Danube Delta – Europe’s youngest territory

If you ever wonder where is the youngest place of the Old Continent – Europe, now I can clarify your the doubt: in Romania, there is a place called the Danube Delta. It is the last destination of the Danube, which after crossing 10 countries and 4 capitals, goes into the sea and forms the Danube Delta – an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trip in the Danube Delta, Romania

The Danube Delta is in top 3 most divers delta ecosystems in the world. It has a huge variety of migratory birds coming from all over the world to spend the summer in Romania, in the quite, wild and forgotten Danube Delta.

The entry point to the Danube Delta is the city named Tulcea, in Romania. Here you can find everything you need from tourist information, travel agencies, ferry, accommodation and recommendation.

Depending on what you enjoy, you can spend here from a couple of days doing small day tours, till the entire summer studying the birds and the entire nature, or living in the fishermen villages.

A fisherman in a boat in the Danube Delta

The only transportation over the Danube Delta is the ferry which goes to other villages which reside on the other end of the Danube Delta – near Black Sea. Here there are several virgin beaches and places forgotten by the world.

Some Romanians don’t like to go to the Danube Delta because of the mosquitoes. If you go early summer you will not need any repellent, but if you go later, any good mosquitoes repellent will keep you safe to enjoy this wonderful place which the nature has gifted us.

In one word, the Danube Delta is literally speechless.

Gura Portitei – the place where the cars are forbidden

Imagine a place where there are no cars, where the delta meats the sea, where the sand replaces the backwaters, where the sun seems to rise and set from the same place… Imagine a virgin beach, different, which traps you inside if you are not prepared. Imagine the lake, a river and the sea and a small strap of sand… that is Gura Portitei – the Mouth of the Little Gate.

A decade or two ago, this place was completely virgin, with absolutely nothing available: no running water, no light, no place to stay, nothing.

Gura Portitei – One of Romania’s Virgin Beaches

Nowadays you have several options in terms of accommodation, food, drinks, relaxation by the beach.

1. How do you get there?

a. Public Transportation

By public transportation: there is a mini bus from Tulcea which goes to Jirilovca. You must ask the ticket office in order to get the right information. Gura Portitei is yet an unknown place for most of the locals.

b. Car

The best and easiest way is to go by car till Jirilovca. Here you may want to park your car safe and take out all the things you may need, because ones you leave to Gura Portitei you are trapped there.

From here you will take either the fast(30min) or the slow(1.5hours) boat. It all depends on how many people there are. Or, you can rent a private fast boat(20min). Or.. your own private boat.

Boarding place to Gura Portitei

Ones you get down from the boat, everything changes. It is like you step on a a different land – the land of peace and deep relaxation.

Arriving point – Gura Portitei

2. Where to stay

a. Room

If you plan to stay overnight, and not really in a tent, plan it well in advance or you may risk to not find a place to stay.

b. Tent

You must bring everything you need, because ones you arrived on this part of the world, there will not be anything available.

Accommodation in Gura Portitei

3. Where to eat

There is only a restaurant, where the food is simple fresh and delicious. I recommend the fish soup and the apple pie.

Restaurant Gura Portitei

In the official website of Gura Portitei you can figure out more information.