Bulgaria occupies a significant place in the ranking of comfortable holiday destinations for Russians. It is called a true health resort for people of different ages. Families with children prefer this resort for its long summer period, warm sea and soft sandy beaches. Taking into account the diverse demands from tourists, we will consider popular beaches, famous not only for their solitude and tranquility, but also for their large offer of services and entertainment.
Almost the entire long beach strip along the Black Sea coast has a convenient shallow descent into the water, a beach with sand, and developed infrastructure. Any beach area offers paid places with sun loungers and free areas for relaxation.
Review of Bulgarian beaches: Sozopol, Pomorie
Top ten best and most beautiful beaches
The length of the Bulgarian beach line is almost four hundred kilometers. Conventionally, it is divided into northern and southern parts. There are a large number of hotels and hotel complexes of different categories here.
Any beach area is municipal property, so the authorities monitor cleanliness and maintain order. Resort hotels with beaches are also responsible for their maintenance.
The best-kept ten beaches are awarded the international Blue Flag award, awarded by the UNESCO organization. Considering that they are very popular among vacationers from all over the world, let’s look at them in more detail:
With different coating
There are several types of beaches in Bulgaria according to the type of coverage:
Protected areas and hotels in Bulgaria with their own beaches
There are luxurious beaches in Bulgaria located on the territory of hotels or protected areas. These include the Dunes resort. Only hotel guests can enjoy the picturesque beach with sand. Mostly families with children live there.
Another such beach is Irakli. It is also located in a protected nature reserve and is far from noisy resorts. This is an ideal place for those seeking solitude with nature.
The beach at the Admiral Hotel at the Golden Sands resort will not only amaze you with its white clean sand, comfortable wooden sun loungers, but also with a convenient descent to the beach area. Mothers with strollers can take their babies to the sun loungers directly from the hotel.
Wild and deserted
For office workers who are caught up in the hustle and bustle, wild beaches are often of particular interest, where they can be alone with nature, turn on relaxation, and catch fish or mussels. There are such places in Bulgaria, but usually there are no decent apartments nearby to stay. You can only stay there at a campsite or with the owners of houses in neighboring villages, where the number of amenities is minimal.
Experienced tourists praise the Primorsky resort, located fifty kilometers from Burgas. It combines a highly developed infrastructure and inexpensive housing.
Deserted wild beaches are located in the Ropotamo Nature Reserve (located behind the holiday village of Zhivkova). You can quickly get there from the city by car. There are small shells and pebbles on the seabed, which allows you to see many beautiful fish, crabs and shrimp when snorkeling. Many areas have beautiful trees right next to the water. Fans of sandy beaches will find them nearby, but they cannot be called secluded due to the large flow of tourists.
Which beaches are suitable for families with children?
When going on a family vacation with children, parents usually have quite logical requirements for the beaches:
- landscaping;
- gentle entrance to the water;
- children's playgrounds and entertainment;
- security;
- post with rescuers;
- an area with a canopy creating shade;
- availability of showers and toilets;
- delicious food in a cafe.
Many beaches in Bulgaria meet all these requirements. But which one should you choose? We will focus on the most popular ones.
Beaches of Nessebar
Nessebar is located on a peninsula with rocks, but this does not mean that it is not suitable for families with children. Between the village and the resort of Ravda there is a cozy sandy beach, protected from the wind on all sides. Entry into the water is very convenient for children. Vacationers can sleep on paid sun loungers under umbrellas or in the free area. There is a children's playground with attractions nearby.
Another suitable beach for children is the Olympic Hopes beach. It offers interesting water attractions, rental of catamarans and surfboards. Nessebar also has many family-type hotels with comfortable beaches, located right on the seashore.
The Olympic Hopes beach is suitable for families with children.
Beaches of Pomorie
An excellent choice for a holiday with children. They are covered with gray sand, which has medicinal properties. There are no cold currents here, due to which the water heats up very well. The beach area is divided into equipped paid and free areas. It is equipped with a children's playground. The southern side of the beach is better developed.
Families vacationing at this resort can go to the shell beach. There is also a good area for children to play.
Beach "Saint Vlas"
A true beach holiday destination. Warm water, hot air, fine sand - this is the best gift for kids. Next to the listed benefits, there are lush alleys of acacia trees, creating a life-saving shade and giving tourists a pleasant aroma. The resort is surrounded by pine trees, thanks to which the air has healing powers.
It has its own yacht club. Directly from the shore you can admire the beauty of Nessebar, and in the evening, if you have someone to leave the children with, go to a beach party or to a club in the resort of Sunny Beach, which is only two kilometers away.
“Saint Vlas is a true place for a beach holiday.
Sunny Beach Beach
Sunny Beach is the largest Bulgarian resort. The entrance to the water is very gentle, the beaches are sandy. At night, breezes bring pleasant coolness. Eight kilometers of coastline accommodate a hundred hotels, more than a hundred restaurants and cafes. There are many playgrounds, swimming pools, water attractions and slides built here for children.
Irakli Beach
Located in the north of the Sunny Beach resort. It is considered one of the best due to the presence of a reserve that is not built up with hotel complexes. The beach is almost always free. Pristine nature goes well with developed infrastructure. The only drawback of this place is the periodically cold water (a river flows here).
We bring to your attention an interesting video about Kabakum beach, located in the Chaika area, 10 km from the center of Varna:
There are plenty of picturesque and well-kept beaches in Bulgaria. It is difficult to choose the best among them, especially if you take into account the very different tastes and requirements of vacationers. But the places listed here will definitely not disappoint you.
You can find more information on the topic in the section.
The resort areas of Bulgaria are rightfully considered one of the best in Europe. And this is not surprising, because the warm sea and sun in combination with soft sand make it possible to completely disconnect from all everyday worries and immerse yourself in an atmosphere of complete detachment and peace. And in order for you to really be able to have such a complete rest in this country, we will now look at where the best beaches are in Bulgaria, what characterizes them and why they are so famous among tourists.
Youth summer paradise
You will bring the most vivid memories, filled with sunny club hits and endless laughter, from the Golden Sands resort area. There is a huge number of night clubs, restaurants for every taste and budget, summer open cafes and entertainment centers. You can relax on Golden Sands either in a noisy group or with your family. For children, there are numerous attractions and other programs that will make their vacation unforgettable. Among other things, the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria from a natural point of view are concentrated here. This region has very lush green vegetation that approaches the waters of the sea. The air is filled with oxygen, which has an extremely positive effect on health.
The most visited resort in the country
In the recreation area called the beautiful Cocoa Beach, with its numerous entertainment and natural attractions, has been operating for many years. The width of the recreation area here is 50 meters, and the length of the beach itself exceeds 8 kilometers. You can relax here as a couple, or with a noisy company, or even with children. Soft, golden sand, the sea, the bottom of which is flat and shallow, constant calm, since the beach is located in a bay - all this attracts tourists from different parts of the world here. In addition, it should be noted that this beach in Bulgaria is the main center of water activities. Here you can find one of the water or beach sports for yourself, or just have fun at local parties, where it is always fun and noisy.
Where is the best place to spend a vacation with your family?
If you decide to go to Bulgaria with your children in the summer, then choosing the Albena resort will be the wisest decision. This area has a particularly mild climate, picturesque nature and air saturated with iodine ions, which has an extremely positive effect on the immune system. The air temperature in the recreation area averages 25 degrees, the sea warms up to 23. Therefore, the main beaches in Bulgaria for children are located here. They are located in quiet bays, bays, where there are never waves. The warm sea here washes the fine sand, and numerous water parks and water slides give children a lot of vivid impressions. Windsurfers can also practice in the more open spaces of the resort. Where the sea approaches wide shores, where there are no bays, decent waves rise, which you can catch for days, honing your own skills.
For those who want to go to sea
Many tourists coming to seaside resorts are full of hopes for long journeys, cruises and discos that will be held in open waters. If you are a fan of such adventures, then book yourself a room in one of the hotels in the Primorsko resort in advance. This region has a huge variety of hotels and boarding houses for every budget. Here you can stay either in a five-star hotel or in a tent on the territory of one of the campsites. However, the main asset that characterizes the Bulgarian beach located here is its length - 10 km. Along this strip you can find a lot of sea excursions with trips to open waters on a yacht. These could be short-term night or day discos, educational tours, or long swims with training. Underwater fishing is also very developed in the region.
Windsurfer's paradise
Where the warm Black Sea is never calm is five kilometers from the city of Sozopol. It is in this place that the wonderful Smokini resort is located, which is constantly washed by high waves. Students, young people, lovers of romance and, of course, connoisseurs of real high waves most often come here. This beach in Bulgaria is characterized by constantly stormy waters, in which you can catch more than one high wave. Boards are rented here for a day or for whole weeks. If you are just starting to get acquainted with this sport, you can hire an instructor who will help you master this art quickly and easily.
Wild spaces along the Black Sea
On the territory of Bulgaria there are many resort areas, which are densely built up with hotel complexes, but at the same time, the beach area near them is completely wild. It is in this category that you can include the beach, which is located in Shkorpilovtsi, a village not far from Varna. This is the widest zone (100 meters), covered with natural, not bulk sand. The recreation area stretches for as much as 13 kilometers and is washed by the warm waves of the Black Sea. Not far from this place there is another recreation area - Ustieto Beach. It is slightly narrower, unlike the previous version. Summer cafes and entertainment areas are more common here. However, the sea in this area is completely unacceptable for children to swim in. The bottom is steep and uneven, the depth is felt instantly. In this area, tourists most appreciate the pristine nature and the freshest air in the country.
The cleanest resorts in the country
But the beaches of Bulgaria are located in a resort area called “Dune”. The recreation area is located a few kilometers from Sozopol, between steep cliffs and steep slopes, covered with green and tropical trees. The width of the beaches here is as much as 100 meters, and they stretch 5 kilometers in length. This area received its mysterious name due to the fact that the golden sands, which are washed by the Black Sea, form small dunes here that shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow in the hot sun. Of course, you can relax at this resort with children - everything necessary for their entertainment is available here.
Bulgaria is the most popular country among Russian buyers of foreign real estate. In 2013, more than 10 thousand of our compatriots purchased local real estate. The most popular apartments are on the country's Black Sea coast.
“Bulgaria’s seaside resorts are in demand for a variety of segments of the population. Young people prefer large, noisy resorts; they have almost no opportunity to buy housing. Young families as well as older people like calm and quiet places, but some prefer cities due to the availability of medical care, better infrastructure and the ability to rent out homes all year round. Some people prefer good apartments in large resorts (in gated complexes) for long-term stays or for renting out housing,” says Todor Stoyanov, financial director of Prime Property BG.
the site has compiled a list of the best resorts in Bulgaria for families with children and purchasing real estate. The rating is based on the following criteria: quality of beaches, infrastructure and attractions, level of safety, environmental conditions, cost of living and recreation.
Rating of Bulgarian resorts for holidays and home buying (maximum score - 10)
| Resorts | Beaches | Infra- structure and attractions particularity |
Level safe ness |
State ecology |
Price life and rest |
General point |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 41 | |
| 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 40 | |
| 3 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 39 | |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 39 | |
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 38 | |
| 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 38 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 37 | |
| 8 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 36 | |
| 9 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 36 | |
| 10 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 36 | |
| 11 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 10> | 35 | |
| 12 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 35 | |
| 13 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 35 | |
| 14 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | |
| 15 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 33 | |
| 16 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 32 | |
| 17 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 32 | |
| 18 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 31 | |
| 19 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 31 | |
| 20 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 30 | |
| 21 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 39 | |
| 22 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 28 | |
| 23 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
| 24 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 23 | |
| 25 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 21 |
Sveti Vlas: a quiet resort for families
Sveti Vlas is a coastal town located 40 km from Burgas International Airport and 6 km from Sunny Beach. “Sveti Vlas is an ideal place for a quiet, measured holiday with the whole family. It feels like home, the complexes are cozy, and accommodation is inexpensive. The only drawback is that there is little greenery at the resort,” says Alexander D., who vacationed in Sveti Vlas in the summer of 2013 with his wife and two children.
This area has a special microclimate: the air is enriched with iodine ions, a fresh breeze blows from the sea, the Stara Planina Mountains and the surrounding hills keep it cool during the summer heat. There are sunny days from May to September or a total of 70 days. Due to the combination of a mild climate and healthy air, many come to Sveti Vlas to treat their lungs.
All three beaches with a length of 1.5 km (Camping, Marina and Central) are marked with the Blue Flag. This award is given for environmental friendliness. The beaches are sandy, wide, free (money is taken only for sun loungers and umbrellas), with small bays convenient for swimming.
The tourist infrastructure of the resort is actively developing. Now there is a marina, shops and restaurants. Most streets are under video surveillance, so crime here is almost reduced to zero. Attractions include the Church of St. Andrew and the Temple of Athanasius the Great.
Some Bulgarian government officials have acquired houses in this town. Available real estate offers include apartments in hotel complexes, apartments and villas. Housing in Sveti Vlas is sold at prices from 22.6 thousand to 376 thousand euros. Apartment rental costs 25–55 euros per day.
Kranevo: an ideal holiday for children
“In the summer of 2012, we sent our children to the AquaLife water sports camp in the village of Kranevo. From June to July we rented a house there to live near our children. We enjoyed our vacation so much that in the future we plan to vacation only in Kranevo,” says Olga K.
From Kranevo to Varna Airport is about 30 minutes drive. Buses and minibuses also run regularly to Albena, Balchik, Dobrich and Golden Sands. All these resorts are nearby.
The beach in Kranevo is clean, with golden sand, 6 km long and up to 100 m wide. There are paid and free recreation areas. The seabed is flat, without dangerous currents or depth changes, so children can swim here without fear. Some tourists believe that Kranevo beach is the most convenient on the coast. The village also has mineral springs, which are used to treat various diseases.
Kranevo is a village, but it has all the infrastructure necessary for recreation: bars, discos, restaurants serving Bulgarian, Indian and Chinese cuisine, shops, hairdressers, a market and even children's attractions. On the beach you can rent catamarans, jet skis and windsurfing equipment. And yet, Kranevo is famous not for its nightlife, but for its quiet relaxation, so young people who are accustomed to noisy parties may find it boring here.
The resort has both hotels and a private sector. Prices for apartments in Kranevo range from 37 thousand to 80 thousand euros, for houses - from 62 thousand to 337 thousand.
Review: beautiful nature and warm sea
There are several beaches - sandy, pebble, concrete; one of them is marked with the Blue Flag. The sea is clean, warms up well, and the slope to the sea is gentle. However, not everyone likes the beaches in Pomorie: the sand has a gray-brown color due to its high iron content, there are rocks in some places, and sometimes in the morning the current carries algae.
In the surrounding area there are salt lakes, the healing properties of the water in which were known to the Byzantines and Thracians. It was used to treat wounds, rheumatism and skin diseases. Since Pomorie is located at zero elevation above sea level, the area is swampy, and the mud also has healing properties.
The city is located in the middle of the plains, so you won’t see the greenery of the forests here. But there are many vineyards here. Pomorie is famous for the fact that on its outskirts there is a wine and cognac factory called Black Sea Gold. It is believed that cognac made from grapes grown on salty soil is of special quality.
The resort has many hotels, sanatoriums, cafes, an open-air cinema, museums, monasteries and churches, but there is little entertainment for young people. “Pomorie will appeal to those who value peace and do not like crowds of tourists. It seemed to us that there are very few foreign tourists here, mainly Bulgarians come here from other regions of the country,” says Elena K.
The old part of the city has many buildings with interesting architecture, located on narrow winding streets, while the new areas are dominated by modern houses ranging in height from two to four floors. Pomorie is considered one of the cheapest resorts in Bulgaria. Both food and housing are inexpensive here. Apartments in Pomorie can be purchased for prices starting from 20 thousand euros.
Mermaid: rare birds and protected places
Rusalka is the northernmost resort in Bulgaria. It is located 80 km from Varna and 50 km from Albena in the Tauk Liman nature reserve, which translated from Turkish means “chicken haven”: many species of rare birds nest in the reserve. Nearby is Cape Kaliakra - an archaeological and natural reserve with secluded coves, exotic caves and mineral springs. You can get to Rusalka by bus, minibus or taxi from Varna, as well as by water transport from Kavarna and Kaliakra.
Rusalka has both sandy and pebble beaches. The average sea water temperature is +24 °C. The swimming season lasts from May to September. In summer the air warms up to +28 °C, and only a fresh breeze from the sea brings coolness.
The complexes at the resort operate on an all-inclusive basis. On their territory there are dozens of tennis courts, a riding club, a fitness room, a sauna, discos and bars, and swimming pools with animation. Here you can play football, go scuba diving and ride a bike.
There are about 600 country houses available for rent in Rusalka, where tourists, mostly British and Germans, stay in the summer. The houses are equipped with air conditioning, telephones and televisions.
Primorsko: a haven for surfers and exotic nature
Primorsko is located in the Burgas region, near Sozopol and Tsarevo, at the foot of the Strandja Mountains. From here you can take a bus to Burgas, Pleven, Plovdiv, Sofia and Tsarevo.
The surrounding area of Primorsko is a protected area with pristine forests, rare plants and wild animals, as well as unusual rock formations. In the Ropotamo Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 1 thousand hectares, you can go hiking or boating on the river. Tourists also visit St. Thomas Island, where white water lilies grow and turtles live.
The resort has a clean beach 2 km long with fine sand. The northern beach is open to all winds, which is why it is chosen by surfers. The southern beach is calmer, it is reliably protected from the wind, there is a gentle shore and a warm sea. “We vacationed in Primorsko from July to August, it was very hot and sunny, but thanks to the dry air, high temperatures were easily tolerated,” says Alla B.
Primorsko is an affordable resort for the whole family. Hotels, goods and services are cheaper here than in other resorts in Bulgaria. Apartments in Primorsko are sold at prices from 20 thousand to 100 thousand euros, houses - from 95 thousand to 700 thousand euros.
Elenite: healthy air and all-inclusive system
Elenite is a resort located in a picturesque bay on the southern slopes of the Stara Planina mountains, 40 km from Burgas airport and a few minutes by bus from Sunny Beach and Sveti Vlas. The resort was named “Elenite” (Bulgarian for “deer”) because deer live in the local forests.
In Elenite, iodized sea air is combined with the air of coniferous forests growing in the surrounding area, which creates a special microclimate that is beneficial for pulmonary patients. There is no sweltering heat here: the average air temperature in summer is about +28 °C. From May to October the water heats up to an average of +24 °C. Stara Planina Mountain protects the resort from northern winds.
This is a closed resort, and outsiders are not allowed into its territory. In Elenite there are several hotels and residential complexes with apartments located on the first line of the sea, along an 800 m long beach. There are many shops, benches, restaurants serving European and Bulgarian cuisine, bars, an outdoor seawater swimming pool, tennis courts, a yacht club , volleyball and football grounds, a fitness room, table tennis and billiards, a riding club, and a water park. The complex operates on an all-inclusive basis. The holiday is comfortable and inexpensive, meets European standards.
“Externally, Elenite reminded me of Ibiza - the same white villas with red tile roofs. Beautiful resort. But the entrance to the sea is inconvenient - the sand is strewn with stones, you can get hurt, and the beach seemed narrow to me,” says Svetlana S. from Kazan.
Prices for apartments in Elenite range from 35 thousand to 260 thousand euros.
Golden Sands: lots of tourists and discos until the morning
The Golden Sands resort is located in a national park 18 km northeast of Varna. There are bus connections to all coastal resorts.
There is a legend associated with the name of the resort. According to it, a long time ago, pirates buried a gold treasure somewhere on the coast, later they could not find it, and then this gold turned into fine-grained golden sand. Beaches of amazing yellow color, from 50 to 100 m wide, stretch along the northern coast for 3.5 km. The average air temperature in summer does not fall below +27 °C, and the water remains warm even at night.
“Golden Sands has a lot of entertainment and is a great place for young people. But for older people this is rather a disadvantage. We lived in a house on the first line of the sea, nearby discos were open until the morning, and because of the resting youth and loud music it was impossible to sleep. There are also a lot of tourists at the resort,” says Alexander Sh.
The resort has many attractions for adults and children, restaurants, discos, hotels, casinos, sports centers and amusement parks. Cultural attractions include the Chapel of St. John the Baptist and the 14th-century Aladzha rock monastery.
At the Ambassador balneological center, arthritis, arthrosis, bronchitis, neuroses, stress and chronic pharyngitis are treated using sea water, rich in salts and microelements, as well as healing mud and various types of medicinal plants.
Prices in Golden Sands restaurants are approximately twice as high as in Varna. Real estate is also not cheap: apartments with an area of 30–40 m² are sold for 30–40 thousand euros. Apartment rental costs 40–50 euros per day.
Kavarna: historical sights and rock concerts
The resort town of Kavarna is located 64 km from Varna, 49 km from Dobrich and 18 km from Balchik. From here there are buses to Bolgarevo, Balchik, Varna, Dobrich, Durankulak and Sofia.
The sandy beach is located about 2 km from the center of Kavarna and has a length of about 1.5 km. In summer, the air temperature varies from +22 to +30 °C, there is almost no rain - precipitation only falls closer to autumn.
Kavarna has cafes, snack bars, fish restaurants, an ethnographic museum, and many ruins of Roman villas and medieval churches. The city is famous for hosting the International Rock Fest every summer, where many world-famous performers have performed. Among them are Accept, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Glenn Hughes, Ronnie James Dio and Scorpions.
The city has a large selection of residential complexes with apartments. Prices range from 24 thousand to 350 thousand euros. A house can be purchased at a price from 60 thousand to 2 million euros. Rental housing costs 30–50 euros per day.
Lozenets: seafood cuisine and the cleanest sea
The fishing village of Lozenets, surrounded by greenery, is located in the Burgas region between the resort towns of Kiten and Tsarevo, 60 km south of Burgas. The sea and the proximity of the Strandja Mountains create a unique landscape here.
The village has more than 10 restaurants and bars where you can listen to music and taste different dishes from freshly caught fish: mussels, crabs, octopus, squid, shrimp, mackerel and much more. There are six sandy beaches: Babeshki, Coral, Oasis, Maly, Mechata Dupka and Central. Activities include surfing, fishing, horse riding, jet skiing, and, of course, swimming and sunbathing. According to scientific research, sea water in Lozenets is the cleanest on the entire Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is rich in microelements - bromine, iodine, calcium and magnesium.
In summer it can be hot - up to +30 °C, but the heat is softened by a light fresh breeze blowing from the sea. Lozenets is protected from strong winds by the Strandja Mountains.
The resort is dominated by two- and three-story houses, many of which have been converted into small hotels. The low-rise buildings of the village are reminiscent of European suburbs. Apartments in Lozenets are sold at prices from 30 thousand to 300 thousand euros, houses - from 90 thousand to 400 thousand euros.
Sozopol: architectural monuments and bohemia
Sozopol is the oldest Bulgarian city on the Black Sea coast. The first settlement in these places arose in the Bronze Age - in the 4th–3rd millennium BC. e. The resort is located 34 km from Burgas, on a small peninsula that juts into the Black Sea. By bus you can reach Burgas, Kiten, Primorsko and Sofia.
There are three sandy beaches in Sozopol - Zlatna Ribka, Harmanite and Central. Harmanyte is awarded the Blue Flag. There are several campsites nearby - “Veselie”, “Gradina”, “Zlatna Ribka”, “Kavatsi” and “Smokinya”. The city has more than 600 restaurants, taverns, bars and discos. This is a museum city: there are many historical and architectural monuments of the 18th–19th centuries, beautiful churches, old white houses with red tile roofs and narrow cobbled streets. The special atmosphere of the resort attracts creative people - artists, musicians and painters.
It is hot in Sozopol in summer. From May to September, the air temperature is +27–33 °C, the water temperature is +25–28 °C.
Apartments in Sozopol cost from 27.5 thousand to 500 thousand euros, houses - from 100 thousand euros.
Balchik: magnificent park and bad beaches
Balchik is the third most important port in Bulgaria after Varna and Burgas. It is located close to Albena, Varna, Dobrich, Golden Sands and Kranevo.
In ancient times, buildings here were built from white limestone. The Roman poet Ovid, sailing past the city on a ship, wrote about what he saw: “I greet you, white-stone city, with your unique beauty.” Balchik remains a beautiful city to this day. The most picturesque place is the residence of the Romanian Queen Maria with a palace park in which there are about 200 species of trees, more than 3,000 rare and exotic plants, more than 250 species of cacti, the collection of which is the second largest after the Monaco collection. Other attractions include churches, remains of the Temple of Cybele, medieval walls and stone fountains.
“I didn’t like the beaches in Balchik. There is no sandy beach area as such, people sunbathe wherever they can, even on the parapets,” says Olga L. Due to the fact that there are no good beaches in Balchik, this resort is not as popular as others. The other side of the coin is low prices for holidays in local hotels and restaurants.
Here you will find a yacht club with 60 yachts, a 20-hole golf course, nightclubs and bars. In general, Balchik is a calm and quiet resort where young people may get bored.
The sea water temperature is 2–3 °C lower than in the south of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. For many Balchik homeowners, landslides are a big problem.
Among the property owners in Balchik there are many English, Irish and Russians. Apartments cost from 40 thousand to 200 thousand euros. The average cost per square meter is 300 euros.
Tsarevo: a boring resort for a lazy holiday
Tsarevo is a small port city in the Burgas region, located on a peninsula with a heavily indented coastline. There is a bus connection with Ahtopol, Burgas and Malko Tarnovo.
There are more than 200 sunny days a year, the air temperature in the summer months ranges from +24 to 35 °C, the water temperature reaches +25 °C.
This is a quiet, relaxing resort, where there are no noisy discos and crowds of tourists. There are not many hotels, since this resort is not the most popular among foreigners. In addition to Russians, Germans and Norwegians vacation here. There are three picturesque beaches, regattas and surfing competitions are held here, and you can go spearfishing. 9 km from Tsarevo there is a private botanical garden “Raiskata Gradina” with more than 2,000 species of plants, including bananas, kiwi, magnolia and cacti. There are no historical values in Tsarevo, since most of the old buildings burned down during a fire in the 19th century.
Housing prices in Tsarevo start from 20 thousand euros.
Ravda: a relaxing holiday without the fuss
The seaside village of Ravda is located 30 km from Burgas Airport and 1.5 km from Nessebar. This is primarily a children's and youth resort with good sports facilities. Here you can surf, swim and water ski. The main advantage of Ravda is safety.
There are beaches in Ravda for every taste - both rocky and sandy. On the approach to the beach there are undeveloped areas. The vacation spots are protected from cold winds by rocky capes, making the climate here mild. Every summer, about 5,000 tourists vacation in the village, mainly from Germany, Macedonia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Most vacationers stay in small private hotels.
The village has shops, restaurants, entertainment complexes, a post office, an outpatient clinic, a fitness center and discos. However, active young people may find it boring here. On the outskirts of Ravda there are vineyards and melon fields, where you can buy watermelons and melons.
Ravda is one of the cheapest resorts in Bulgaria. You can rent a studio here for an average of 25 euros per day in the middle season. You can buy apartments for a price starting from 19 thousand euros.
Riviera: luxury hotels and luxury holidays
Riviera is a private resort located 14 km northeast of Varna, next to Golden Sands. It is surrounded by a magnificent park of 12 hectares and consists of several five-star hotels such as the Imperial, Lotus, Oasis and Riviera Beach. Local hotel rooms are some of the most expensive on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
The beach is located in a cozy cove, right behind it is a park with centuries-old trees. The Riviera has entertainment for every taste - from beach and water sports to get-togethers in bars, night discos, day excursions and animation. You can water ski and yacht, surf, fish, play tennis, and take bicycle rides. There are swimming pools with mineral water and healing springs that lead directly to the beaches.
The sea at the resort is clean and warm: the water warms up to +24 °C. It is hot in summer, but due to the light breeze and abundance of greenery the heat is almost not felt.
Varna: a major transport hub and a bustling resort with discos
Varna is the largest city in Northern Bulgaria and on the country's Black Sea coast. It is often called the “sea capital”, “summer capital”, “Bulgarian pearl” and “pearl of the Black Sea”. This is a major transport hub and a starting point for tourists coming to other resorts in the country. Flights from many major cities in Europe and Russia arrive here. Seasonal trains depart from Kyiv, Minsk and Moscow. There are ferry connections to Batumi and Istanbul.
The city has sandy beaches and hot springs with temperatures of +35–50 °C. Good beaches are located in the northern part of the city, including wild ones. In the center of Varna you can see the beach, separated from the rest of the city by a garden. In summer, the water temperature varies from +20 to +30 °C, and on hot days the sand on the beaches heats up to +65 °C. In September (“velvet season”), the sea, which has warmed up over the summer, is still quite warm, and there are fewer vacationers at this time than in July and August, since the school year begins.
Varna has many restaurants, cafes, museums, galleries, shops and nightclubs. There are Roman baths, churches, a large pedestrian area and a dolphinarium. Prices here are lower than Western European ones, but higher than at other resorts in Bulgaria.
A square meter in the city costs on average about 600 euros. Apartments and houses in Varna are sold at prices starting from 30 thousand euros. Rental costs from 25 euros per day.
Nessebar: city of churches
Nessebar is a beautiful, ancient city with a three-thousand-year history and a rich excursion program. There are about 50 churches here - more than in any other city in Bulgaria, many museums and various antiquities.
The nearest airport and train station are in Burgas. By sea you can reach Burgas, Sveti Vlas and Sunny Beach. Buses run from Burgas, Elenite and Sunny Beach.
The long coastline creates favorable conditions for the development of tourism. Nessebar is considered the largest tourist center on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The city has 730 hotels, almost 3,000 private residences with more than 155 thousand beds and over 3,500 catering establishments. Tourists often stay in ancient houses of past centuries, equipped with modern amenities.
The beach in Nessebar is small. The bottom is sandy, without cliffs, but in some places there are sharp stones. On the beach you can play volleyball, rent a scooter or yacht, hire an instructor for diving and windsurfing.
Since Nessebar is a popular tourist city visited by foreigners from all over the world, crime here is slightly higher than in other, quieter and smaller resorts.
“There are always a lot of tourists in Nessebar during the beach season. Fraudsters know this and take advantage of large crowds of people for their own purposes. I would advise you to keep a closer eye on wallets and valuables. It happens that foreigners are deceived at exchange offices,” warns Dimitar K., a local resident who works in the tourism industry.
Prices for goods and services in the city are higher than in other resorts. Apartments in Nessebar are for sale
for 27–65 thousand euros. Rental costs 50–160 euros per day.
the site advises choosing Bulgarian resorts for holidays and buying real estate in accordance with your preferences, lifestyle and budget:
- Best beaches:
Albena, Dunes, Elenite, Golden Sands, Rusalka, Sveti Vlas, Sozopol, Sunny Beach
- Developed recreation and entertainment infrastructure:
Albena, Burgas, Varna, Golden Sands, Nessebar, Sveti Vlas, Sunny Beach
- Quiet and relaxing holiday:
Ahtopol, Balchik, Kavarna, Kamchia, Obzor, Ravda, Rusalka, Tsarevo
- The most expensive resorts:
Varna, Elenite, Golden Sands, Nessebar, Riviera, Rusalka, St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Sozopol
- Cheapest resorts:
Burgas, Kamchia, Kiten, Kranevo, Lozenets, Obzor, Pomorie, Ravda, Sunny Beach
Sunny Beach is the largest resort in Bulgaria. It boasts a spacious and long beach strip, the length of which is about 8 km and the width reaches 100 m. Fine golden sand, picturesque dunes, sea and mountains are the perfect combination for a good holiday.
The resort's infrastructure is developing very quickly; new hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, bars and entertainment venues appear every year. The resort has more than 300 hotels and apartment complexes. This is one of the most famous and lively resorts in Bulgaria.
There are many opportunities for sports: you can play volleyball on the beach, surf, water ski, banana ride or parachute behind a boat. Sunny Beach is famous for its nightlife; young people from all over Europe come here to have fun. History buffs will be interested in visiting the neighboring ancient town of Nessebar; there are regular buses to it, as well as to the nearest major city, Burgas.
Golden Sands is the largest resort on the northern Black Sea coast, located on the territory of a nature reserve 18 km from Varna.
The history of the name "Golden Sands" comes from an ancient legend that tells how pirates buried a golden treasure on the coast north of the city of Varna. The earth took revenge on the bandits, turning gold into beautiful sand - the cleanest and finest on the entire Black Sea coast.
There are many mineral springs on the resort territory. Based on their healing properties, balneological centers have been created that offer various wellness treatments.
The Golden Sands beach stretches for 3.5 km and its width reaches 100 meters, here you can find entertainment for every taste - beach volleyball, yachting, water skiing, banana boats, pedalos, jet skis, diving, windsurfing, parasailing .
The resort has many restaurants, cafes and bistros that offer not only Bulgarian and European, but also exotic cuisine. There is an Aquapolis water park, mini golf, bowling alley, tennis courts and much more. The nightlife of the resort will delight entertainment lovers: in the center of Golden Sands there is a wide variety of discos, nightclubs and bars.
Maps of the Golden Sands region: ,
Elenite is a young resort built for a club family holiday. It impresses with the ideal cleanliness of the beach and crystal water. Modern luxury hotels and one and two storey villas are located throughout the complex. Elenite has its own sandy beach more than 1 km long.
The resort is known for its well-developed modern infrastructure. There is a water park, swimming pools for adults and children, cozy restaurants serving Bulgarian national cuisine, a disco, bars, shops, sports facilities, tennis courts, as well as conditions for water sports.
Most hotels operate on an All Inclusive system and provide tourists with many services that make their vacation especially comfortable and enjoyable.
Maps of the Elenite region: ,
St. Constantine and Helena is the first and oldest resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, founded in 1908. It is located 8 km from the city of Varna, in an ancient park with cypress trees, lilies, quiet bays, sandy beaches and rocky headlands.
The resort has spa centers and a swimming pool with hot mineral water, which is famous for its healing properties. Underground mineral springs rise from a depth of about two kilometers, and the water temperature reaches +48°C.
This is a suitable place for a relaxing holiday with the whole family. Modern restaurants offer a large selection of dishes of national and European cuisine. In the evening you can relax in numerous bars, nightclubs and discos or stroll along the alleys of the resort.
The resort of St. Vlas is one of the youngest resorts in Bulgaria. This is a beautiful coastal village located 5 km north of Sunny Beach, 9 km from the town of Nessebar and 38 km from the city of Burgas. The Stara Planina mountain range in some places reaches almost to the very shores. Sandy beaches with a total length of 1.5 km are located on the shores of numerous bays convenient for swimming.
In recent years, the resort has become one of the most modern and popular summer holiday destinations. In 2007, the construction of a marina for yachts was completed - the largest in Bulgaria. The port offers everything necessary for yachting enthusiasts, including the opportunity to rent or even buy a yacht.
St. Vlas is a quiet and peaceful resort, but its proximity to Sunny Beach allows tourists to experience the unforgettable emotions of summer nightlife. That is why this place is perfect for a family holiday with children, and for those who want not only to relax, but also to have fun by visiting clubs and discos.
Maps of the Saint Vlas region: ,
Obzor is located at the foot of the Stara Planina mountain. This is a resort with a long and wide beach strip (6 km), which stretches along the city from Cape St. Athanas to the southern cape of Mona Petra. The combination of sea and mountains turns the city of Obzor into one of the favorite tourist destinations for tourists of all ages.
There are many small hotels and guest houses in the city, and several modern hotels have recently been built here. Prices in cozy coastal cafes and restaurants are lower than in major resorts in Bulgaria. In the summer, children's festivals are held on the central square of Obzor with the participation of ensembles from different countries.
Sunny Day is a luxurious seaside resort located in a picturesque bay with beautiful sandy beaches. The spacious beach strip stretches for a kilometer, its width reaches 80 meters. This is a quiet green oasis, surrounded by the fragrant vegetation of a beautiful natural park, crystal clear water, golden beaches and mineral springs. Two balneological centers with highly qualified medical staff offer more than 100 different types of cosmetic and medical treatments, as well as swimming in indoor mineral water pools.
This is an ideal place not only for relaxation, but also for business meetings. Sunny Day is also known as an excellent place for congress tourism; it has conference rooms with the most modern equipment.
The complex offers ideal conditions for sports entertainment. Tourists can go windsurfing, water skiing, beach volleyball, riding jet skis and bicycles, banana boats, boats, and catamarans. For children there are kindergartens, swimming pools, playgrounds, slides, swings and even a children's disco.
Pomorie is a famous sea balneological center in Bulgaria. The resort town is located 20 km from Burgas, 10 km from Sunny Beach, on a narrow rocky peninsula that juts out into the sea for several kilometers. On one side of the city the coast is rocky, and on the other there are sandy beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea.
Pomorie is famous for its ancient and eventful history. The town was founded in the 4th century BC. near a salt lake by Greek colonists who gave it the name "Anchialos", meaning "near the salt". Since ancient times, it has been famous for its healing mud, mineral water, iron-containing sand, and wine. In Pomorie there are many hotels of various categories and sanatoriums where skin diseases, diseases of the respiratory, nervous and genitourinary systems, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and injuries are treated.
In addition to relaxation and treatment, you can find interesting sights here. The architectural reserve “Old Houses of Pomorie” is an ancient quarter where crooked cobbled streets and 19th-century Bulgarian houses typical of the Black Sea coast have been preserved. A few kilometers from the resort there is a Thracian tomb that served as a mausoleum in the Roman era. There are also monuments of Christianity in Pomorie: the monastery of St. George, the churches of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Holy Virgin.
Pomorie is famous for its white wines and brandy. The resort has one of the largest wine cellars in the country. The resort is ideal for history buffs and people who want to improve their health.
Nessebar is one of the most visited and picturesque places on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. The resort is located on a rocky peninsula 800 meters long and 300 meters wide, which is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Nessebar is located 30 km north of Burgas and 5 km from Sunny Beach.
The city is usually divided into two parts - the new Nessebar, which is located on the mainland, and the old city, located on the peninsula. The new town contains most of the modern houses, hotels, bars and restaurants, while the old town is famous for its historical values. Many of them are now under water due to a strong earthquake that destroyed large parts of the peninsula. Fortunately, the ancient city gates, part of the fortress walls and towers, the agora, the acropolis and several residential buildings survived. The city has preserved real masterpieces of Bulgarian and medieval architecture. In 1983, Nessebar was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.
The most important wealth of the peninsula is its ancient churches; it is not for nothing that Nessebar is called the “city of 40 churches”. The most famous of them are the Church of St. Stephen with 12th-century frescoes, the Church of Christ Pantocrator and John Aliturgetos with a wonderful decoration of white stone blocks, red bricks and multi-colored glazed ceramics, as well as the Church of the Holy Mother of God, famous for its miraculous icon.
Nessebar is perfect for a relaxing holiday: rocks, beautiful beaches with golden sand, clear sea - all this creates a unique atmosphere of comfort and harmony. There are all the necessary conditions for a comfortable stay for tourists, including hotels of different categories, good service and a variety of entertainment.
Maps of the Nessebar region: ,
The resort town is located on a cape 52 km south of Burgas and 15 km from Sozopol. The famous International Youth Center "Primorsko" is located here. The nature in these places is very beautiful: the Devil's River crosses the city and flows into the sea, and the Ropotamo River flows nearby, which also flows into the Black Sea and is part of the reserve.
Primorsko has two beautiful sandy beaches (to the north and south of the city). The beach strip is wide, with dunes, and the entrance to the sea is gentle, which makes this place suitable for families with children. There is a small water park, many restaurants, bars and shops, and nightclubs.
A picturesque resort town located 35 km south of Burgas and with its roots deep in history. It was founded by the Milesian Greeks in the 4th century BC and was named Apollonia, in honor of the god Apollo. The city is divided into an old part, located on a peninsula, and a new part. In the Old Town you will find many historical monuments, cobbled winding streets, ancient churches, traditional Sozopol houses, a beautiful park and a fishing port. There is a large selection of restaurants, cafes and bars located on rocky shores with panoramic views.
Sozopol has several sandy beaches framed by rocky headlands. Thanks to its atmosphere, the place is extremely attractive for writers, artists, actors, poets and other representatives of the creative intelligentsia. The Apollonia contemporary art festival is held here every year.
Maps of the Sozopol region: ,
The resort village is located 29 km north of Burgas, 2 km from Nessebar and 5 km from Sunny Beach. Quiet and peaceful place with many small private hotels and a sandy beach. There are schools here for teaching water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, and water skiing. There is a water park near Ravda. There are restaurants, bars and several nightclubs, the price level is lower than in large resorts.
Albena is one of the most beautiful resorts on the Bulgarian coast. There is a lot of greenery, magnificent beaches with fine golden sand and a gentle entrance to the sea. The resort borders the Baltata nature reserve, where vacationers can stroll along wooden paths. One of the features of the resort is the presence of its own farms where vegetables and fruits are grown, which are then supplied to hotels in the region for tourists.
The resort has a famous balneological center, which is famous for its medical and cosmetic procedures, as well as several modern spa centers. Albena offers excellent conditions for sports and congress tourism. There is an equestrian base, seven football fields, a field hockey field, tennis courts, a multifunctional sports hall, a congress center and several conference rooms in hotels.
Every year, Albena hosts many international festivals, conferences and symposiums, competitions and concerts, sporting events and championships. For children, the resort has 2 small amusement parks on the first line, and many hotels have children's animation and mini clubs. For adults, Albena offers entertainment in nightclubs and a stroll along the promenade with restaurants, cafes and bars. This is the only resort in Bulgaria with a library on the beach! The new water park "Aquamania" will appeal to both adults and children.
Maps of the Albena region: ,
Riviera is a small resort, surrounded by the greenery of an ancient forest, with only five hotels. It is located 17 km north of Varna and borders the famous Golden Sands. Thanks to this proximity, vacationers have no shortage of entertainment options.
The Riviera is suitable for a respectable and relaxing holiday, as well as for holidays with children. There is a mineral spring and a balneological center. The resort has excellent conditions for business meetings at the highest level. In 2006, the XIIIth meeting of leaders of Central European countries was held in Riviera with the participation of 13 presidents and heads of world business organizations.
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Dunes is a small green club-type resort. It is located between Sozopol and Primorsko, 50 km south of Burgas and consists of 4 hotels and a complex of villas. The complex was built in 1986 by the Austrian construction company "Rogner" according to the design of Bulgarian architects and was completely renovated in 2000.
The resort complex is located next to a nature reserve with dunes, next to a beautiful sandy beach that stretches for 4.5 km and its width is more than 100 m. This beach annually receives the international Blue Flag award for the cleanliness of the water and coastal area. The entrance to the sea is gentle, which, combined with fascinating animation and a large beautiful area, makes this resort an ideal place for families with children.
Here you can also go mountain biking, archery, windsurfing or diving, go out to sea on a yacht, do aerobics in the shade of trees, play volleyball or football on the beach, or maybe tennis on one of the ten courts - Dunes will offer classes for every taste.
Kiten is a picturesque resort on the Black Sea coast, located 70 km from Burgas airport. The democratic atmosphere, golden beaches with fine sand and budget hotels attract young people and families with small children to the resort. Healing springs with mineral water will help improve your health, and the proximity to Sozopol and Primorsko allows you to go on educational excursions.
Lozenets is a small village on the seashore at the foot of the Strandzha Mountains, 70 km south of Burgas. The resort village is known for its beaches with fine golden sand, unique microclimate, and wonderful nature, which makes it a wonderful place to relax.
There are several beaches here - Central, Coral, Oasis, Mechata Dupka, Malenkiy and Babeshki. The largest of them is Central, 700 m long. It is well equipped, here you can learn to surf, ride horses, and also practice a variety of water sports.
In addition to beaches, Lozenets is also known for its nightlife. The parties don't stop here; trendy restaurants and clubs keep the party rhythm going all summer long. Lozenets is a favorite holiday destination for the secular elite of Bulgaria. Prominent Bulgarian musicians, artists, performers, singers and athletes choose Lozenets for their summer holidays.
The Kamchia resort complex is located 25 km south of the city of Varna on the territory of a biosphere reserve among dense forests and vast dunes. The picturesque Kamchia River flows here, flowing into the Black Sea. The wide sandy beach of the resort is one of the best in Bulgaria, it stretches for several kilometers.
Kamchia differs from most Bulgarian resorts in its silence and privacy. This is a great place for a relaxing holiday and sports, there are no noisy bars, nightclubs or an influx of tourists. However, from here it is easy to get to the sea capital of Bulgaria - the city of Varna, where you can walk in the center or go shopping.
On the territory of the resort there are several campsites and bungalow complexes, as well as the Kamchia sports and recreation complex.
Sarafovo was founded as a coastal village about 80 years ago, today it is a resort quarter of the city of Burgas with a population of about 3,000 people. The Burgas airport is located here, which does not interfere with the relaxing holiday of tourists and whose proximity is an additional convenience - the distance to any hotel in Sarafovo is no more than 1 km. The center of Burgas is about 12 km away and can be reached by city bus.
Sarafovo beach is covered with fine, sometimes dark gray sand with a high content of iron, manganese and magnesium and thanks to this it warms up faster.
Varna is one of the big cities in Bulgaria with a population of about 350,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the north-eastern part of the country on the Black Sea coast, close to the border with Romania and the famous resort complexes of Saints Constantine and Helena, Golden Sands and Albena. Initially, the city was a Greek colony and was called Odessos.
Even in the Ancient Bulgarian Kingdom, Varna was an important trading center thanks to its port, the largest in Bulgaria. It serves mainly cruise and tourist lines. Balchik boasts an ancient history: it was founded in the 3rd century. BC by the Greeks. Its old name was Dionysopolis, and its current name Balchik received the name of the Bulgarian boyar Balik, who owned this area in the 14th century.
The main attraction of the town is the Botanical Garden (the largest on the Balkan Peninsula and the second largest in Europe). On its territory there is a small palace - the summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, which she called the “Quiet Nest”. Balchik has several small beaches, a promenade with many restaurants and bars, and a yacht port. A few kilometers north of Balchik there are golf courses suitable for hosting international championships.
A resort village located 30 km north of Varna, between the resorts of Golden Sands and Albena (they are separated by the beautiful Baltata nature reserve). This resort is very popular among tourists who value economical holidays in small private hotels. Kranevo is a good place for youth and children's recreation. The village has a wide beach 2 km long with fine golden sand and a gentle entrance to the sea. Prices in local restaurants and bars here are much lower than in large resorts.
Burgas is one of the largest cities in Bulgaria, its population is about 250,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the south-eastern part of the country on the Black Sea coast, near the famous resort complexes of Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Pomorie and Sozopol. The city was founded by the Greeks and was formerly called Pyrgos.
Burgas is one of the fastest growing cities in Bulgaria with its own airport, sea, bus and railway stations. Like Varna, it is a major economic, cultural and university center.
Among the city's attractions, it is worth special mentioning the Marine Park, where you can see many modern sculptures and monuments to famous residents of Bulgaria.
