Below you will find out about getting to Eforie Nord from any corner of the country, step by step.
Eforie Nord is one of the easiest resorts on the coast to reach: it lies about 15 kilometres south of Constanța, on the national road towards Mangalia, has its own railway station and is less than an hour from the airport. This guide covers all the options – by car, train, coach and plane – starting from Bucharest and from the other regions of the country, plus tips on parking and on getting around without a car once you arrive.
Contents
Where Eforie Nord is
The resort is in Constanța County, on a strip of land between the Black Sea and Lake Techirghiol. Together with Eforie Sud it forms the town of Eforie. To the north it borders Agigea, where the Danube–Black Sea Canal flows into the sea, and to the south, beyond the sandbar between the lake and the sea, Eforie Sud begins.
Approximate distances by road:
- Constanța (centre): 15 km
- Mamaia: 25 km
- Techirghiol: 5 km
- Costinești: 15 km
- Mangalia: 30 km
- Vama Veche: 40 km
- Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport: 40–45 km
- Bucharest: 220 km
Getting to Eforie Nord by car from Bucharest
This is the simplest road to the sea in the country: the A2 motorway (Autostrada Soarelui) links Bucharest to Constanța without a break. In normal conditions the journey takes around two and a half hours. On summer weekends it can take considerably longer.
The route
- Leave Bucharest on the A2, towards Constanța.
- Cross the Danube on the bridges between Fetești and Cernavodă.
- Before Constanța, follow the signs towards Mangalia and join the ring-road motorway (A4), which bypasses the city.
- At the end of the ring road, in the Agigea area, join the national road towards Mangalia (DN39, E87).
- Cross the bridge over the Danube–Black Sea Canal, at Agigea. Eforie Nord is the first resort after the bridge.
For Hotel Belona, the address to enter in your satnav is 9 Tudor Vladimirescu Street, Eforie Nord. The hotel is at the southern end of the seafront.
Tolls and fees
- The road vignette (rovinieta) is compulsory on the motorway and on national roads. You can buy it online or at petrol stations.
- The bridge toll at Fetești–Cernavodă is paid separately. You can pay it online, by SMS, at petrol stations or at the toll station. If you pay in advance, you drive through without stopping.
The amounts change periodically, so check the current rates before you set off.
When to leave, to avoid the crowds
In summer, the A2 has two heavy moments: Friday afternoon and Saturday morning towards the sea, and Sunday afternoon towards Bucharest. Queues usually form at the toll station and at the entrance to Bucharest.
- Towards the sea: leave on Friday before lunch or very early on Saturday, before 6 a.m.
- Heading home: leave on Sunday before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m., or stay until Monday morning.
- If you can, choose a stay from Sunday to Friday: the roads are clear in both directions.
Keep in mind that at Hotel Belona check-in is from 18:00 and the room must be vacated by 12:00. If you arrive earlier, you can start your holiday straight on the beach, which is two or three minutes from the hotel.
By car from other regions
From Moldavia
The most direct route crosses the Danube on the suspension bridge at Brăila, opened in 2023, and continues through Măcin, then south through Dobrogea to Constanța. The alternative is the road through Slobozia, crossing the Danube on the bridge at Giurgeni–Vadu Oii and then through Hârșova towards Constanța.
From Transylvania and Banat
The road passes, in practice, through Bucharest or close to it: you reach the capital’s ring road and join the A2. From Brașov, many drivers choose the route through Ploiești, then the eastern ring road of Bucharest. It is a long drive, best done with breaks or an overnight stop.
From Oltenia and Muntenia
Also through Bucharest and the A2. From southern Muntenia you can also reach the motorway via Călărași or Drajna, without entering the capital.
From Bulgaria
Coming from Varna and Balchik, you enter Romania at Vama Veche. From there, the national road runs north past all the southern resorts, through Mangalia, to Eforie Nord, in under an hour.
By train
Eforie Nord has a railway station, on the Constanța–Mangalia line. The station is in town, within walking distance of the centre.
In season
In summer, direct trains run from Bucharest and other large cities to Mangalia, stopping at Eforie Nord. From Bucharest, the journey to Constanța takes around two and a half hours on the fast trains, plus roughly another half an hour to Eforie. Tickets for July and August weekends sell out quickly, so it is worth buying them in advance.
Out of season
Direct trains are less frequent. The usual solution is a train to Constanța and, from there, a regional train towards Mangalia or a minibus. Minibuses to the southern resorts leave from the area around Constanța station and stop in Eforie Nord, on the main road.
From the station to the hotel
The resort is small. From the station to the seafront you can walk or take a taxi, in a few minutes.
By coach or minibus
Coaches run to Constanța from Bucharest and from many towns around the country, and in summer some services continue as far as the southern resorts. From Constanța, minibuses towards Mangalia pass through Eforie Nord at short intervals, especially in season. It is the cheapest option and, over the short distance between Constanța and Eforie, often the fastest too.
By plane
The nearest airport is Mihail Kogălniceanu, north-west of Constanța, about 40–45 kilometres from Eforie Nord. In summer it has scheduled and charter flights from several European countries; the timetable differs from one season to the next.
From the airport to Eforie Nord:
- By taxi or transfer: the most convenient option, around 45 minutes, along the Constanța ring road.
- By hire car: useful if you also want to make trips around Dobrogea.
- By public transport: to Constanța, then by minibus or train to Eforie.
The second option is Henri Coandă Airport in Bucharest (Otopeni), with far more flights. From there you reach the sea by hire car, along the capital’s ring road and the A2, or by train, from Gara de Nord.
Parking in Eforie Nord
In July and August, parking is drivers’ main headache, especially in the centre and near the beach. A few pointers:
- on many streets parking is paid in season; look at the signs and road markings;
- spaces near the seafront fill up early, before 10 a.m.;
- the simplest thing is to choose accommodation with its own parking and leave the car there for the whole stay.
At Hotel Belona, parking is free for guests, subject to availability. Once the car is parked, you no longer need it: the beach, the seafront and the centre are all within walking distance.
Getting around without a car
- On foot: walking from one end of the seafront to the other is a stroll. Lake Techirghiol is a few hundred metres from the sea.
- By bicycle or scooter: there are hire centres in season. The road to Eforie Sud, between the sea and the lake, is the prettiest route.
- By minibus: to Constanța to the north and to Costinești, Neptun and Mangalia to the south, with stops on the main road.
- By train: for a day in Constanța or Mangalia, without worrying about parking.
- By taxi: for Techirghiol or for the journey from the station.
We have gathered what you can see in the surrounding area, with or without a car, in the guide to attractions near Eforie Nord.
Tips for a stress-free journey
- Check the traffic before you leave. Navigation apps show the queues on the A2 well in advance and suggest detours.
- Fill up the tank and buy water beforehand. Petrol stations on the motorway are crowded on peak days.
- Pay the bridge toll online. You avoid stopping at the booth.
- Stop halfway. Ten minutes of walking does more than a coffee.
- With children: leave very early, so that the first part of the journey is slept through, and keep water, snacks and a change of clothes to hand.
- By train: buy tickets with a reserved seat and keep your luggage close; the trains to the sea are full.
What to do if you arrive before check-in
Many people reach the sea in the morning, many hours before check-in. It is not wasted time:
- go down to Belona beach, two or three minutes from the hotel;
- walk the seafront to the centre and back;
- have a coffee on the hotel terrace, above the beach;
- go to the lake, for a first encounter with Techirghiol mud.
For bookings and any question about your arrival, you can reach us on +40 21 555 25 70 or at belona@avenuehotels.ro.
The journey home
Leaving needs to be prepared as carefully as arriving. The room must be vacated by 12:00, but that does not mean you have to set off at noon, in the heat and in the thick of the traffic. Many guests put their luggage in the car in the morning, have one last swim, have lunch in the resort and leave towards evening, when the motorway has cleared. On Sundays in July and August, choose either an early-morning departure, before 11 a.m., or one after 9 p.m. Check again that your road vignette is still valid, and check that the bridge toll is also paid for the return.
What to travel with, depending on who you are
Family with small children
The car remains the most practical: there is room for the pushchair, the beach toys and everything else a holiday with little ones requires, and you stop when the child wants, not when the train does. Leave very early, so that the first part of the journey is slept through.
Couple or friends, without much luggage
The direct summer train is a good choice: you don’t queue at the toll, you don’t hunt for parking and you can have a glass of wine at dinner without worry. In the resort you do not need a car.
Visitors from abroad
Fly to Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport, in season, or to Bucharest, then take a train or hire a car. For those who also want to see the Danube Delta or the ancient sites of Dobrogea, a hire car is worth it.
By bicycle
For the fit, Dobrogea is a lovely region to cycle through, with gentle hills and little-used minor roads. The national road between Constanța and Mangalia, however, is very busy in summer and not suitable for bicycles. Trains generally have places for bicycles, with an extra ticket; check when you buy your ticket.
What you can see on the way, if you are not in a hurry
The A2 motorway (Autostrada Soarelui) crosses the Bărăgan plain and crosses the Danube twice, over the Borcea branch and over the Danube proper. The railway bridge alongside, at Cernavodă, was built at the end of the 19th century by the engineer Anghel Saligny and was, when it opened, one of the longest in Europe. The story of the Romanian coast really begins with it: without the bridge, the trains would not have reached the sea, and the resorts would have had no tourists.
After Cernavodă, the motorway runs alongside the Danube–Black Sea Canal, which reaches the sea at Agigea, next to Eforie Nord. On the hills around Medgidia and Murfatlar you can see the vineyards, and further south, the wind turbines of Dobrogea.
A short checklist before you leave
- a valid road vignette (rovinieta) and the bridge toll paid;
- your booking confirmation, with the hotel’s address and phone number;
- the check-in time noted down (at Hotel Belona, from 18:00);
- everyone’s identity documents, including the children’s birth certificates;
- holiday vouchers, if you are paying with them;
- a phone charger for the car and water for the journey.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bucharest to Eforie Nord?
Around two and a half hours, in normal traffic, on the A2 motorway (Autostrada Soarelui) and the Constanța ring road. On summer weekends, with queues at the toll and at Agigea, the journey can take one or two hours longer.
Does Eforie Nord have a railway station?
Yes. Eforie Nord station is on the Constanța–Mangalia line, and in summer direct trains from Bucharest and other cities stop here.
Which is the nearest airport?
Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport, near Constanța, about 40–45 kilometres away.
Do I have to go into Constanța to get to Eforie Nord?
No. The ring-road motorway (A4) bypasses the city and brings you out directly at Agigea, next to Eforie Nord.
How do I get from Constanța to Eforie Nord without a car?
By the minibuses towards Mangalia, which leave from the station area and stop in Eforie Nord, or by regional train. The journey takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
Do you have to pay for parking in the resort?
On many streets, yes, during the season. Hotel Belona guests have free parking, subject to availability.
Do you need a car in Eforie Nord?
No. The resort can be covered on foot, and for trips there are trains and minibuses. A car is only useful if you want to reach Adamclisi, Histria or other places in the interior of Dobrogea.
The period photographs on this site come, for the most part, from the Andrei Ștomff Collection of the National Institute of Heritage and from the Fortepan archive; the source and licence of each image are given in its caption.