A Summer Adventure by the Black Sea 2024
Late August 2024
This year, our vacation plans took an unexpected turn. Due to some investments that required completion, along with my own unfortunate mishap of losing my driver’s license just before the holiday season, we decided to embark on a new adventure—traveling to the Black Sea in Mangalia, Constanța County, by train. It promised to be a fresh experience for both the children and us.
A few days before our departure, I booked round-trip train tickets online through the official CFR website, cfrcalatori.ro, where I created an account. The process was straightforward and hassle-free. On the morning of August 26th, we arrived at Bucharest’s North Station 20 minutes before our scheduled departure to Mangalia, although, as expected, the train was delayed. Nevertheless, the journey was pleasant and uneventful, allowing us to relax along the way.
Upon our arrival in Mangalia, we headed to our accommodation on Rozelor Street, located just a 10-minute walk from Diana Beach. We chose this location for its peaceful atmosphere, perfect for families. After settling in, we made our way to Diana Beach, but not before stopping at Nautic Terrace, where the service was impressively quick. This terrace offers a single type of soup each day, along with the option to wait for grilled dishes if desired.
After enjoying the beach, we decided to have dinner at Pizzeria Al Posto Giusto on Oituz Street 36. However, on our way there, we had a minor incident with an inattentive driver, which startled us and left us shocked by his rude behavior. On the way back, we took a leisurely stroll through the center of Mangalia, opting for the main road instead of the fastest route.
Day two was delightful, with the kids splashing in the water until lunchtime. We returned to Nautic Terrace for a meal and then headed back to the beach. In the evening, we visited the Mangalia Tourist Port, where we found a charming public park with playgrounds for the children. Before heading back, we dined at the Laguna self-service restaurant, where the food was delicious.
On the third day, we woke up after a night of rain, feeling well-rested. We went for a walk and discovered La Manu—a self-service restaurant with a fantastic seafood menu. In the evening, we ordered from Pizzeria Al Posto Giusto through Glovo.
On our last day, we took another stroll to the Mangalia Tourist Port to let the kids burn off some energy. Unfortunately, our park visit was cut short after only 30 minutes by a sudden lightning storm. Our host was incredibly kind and allowed us to stay past the checkout time, which gave us extra time to relax before heading to Mangalia Station. We arrived back at Bucharest’s North Station and, with the help of public transport, made our way home.
This trip was a refreshing escape from the daily grind, a pleasant and much-needed break.
