Location
Romania
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Adults only
Terrain
Sand
Best season
June to September
About Costinesti main beach
Costinești, about 30 km south of Constanța, is Romania's best-known youth resort, with a busy main beach of sunbeds, bars and summer festivals. The nude spot associated with it is not the main beach itself but a small stretch at the resort's northern end, known locally as Golful Francezului (the Frenchman's Bay), towards the rusting wreck of the Greek cargo ship Evangelia, which ran aground off the northern beach in 1968 and has become the resort's landmark. Romanian media have described nude sunbathing near the wreck since at least the mid-2000s, and a 2022 article still listed Golful Francezului as a small but usable option for nudists. The beach is sand, with the Black Sea typically warm and shallow in high summer. The area is affected by a major (about 78 million euro) beach-widening and breakwater project along the Costinești coast, due for completion in 2026, which may have changed the shoreline near the wreck. Expect a small, informal nude area next to a very crowded resort, rather than a dedicated naturist beach; the main beach remains textile.
Getting there
Costinești is on the coast road between Constanța and Mangalia, with summer trains (Costinești station) and buses from Constanța. Park in the resort's paid summer car parks or on surrounding streets. Walk north along the beach from the centre towards the Evangelia wreck; the nude stretch is at the quieter northern end. Do not climb on the wreck, which is rusted and unsafe.
Amenities
Legal context
Romania has no designated naturist beaches; obscene public acts can be fined under Law 61/1991. Nudity at Golful Francezului is tolerated by custom only, with no municipal signage, and the main Costinești resort beach is clothed.
Naturism at Costinesti main beach sits under Romania's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Romania public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
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Approx. 43.9691, 28.6439
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Romania
Frequently asked questions
Is Costinești a nudist beach?
The main resort beach is not. A small stretch at the northern end, known as Golful Francezului near the Evangelia wreck, has been used for nude sunbathing for years.
Is it legal?
Nudity there is tolerated rather than authorised; Romania has no official nudist beaches and public obscenity can be fined.
Has the beach changed recently?
A large beach-widening and breakwater project along the Costinești coast was due to finish in 2026, so the shore near the wreck may look different from older descriptions.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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