Tourist guide Mamaia, Constanta

My most visited destination

Welcome to Mamaia!

Welcome to Mamaia! wrote a few years ago at the entrance to Mamaia resort from Constanta via bd. Mamaia. There is no longer that message of hospitality. In this case I wish you WELCOME in Mamaia!

Mamaia is a controversial resort in visible change. For the better? For the worse? I'll tell you a little bit about Mamaia and at the end we'll try to draw some conclusions together, I'll post mine, you choose what to do with your opinions, maybe we'll debate them on the blog.

About Mamaia

Mamaia belongs administratively to Constanta, north of the port city, county seat of the county of the same name. It is a summer resort, but we visit it several times a year, in all seasons. Officially in 2002 it had 7 permanent inhabitants according to wiki, but things are certainly different nowadays. Mamaia stretches on a sand and earth tongue, 8 km long and 0,3 km wide, called grind, situated between the Black Sea to the east and Lake Siutghiol (lake laptos in Turkish) to the west.

Short history

Mamaia doesn't have much history. Somewhat to the north of today's resort, appeared at the beginning of the century. XX a fishing village, Mamaia-Sat. The place name is said to derive from a Tatar named Mamai, who lived here.

Mamaia resort began to be built after 1906. It was developed after the First World War when the royal family built a residence here - the "Castle" and the first hotels and the Casino appeared. After the Second World War most of the typical (communist) hotels were built, which hosted and still host hundreds of thousands of tourists. Mamaia became a famous summer vacation destination for Romanian and foreign tourists, especially from socialist countries. I remember the talcioc-type trade that came with the foreigners, but also the beloved local radio station Radio Vacanta.

After the Revolution / coup d'état in 1989, foreigners stopped flocking to Mamaia, almost disappeared, Radio Vacanta stopped broadcasting. Mamaia became the expensive resort of the more selective resort. Mamaia Nord was built, an area that quickly became publicized as a chic one with bars, discos, and extravagant, luxurious and very expensive parties, obviously only accessed by the very rich. Again the fame of this place went abroad and rich foreigners came.

Mamaia - 2021

Now Mamaia is in regression again, and I don't think it's because of the pandemic, although it can be invoked. There's no more Light Music Festival ala Mamaia, no more shows at the Summer Theater. Very many accommodations in the north are unoccupied in the summer, other constructions have remained started and in disrepair. Mamaia is cheaper and more crowded at its southern end, and freer and more expensive in the north.

Highlights in Mamaia

The Black Sea. Obviously, the number one attraction is the Black Sea coastline of Mamaia resort. The wide beach with fine sand and shallow water were the reasons why many tourists chose the beaches of Mamaia. There are beaches with sun loungers and umbrellas and some with canopies. There are also towel areas.

Mamaia has or had the finest sand on the Romanian coast and the longest and widest beaches? A controversial beach nourishment project is currently underway. Essentially, the project aims to protect eroding sea shores, or those from which the sea eats a piece of beach every year. This has led to sand being excavated from the open sea and dumped on the beach and on the shore, widening the beach from 200 - 250 meters by another 120 - 200 meters. Tourists are upset that this sand is full of shells and so one of the assets of Mamaia's beaches - the fine sand - is partly lost. The project is underway and I sincerely hope that they will bring fine sand on top of the shells, at some private beaches we have already seen this operation. Another complaint from tourists is that on the new beach, the sunbeds and umbrellas have stayed away from the shore, beach owners are not allowed to carry out commercial activities for a number of years, although some do it on their own responsibility or maybe they have "connections".

Don't forget to enjoy the fishermen and their screaming, the sandcastles, the sandcastles, the trips on the sea with different boats, the small fish in the water, don't be upset by the algae or jellyfish when they come to shore, enjoy the waves, when they are, and especially the sun, but in moderation, as the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to the sun are known.

Mamaia has a promenade on which you can walk, run or pedal, on certain stretches being allowed access by car, with one-way. Terraces, some with push trays, shops with specific items, ice cream stands, sweets, doughnuts, pretzels, pizza, discos and bars, but more recently also food stores, pharmacies, are scattered along the cliff, teeming with tourists in summer, in the off-season being mostly closed.

Do not miss the sunrises on the beach in Mamaia, when the sun is getting ready to come out on the horizon, "out of the water", to come out maim ult and more until it shows its entire luminous yellow disk after challenging you to recognize how many shades of red, orange and yellow do you know? The show is magnificent, ideal for photos and videos. If you add a cloud or waves breaking shyly on the shore or perhaps furiously, the free show is guaranteed. How many love stories does Mamaia beach know?

Mamaia has several other attractions such as the Holiday Village, Aqua Magic, Telegondola.

Today's Holiday Village has lost its charm and initial concept that invites you in houses and restaurants with terraces, traditional, rustically decorated with elements specific to the areas they represented. After the Revolution, some have closed, others have become purely commercial restaurants, a few are still left. Where are the old-fashioned Dobrogan pies? Where is the little train that used to go around the lake? There is still the amusement park on the sides of Bd. Mamaia, cu mountain rousse, trenulete, masinute, balerina, kart-uri, horse racing, swans, amusement for small, very small and large. But watch your pockets, it's a whirlpool with lots of intrusive maslinii coming "to work". It has become disgusting and unsafe.

Aqua Magic is a water park, spread over almost 3 hectares, which attracts many tourists in summer. I have never been its guest, as I don't have this passion, but there are a lot of families with children in particular who love this place. It has slides, pools, waterfalls, various specific attractions, bars and dining options.

The Telegondola is one of our favorites. It runs a 2 km route from Hotel Perla (south of the resort) - Casino (a little north of it). At its highest point it passes over several hotels.

Lake Siutghiol was not among my destinations. It has far fewer visitors than the seashore. It occupies 20 kmp, it has an island - Ovidiu Island - and in recent years water sports, including some extreme ones, have been in the forefront.

Route map

(click on objectives for extended version)