Constanța County · Romania
Constanța travel guide
Constanța is a city in Constanța County, Romania, home to about 264,000 people.
- Best months
- May to September
- Nearest airport
- CND24 km · Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport
- Currency
- RONRomanian leu
- Time zone
- Europe/Bucharest
- Language
- Romanian
About
About Constanța
Constanța is a city in the Northern Dobruja historical region of Romania. A port city, it is the capital of Constanța County and the country's fourth largest city and principal port on the Black Sea coast.
Constanța, being founded as a city almost 2,600 years ago, is the oldest attested city in Romania, the biggest port on the Black Sea and also the fourth-largest city in Romania, with 400,000 inhabitants. It was founded by the Greeks as a port on the Black Sea Coast for trading with inland people and called Tomis (6th c. BC). The city was renamed later after Constantina, niece of Constantine the Great (274–337). It was still a flourishing port city in the 10th and 11th centuries, trading with the Byzantine Empire and the city of Genoa.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Constanța
See
Constanța has been continuously inhabited for 2,500 years so there is a lot to see.
- Old Casino Constanța
- Statue of Ovid
- Grand Mosque of Constanța
- Roman Mosaic Edifice
- National Museum of History and Archeology
- The Popular Art Museum
- Marine Museum
- The Natural Sciences Museum Complex
Do
- Cityplex
- Cinema City
- Teatrul Național Constanța
- Teatrul de Opera si Balet Oleg Danovski
- Elpis
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Constanța
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Constanța are May to September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 44 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Constanța: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport (CND), about 24 km from the city centre in a straight line; Varna Airport (VAR, 124 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
You can use buses and maxi-taxis. To get to Mamaia you can take the 310 mini van called maxi-taxi for 2 lei one way but it is very crowded during summer. The stop is in front of the main exit of the Railway Station, after the traffic light, on the side with the park. Alternatively you can use line 100 to Tomis III and change to line "City tour 00", which goes along Mamaia strip. You can also take the special bus which takes you to Mamaia and has regular stops around the city and resort, it is a double-decker bus and you can find it as you exit the train station in the bus station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CND · Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport
VAR · Varna Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Constanța
Eat
A typical meal at a restaurant is around €8-10 per person including drinks. Waiters usually know some English and menus are usually written in English. International cuisine is present. You should try the wines which are very good and not that expensive. You will find a lot of fast food places selling kebab and shawarma (a nice mixture of grilled chicken, salads, French fries and sauces wrapped in a lipia (a sort of thin pancake used as a substitute for bread by Turks), very good and not that expensive (around 7 lei for a small one and 10 lei for a big one).
Stay safe
Constanța is a pretty safe city even by European standards, but as a precaution avoid taking taxis near the train station and insist that they turn the meter on. If you visit the historical peninsular area at night, try to do this in a group. Unlike some other cities in Romania, people from Constanța are well used to foreigners and are generally helpful. Walking at night is okay even alone, though you should avoid walking with your camera around your neck and be mindful of pick pockets when using public transportation. Your religion is not of concern since a lot of locals come from very different ethnic and religious backgrounds, but refrain from commenting on religious matters.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Constanța: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Constanța?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Constanța are May to September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 44 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Constanța?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport (CND), about 24 km from the city centre in a straight line; Varna Airport (VAR, 124 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Constanța?
Romanian leu (RON).
Nearby
Destinations near Constanța
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.