Silistra Province: Srebarna and the Danube
Travel guide · editorialSilistra lies where the Danube leaves Bulgaria and turns fully toward Romania. A trip to Silistra takes you to a quiet border region with a Roman past, apricot groves, and Lake Srebarna, where Dalmatian pelicans nest.
Silistra, Ancient Durostorum
The city grew out of the Roman legionary camp Durostorum, one of the most important on the lower Danube. Parts of the fortress walls have been excavated along the riverbank, and on the edge of town you'll find a 4th-century Roman tomb with colorful wall paintings of servants and hunting scenes. On the hill above the city stands the 19th-century Ottoman fortress Medjidi Tabia, with sweeping views across the Danube into Romania. The riverfront promenade, with its long Danube park, is the locals' favorite spot.
Srebarna and Tutrakan
About 15 kilometers to the west lies the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve, a reed-fringed lake on the Danube that is a UNESCO World Heritage natural site. Dalmatian pelicans, herons, cormorants, and spoonbills nest here, and an observation platform and a small nature museum offer a closer look. Farther west lies Tutrakan, a former fishing town whose hillside district of fishermen's houses and a museum of Danube fishing recall its traditions. A major battle of World War I took place near Tutrakan in 1916. A boat trip on the Danube or a walk along the riverbank at Silistra reveals a broad, green river landscape with islands covered in willows and poplars. Inland you'll find wheat fields, vineyards, and villages with a mixed Bulgarian and Turkish population.
Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit
Silistra is known for its apricots, which are also distilled into rakia. They're served alongside Danube fish, fish soup, and pastries made from Dobruja wheat. A road border crossing leads directly into Romania; Varna is just under two hours by car, and Ruse about an hour and a half. The best time to visit is April through October; spring and early summer are nesting season at Srebarna, and the apricots ripen in July. If you'd like to watch the pelican colony in peace, arrive early in the morning and bring binoculars.