Tulcea

Tulcea is the capital and largest city of the county of the same name

Călin Coțoiu and Ana-Maria Cononovici, 30.03.2026, 19:40

Tulcea is the capital and largest city of the county of the same name, a city located on seven hills in the Tulcea Hills, on a permanently populated homestead since the Gumelnița culture period, from 2900-2200 BC. Although most visitors see it as a port from which to explore the Danube Delta, the city can offer unexpected surprises. The Art Museum, the Aquarium, the Ethnography Museum, the Avramide House, these are just a few of the tourist attractions here.

Tulcea, with 10 ethnic groups, 9 popular ports, 8 spoken languages, situated on 7 hills, 6 distinct places of worship, 5 religions, 4 architectural eras, 3 train stations, and 2 palaces vibrates with multiculturalism. The entire ethnographic heritage of these peoples can be admired at the Museum of Ethnography and Popular Art, housed in a superb interwar building with neo-Romanian influences. The Greeks left in their former neighborhood several beautiful houses, a 19th century church – like most places of worship in Tulcea -, but also a superb house with Art-Nouveau influences, where today the House of Collections is located, the Avramide House, named after Alexandris Avramidis, a well-known industrialist of the city at that time.

Also near Avramide’s house, we have the only cathedral in Dobrogea to which the sultan allowed, through an iradea – authorization – to have spires built. This was something new for Dobrogea of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. The “Sfântu Nicolae” Cathedral is a landmark in the city that must be visited, given its historical importance.

The Turks here left a legacy beyond a few old shops from the 19th century, the largest mosque in Dobrogea at its time, the Azizie Mosque, built in 1865 during the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz, but also the Pasha’s Mansion. The Pasha’s Mansion, currently the Tulcea Art Museum, houses works by Toniza, Alexandru Ciucurencu, Pallady, one of Grigorescu’s over 300 ox carts, but also several works by Victor Brauner.

The highest of the hills, Colnicul Hora, is where the Independence Monument is located today, and where there is also a beautiful park from where you can see the entire panorama of the city and the Danube. There is also the Museum of Archaeology, but also the ruins of the Aegysus fortress, ruins of a civilization from 2000 years ago. The name Hora, legend says, comes from the word “ORA”, because from there the exact time was given. Another hill is called Comorofca, from the Russian word “comorof” which means “mosquito”, because the Lipovan Russians resided there.

Veronica Pânzaru, a representative of a hotel on the Danube waterfront, spoke proudly about the delta and her city:

“The Danube Delta is a very attractive area. As you know, with the Biosphere Reserve, we are in third place in terms of biodiversity in the world. In first place is the Great Barrier Reef, in second place, the Galapagos Islands, in third place is the Danube Delta. We are located right in the tourist port. The ships for cruises in the Delta depart from here. We also organize trips in the Danube Delta, on ships with a capacity of 80-90 people. The ships are equipped with air conditioning, a small restaurant, toilets, all the comforts of the city, but in the Delta. With a very attractive SPA center, the hotel has also prepared packages for the Easter holidays. Back to the microphone, Veronica Pânzaru:

“We have a saltwater swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and a small fitness room. Our tourists can enjoy traditional dishes that our chefs prepare daily, meaning everything is fresh, we have a pastry chef, we have a confectioner. I think you should stay with us for at least three days. We have prepared Easter packages, with two nights of accommodation, with breakfast, with access to the SPA center and a welcome at midnight – the cathedral is close, you can go to the Easter service – with traditional Easter products. And on Easter morning, after breakfast, we invite you on a cruise in the Danube Delta with one of our ships, and on the way back you will have a party, an Easter lunch, but a real party!”

The invitation has been launched. Until next time, we wish you a safe journey and beautiful weather!