ARBDD permits · Navrom · Tulcea · Sulina · Sfântu Gheorghe
How do you legally enter the Delta?
The reserve is visited with a permit, and the villages are linked by boat. Below: the verdict by what you want to do, the permit table with official tariffs, and Navrom timetables.
The quick verdict
Pick by what you want to do in the Delta. Tariffs are from the official ARBDD shop.
| Birdwatching weekend | Mila 23 via Crișan | The Crișan–Mila 23 timetable, including the return, can change; check Navrom for your travel date. Seven-day tourist permit: 15 lei. Reach Crișan by Navrom from Tulcea. |
|---|---|---|
| Beach at Sfântu Gheorghe | Navrom direct from Tulcea | Frequency to Sfântu Gheorghe varies by season; check Navrom for your travel date. Tourist permit: 15 lei/7 days. |
| With your own boat | Boat permit | 7 days 20 lei / year 100 — valid only with the tourist access permit. Inner channels only with a permit. |
| Recreational fishing | 0-lei permit + access | The fishing permit is free but requires the tourist access permit (5/15/30 lei). Zones and periods: ask ARBDD. |
| Photo and drone | 50–100 lei permit | Educational photo/filming: 50 lei; commercial: 100 lei (crew of up to 3 people), both with the tourist access permit. ARBDD separately lists a 50-lei overflight permit for drones under 500 g; it does not replace aviation requirements or an airspace check. |
| Kayak with overnights | Per-channel permit, 50 lei | 7 listed channels (Dranov, Dunavăț, Mila 36, Șontea Nouă, Sulina, Dunărea Veche, Războinița); 7 nights 350 lei. Slow tourism only. |
Access, measured by road
Tulcea is the main boarding point. Mahmudia, Murighiol and Dunavățu de Jos are also reachable by road; check the route for your destination.
Method: OSRM car routes on OpenStreetMap, measured on 10 October 2026. Times are continuous driving, no stops, one way.
| From | To | km | min |
|---|---|---|---|
| București | Tulcea | 296.8 | 239 |
| Constanța | Tulcea | 132.2 | 123 |
| Galați | Tulcea | 97.3 | 101 |
Bucharest–Tulcea is half a day's drive: 296.8 km / about 4 h (measured).
Map
Positions from each site's coordinates; towns for orientation. Relief: Copernicus GLO-90 model. Scale bar: 20 km.
The bases, one by one
The permits, with official tariffs
From the official ARBDD shop (permise.ddbra.ro). Car, boat, fishing and photo permits are valid only together with the tourist access permit.
| Permit | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist access | 5 lei | 1 day |
| Tourist access | 15 lei | 7 days |
| Tourist access | 30 lei | to year-end |
| Car | 10 / 100 lei | 1 day / year |
| Boat | 20 / 100 lei | 7 days / year |
| Recreational fishing | 0 lei | with access permit |
| Photo educational / commercial | 50 / 100 lei | with access permit |
| Drone <500 g | 50 lei | ARBDD permit; check aviation rules and airspace separately |
| Slow-tourism overnight | 50 / 350 lei | 1 night / 7 nights |
Free: pupils, students, pensioners, veterans, ex-political prisoners, disabled persons, RBDD residents.
Tulcea gateway
- ARBDD HQ: 34A Portului Street, Tulcea; arbdd@ddbra.ro.
- Navrom terminal: sailings to Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe and Periprava; tickets online.
- Seasons: extra Oct–Apr; inter 1 May–18 Jun + 15–30 Sep; season 19 Jun–14 Sep.
Getting there: Bucharest–Tulcea 296.8 km; Constanța–Tulcea 132.2; Galați–Tulcea 97.3 (measured).
Sulina 3.5 h / 2.5 h
- Tulcea–Sulina timetables change by season; check Navrom for your travel date.
- Durations: classic 3.5 h, semi-fast 2.5 h. Sailings and vessel types can change; check the timetable before travelling.
- Online only classic-boat prices apply, on any boat.
Getting there: Under-7s free; pupils/pensioners/disabled buy at offices, with documents.
Sfântu Gheorghe seasonal timetable
- Sailing days and times between Tulcea and Sfântu Gheorghe vary through the year; check Navrom for your travel date.
- Return sailings also vary; check Navrom for your travel date.
- Check the timetable in the Navrom engine before leaving; sailings cancel in bad weather.
Getting there: Tickets online or at agencies; fares only in the booking engine.
Boat fares are not published statically: timetables yes, prices only in the Navrom booking engine — see Questions.
Practical
Permits
Buy online at permise.ddbra.ro. Pupils, students and pensioners enter free. Car, boat, fishing and photo permits only ride with the access permit.
Speed
You need an access permit to navigate the inner channels, and the speed limit depends on the route. Government Decision HG 538/2015 generally sets a 15 km/h maximum on inland channels and lakes; the routes listed in Annex 1 have a 40 km/h limit, and the lakes and channels listed in Annex 3 near bird colonies have a 5 km/h limit. Separately, bill PL-x 445/2026 (Senate file L265/2026) proposes changes to speed-related offences in Law 82/1993. The version adopted by the Senate on 2 June 2026 referred to built-up areas and permitted berthing or mooring points for vessels, boats and houseboat pontoons, excluding the Danube branches. A joint committee report from Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, dated 6 October and filed on 19 October, proposes defining the offence by reference to current regulations for zones with a 5 km/h limit, while retaining references to built-up areas, permitted berthing or mooring points, and the exclusion of the Danube branches. Annex 3’s 5 km/h limit applies to listed lakes and channels near bird colonies; these should not be conflated with all the categories mentioned in the proposed wording. As of 21 October 2026, the Chamber’s file said the report had been submitted and was due to go on the agenda; the bill was not in force on that date. Check the limit for your exact waterway before travelling by boat.
Money
A weekend: 15 lei the permit + the boat. Boat fares are not published statically — they live in the Navrom booking engine.
Bases
Tulcea is the main departure point for Sulina and Sfântu Gheorghe. For Mila 23, travel via Crișan and check Navrom before setting out.
Questions
Do I need a permit to enter the Delta?
Yes: 5 lei/day, 15 lei/7 days or 30 lei to year-end, from permise.ddbra.ro. Pupils, students and pensioners enter free.
How much is the Tulcea–Sulina boat?
Timetables are public, but sailings vary by season; check Navrom for your travel date. Fares are shown in its booking engine.
Can I bring my car or own boat?
Yes, with a permit: car 10 lei/day or 100/year; boat 20 lei/7 days or 100/year — both only together with the tourist access permit.
Can I camp anywhere in the Delta?
No. Slow-tourism overnights need a permit: 50 lei/night on 7 listed channels (Dranov, Dunavăț, Mila 36, Șontea Nouă, Sulina, Dunărea Veche, Războinița) or 350 lei/7 nights.
What is the channel speed limit?
HG 538/2015 generally sets 15 km/h on inland channels and lakes, 40 km/h on routes listed in Annex 1, and 5 km/h on lakes and channels listed in Annex 3 near bird colonies. Bill PL-x 445/2026 proposes changes to speed-related offences. As of 21 October 2026, the Chamber of Deputies’ file said the committee report had been submitted and was due to go on the agenda; the bill was not in force on that date. Check the rule for the specific waterway you are using.
How far is the drive to Tulcea?
Bucharest–Tulcea 296.8 km / about 4 h; Constanța–Tulcea 132.2; Galați–Tulcea 97.3 (measured). Mahmudia, Murighiol and Dunavățu de Jos are also reachable by road; check the route for your destination.
What should I check before flying a drone in the Delta?
ARBDD lists an under-500 g drone-overflight permit for 50 lei. This reserve permit is separate from aviation rules: the ARBDD 500 g threshold does not set the EASA category or all flight conditions. Under EASA rules, the operator of a drone under 250 g with a camera or another sensor able to collect personal data generally must register as an operator, unless the drone is documented as a toy. Remote-pilot training requirements depend on the drone’s class and operation. Check the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority (AACR) for the national steps that apply. Before every flight, check the exact place and time in ROMATSA’s map of UAS geographical zones and current aeronautical information/NOTAM. ROMATSA warns that a map with no visible zones does not mean there are no restrictions. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence (MApN) says drone aerial photography or filming in the open category outside restricted areas marked “aerofoto@mapn.ro” does not require its approval. In other cases, check with MApN whether approval applies; when required, MApN asks for the application at least 7 working days in advance. Checked 17 October 2026; check again before every flight.
Sources
- ARBDD — official permit shop
- ARBDD — institution page
- ARBDD — legislation (HG 538/2015)
- Navrom — timetable & prices (interactive)
- Navrom — routes and durations
- Navrom — buy tickets
- Romania’s Chamber of Deputies — PL-x 445/2026 file (stage as of 21 October)
- Chamber of Deputies — joint committee report (dated 6 October; filed 19 October)
- Romanian Senate — adopted form of bill L265/2026 (2 June 2026)
- Romanian legislation portal — HG 538/2015
- EASA — drone-operator registration
- EASA — open-category conditions
- EASA — national aviation authorities
- ROMATSA — UAS geographical zones and NOTAM
- Romania’s Ministry of National Defence — aerial photo/video approval
Further
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