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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Costinești
Half a day to one night: walk the seafront, swim at Golful Francezului, eat fresh fish and leave before the clubs empty your wallet. Not a base.
Costinești is a 31 km Black Sea resort south of Constanța, known for its student-party vibe, a shipwreck symbol (Evanghelia) and a natural swimming pool carved by the sea. The beach is 800 m of fine sand; the main street fills with stalls and open-air clubs in summer. Most travellers use it as a quick stop between Constanța and Vama Veche, not a multi-night stay.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (most places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro. About 5 lei to €1 in 2026 — check the live rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget RON 150–250 · Mid RON 300–500 · High RON 600+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest. Passport ID is required to register a SIM — check.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance / Fire 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin; Schuko (F) sockets take C plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.; Café or bar: Round up or leave a few lei.; Taxi or Bolt: Round up; app tips optional.; Guesthouse host or driver-guide: RON 20–50 per day for good service.; Hotel porter: RON 5–10 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3. Village and monastery toilets can be basic — carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cappuccino) in a café | RON 12–18 |
| Daily lunch menu (meniul zilei) | RON 35–55 |
| Local beer, 0.5 L in a bar | RON 12–20 |
| Fresh fried fish (portion) | RON 25–45 |
| Shaworma | RON 15–25 |
| Train Constanța – Costinești, 2nd class | RON 15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CND · Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport
- About 60 km (37 mi) north; taxi or bus to Constanța then train/bus to CostineștiAbout 37 mi (60 km) north; taxi or bus to Constanța then train/bus to Costinești
Typical fares
- Train Constanța → Costinești
- about RON 15–20, 35 min (check)
- Bus Constanța → Costinești
- about RON 15, 30–40 min (check)
- Taxi from Constanța
- about RON 80–120 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable end to end. Driving is possible in the village but the resort streets are mostly pedestrian. Trains and buses connect to Constanța.
See and do
Known for
- Evanghelia shipwreck
- Golful Francezului (Frenchman's Bay)
- Student-party atmosphere
- Fresh fried fish and shaworma
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Constanța | Train (about 35 min) or bus from the station | About 1 h |
| Vama Veche | Bus or car via DN39, about 10 km (6.2 mi) southBus or car via DN39, about 6.2 mi (10 km) south | About 20 min |
| Mamaia | Train or bus via Constanța, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Mangalia | Bus or car, about 15 km (9.3 mi) southBus or car, about 9.3 mi (15 km) south | About 25 min |
Sleep
- Central area near the beach
- Hotels, villas and guesthouses within walking distance of the seafront and clubs.
- Southern end (Golful Francezului)
- Quieter, closer to the natural pool; fewer bars.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wah |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK |
| How much? | Cât costă?KUHT KOS-tuh |
| Can I pay by card? | Pot plăti cu cardul?pot pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool |
| Where is the toilet? | Unde este toaleta?OON-day YES-teh twah-LEH-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'bună ziua' by day, 'bună seara' in the evening; avoid: First names with older people before they offer them
- Visiting a home: Take shoes off at the door; bring flowers (an odd number), chocolate or wine; avoid: Even numbers of flowers — they are for funerals
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; women may cover their hair in monasteries; stand quietly at the back during services; avoid: Crossing in front of the altar area or photographing people praying
- Conversation: Food, football, travel in Romania and family are safe topics; avoid: Dracula as the country's identity, calling Romanians Slavs, and careless talk about Roma or Hungarians
- Hospitality: Accept at least a taste of what you are offered; thank the host by name; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Queues and transport: Give seats to older people and parents with children; avoid: Loud phone calls in train compartments
Scams and watch-outs
- Open-air clubs run all night in summer; noise can be an issue if you want to sleep early.
- Prices at beachfront stalls and clubs are higher than in the village; check before you order.
- Cash is preferred at many stalls and smaller eateries; cards work at hotels and larger restaurants.
Generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded beach areas and at night. Stick to well-lit streets after dark. The main risk is overpaying at tourist stalls.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Costinești yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Evanghelia shipwreck
- Golful Francezului (Frenchman's Bay)
- Student-party atmosphere
- Fresh fried fish and shaworma
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Costinești town hall: primariacostinesti.ro/
- Wikivoyage: Costinești, revision 4424387 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4424387
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Costinești
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Ambulance / Fire112
The US has an embassy in Bucharest; most other countries have consulates in Bucharest or Constanța.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/costinesti). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.