Braila Romania
Brăila Old Town, photo © Iulian Mocanu

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Braila Fast Facts

Location:  Eastern Romania


Nearest airports:  Bucharest and Bacau

Area:  12.8 sq.miles  (33.2 sq km)

Elevation:  65  ft. (20 meters)

Population:  185,000

Inhabited since:  4th  century BC

  First documented:  1300s

	


Braila Sights and Landmarks

Settlement of Brăila, located on the banks of the Danube River, was first mentioned in several Catalan portolan (nautical) charts around year 1325 and in the 1350 Spanish Libro de conoscimiento (Book of knowledge) with the name of Drinago.   Greek documents refer to the town as Proilabum or Proilava, an adaptation of its Slavic name, Brailov.   From 1538–1540 until 1829 the town and its surroundings were controlled by the Ottoman Empire, who changed its name into Ibraila.

During the 19th century, the town became one of the three most important ports on the Danube River in the region of Walachia, the other two being Turnu Magurele and Giurgiu. Most of the goods exported from Romania where loaded and shipped from here.

Brăila's Old Town, severely damaged in 1828 during the Russo-Turkish war and rebuilt in the 1830s, retains some of its 19th century grandeur when successful businessmen built elegant villas and mansions.

Romanian physician, Prof. Ana Aslan, founder of Romania's Geriatric Institute and inventor of the anti-aging Gerovital H3 formula and musician Johnny Raducanu, Romania's very own Louis Armstrong, founder of the Romanian Jazz School, were born in Brăila.

Brăila Old Town, centered around Traian Square (Piața Traian) features several points of interest: the Romanian Orthodox Church (Biserica Sf. Mihail si Gravril) which served as mosque during the Ottoman rule; Greek Church built between 1862 and 1872, displaying frescoes painted in 1890 by Romanian artist Gheorghe Tătărescu; St. Nicholas Church (Biserica Sf. Nicolae) - 1865, the 19th century Maria Filotti Theatre - named after actress, Maria Filotti (1883-1956), Brăila County Museum, historic Water Tower.

Discover Braila's Delightful Architectural Heritage WalkThisWayBraila.ro

For a view of the nearby Macin Mountains, stroll through Braila's public park or the Danube River Promenade, a 5 miles walkway along River Danube.

Braila Museums

Museum of Brăila County
Muzeul Brăilei “Carol I”
Address: Piata Traian 3
Telephone: (+4) 0339 401.002
Hours:
Wed – Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (May – September)
Wed – Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (October – April)
Admission charge
Located in the former French Hotel (Hotelul Francez), an elegant two-story building dating back to 1855, the museum features an Archeology section focusing on local Neolithic and Bronze Age sites, a History section with numerous furniture and traditional objects displays, an Art section, as well as an Ethnographic and Folk Art section. A valuable collection of sepia photos provide an interesting foray into the history of Braila during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Natural Science Museum
Complexul Muzeal de Stiinte ale Naturii
Adresa: Aleea Parcului 15
Telephone: (+4) 0339 401.006

Museum of Arts Collection - Brăila
Centrul Cultural „Nicăpetre"
Address: Strada Belvedere 1
Telephone: (+4) 0339 401.005

Brăila Ethnography Museum
Muzeul de Etnografie si Artă Populară
Address: Strada Polonă 14
Telephone: (+4) 0339 730.311

Brăila Art Gallery
Galeriile de Arta Emilia Dumitrescu
Address: Strada I. L. Caragiale 3
Telephone: (+4) 0339 627.115

Writer Panait Istrati Memorial House
Casa Memorială Panait Istrati
Address: Grădina Publică Brăila
Telephone: (+4) 0339 401.004

Braila Performing Arts

Brăila Drama Theatre
Teatrul Dramatic "Maria Filotti"
Address: Strada Mihai Eminescu 2
Telephone: (+4) 0239 613.969

Brăila Philharmonic
Filarmonica "Lyra - George Cavadia", Braila
Address: Strada Ana Aslan 29
Telephone: (+4) 0239 615.010

Brăila Puppet Theatre "Carabus"
Teatrul de Păpuși Braila
Address: Strada General Eremia Grigorescu 57
Telephone: (+4) 0239 614.880







Attractions not far from Braila

Macin Winery
Crama Dobrogeana
Where: 18 miles east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: Str. Viticultori 2, town Macin
Telephone: (+4) 0240 573.368
Town of Macin is known for its wines obtained from native varieties of grapes Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Neagră.
Macin Winery more info

Macin Mountains National Park
Parcul National Muntii Macinului
Where: 15 miles east of Braila
Access: car (on DN22 D)
400 million years ago, this mountain range stretched all the way to Western Europe. Its traces can still be found in Bohemia and the French Central Massif. Today, Tutuiatu Peak, the highest peak of the oldest mountain range in Romania, reaches just 1,495 ft.

Brăila Wetlands Nature Park
Parcul Natural Balta Mică a Brăilei
Where: 35 miles south of Brăila
Balta Mică a Brăilei info

Basilica Niculițel
Bazilica Niculițel
Where: 42 miles east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: DJ229C 43, Niculițel
A Christian basilica, built in the mid-3rd century near the village of Niculițel, was revealed in 1971 when a creek overflowed its banks.   The relics of Saints Zoticus, Atallus, Camisius and Philippos, who endured martyrdom because they openly proclaimed their faith in Christ, were found in Niculițel basilica and can now be seen at Cocoș Monastery, 5 miles northwest of Niculițel.
Basilica Niculițel more info

Sarica Niculițel Winery

Crama Sarica - Niculitel
Where: 44 miles east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: DN 22 Tulcea - 4 miles east of village Niculitel
Telephone: (+4) 0744 551.518
E-mail
Sarica Niculițel Winery (Casa Niculitel) info

Day Trips from Braila

The Danube Delta
Delta Dunarii
Location: 50 miles east of Braila
Access: car or bus to Tulcea and then boat
The Danube Delta is comprised of an intricate network of waterways and lakes divided between the three main estuary channels of the Danube. The area of floating reed islands, forests, pastures and sand dunes covers 3,000 square miles and is home to a vast array of wildlife. Located at the tip of the three channels, town of Tulcea makes a natural starting point for exploring the Delta.
Danube Delta more info

Town of Tulcea

Location: 48 miles (80 km) east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Tulcea info

Sarba Winery

Crama Sarba Odobesti
Where: 68 miles northwest of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: Strada Sarba 23, village Vărsătura - Jariştea
Telephone: (+4) 0722 243.331
Wines obtained at Sarba winery from native varieties of grapes include: Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală and Șarbă.
Crama Sarba Odobesti more info

City of Constanta

Location: 125 miles southeast of Braila
Access: car, bus
Constanta info

BRAILA TRIP PLANNING INFO

Transportation

Air

The nearest airports to Braila are:
Constanta (CND) - 102 miles south
Bacau (BCM) - 118 miles north
Bucharest Otopeni - Henri Coanda (OTP) - 125 miles southwest

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Traveling to Braila by Car

The shortest route from Bucharest to Brăila is:
Bucharest – Drajna - Slobozia - Braila (A 2 -- E584)
Distance: 135 miles
Approximate travel time: 2 hours : 45 minutes

Travel distances from/to Braila:
CityDistance (miles)
Bucharest135 miles
Arad405 miles
Baia Mare350 miles
Brasov150 miles
Constanta125 miles
Iasi160 miles
Oradea410 miles
Satu Mare380 miles
Sibiu235 miles
Sighetu Marmatiei325 miles
Sighisoara220 miles
Suceava205 miles
Timisoara400 miles
Tulcea50 miles

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Reaching Braila by Train

Brăila Train Station
Gara Braila
Address: Strada General Eremia Grigorescu

Daily direct trains connect Braila with:
Bucharest (journey time: 3 ½ hours)
Buzau (journey time: 2 hours)
Constanta (journey time: 3 ½ hours)
Galati (journey time: 45 minutes)

Travel from Braila to Tulcea / Danube Delta is only possible by car / bus.

To check train and bus schedules please visit RomaniaTourism transportation section.

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Inter-City Bus

Braila Bus Stations
Autogara Braila
Address: Strada Siret 10
Telephone: (+4) 0239 619.220

Daily domestic bus service from/to: Bucharest, Bacău, Barlad, Brasov, Constanta, Galati, Iasi, Macin, Mangalia, Sibiu, Suceava, Tulcea, Vama Veche

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Braila Public Transportation

5 tramway and 9 bus routes connect Braila's main areas and tourist attractions.
Braila public transportation map

Braila features one of Romania's oldest electric tram, launched at the end of the 19th century and still in use.

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Braila Taxi
Braila Taxi Companies
NamePhone #
Taxi As (+4) 0726.666.068
Taxi 949 Braila (+4) 0767 112.999
Taxi Dan (+4) 0239 611.111
Taxi Unvip(+4) 0239 619.100
Taxi Kamy(+4) 0239 619.100

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Braila Car Rental

Promotor Rent a Car
Address: Strada Grigorescu Eremia 1
Tel: (+4) 0734 403.403
E-mail

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Braila Hotels

Accommodations in Braila include:

Hotel Name Class Location
Casa Popeea boutique Braila Old Town
Grand Hotel Orient boutique Braila City Centre
Hotel Saint Germain four-star / upscale Braila City Centre
Alma Health Spa Retreat four-star / upscale Lacu Sarat - 5 miles south of Braila
Belvedere three-star / midscale Danube River Walk (Faleza)
Traian three-star / midscale Braila City Centre

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Braila Tourist Information

Braila Tourist Info Centre
Centrul National de Informare (CNIPT Braila)
Address: Str. Edmond Nicolau 4 A
Telephone: (+4) 0786 478.494
E-mail

Braila City Hall - Tourist Information Department
Primăria Brăila
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: (+4) 0239 649.947
E-mail

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Braila Health and Emergency

Pharmacies (farmacie) open non-stop in Braila:

Farmacia Dona
Address: Strada Școlilor 96
Telephone: (+4) 0372 401.252

Braila Hospitals

Braila Emergency Hospital
Spitalul Judetean de Urgenta Braila
Address: Soseaua Buzaului 2
Telephone: (+4) 0239 692.222

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Braila Local Authorities


Braila City Hall
Primaria Braila
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: (+4) 0239 649.947
E-mail

Braila County Archives
Directia Judeteana Braila a Arhivelor Nationale
Address: Str. Plevna 8 bis
Braila, postal code 810111
Telephone: (+4) 0239 613.147
Hours
E-mail

Braila Consumer Protection Agency
Comisariatul Judeţean pentru Protecţia Consumatorilor Brăila
Address: Str. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr. 121
Telephone: (+4) 0239 615.641
E-mail

Postal services & Telephone

Braila Main Post Office
Oficiul Postal Braila 1
Address:  Str. Danubiului 8
Telephone: (+4) 0736 705 745

Telephoning Braila from Abroad
International Access Code + 4 (country code) + 0239 or 0339 (area code) + six-digit telephone number.

Braila Maps

Braila City Map -- Harta Orasului Braila
Romania Physical Map -- Romania - Harta Fizica
Romania Detailed Road Map -- Romania Harta Rutiera Detaliata
Romania Road Map -- Romania - Harta Drumurilor Nationale
Romania Railways Map -- Romania - Harta Cailor Ferate