The Black Sea Coast
In Spain it's Benidorm, in Australia it's the Gold Coast - and in Romania the sun-sea-sand-and-sex brigade heads for the Black Sea coast. Constanta, Romania's largest port and second largest city, is the main transport hub for the Black Sea coast, and the gateway to other resorts. International soccer fans may feel compelled to pay a visit, as this is Gheorghe Hagi's home town. The beaches are dirty and crowded, but the town itself is picturesque and has some excellent museums. |
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Mamaia, an 8km (5mi) strip of beach north of Constanta, is Romania's version of Palm Beach, with 61 hotels containing a total of 27,000 beds that fill up between mid-June and August. If you like lying on overcrowded beaches listening to blaring pop music, head 17km (10.5mi) south of Constanta to Eforie Nord. Other beach-and-blaring music resorts are Neptun-Olimp and Costinesti. And if you think the music's bad, imagine lying on the beach listening to one of Ceausescu's speeches blaring from the loudspeakers, the order of the day until the revolution - not the best cure for a hangover. In summer, Constanta is accessible by charter flight from European destinations, and by ferry from Istanbul. Minibuses connect Constanta with other Black Sea towns. Constanta is well serviced by bus and train.
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