Galati (Romania)

Galati is a Danube River cruise port and a major port city in Romania's Moldavia region. By population (around 250,000) the city is ranked Romania's 8th-largest. Its economy is based on Port Galati (shipping trade) and Galati Shipyard (naval shipyard fka Damen Shipyards Galati). By late-18th-century, shipbuilding in Galati was well-developed with various types of vessels (including barges, sailboats, canoes and kayaks) being constructed here for both commercial and military (Ottoman Navy) use.

Galati is located on Danube's west bank and at the junction of two smaller rivers (Siret and Prut) near Lake Brates and approx 80 km (50 ml) from Black Sea (via Danube Delta). The nearest riverport town is Braila, located approx 15 km (9 ml) to the south. Siret River is Danube's largest Romanian tributary.

City's best-known tourist attractions include Tirighina-Barbosi Castra (1st-century AD built Roman castellum/fort in Empire's Moesia province), late-19th-early-20th-century buildings/architectural landmarks (Lambrinidi House, Robescu House, Palace of Navigation, Administrative Palace, University Palace, Masonic Temple), St Andrew Cathedral, Holy Virgin Monastery (mid-17th-century fortified monastery), St Pantaleon (Bulgarian church), Transfiguration (Greek church), St Paraskeva Cathedral, Mavromol Church (former monastery), St Spyridon Church (early-19th-century), Vovidenia Church (late-18th-century), Roman Catholic Church, Synagogue.

The city is ranked the second in Romania by green space footage per capita. Its largest gardens and nature parks are named Mihai Eminescu Park, CFR Park, Botanical Garden, Public Gardens, Garboavele Zoo (and nature reserve). Hunters Lake (city's north-east part) has total area 28 hectares (including 11 hectares water; 10 hectares acacia forest and 7 hectares developed recreational parkland). "Danube" is a nature park/leisure complex located outside city proper (on the road to Braila) with 3 swimming pools, guest houses, camping sites, restaurant, club resort (swimming pool, restaurant, cafe, bar), boat marinas.

As cruise port, Galati was included in the 2020 schedule of Fred Olsen Cruise Line's riverboat Brabant. The chartered from Luftner Cruises ship (2006-built as Amadeus Princess) was first chartered as "MS Brabant" by Fred Olsen in 2018 (April through November). Next table shows ship's 21-day cruisetour itinerary between homeports Budapest and Regensburg as ports sequence. Prices started from ~USD 3600 per person (double occupancy rates).