From long-distance hiking trails to cycling routes and Delta waterways, Romania offers many ways to explore the Danube at your own pace.
Via Transilvanica – the route that unites
One of Romania’s best-known long-distance trails, Via Transilvanica crosses the country from Putna in the northeast to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, near the Danube in the southwest. Its 1,600 km pass through eight cultural-historical regions, connecting diverse natural landscapes, communities and heritage along the way.
In 2023, Via Transilvanica received the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Award for Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness Raising, as well as the Public Choice Award.
Via Danubiana
Via Danubiana is dedicated to reconnecting people with the Danube and nature. The route aims to follow the river along its entire Romanian section – more than 1,000 km through meadows, forests, villages and historic towns.
More than a trail, it is designed as a sustainable ecotourism network that supports local communities while helping conserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Danube. The sections in Giurgiu and Teleorman counties have now been completed.
EuroVelo 6
In Romania, EuroVelo 6 follows the Danube from Baziaș toward the Black Sea. From Baziaș to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, cyclists experience the dramatic landscapes of the Danube Gorges before the route enters the broad plains of southern Romania.
Along the way are riverside communities including Calafat, Corabia, Turnu Măgurele, Zimnicea, Giurgiu and Oltenița. Farther east, the route continues through Cernavodă and toward Constanța on the Black Sea – the final destination of a cycling journey that has followed the great river of Europe.
The route is currently not marked in the field, so cyclists should plan their journey carefully before setting out.
EuroVelo 13
EuroVelo 13 retraces the former Iron Curtain, the physical and political border that divided Europe for half a century after WWII.
In Romania, the route covers about 280 km through Timiș, Caraș-Severin and Mehedinți counties. In Caraș-Severin and Mehedinți, it reaches the Danube Gorges and overlaps with EuroVelo 6 – bringing two great European cycling stories together beside the river.
The route is currently not marked in the field, so advanced route planning is essential.
Routes in the Danube Delta
The Danube finishes its long European journey in an extraordinary landscape of channels, wetlands and small communities before meeting the Black Sea.
There are 15 water routes and 9 land routes for exploring the Danube Delta, with experiences ranging from birdwatching and canal trips to discovering the cultural heritage of the towns and villages. Local traditions, crafts and gastronomy reflect various cultural influences.
Visitors need a permit to enter the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, available online or in Tulcea.
