Very fine sand, clear water with a gentle entrance to the sea, and a lot of tranquility. To all these, one more thing is added that is increasingly hard to find on the Romanian coast: a sunbed costs only 30 lei for a whole day. This is about the beach in Sulina, located in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, where nature remains the main attraction.
The beach is only arranged on a stretch of about 300-400 meters. It also has a few terraces and beach bars, not many, but where you can get a cold water, a juice, or a refreshing beer, and where you can eat something when you get hungry.
How to get to the beach in Sulina
Sulina is the only city in Romania that you can’t reach by car. The journey is made by boat from Tulcea, and once you arrive in the city, you still have to travel a few kilometers to the beach.
You can take a taxi, and the fare is around 20 lei, or you can rent a bike if you want to go at your own pace.
The landscape to the sea won't impress you too much at first sight. However, as soon as you reach the beach, the image will change completely. The sand is extremely fine, praised by connoisseurs as one of the finest in Europe. And the water has a very gentle entrance, so it remains shallow for tens of meters, making the area suitable even for families with children.
Without overcrowding and without exaggerated prices
Sulina is not for those looking for beach clubs, loud music, or luxurious beach bars. You won't find expensive beach canopies or entertainment like in the major resorts on the coast.
Instead, you'll find a clean beach, plenty of space, and tranquility. And a sunbed costs 30 lei per day. That's it.
And the prices at the terraces are friendly. A coffee costs 10 lei, a frappe 20 lei, a portion of anchovies around 25 lei, and a fish stew 40 lei.
More than just a beach
A vacation in Sulina doesn't just mean a few hours spent in the sun. The city is one of the most interesting places in the Danube Delta, with attractions such as the Old Lighthouse, the former headquarters of the European Commission of the Danube, or the famous Cosmopolitan Cemetery.
From here, you can go on excursions to the mouth of the Danube into the Black Sea, to Letea Forest or Caraorman Forest, or to other localities in the Delta, such as Sfântu Gheorghe, Mila 23, or Crișan.
For many tourists, the lack of hustle and bustle is precisely Sulina's main asset.
"You have all the reasons to come here. You have the sea and the Delta together, it's so quiet you can hear your thoughts. You can go by boat to the mouth of the Danube, see Bird Island, admire the sunset from the Turgut shipwreck. We have restaurants here where you can eat to your heart's content various fish dishes. You can very well combine fun with relaxation. If you don't go to the beach, you can go fishing. Basically, you'll find everything you need here for a 100% successful vacation," says Corina Davidov, one of the top tourism promoters in the Danube Delta area.
However, Sulina is not a destination for all tastes. But for those who desire a peaceful vacation with a clean beach, nature, and still reasonable prices, it remains one of the most pleasant surprises on the Romanian coast.
G.P.