Up to Hinova, National Road 57 follows the course of the Danube, marking the most spectacular section of the river’s upper course in Romania. Along the way, you can stop at Moldova Nouă and Șvinița, the Danube Boilers (Cazanele Dunării) and the rock-carved statue “The Face of Decebalus,” in Orșova, and at the Iron Gates I and II dams.

From Hinova, we recommend continuing along the Danube via National Road 56A, with must-see stops at the restored natural area of Gârla Mare and, for accommodation, beach time, and picnics, at the Cetate Cultural Port.

The Bulgarian Segment / The Lowland Area

The Danube Gorge, also known as the Danube Defile, is the most spectacular canyon of the entire river, stretching over 150 km from the point where the river enters Romania at Baziaș to Gura Văii.

Nature and history lovers will find plenty of stops along the way: the Roman castrum at Moldova Nouă, Șvinița—with the Tricule Fortress, its fig orchards, reddish soil, and unique Mediterranean-like climate for Romania. We recommend a stop on the Danube’s bank just past Coronini to admire Baba Caia Rock, rising seven meters above the water, or to visit Ladislau Fortress and the Village Museum in Gornea, the stilt village of Berzasca, and the Drencova Fortress.

The journey can be extended with a few days spent in the Danube Gorge area, including a stop at the Balta Nera micro-delta, the island near the town of Moldova Nouă, the swallow cliffs of Pojejena, the Valea Mare botanical reserve with its unique Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean flora, Gaura cu Muscă Cave, Gaura Ghindiei Cave with Paleolithic and Neolithic rock art fragments, Ponicova Cave, and Veterani Cave—believed to have been a sanctuary dedicated to Zamolxis.

The Danube Boilers (Cazanele Dunării)

The Great and Small Boilers stretch over nearly 9 km and are separated only by Dubova Bay, where the Danube appears to “boil”—a sensation that can only be experienced from the middle of the river. Here, the water is forced through narrow mountain passes. The Danube narrows to just 180–250 meters wide and reaches depths of up to 100 meters. The powerful underwater currents and deep crevices give the surface the appearance of a boiling cauldron. The area is declared a unique natural monument in Europe and can be explored by hiring a boat.

Located near the village of Dubova, the Great Boilers are dominated by the Ciucaru Mare massif, while the Small Boilers lie near Eșelnița. At the Boilers, the Danube passes through the narrowest area of the gorge. Here, you can enjoy various activities: boat rides, fishing, or hiking in the “Iron Gates” National Park.

The Statue of Decebalus

The roaring waters at the Boilers are watched over by the cold stone gaze of Dacian king Decebalus. In Mraconia Bay stands Europe’s tallest rock sculpture at 55 meters—the Face of Decebalus. Nearby is the Tabula Traiana, a Roman inscription bearing witness to the roads built under emperors Tiberius, Domitian, and Trajan.

Close to Decebalus’ face is Mraconia Monastery, built on the site of a former Danube navigation observation point.

Another tourist attraction in the area is Ponicova Cave, carved into the Danube’s left bank and declared a speleological reserve.

Orșova

Less developed from a tourism perspective, Orșova is a great place to rest after completing the first segment of the Via Danubiana. The town offers numerous accommodations and fish-specialty restaurants. If you choose to stay longer, you can visit St. Ana Monastery and admire the birdlife in Cerna Bay.

As you resume your journey toward the Iron Gates, you can take a detour to Vodița Monastery, which still preserves the remains of the oldest documented princely foundation in Wallachia.

Iron Gates I and II

We continue toward Drobeta-Turnu Severin, not before stopping at the Iron Gates I dam, where you can also visit the museum that tells the story of this area. From here, you can follow the thematic trail “Between Nature and History” developed by the MaiMultVerde Association as part of the “With Clean Waters” program.

The Terra Romana segment of the Via Transilvanica also starts from the Iron Gates Museum.

Drobeta-Turnu Severin

Our route takes us to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, where you can visit the first stone fortress built in Dacia by Emperor Trajan (the Roman Castrum), the ruins of the base of Trajan’s Bridge (built by Apollodorus of Damascus between 103–105 to support Roman military campaigns in Dacia), and the Medieval Fortress of Severin, the first stone citadel in Romanian territory, built between 1247–1250 by the Knights Hospitaller.

Triplex Confinium

From Hinova, we recommend continuing along the Danube via National Road 56A, with essential stops at the restored area of Gârla Mare and, for accommodation, beach time, and picnics, at the Cetate Cultural Port. But not before descending briefly into the Timok Valley to the milestone marking the natural border formed by the river between Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

Gârla Mare and Cetate Cultural Port

Just after the village of Pristol, we suggest a stop at the restored area of Gârla Mare, where you can discover a little-known mini-delta that shelters bird species similar to those found in the Danube Delta.

And if you’re in need of another rest stop, just a few kilometers away awaits the Cetate Cultural Port—a guesthouse, restaurant, and artistic hub managed by poet Mircea Dinescu.