Sfântu Gheorghe or SF Gheorghe in Tulcea county, Romania is a tiny village with a population of about 800 (about 40% of the population are ethnic Ukrainian) and is located inside the Danube Delta (Delta Dunarii) and is very close to where the Danube river flows into the Black Sea.
The streets are paved with sand, and motor vehicles very few and far between. The main method of transport is by boat, which is how I arrived here. It took at least an hour by motorboat to arrive at SF Gheorghe and would’ve taken even longer if I’d used the ferry.
My reason for visiting the village is because I was being hosted at the Green Village Resort as part of the #ExperienceRomania campaign. The layout and style of the villas remind me of somewhere more tropical such as southern Thailand. I thoroughly recommend staying here if you visit the Danube Delta.
Green Village Resort, Sfântu Gheorghe
Aside from visiting Green Village Resort here are 5 other things you should do if you find yourself in Green Village Resort, Sfântu Gheorghe.
Take a boat ride to explore the Danube Delta.
There are plenty of options available if you want to take a boat ride further into the delta. The labyrinth of canals and the abundance and variety of birds make this a birdwatchers paradise.
Even if you’re not into bird watching, you should take a trip anyway, relax and be at peace with nature.
Sfântu Gheorghe
Visit the Supermarket and ATM
There is only one supermarket and one ATM in Sfântu Gheorghe. Make sure you go there to stock up on essentials or if you need to withdraw cash. The supermarket was well-stocked when I popped in.
The only supermarket and ATM in the village.
The Church
The church of Sfântu Gheorghe (St George), has burned down several times over the years. The last time the church was rebuilt was thanks to a Greek merchant whose ship sank nearby. He donated the ship’s wood to help rebuild the church.
If you have time, I do suggest going inside the church – it’s free to enter. As with all the Orthodox churches and monasteries I’ve seen in Romania, almost the entire inside of the church is colourfully painted with religious murals. In the past, few people could read or write, so pictures were the best way to help spread the religious message.
The church of Sfântu Gheorghe (St George).
Cafe / Bar
I have include this café / bar in the list because it wasn’t open when I was in the village and I wanted to go in and have a look around it and buy a drink! The whitewashed building reminds me of an old American film set.
If you ever go to Sfântu Gheorghe and visit this café, please let me know!
Cute Cafe / Bar
The Post Office
Even a tiny village of Sfântu Gheorghe has a post office. It’s certainly the smallest post office I’ve ever seen and the only post office I’ve seen with solely canine customers! I was told it’s the smallest post office in Romania – however I can’t confirm if that’s true or not.
Post Office in Sfântu Gheorghe
If you do visit Sfântu Gheorghe and the Danube Delta, please remember to respect the local people and their way of life. If you’re anything like me and are a human buffet for mosquitos, be sure to bring a good repellent – there is some for sale in the supermarket here.
Please also respect the wildlife and nature. This area is a biosphere reserve and is protected by the Romanian government. Do not leave any litter or damage the environment in any way.
Alternative tours:
If you love Romania as much as I do, please let me know in the comments, and read more about it here