This historic Romanian port on the Danube dates back to the 4th century BC. The rebuilt city center has traditional mosques and churches, while its shipyards drive the local economy.
Galați sits at the meeting point of the Danube, Siret, and Prut rivers. You can stroll along the city's waterfront to watch cargo ships pass by, step inside the 15th-century Precista Church to see its medieval frescoes, or explore the Botanical Garden's greenhouse filled with tropical plants. As Romania's largest river port, Galați maintains strong connections to its maritime past while supporting a growing university population.
Getting to Galați
You can reach Galați by train from Bucharest in about 6 hours, with regular daily connections. While the city doesn't have its own airport, you can fly to Bucharest and continue your journey by train or bus. The city's location near the borders of Moldova and Ukraine makes it accessible from these countries as well.
Along the Danube
Walk the paved promenade that extends for several kilometers along the Danube, where cargo ships and river traffic pass throughout the day. In the Botanical Garden on the left bank, you'll find over 3,000 species of trees and shrubs in the outdoor sections, while the greenhouse contains collections of cacti, euphorbias, palms, and begonias.
Museums and Culture
The Natural History Museum spans three floors, with exhibits including local bird specimens, mineral collections, and a complete whale skeleton. At the History Museum "Paul Păltănea", examine archaeological artifacts from ancient Galați, including the Barboși collection of 3,700 silver coins. Visit the V.A. Urechia Public Library in the 19th-century Palace of the European Commission to see its collection of rare books and historical documents.
Parks and Green Spaces
Walk through the Mihai Eminescu Municipal Park, established in 1869, where you'll find a small lake at its center. The park includes a bronze statue of poet Mihai Eminescu and a bandstand that hosts concerts during summer evenings. The recreational complex on the Brăila road includes three swimming pools and designated camping areas.
Steel Industry
The Liberty Galați steel works produces millions of tons of steel annually across its vast industrial site. The facility runs its own railway network that connects directly to the Danube port. You can see the complex from several elevated points in the city, particularly from the hills near the university district.
Getting Around
Use the city's trams, trolleybuses, and regular buses operated by Transurb to reach all main districts. The transport network connects the university area, city center, and steel works. From the main railway station, catch direct trains to Romanian cities including Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, and Iași throughout the year.
