Route

Anyone who has traveled even once along a segment of the Danube is sure to carry unforgettable memories—whether from the natural spectacle offered by the river in certain stretches, the historical landmarks encountered along the route, the traditional dishes lovingly prepared by locals, or the many bird and animal species that find food, rest, or nesting grounds along its banks.

The Danube is home to a vast diversity of rare and endangered species and habitats. In Romania, the river flows through 12 counties* and crosses 11 protected areas: three large territories located in different sectors of the Danube**, as well as a number of national and natural parks found in the counties bordering the river***. Thus, the Romanian segment of the Danube passes through 11 of the country’s 28 major protected areas (accounting for 63.4% of the total surface): 68 of the 273 Sites of Community Importance (SCI), 60 of the 108 Special Protection Areas for birds (SPA), and 162 scientific reserves and natural monuments.

But a journey along the Danube isn’t only for nature lovers. From the Iron Gates, where the Danube seems to “boil,” to the Danube Delta, travelers will discover at every turn a unique yet little-known world where the life of the locals is deeply intertwined with the life of the river.

General Information about the Via Danubiana Route

Via Danubiana spans 1,075 kilometers, from the town of Baziaș to Sulina, and can be traveled via national, county, and local roads, forest roads, and other tourist trails. The route is divided into four exploration segments:

• The Serbian Segment / Mountain Area / Danube Gorge (Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți, Dolj)
• The Bulgarian Segment / Lowland Area (Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Călărași)
  • Via Danubiana – Giurgiu County
  • Via Danubiana – Teleorman County
• The Dobrogean Segment (Ialomița, Constanța, Brăila, Galați)
• The Danube Delta and the Danube’s Kilometer Zero (Tulcea)

Via Danubiana offers the opportunity to explore the river both on land and water—through cycling, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, camping, and engaging in sporting, educational, and cultural events.

^{* Counties: Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Călărași, Ialomița, Constanța, Brăila, Galați, Tulcea.
** Major protected areas: Iron Gates Natural Park, Small Island of Brăila Natural Park, Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
*** Additional parks in Danube-adjacent counties: Semenic–Cheile Carașului National Park, Cheile Nerei–Beușnița National Park, Domogled–Valea Cernei National Park, Mehedinți Mountains Geopark, Comana Natural Park, Măcin Mountains National Park, Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park.}