The Casino of Constanța: A Grand Casino Lost in Time

Brief History of the City and Casino

Constanța is an ancient seaport town on the Black Sea in Romania. The city is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the country, dating back more than 2500 years.

Greek settlers called it Tomis before the Romans colonized and renamed it Constanța. The Roman emperor Constantine renamed the city to Constanța to honor his sister Constantiana.

Today, Constanța is the Black Sea's largest seaport and that is thanks to its strategic location. The seaport has also been strategically vital in the ongoing Ukraine Russian war.

The Casino was completed in 1910 during the Belle Époque period in the then popular Art Nouveau architecture style.

Back then, Constanța and the casino were considered the high societies play ground, and in fact it rivaled the Casino of Monaco in Western Europe. This was also the playground of the Russian Royal family in 1914, before they were assassinated.

For 38 years, with interruptions during WW1, it served as a popular grand Casino until WWII, when the beautiful building was heavily damaged. It even served as a temporary wartime hospital.

Eventually, the building served as a restaurant in the 60s but was then abandoned until 2019 when renovations started.

The Romanian government is bringing back the pearl of the Romanian Riviera to its old glory days as it's set to reopen now in February 2025!

We took the pictures in July 2024, but from now on, you will be able to see the iconic casino in its completed restored white self, and I'm eager to see the inner rooms of the Casino of Constanța.

Location

The Casino of Constanța is situated between the two ports of the Black See city.

On the left is the tourist port and on the right the vast trading port, which is btw the largest port on the Black Sea.

The casino is located on a lovely seaside promenade and the old town is just a few meters away.

If you are coming by car, you will find pay parking opportunities along the road, just opposite the casino. The pay parking is taking credit cards and cash and there is an app, but the OTPs only work with Romanian Sim Cards.

Tip: I highly recommend a walk down the Casino promenade to the Genoese Lighthouse which was built in 1300 by Genoese Italian traders.