Faleza Hotel by Vega
Galaţi - Str. Rosiori, Nr.1
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The city of Galați is situated in the historic region of Moldavia, just a few kilometres from the Moldovan and Ukrainian borders. An important port on the Danube, Galați is home to approximately 250,000 inhabitants, many of whom work in the shipbuilding and steel industries. The city dates back to the 14th century, and during part of its history it was under the control of the Republic of Genoa, bearing the name Caladda.
Having grown wealthy through commerce in the 19th century, today Galați is a pleasant city to visit, thanks in part to the extensive green spaces it offers. Alongside these, you’ll find a range of historic and religious buildings, parks along the Danube and numerous museums.
Galați is a city of lesser tourist prominence than some of Romania’s more famous destinations, yet it conceals a series of genuinely interesting things to do and see. Here are the very best, so you won’t miss a thing.
The beautiful Orthodox cathedral of Galați, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, is an imposing structure built in white stone, richly decorated both inside and out. The entrance stands behind a colonnade with arches, and once inside you’ll find magnificent frescoes, numerous icons and an array of gilded ornaments.
The Galați History Museum, named after Paul Păltănea, was inaugurated on 24 January 1939, marking the 80th anniversary of the union of the Romanian principalities. It is housed within the residence of Cuza, a chief magistrate of Galați. The museum still contains a section dedicated to scientific research today, whilst among the most valuable artefacts are those discovered at the Tirighina-Bărboși fortress, dating from the Roman period, situated just a few kilometres from the city.
This church is Galați’s oldest building, consecrated as a place of worship way back in 1647. It was constructed using materials found locally, including stone, wood, brick and limestone, along with tons of sand from the banks of the Danube. The church features typical Romanian architecture, and a bell tower that was once used for defensive purposes.
The fortified church survived Galați’s turbulent past and was rebuilt and restored in the mid-1800s. Following the Second World War it was also used as a museum, and subsequently underwent a second restoration between 1991 and 1994. Today, the fortified church, dedicated to the Holy Virgin, is undoubtedly an icon of the city and one of the most interesting monuments to visit.
This imposing building was inaugurated in the early 1900s and today serves as the headquarters of the Galați district prefecture. It was constructed according to a design by architect Ion Mincu, the founding father of the Romanian school of architecture, making it one of the city’s symbols. On the palace’s main façade stand two white marble statues, dedicated to industry and agriculture, created by sculptor Frederic Storck. Beneath them are two bronze emblems representing the symbols of Galați.
At the palace’s peak sits a large clock, which every hour plays notes from the waltz “The Waves of the Danube”, a composition by the renowned composer Iosif Ivanovici.
This nunnery is surrounded by flowers and beautifully maintained. In summer the garden provides a welcome escape from the city heat, complete with a small lake, a vegetable garden and even a vineyard. A tranquil oasis where you can relax and spend a few peaceful hours. It’s worth noting that you can purchase fresh vegetables, jams and local produce directly from the nuns.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Galați is a compact city that stretches along one bank of the Danube, bounded to the east by the port and to the west by the enormous steelworks complex of Arcelor Mittal. Along the river, on Bulevardul Marea Unire, you’ll find several hotels with splendid views over the water, conveniently close to bars and restaurants. In any case, staying in Galați will be remarkably affordable, especially when compared with cities in Western Europe.
There’s also the option of staying in guesthouses or apartments, run directly by locals. This option is even more economical and will allow you to experience the city at its best, getting to know the local people more closely.
Galați is located in eastern Romania, along the Danube, not far from the borders with Moldavia and Ukraine. To reach it by air from the UK, you’ll need to fly to Bucharest or Iași, then continue by car for approximately 3 hours. Its particular location means that it’s also around 3 hours from Constanța and Bacău, whilst reaching it from the west of the country is quite challenging: from Cluj-Napoca it takes over 8 hours of driving across the Carpathians, whilst from Timișoara it takes almost 10.
Galați’s thriving steel and shipbuilding industry means that the city’s rail network is highly developed, even more so than Bucharest’s. It is indeed possible to reach it by train from several cities across Romania: from Bucharest Nord via Mizil or Urziceni, from Brașov via Mizil, from Cluj-Napoca via Iași-Suceava Nord and from Constanța-Mangalia in summer, via Bărboși station.
What's the weather at Galați? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Galați for the next few days.
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