei/week, 30 lei until the end of the year; sold at permise.ddbra.ro. Navrom Delta 2026, one way, adult: Tulcea – Sfântu Gheorghe 70 lei on the classic ship and 80 lei on the semi-fast one; children under 7 travel free, pensioners get 50% off.
- Rules
Carry the ARBDD permit and your ID; they are checked on the water. A life jacket is compulsory in the boat. This is a lived-in village: do not walk into yards, and ask before photographing people. Enter the church quietly and modestly dressed. Access to the Sacalin islands is forbidden; watch the birds from a distance, from a boat. Leave no litter on the channels; recreational fishing needs a separate permit. Drones need ARBDD authorisation.
- Facilities
Guesthouses and terraces serving fish dishes · small shops · cultural centre · small harbour with a landing stage · cash recommended · variable mobile signal · no adapted access on pontoons and ships
Frequently asked questions about Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)
How much is a ticket to Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)?
A ticket to Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) costs 5 lei/day (ARBDD permit; the village is free). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)?
Opening hours at Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta): daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) take?
A visit to Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) takes about 3½ – 4 hours (a day; ideally 1–2 nights).
Can you visit Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) with kids?
Yes, Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) is suitable for children (life jacket, mosquito spray).
Where can I park at Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)?
There is paid parking at Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) (only in Tulcea or Murighiol). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)?
Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta) is located at Village centre, on the bank of the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, Sfântu Gheorghe, Tulcea County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta)?
The best season for Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta): May – September (summer, with daily ships).
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