The length of the southern Romanian coast, which stretches from Cape Midia to Vama Veche, we can find both wild rocky shorelines and exotic beaches of fine sand.
In antiquity, it used to be called the Pontus Euxinus, or the "Hospitable Sea". Today, the Black Sea- or rather its coast- is besieged every summer by tourists, who come here to enjoy the sun and seawater. There are numerous resorts for tourists: Mamaia, Navodari, Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Olimp, Costinesti, Neptun, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mangalia.
In May 2006, the foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) accorded, for the first time in Romania, Blue Flag status to seven beaches: the Lido at Mamaia, Adras at Saturn, Cristi's Comimpex and Sun Paradise at Olimp, Europa and Giovani at Eforie Nord, Perla Venusului at Venus, and for the tourist harbor at Eforie Nord.
Mamaia (three km north of Constanta), situated on a coastal strip between the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol, offers elegant three, four or five star hotels, open-air swimming pools, sports fields, amusement parks, discotheques, an open-air theatre, a dolphinarium and a planetarium. In the holiday village, you will find restaurants decorated in the styles typical of the different regions of Romania.
Eforie Nord (14 km south of Constanta) developed after 1894, when Eforia Spitalelor Civile of Bucharest constructed a sanatorium here. The two treatment centers have hot bath installations (with concentrated salt water from the Lake Techirghiol and from the sea).
Eforie Sud (18 km south of Constanta) is remarkable for its wonderful maritime Riviera, which descends in successive stages to a beach two kilometers long. From the cliffs, there is a wonderful view. Until 1950, it was named Carmen Sylva (the writing name of Queen Elizabeth, the wife of King Carol I). it was here that the first balneary establishment in Dobrogea was founded in 1892.
Costinesti (28 km south of Constanta) is a favorite resort for young people in Romania. The Costinesti beach, oriented towards the south, is exposed to the sun all day, a privilege which can be boasted by very few European beaches. The beach is equipped for thalassotherapy and heliotherapy.
Mangalia ( 44 km from Constanta), the southernmost resort on the Romanian coast, developed on the site of the ancient colony Callatis, founded by the Greeks in the sixth century BC, and was revitalized by the Genoese ( in 13 and 14 centuries), who named it Pangalia. It is the only coastal resort in which mineral springs can be found ( sulphurous, mezothermal and radioactive). 3 km from the municipality of Mangalia can be found Herghelia Mangalia, with its hippodrome. In Mangalia, we can see the vestiges of a Roman-Byzantine basillicum dating from the 5 th century, the mosque of Esmahan Sultan (1590), in the Moorish style, and the Museum of Archeology.
Venus (3 km north of Mangalia) is situated on a sloping promontory, which forms a natural amphitheatre. We may remark here the variety of architectural styles displayed by the hotels, which mostly have female names (Anca, Corina, Dana, Felicia, Irina, Raluca, Silvia). At the south of the resort there is a pavilion for mud and sulphur baths.
Jupiter (5 km north of Mangalia) is a summer resort situated between the Comorova Woods and the seashore. The beach at Jupiter, which stretches for 1 km along the gulf, is especially picturesque.
The climate of the Romanian Black Sea coast is temperate continental, with light marine influences. In summer, the average temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. Romanian beaches have the advantage of being exposed to the sun for between 10 and 12 hours a day. On torrid days (when the surface temperature of the beach rises to 40 degrees Celsius), the marine breezes, rich in aerosols, cool the atmosphere. Given its quite reduced salinity, the Black Sea offers optimal conditions for sub-aquatic and nautical sports. Swimming enthusiasts have nothing to fear here from currents or dangerous marine animals. At Mangalia or Neptun there are opportunities to take special thalassotherapy cures, or treatment with Gerovital and Aslavital, famous Romanian products which prevent premature ageing and reinvigorate the body. The organogenous mud of Lake Techergiol has curative properties renowned throughout the world.
