Holidays in a mediteranean style. From Wildlife to watersports. Constanta. Mamaia.
Vama Veche. The Black Sea at its Best. Economical and Youth Holidays. Mangalia is renowned for therapy treatments. Local Tours.
Holidays in a mediteranean style.
Marvellous weather from spring to autumn and miles of golden sand make Romania's Black Sea resorts the ideal destination for beach holidays. 
One can find everything there: modern hotels and facilities, a busy night-life, a wide range of sports facilities and numerous inland attractions from castles to vineyards. Now, while the country is heading towards a promising future, the Black Sea is coming back onto the European touristic agenda.
The Black Sea has a low saltness compared to other continental seas, and , allows the tourists to swim under the water in good conditions . The seaside is extremly scanty. But it exists some extensive zones of 100-200 m where the water doesn't pass 1-1,5 m, so that the risc factor will be reduced . The sea water is calm ,the perceptible fluxes can't be seen or felt.
The stations of the coastline have been permanent modernized: Mamaia, Eforie North, Eforie South, Teghirghiol, Costinesti, Neptun, Olimp, Aurora Head, Venus, Saturn, Mangalia are the favorite destinations of the tourists from everywhere. * * *

From Wildlife to Watersports.
Altogether, the Romanian Black Sea coast stretches out for 245 km (153 miles)
from the
fascinating unspoilt natural reserves of the Danube Delta to the leisure activities of numerous holiday centres. Whereas the Delta is strictly protected from intrusion, the southern 72 km (45 miles) area has been developed into a string of beach resorts and health spas catering for all ages and interests, from little children to exigent grandparents. All waited on by the employees of the local touristic and transport services in the city of Constanta.
Furthermore, the Black Sea tides are practically not-existent, so swiming is safer than in most parts of the world. * * *

Constanta.
Constanta is the oldest city in Romania and has the biggest harbour on the Black Sea, Port of Constanta, the fourth largest in Europe, having the potential in the next few years to become the second largest in Europe after Rotterdam.
Constanþa has a moderate continental climate with considerable maritime and some Mediterranean influences. There are four distinct seasons during the year.
Summers are warm, dry and sunny, settle around early June and end in mid-September.
Autumns start late September, they are long and relatively warm. is often warmer than June, because of the heat accumulated by the Black Sea. The first frost occurs on average on November.
Winter is much balmier compared to other cities in southern Romania. Snow is not abundant but the weather can be very windy and thus, unpleasant. Winter storms when the sea becomes particularly treacherous are a common occurrence between December and March.
Spring arrives early but it's quite cool. Often in April and May the Black Sea coast is one of the coolest places in Romania at an altitude lower than 500 m.
With an international airport, a busy seaport, express trains linking it to Bucharest
(2 1/2hours) and a 2,500 year history (the Roman poet Ovidiu lived in exile here), Constanta is the kind of cosmopolitan place a seaside vacation needs.
Hotels, shops, ancient monuments, a magnificent casino by the sea and interesting museums complete the picture. All the Black Sea resorts are easily accesible either by train or bus.
*
* *

Mamaia.
Mamaia is the largest and famous resort in Romania, located in the northern city of
Constanta,
called Pearl of romanian seaside, is a sector of fine sand beach, which lies on
a length of about 8 km on the western side of it being Ovidiu lake. The Beach
has numerous hotels,
outdoor pools, discos, recreational parks, sports and a summer theater. The
Mamaia offer the opportunity for practicing water sports and fishing in Lake
Mamaia.
Through major developments throughout the past couple of years, Mamaia has transformed itself into a major summer destinations of Europe.
The beach season is at its best between mid-May and late September, when average daytime temperatures are 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The water is warm until late autumn.
Hotels range from mid-end to exclusive 4 and 5 stars hotels and private clubs.
Fine sand beaches, sunny, modern hotels, good value for money and lots of things to do. A paradise for families, as well for groups or even for treatments. Mamaia exceeds in fun and night life, many discos, bars and nice restaurants.
* * *
 Vama Veche.
Vama Veche (Old customs point) which is a village in Romania on the Black Sea coast, just a few minutes walk from the border with Bulgaria, became famous in the 1960s as an oasis of freedom far from the prying eyes of what was then a
communist state.
Under the communists, writers and intellectuals dozed or sunbathed naked, and
discussed philosophy on the sandy beach, sitting under reed umbrellas. Some
stayed in tents on the beach, or rented rooms from peasants in the tiny village
next to the beach. Apart from occasional police controls, Vama Veche was
a small oasis of tolerance.
In the summer, a Bohemian
community can be found there, Romanian artists, actors, singers, dancers who come for a
holiday in a secluded place, the peaceful village of Vama Veche, a traditional
destination for those enjoying quiet beaches, sea swimming and nudism. July and August weekends, as well as weekdays offer dozens of beach-front bars, clubs and restaurants with 24/7 service. Thousands of people gather on the weekends and party on the beach!
May 1st weekend of every year is the "grand opening" of the season. If you enjoy Rock music, that's when you must be there! Stuff Stock Music Festival closes the season, usually the end of August.
The beach is very clean by Black Sea standards. The Black Sea water on Vama Veche area is too cold for swimming in the spring, but all right in the second part of July and in August.
There are a variety of restaurants ranging from Romanian food to pizza joints.
Down at the beach area, there are stalls offering "Hamsii" (little fried fish as a whole, offered with lemon or a ridiculous amount of garlic sauce). It's not a wine and dine place, though. Beer selection is ample, as are cocktails, cognacs and whisky.
For accommodation, homestay is one option for tourists. The small buses usually drop you off along the main road in Vama Veche. After getting off the bus, you may be approached by local residents with whom you can negotiate to rent a spare bedroom in their home.
You will find also hotels right from the entrance in the town.
Another option is camping on the beach. Roughly two-thirds of the younger people do this, leaving only limited space for lingering about the beach. There are toilets and showers available, although grungy. Theft did not seem a problem there.
*
* *

The Black Sea at its Best. Among the most popular are Neptun and Olimp, built as leisure sites for the rich of the communist era, now offering de-luxe villas and excellent hotels, some on the beach, others in the quiet Comorova forest between the shore and a lake. Tennis and other sports,
open air restaurants,
discos, night clubs and cabarets all cater for demanding visitors. * * *

Economical and Youth Holidays.
Southwards, the resorts
of Jupiter, Cap Aurora, Venus and Saturn offer a variety of inexpensivehotels, campsites and rented accomodation, while Costinesti is mostly a youth resort, with basic accomodation and informal entertainment. * * *

Mangalia is renowned for therapy treatments.
The 6th century BC fortified town of Callatis becametoday's balneary spa of Mangalia, with a special cure hotel. Here, as in EforieNord, Eforie Sud and the spa in Neptun, a wide variety of therapeutic treatments are available, including mineral-rich mudbaths, thalassotherapy and the famous Romanian Gerovital cure. Medical staff are highly
qualified and clinics and consulting rooms remain open all through the year. So you can combine professional treatment with all the pleasures of a seaside holiday. * * *

Local Tours. As well as long-distance tours to the Danube Delta with its birdlife and mysterious waterways, or even to Bucovina and the legendary decorated monasteries, or to Bucharest, there are plenty of sites available in the immediate hinterland to tempt you away from sunbathing for days. The 7th century BC Greek city ruins at Histria have already been mentioned. At Adamclisi, 62 km (39 miles) inland from Constanta, stands the impressive circular monument built
at the end of the first century AD to commemorate
emperor Trajan's victory over the Dacians. Cottage industries like woodcarving and pottery thrive in the villages. Vineyards producing Romania's savoury wines, including the famous Murfatlar, cover the hillsides. Traditional costumes are displayed in folklore centres. And, if you feel like getting to the heart of the warm welcoming Romanian experience, there are Romanian feasts with local dishes, plum brandy, wine, music and dancing that will remain in
your memory as part of a special seaside holiday. * * *
 |