Mamaia

Introducing Mamaia

Mamaia is where the real action is, if by ‘action’ you mean pretty beaches, pretty people and pretty dreadful hangovers. It’s a mere 8km strip of beach between the freshwater Lake Mamaia (also known as Lake Siutghiol) and the Black Sea, but it’s Romania’s most popular resort, with golden sands, an aqua park, restaurants, nightclubs and a raucous atmosphere. There are over 60 hotels and tourist complexes squeezed together along the beach. If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing vacation, you’ve come to the wrong place!

According to legend, the resort gained its name from the desperate cries of a fair maiden, who, during the time of the Ottoman Empire, was kidnapped by a Turk and taken out to sea in a boat. As the wind howled, her frantic cries for her mother – ‘Mamaia! Mamaia!’ – could be heard for miles around. Today, cries of joy, or what have you, are heard from holiday-makers who come from around Romania to soak their bodies in sunlight and their livers in drink.

Mamaia hosts an annual National Pop Music festival (early Sep) which brings together bands from across Romania in catchy pop unity.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009