The Black Sea Coast
In Spain it's Benidorm, in Australia it's the Gold Coast - and in Romania the sun-sea-sand-and-sex brigade head for the Black Sea Coast. Constanta, Romania's largest port and second largest city, is the main transport hub for the Black Sea Coast, and the gateway to other resorts. International soccer fans may feel compelled to pay a visit, as this is Gheorghe Hagi's home town.

Romania's Black Sea coastline stretches over 152 miles (245 km.) from the Danube Delta to Bulgaria. The southern third of this stretch is marked by the ancient port city of Constanta and numerous modern beach resorts. The region, called Dobruja, has an intriguing history. Legend has it that Jason's argonauts anchored on this seashore while searching for the golden fleece. Ancient Greeks also came here and established the cities of Histria, Tomis (now Constanta) and Callatis (now Mangalia). Remains of their civilization are visible throughout the region.

Constanta
Originally settled by Greek merchants in the 6th century B.C. under the name Tomis, Constanta was later developed by the Romans and renamed after the emperor Constantin. In the 7th century A.D. the city was invaded by Avars. The poet Ovid was exiled here by emperor Octavian Augustus in A.D.8 until his death in A.D.17. Today all that remains of ancient Tomis is a section of the old city wall and the 6th century Butcher's Tower, plus some columns and amphorae in Parc Victoriei.

For 1,200 years after it was destroyed, the city was ignored until King Carol I decided to turn it into an active port and seaside resort at the end of the 19th century. Mansions and hotels were built and a grand rococo casino was erected on the seaside promenade.

Constanta is now a thriving seaport and a cultural and economic center in Romania. With a population of 350,000, its historical monuments, casino, museums and shops, it is the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism.

The main street of the old section is Bd. Tomis. At its intersection with Bd Republicii are the Art Museum, restaurants, hotels, shops, and in Parc Victoriei, the ruins of Tomis. Walking south along Bd. Tomis you will come to Piata Ovidiu, dominated by a statue of the Latin poet. The Archaeology Museum there (open Wed-Sun, 10am-6pm) contains Roman statues that survived the Avars' sacking of the city. Most impressive are the Glykon serpent and the statues of Fortuna and Pontos, the divine protectors of Tomis. They were unearthed in 1962 under an old railway station. It also has a hall devoted to Ovid (43 B.C.-A.D.18). Next door to the museum in a glass building is the Roman Edifice with Mosaic Inlay, a gigantic 2,300 sq.ft. (700 sq.m.) Roman mosaic floor from the 6th century.

Continuing your walk, you'll pass the Mahmoud II mosque with its 164 ft. (50 m.) high minaret and finally reach the waterfront promenade and the 13th century Genovese lighthouse by the yacht harbor.
At the end of the promenade sits the elegant Casino, built in 1904, where you can dine or have a drink on the terrace. Opposite is the Aquarium which displays marine life of the Black Sea (open daily 9am-4pm).
If you continue on the road, winding back toward the center of town, you will come upon the ruins of the Roman baths, beside the Orthodox Cathedral.

North of Bd. Ferdinand is the modern city with stores, restaurants, and theatres clustered along Str. Stefan cel Mare. The Naval History Museum is at Str. Traian 53.

At the far north end of the city are the Planetarium and Delfinariu (Dolphinarium).

Dolphins were once numerous in the Black Sea but their numbers have greatly decreased.

Places to eat in Constant are: Restaurant Cazino in the Casino on the seaside promenade has dining in the grand ballroom or on the marble patio; the elegant Casa cu Lei (House of Lions) on Str. Dianei 1, off Bd. Titulescu, has three dining rooms on two floors, in Turkish, Spanish and Romanian decor and a richly panelled bar; Restaurantul Pescarus at Bd. Tomis & Str. Caratzali for fresh Black Sea fish; French Au Coq Simpa at Str. Stefan cel Mare 19; the Royal Club Restaurant at Str. Mircea cel Batrin 5; Pizzeria Coral on Str Mircea cel Batran 94 and Turkish Nur at Str. Traian 24. There are various pizza joints around the town and even a McDonald’s on Str. Dtefan cel Mare.

Constanta has an international airport and express trains that run to and from Bucharest in 2 hours. The airport is 15 miles from the city; TAROM runs a shuttle between the airport and their office at Str. Stefan cel Mare 15.

Black Sea Resorts
The beaches of the southern shores have been developed into summer resorts and are Romanians' favorite holiday spots. The resorts stretch from Mamaia, just north of Constanta, all the way down to the Bulgarian border. Beaches are wide and long with a fine, soft sand; the sea is tideless and without fish of prey. There are resorts tailored to all tastes and ages, with hundreds of hotels in a variety of sizes and price categories lining the seashore. While mainly a summer playground, some resorts also have health spas specializing in therapeutic water, massage and mud cures; these remain open year round. It's best to reserve accommodations through one of Bucharest's tourism agencies before heading to the coast. They can help you decide which resort best suits your tastes and budget.

Mamaia is the largest resort on the coast and the only one north of Constanta. Its beach is 5 miles long (8 km.) and of extremely fine sand. There are 60 hotels offering diverse recreational activities, restaurants, discos, casinos and cabarets. Sport facilities include tennis, volleyball, basketball, archery, mini-golf and paragliding. You can hire bicycles, go sailing on the freshwater Lake Siutghiol, scuba dive, surf and water ski. Mamaia is ideal for family holidays with children as there are kindergartens and children's playgrounds. There is even a beach reserved for nudists.

Eforie Nord, about 9 miles (15 km.) south of Constanta is unique because of its salty therapeutic Techirghiol lake rich in curative sapropelic mud and its large natural park. Eforie is known for its balneoliogical treatments and hot or cold mud baths used for healing rheumatic, post-traumatic and dermatologic maladies; these cures are available year round. In summer, hotels offer facilities for aquatic sports, tennis, and volleyball; some also have night clubs. There are 40 hotels in Eforie Nord, 18 in Eforie Sud, and plenty of traditional Romanian restaurants, taverns, fisheries, ale houses and coffee houses.

Costinesti is the favorite of young people who want 24 hour partying. It has four sports centers for tennis, basketball, volleyball; there’s also aquatic sports and scuba diving. The village holds film & theatre festivals, music concerts and has two open-air discos. Costinesti has three main hotels, plus bungalows.

Neptun & Olymp are twin beach resorts nestled between the sea and the Comorova forest. These resorts were designed as playgrounds for rich communists. Olymp is built on the sea wall with its 10 hotels on the beach. Neptun's 28 hotels are set back about 200 meters, separated from the 1.25 mile (2 km.) long beach by a lake. Sheltered on three sides by the forest, Neptun is the preferred resort of families with children. There is also a modern balneary clinic with therapeutic equipment for rheumatic cures, and Asian organic regeneration therapies. Recreational offerings include sports grounds, indoor pools, a park, cinema, gambling, discos, and night clubs. Accommodation is available in private villas, hotels, bungalows and camping sites.

Jupiter, Cap Aurora, Venus & Saturn are south of Neptun and offer less expensive resorts for those on limited budgets. These four resorts have a total of 60 hotels of various categories, plus bungalows, caravan and camping sites. The beaches here are just as large and fine as those to the north. There are sport grounds and a horseback riding center nearby. Entertainments include night clubs, discos and gambling.

Mangalia is the oldest town in Romania territory and the most southern on the Black Sea coast. It was originally settled 2,500 years ago by Greek mariners who called it Callatis. Eventually conquered by the Romans, architectural remains of their 1st century A.D. civilization are displayed in the town's Archaeological Museum. Centuries later, Genovese traders gave the town its present name.
Post-war development has made Mangalia a popular resort with a modern spa sanitarium and elegant hotels, some equipped with conference facilities. Mangalia's sulfurous waters are acknowledged as extremely beneficial for stomach disorders and, combined with its mineral-rich mud treatments, are effective treatments for rheumatism. It also has a prosperous shipyard that builds cargo ships and oil tankers. Two miles north is an Arab purebred stud farm where visitors can enjoy rides in a unique setting by the beach. Mangalia has 5 hotels to choose from.