Its beaches, its monuments, its bars, its beautiful views… Constanța, the fifth largest city in Romania, may be one of the oldest towns in the country, but it’s not a sleepy one. It’s the home of Ovidius University, one of four universities participating in this year’s Europavox Campus, the first musical springboard for European students.
Before Constanța’s finale on the 28th of February, which will select the band to represent Romania at the European finale this spring, let’s explore the best places to visit, eat, or simply hang out in the city. Our guide? Ovidius University alumni Diana Slav.
When three young Polish women inquired about the splendours of ancient Constanța in the fall of 2013, she began breaking new ground in the field of tour guiding. After nine years, she still amazes local and international tourists on the most well-known seashore tourist tour, Constanța Walking Tour / Constanța La Pas, with her beautiful stories and architectural gems from the Peninsula. Diana is a graduate of the Ovidius master’s program in Public Relations and Intercultural Development in 2022. Here’s what she recommends…
1- Coffee Time
☕ Hypso25
Any good day starts with a good coffee, and why not take that moment in this beautifully decorated steampunk cafe located in the centre of the old town – Hypso25. Why the name Hypso? Because it means elevation, and we are at around 25 metres above sea level. Bonus, in the evening you will also find the coolest cocktails here.
2- Sights
🏛️ Strada Vantului
The most visit place for photoshoots, instagramers and fashionistas, this is the narrowest street in Constanța and half of a Netflix movie, ‘What Happened To Monday’, was shot here.
🕌 Carol Mosque
Our religious sites are very relaxed, with the city embracing eight different religious places only in its old centre. This one allows you to climb 140 stairs, which provide the best panoramic view to the city and down to the industrial port too.
🎰 Port cliff & old Casino
Everybody loves to be beside the seaside and most are impressed by the casino standing here since 1910. The promenade area was first built in 1900 and in the summer is filled with concerts and other festivities.
🌊 Santa Maria Bay
This is a hidden gem, located in a different area of the city. But this is similar to Italian lungomare. Since for the moment the area doesn’t have that many inhabitants or cars, it makes perfect sense to explore by bike, or on skates, and if you want to chill, the beach is right there.
3- Restaurants
🦐 Bacaro
Right after the promenade and the Casino, this is my all-time favourite place when I want to enjoy the sea, the waves, the winds, and good food. The options are vast and every corner seems to call out for a new photo to be shared on Instagram.
🥘 Rozmarine
This one is hidden in plain view, and looks like a little taverna, with the best view of the industrial port. The sunsets here are magnificent. The food is a fusion between local dishes and international with a personal twist. If you are lucky, you may find a party in the street, too. That’s how cool they are.
4- Cocktails
🍸 Botanica
The best and the most beautiful hidden urban garden, Botanica has a great selection of coffees, teas, cocktails, and small garden concerts.
5- Beach please
🏖️ Zoom Beach
The entire city has a longline of beaches, all arranged with bars and beach chairs, but this one is by far the best place to be. It’s a great bar, with a great music selection, food court, movie nights and concerts in the summer.
6- Art and More
🖼️ ArtAntik
An art gallery with antiques, souvenirs, ArtAntik also provides music, and wine tastings and promotes local artists.