Visit Tulcea, a city on the River Danube in Romania

Tulcea is a city in eastern Romania on the River Danube. It has an interesting history and a few attractions to see and things to do. This is the gateway for visitors to the Danube Delta resorts. Tulcea is the administrative centre for the county of the same name in the Dobruja region of Romania. It is on the banks of the Danube, where many Delta Dunării cruises and boat trips start.

We visited the city when travelling from Constanta after a seaside break in Mamaia. The eventual destination was Sfântu Gheorghe, on the Danube Delta. The journey involved changing from a minibus to a boat in Tulcea.

Things to Do in Tulcea

After arriving at the autogara, or bus station, I proceeded through a nearby park with many historical statues called Personalities Park. There were some fascinating things to see and lots of walking to do.

Market

From there, I headed up a hill through the street market, selling fresh food. It was a shame I needed none. The fruit and veg smelt very good and looked very colourful. The fruits and vegetables are locally produced and are cheap.

Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian

At the top of the hill, overlooking the city, was a church that I had spotted from the bus into Tulcea. They named this Catedrala Sfântului Ioan Teologul Tulcea. The Orthodox Church was formed by the Lipoveni Russians. They dedicated it to Saint John the Theologian. This building has a dominant tower that is visible from quite a distance. The church has neoclassical elements. It was a shame that the church was in a gated area; however, I managed to get a few nice photographs of the exterior.

St Nicholas’ Cathedral

Next, I walked down the hill through a residential area towards the centre of the city. I subsequently arrived at the photogenic St Nicholas’ Cathedral.

The Catedrala Sfântul Nicolae is an imposing building and grabs your attention. The cathedral was built in the Byzantine style in the shape of a cross, and it was surely created to be noticed. I had a nice rest in the gardens to cool down after my brisk walk.

St Nicholas’ Cathedral has a very melodic bell that you can hear for quite some distance when it is rung. It was a shame I didn’t hear it on my hour-long mini-tour of the city. The church has a colourful and fascinating history and now contains many valuable and historical artefacts. Next, I wandered through the shops and reached Piaţa Civică.

Monuments in Piața Civică

This is a public square in the central area of town. The statue of a man on a horse, the archway and the fountains attracted me. Piaţa Civică hosts live music concerts and also has a play area for children. The horse statue was built in 1947 and depicts Mircea I of Wallachia. He was the father of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). Mircea’s reign is often considered to have brought stability to Wallachia, a volatile region.

Shopping

After visiting the square, I had an errand to get snacks and some cold beer. Refreshments for the impending 4-hour boat trip down the River Danube to Sfântu Gheorghe. The supermarket was spotted and entered. I grabbed enough supplies to stay hydrated and keep my energy up.

The Waterfront

Next, I headed back to the river and walked down the waterfront promenade. This had many moorings for riverboats and gift shops. There were also options for places to eat, including a very nice-smelling Kürtos stall. Anyway, I was due to meet my wife at a restaurant and collect the bags. Then on to board the Navrom boat for our cruise downstream on the river.

Danube River Cruises

A few River Danube cruises stop in the city so their passengers can explore it. After Tulcea, cruises head either downstream toward the Black Sea or upstream toward the great cities of Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna.

Where to Stay?

There are many places to stay in the city, from apartments to hostels to hotels. The city is an ideal base for exploring the beautiful Danube Delta. More info…

Travel By Train

Although I didn’t travel to Tulcea using an Interrail pass. I could have taken a train from Constanta or Bucharest. The trains in Romania are pretty cheap, so you may wish to save your days for more expensive trips.

Review of Tulcea in Romania

Tulcea is a pleasant town; I would have loved more time to explore. It would have been nice to grab a meal out. Time was of the essence, though. The waterfront was a lovely area, as were the churches throughout the city centre.