Danube Delta

Where the Danube meets the Black Sea it fans out into the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas, a maze of channels, lakes, reed beds and marshes that UNESCO lists as home to more than 300 bird species and 45 freshwater fish species. It is managed as a biosphere reserve, and visitors need a tourist access permit.

Most people base themselves in Tulcea, the gateway town, or in a village guesthouse, and explore by boat; there are few roads. It is a place for slow days, birdwatching and quiet water rather than ticking off sights. Spring and autumn are good for birds and avoid the peak summer heat. We would book a local boat guide, and allow at least two nights to make the journey worthwhile. Coordinates mark the gateway at Tulcea.