Constanta is the largest city on Romania's Black Sea coast and the country's biggest port. Greeks from Miletus founded it as Tomis in the 6th century BC, and the Roman poet Ovid was banished here in AD 8 and spent his last years in the town. The city stayed under Ottoman rule from 1419 to 1878, which is where its Turkish name Kostence comes from. The Turkish and Tatar communities of Dobruja still live here, and the Carol I Mosque built in 1910 is the most visible sign of that. The Mamaia strip running north is the best known seaside resort area in the country.
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See flights to Constanța →When to visit Constanța
The swimming season opens in mid June and runs to early September, with sea temperatures around 24C in July and August, though those two months are also when Mamaia is fullest. Early June and the second half of September balance heat and crowds better. From November to March the coast is windy and harsh and most seafront businesses are shut, so the city is visited for its museums and ancient remains instead.
Things to do in Constanța
Carol I Mosque
Commissioned by King Carol I in 1910, the mosque was one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in Romania and serves as the central mosque of the Muslims of Dobruja. Its 50 metre minaret can be climbed by 140 steps for a view taking in the port, the old town and the Black Sea at once.
Constanta Casino
The art nouveau building on the seafront terrace was completed in 1910 and became the emblem of the city. After many years standing derelict it went through a full restoration and reopened to visitors in 2024, with its stained glass hall and sea facing terrace on show.
Roman Mosaic Edifice
The 4th century structure that linked the port of ancient Tomis with the city above preserves about 850 square metres of floor mosaic, one of the largest surviving mosaic surfaces from the Roman world. Amphorae of the period are displayed in situ in the storerooms on its lower level.
National History and Archaeology Museum
The museum on Ovid Square gathers finds from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods of Dobruja. Its best known piece is the Glykon statue of the 2nd century, carved as a coiled serpent, and the statue of Ovid of 1887 stands on the square outside.
Mamaia Beach
The strip of fine sand about 8 kilometres long between the sea and Lake Siutghiol north of the city is the best known holiday area in Romania. The water is shallow and calm, and hotels, beach clubs and a cable car crossing the lake line the whole length of it.
Genoese Lighthouse
The 8 metre stone tower on the promenade of the old town was built in 1860 and takes its name from the medieval Genoese trading colony here. The terrace it stands on is the clearest point from which to see the harbour entrance and the seafront of the old town together.
Flights from Turkey to Constanța
Direct flights to Constanta from Turkey leave from Istanbul and are operated by Turkish Airlines, taking about 1 hour 10 minutes, which makes it a short hop to the far shore of the Black Sea. Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport is about 26 kilometres northwest of the city. Frequencies rise in summer and thin out in winter, when flying into Bucharest and driving the two hours across is a common alternative.
Constanța FAQ
How many days do you need in Constanta?
Two days cover the old town, the museum and the Roman mosaics. For a beach holiday a week in Mamaia works, and adding the Danube Delta and the ancient city of Histria stretches the trip to four or five days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport is about 26 kilometres from the centre, roughly 30 minutes by car. It is a small airport with few departures, and public transport is infrequent, so arranging a transfer or taxi is the practical choice.
Do you need a visa for Romania?
Romania joined the Schengen area for air and sea borders in 2024 and for land borders in 2025. A Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Appointments get harder to find in summer, so it is safer to start the application at least two months before travel.
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