Constanţa

Why?

A meeting place between the West and the East, Constanța represents an attractive combination of Greco-Roman artefacts, religious edifices belonging to different confessions and impressive buildings and monuments, all of these evoking the multiculturalism of this city’s past and present.

Alongside these attractions, the large boulevards, the promenades along the seaside of the Black Sea, stylish beaches or green parks, coffee houses and restaurants and the close proximity to the well-known Mamaia resort, make Constanța a gateway to the Romanian seashore.

You will be fascinated by this city’s millennial history and vibrating city life, and won’t regret choosing this city for a city-break, even in the off-season.

Discover

Constanța, one of Romania’s largest cities and its most important port, is situated in the historical province of Dobrogea. The old city, Tomis, was founded approximately 2 500 years ago by the ancient Greeks for economic purposes. The great edifices, public bathhouses, and temples - traces of which can still be admired today - are proof of the fast development of Tomis.

The city’s current name appears to have been a nod to the emperor Constantine the Great, under whose rule it gained significant economic and commercial importance. In medieval times the city maintained a major commercial role thanks to the presence of Genoese merchants, but centuries under Ottoman rule it suffered a dramatic decline. Its modernisation resumed in the beginning of the 19th century under King Carol I rule, when many of its villas, hotels and large boulevards where built.

Today, with a population that exceeds 300,000, Constanța is a modern city, dynamic and vibrant and represents one of the most important touristic destinations in Romania.

If it’s your first time visiting, you can start exploring the city by taking a stroll on the seafront, where you’ll come across the emblematic building of the Casino, an architectural gem, that is unfortunately in an advanced state of degradation.

Right in front of the Casino the Aquarium awaits visitors to cross its threshold and discover more than 100 species of fish and other marine life. Next, head to the touristic port of Tomis, where you can admire the Genoese Lighthouse (1300). From here we recommend going to Ovidiu Square, the historic centre of the city, where you will find the statue of the famous poet exiled in Tomis.

If archaeology and history are your passions, don’t miss out on visiting the National History and Archaeology Museum found here, where you can admire the myriad of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and medieval artifacts. Close to the museum and next to Carol Park, you’ll find the Roman Mosaic Edifice - a vestige of ancient Tomis, and in the proximity you’ll also find the House with Lions and the Carol Mosque. Other religious edifices in the park’s area are the St Anton Church, the St Peter and Paul Cathedral or the St Nicolas Church.

On Tomis Blvd. you will find the Museum of Art dedicated to visual art, sculpture and graphic design where you can admire the works of some of Romania’s biggest painters like Nicolae Tonitza, Nicolae Grigorescu and Ştefan Luchian.

In the heart of the city you can take a rest in City Hall Park, also known as the Archaeological Park thanks to historical exhibits dating back to the roman-byzantine period. On Traian Street is the Romanian Marine Museum, the only one of its kind in the country, awaiting you to discover its fascinating collection. Situated in the historic area of Constanţa, at the cross between Tomis Blvd and Traian Street, the Folk Art Museum impresses with its thousands of exhibits that depict folk culture from all over Romania.

What can be more agreeable after a cultural tour de force, than to rest your senses in a park or on a beach? The Tăbăcăriei Park, loved by the locals for its natural beauty, can be found in the north of the city.

While you are here, you have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, its Planetarium and Micro-Delta exhibits delightfully presented. Surely the most accessible of Constanţa’s beaches is the Modern beach, situated at the foot of a tall and picturesque seafront. On the other hand, if you prefer to continue your journey down Mamaia Blvd. you will reach the Mamaia resort.

Constanţa has accommodation and dining for all tastes and budgets, so pack your bags and head for this multifaceted city!

We recommend

Climb the 140 steps of the Carol Mosque Minaret to have a fantastic view of the city.
Have a taste of the delicious local dishes like fish brine ("saramură") and fish borscht or local cheese pies (Dobrogeana).

Good to know

Constanţa is accessible by car, train, plane and boat. From Bucharest you can easily access route A2 to Constanţa.
You can also easily get from Bucharest to Constanţa by train, and during the summer season there are extra trains that get to Constanţa in approximately 2 hours.
From Constanţa Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport you can take both internal and international flights.
The central Post Office is located on Tomis Blvd. 97. Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-19:00, Saturday 9:00.
In Tăbăcăriei Park you can rent bikes.

Weather

Wednesday
18°C

Friday
26°C

Saturday
25°C

Attractions