The Black Sea's Brightest Star

Cruise to Constanta, Romania

It isn't shocking that many of the best things to do in Constanta, Romania, involve the Black Sea. With beaches like Plaja Relax Beach and Vega Beach and places like the Dolphinarium at the Natural Sciences Museum to explore, the beauty and richness of Romania's often overlooked coastline are on full display in Constanta. What surprises many visitors to Romania's Black Sea coast is the breadth and depth of culture on display. Buildings like the defunct Constanta Casino hearken back to an era of bygone glamour and opulence, while mosque minarets and Roman mosaic floors offer a window into the city's multiculturalism. A lunch of locally caught seafood or a shopping trip through one of the city's malls puts a beautiful bow on the gift of a trip to Constanta.

National Language Romanian

Currency Accepted Romanian Leu (RON)

Things To Do in Constanta

Have a bright, sunny day at the Black Sea.

Sun Yourself at the Black Sea

Stay in town at beaches like Modern Beach or Vega Beach and make a beeline for the waters of Romania's Black Sea, which are anything but dark and gloomy. Spread out a towel and soak up the sun, or dip your toes into the calm surf. Then, take a taxi to Plaja Eforie Norda. It's a bit outside the city but boasts a longer, wider beach with plenty of umbrellas and great people-watching.

Constanta's Museum of Natural History.

Dive Into History and Nature

Make your way to Piata Ovidiu, a lively public square where you'll also find the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology and the regal 19th-century building that houses it. Soak in exhibitions on history both recent and ancient, then visit the Dolphinarium at the Natural Sciences Museum. Watch Constanta's cutest residents swim and play around, and learn about the importance of dolphins within the Black Sea ecosystem.

Imagine yourself in a bygone era when you walk past Constanta Casino.

Travel Back in Time

Dig deeper into Constanta's past at the Roman Mosaic Floors, located just a short walk from Piata Ovidiu. Take a walk around the defunct Constanta Casino, whose elaborate 19th-century facade honors the glamour of days gone by. Or visit Carol I Mosque, which was also built in the late 19th-century and remains an important place of worship for the Muslims who call Constanta home today.

Browse traditional crafts such as Bucovina painted eggs.

LOCAL CUISINE

Tear into fresh-caught seafood straight from the Black Sea: a filet of tuna or herring, a succulent octopus tentacle or rapana, a Black Sea mollusk typically served fried or grilled — there's nothing else like it. Or, sit down for more traditional Romanian dishes, be they savory ones like sarmale cabbage rolls filled with ground meat, or sweet amandine, a chocolate cake filled with creamy almond paste.

Taste the Black Sea with a plate of delicious rapana, a delectable Black Sea shellfish.

SHOPPING

Enjoy your retail alongside locals and fellow travelers as you shop in modern Constanta malls such as City Park Mall and VIVO! Constanta. Or, get a taste of traditional Romanian craftsmanship at small local stalls situated around Piata Ovidiu, where you can browse Bucovina, traditional painted eggs that will have you dreaming of adventure in the mountains of Transylvania.