“Vama is not what it used to be” – this is the line you usually hear when you talk to someone who used to go to Vama back in the day. To give you a bit of context, Vama was a small village with a virgin beach, which slowly but surely became a refugee for the intellectuals during Communism.
The phenomenon started when university teachers from the University of Cluj started coming during the summer time in the area, in the ’70s. They were spending their time living in the houses of the locals, chanting and gathering around fireplaces. The small village near the border became a bohemian, safe place for those who stepped foot in.
It isn’t a virgin beach anymore
As Romania progressed into capitalism and the beach started to gain more visitors the area started to develop. Nowadays you can easily find rentals, hotels, camping spots, restaurants and clubs.
Prices also increased due to high demand, so if you are searching for a budget friendly location this might not be necessarily an option. On the other hand, prices increased overall, which led Romanians to prefer Bulgaria or Greece on this matter. It is for sure less expensive than more popular beaches such as the ones from Mamaia or Costinesti, though.
It still has an underground vibe to it
Hippies, metalists, nudists, or alternative crowds – you can easily notice that the vibe still has an underground touch. The small shops in the area sell mostly boho chic items, and the music doesn’t seem to be that mainstream, with few exceptions since it became more popular. A dreamy idealistic atmosphere remained.
Freedom is often confused with excess
Let’s be honest, most people coming to Vama are young folks ready to party while getting high. There are a lot of drug related incidents in the area so we do suggest you stay safe and avoid anything that impairs your judgment or gets you in prison.
Last time I went around 3 AM random people were vomiting, while others were fighting with an almost cinematic background of fireworks behind them, while a random drunk guy was asking us for drugs. It felt like a pirate navigating through a drunk, high, wasted crowd. I call it romantic. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so if you are looking to chill or enjoy some family time I suggest you forget about it.
Image by tirachardz on Freepik
Dracula's Guide to Romania 
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