page_title: Constanța
section_title: Transport
hierarchical_section_title: Constanța / Transport
caption_attribution_description: English: Autostrada 2 Section Medgidia - Constanta Deutsch: Autostrada 2 Abschnitt Medgidia - Constanta Română: Autostrada 2 Lot Medgidia - Constanta
context_page_description: Constanța, historically known as Tomis, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania. It was founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Northern Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the historical region of Dobruja.
  As of the 2011 census, Constanța has a population of 283,872, making it the fifth most populous city in Romania. The Constanța metropolitan area includes 14 localities within 30 km of the city, and with a total population of 425,916 inhabitants, it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Romania.
  The Port of Constanța has an area of 39.26 km² and a length of about 30 km. It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe.
context_section_description: The opening, in 1895, of the railway to Bucharest, which crosses the Danube River at the bridge at Cernavodă, brought Constanța considerable transit trade in grain and petroleum, which are largely exported; coal and coke head the list of imports, followed by machinery, iron goods, and cotton and woollen fabrics.
  The A2 motorway provides a rapid road link between Constanța and Bucharest, while the A4 motorway acts as the city's outer traffic ring, diverting heavy traffic to and from the Port of Constanța and to Mangalia.
  The Port of Constanța includes the North Port and the South Port, and is the fourth largest in Europe. It is protected by breakwaters, with a lighthouse at the entrance. The port is sheltered from the northerly winds, but southerly winds can prove highly dangerous at times. The Black Sea squadron of the Romanian fleet is stationed here. A large canal (the Danube-Black Sea Canal) connects the Danube River to the Black Sea at Constanța.
  The city is served by Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport.
  Constanța's public transport system is run by Regia Autonomă de Transport în Comun Constanța (RATC), and consists of 23 year-round bus lines, and one summer sightseeing double decker open top bus line to tourists.
  In the early 2000s, the city bought 130 new MAZ buses to replace the aging fleet of DAC buses. The entire fleet is now made up of buses from the 2000-2008 period, which are painted in distinctive bright colors, such as pink, yellow and green. There is also a fleet of double decker Volvo buses that run in the summer, providing access to and from the resort of Mamaia. As of October 2013, the cost of a return ticket is 3 lei.
  Trams were active until the early 2000s. By this time, however, the cars were almost 25 years old and with the difficulties in maintenance, were decommissioned in favour of long-wheelbase buses. Two trolley bus lines were active until the late 2000s - now also decommissioned and replaced by buses.
  At the end of March 2014, all public buses were upgraded with Wifi for free use by all passengers. Speeds fall into the 3G HSDPA mobile range. Also, as an upgrade to the ticketing system, since the same time, tickets and per day all bus lines subscriptions can be bought via SMS, accepted by all national operators.
  In July 2018 Constanța municipality signed an €18 million-contract to acquire new buses manufactured by the Turkish company Anadolu Isuzu.
  There are also plenty of private minibuses (similar to a share taxi) which run along longer and more intricate lines. The price of a minibus ticket, as of October 2013, varies between 1 and 2 lei depending on the operator.
caption: A2 motorway, also known as "Sun's Highway"
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