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The Bulgarian Black Sea coast is 380 km in length and has excellent beaches with fine golden sands and natural dunes.
With a calm and safe sea having a low sloping sandy bottom, crystal clear water and numerous mineral springs, added to which is the beautiful nature, varied landscape and surroundings throughout the area gives even more justification behind the tag seaside paradise. The Black sea water is soothing and unpolluted making it a real pleasure to be in and around. Tourists have a major selection of activities to choose from including yachting, diving, windsurfing, water skiing, snorkeling and underwater fishing not to mention all the land based activities that are laid alongside the beach resorts. It is for good reason that Bulgaria has rapidly become famed for its beach resorts. We have provided an alphabetical list of these given below giving a rough outline of what to expect in each place. The list is not exhaustive and there are of course many more locations some of which are still undiscovered gems. Â |  | AHELOY is a lovely village lying by the motorway to Bourgas near the mouth of the Aheloy River. With around 5000 inhabitants it is located 7km southwest of the famous Nessebar. High-frequency bus lines connect Aheloy to Bourgas. Route taxis, minibuses and ordinary taxis also run their as well. Aqua-transport connecting Bourgas and Nessebar can be used if you ask boatmen. Aheloy village is where the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I destroyed the armies of the Byzantine emperor Lion Foka. There is the field which is the landmark of the battle which made the Bulgarian state a stronghold of the Balkan peninsula. It is called Kokalos nowadays, meaning 'Bones' after the scattered corpses of killed soldiers. There is a lovely little village called Ravda just a few kilometers away with its newly built houses to the north almost merging with the resort. You will also find one of the most luxurious resorts along the Bulgarian coast - Sunny Beach which is located next to Nessebar. There are many private houses with rooms and flats to rent offering which the largest choice of accommodation in the village.
You will also find many small private restaurants, snack bars and off-road caravans with snacks, beer and soft drinks abound in the town and along the beach. Buying fresh fruit and vegetables directly from local producers is something you will not be able to resist.
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AHTOPOL has population of about 1,500 people and situated over a sharply jutted cape some 87km southeast of Bourgas. Two long and beautiful beaches frequent the area the second being used mostly by nudists!
The town was a place of a Thracian settlements and was colonized in the 6th century BC. The Romans came an went and called it Peronticus. The Byzantine leader Agaton rebuilt the town after the invasions and gave it his own name called Agatopolis. The town has been back an forth many times under the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian state. The Ottoman empire at the end of the 14th century came and renamed it Ahtenbolu. The history continues with the town being burnt down and devastated by sea pirates many times. The most recent fire being in 1918 when the town was turned completely into to ashes. You can still see remains of the town's fortress and a fountain with a carved horseman and these are unfortunately the only traces left from old times. The Assumption Church and the St. Yani Monastery are sights for tourists to see. In the afternoon and evenings you can enjoy walking to the town's lighthouse and scrambling over the nearby rocks next to the quay. Underneath can see a lot of crabs and fish.Just five kilometres south of Ahtopol you will find the mouth of Veleka River one of the most spectacular rivers which flows into the Black Sea along with with Kamchiya and Ropotamo.
The mouth of the river is straddled by a strip of sand stretching from one shore to the other where sunbathing and swimming in the slightly cooler water on hotter days of the river and the warmer sea if preferred. The village of Kosti is famous for its 'nestinarski' dances (barefoot dances on fires) and is near the river mouth. Further south to the border more sunbathing at the lazy beaches of Sinemoretz, Silistar and smaller resort Rezovo.
Prices in Ahtopol are low due to the plenty of private lodgings and bungalows and indeed campsites availablility. There is plenty of variety of accommodation to suit all pockets from basic bungalows to luxurious private family villas. Booking beforehand is always a good idea on the higher budget places. It is a fact that Ahtopol has the highest number of sunny and hot days during the season. The resort is preferred by young people many being hard rock and heavy metal fans due to specialized rock cafes in the town such as 'Tsunami' and Durvenoto. Many Bulgarian families with children and pets take advantage of the of low-price accommodation. Restaurants recommended in the town are Morsko Oko, the Valdi Hotel's restaurant, Chetirimata Kapitani (the Four Captains), Sveti Georgi and Sirius. There are many pubs down the two main streets in the town and close to the quay most offering fish specialties and traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Again prices are generally low. Fishermen can be found selling freshly caught fish around the quay with fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers from home made stalls all over the town.
Regular bus and minibus transport to Bourgas and the nearby towns of Sinemoretz and Rezovo. Most of these routes stop at every village on route. So if you in search of restful relaxation with few distractions, Ahtopol may be the answer. The Ancient Greeks called it the 'City of Happiness'. Today it is a quiet, laid-back place popular with holiday-making Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Russians and Macedonians. It is a sure bet if the locals love it! Â |  | ALBENA is 32 km north of Varna and 12km southwest of Balchik. It stands on a long sand stretch in the open northern part of Varna Bay.
It is one of the most modern holiday cities having only been created in 1968. Albena lies beneath a relatively high hill and by the near-by forest of Baltata some pars of this have been declared a protected area and called Batova Gora (Batova Forecast) after the Batova river, in the valley of which it grows.
The resort's designer architecture follows one of Walter Gropius' models with many hotels having a terraced structure to provide as much sun as possible in the summer. The north coast is steep with yellow sandstone and limestone typical which was the main source of construction material for the resort. The resort was given its present-day name by Albena, a female follower of the great Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov who was gifted with exceptional beauty.
The nearby village of Obrochishte neighbours with a well-preserved fortress dating from the Ottoman period. There is the village of Kranevo which holds the remains of another ancient fortress used in Roman times and onto the Middle Ages. Kranevo is also well known for its mineral springs.
The coast between Albena and Kranevo is high and extremely scenic amongst the steep rocky formations. Kranevo could well be a good accommodation alternative to Albena with prices being lower and the numerous private lodgings available whilst at the same time very close to Albena. There are also three big camping sites between Kranevo and Albena and offering a choice of accommodation of bungalows and tent bases.
Albena has modern sport facilities that are used by local and foreign sportsmen around the year. The complex is blessed with tennis courts, swimming pools, children playgrounds, golf courses. You can rent bikes, cars, cutters, sail-boats, yachts, waterwheels and jets or take up horse riding.
The resort has a well-organised spa and health centres based around mineral water springs which are hypothermic with a temperature of around 30 C and low level of mineralization (composed of calcium, magnesium and sulfur compounds being its main elements).
Currently the resort has around 40 hotels at varying budgets. Albena is one of the most expensive places for accommodation along the Black Sea coast. On of the most well known hotels is the Dobroudzha Hotel which is built in a Swiss style and the new Maastricht Hotel built with the aid of Dutch funding,
There is an annual car rally called Albena held at the beginning of May, a folk festival for singers and dancers from the Dobroudzha region, the Zlatnata Antena (Gold Antennae) Festival for TV programs, a bridge competition in June, beach volleyball competition (in June/July) anf the Vladimir Grashnov's Annual Football Tournament. Albena is magnet for these types of events There are numerous restaurants at the hotels and also many other restaurants and bistros offering a variety of dishes from essentially continental European and traditionally Bulgarian to Indian and Chinese. The most well known places offering entertainment and excellent food are Picnic Orehite, Slavyanski Kut, Starobulgarski Stan, Flambe Restaurant, Stariyat Dub, Ribarska Hizha and the Arabella ship-restaurant, which is renown for its delicious locally caught seafood.
A bus service operates from Balchik, Varna, the Golden Sands resort and Dobrich and other private minibuses, taxis and aqua transport from and to the small port in Albena.
Summing up, Albena is a Blue Flag winning resort, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean gulf and has fame for its flower gardens. There are sport and recreation facilities, numerous entertainment spots, nightlife in bars and beauty facilities. Albena has all the facilities you could ever want. Â |  | BALCHIK is a large settlement with a population numbering 13,766 and a harbour used for passengers and commercial vessels. Situated 31 km north of Varna it can be described as a beautiful inlet.
The town has a long history just like many other settlements in the area having first inhabited by lonians in the 5th century BC. It has been named Dionisopolis after the Greek god of wine and feasts. It was an important centre on the northern Black Sea coast and was second only to Varna at this time. The 13th - 14th century it was called Dzhina Bair following the rule by the Boyar Balik, it then became Balchik. Balchik became a big corn-trading centre after the Crimean War and part of Romania after the Balkan War of 1913. The Romanian Queen Maria built a summer palace and a botanical garden there included a chapel and a villa for Romanian hierarchy turning it into a luxurious resort. Balchik was again included in Bulgarian territory after 1940 thanks to the German coalition.
The impressive palace complex and the botanical garden, which is the biggest inn the Balkans is a must to see, pebbled streets and houses that are made of stone and adobe holds its own in atmosphere steeped in history. There is an Art Gallery in the town and within the town??â„¢s museum. Another small ethnographic museum can be found and a quaint old church called St. Nikola. The coastal alley is some 4km long, a nice place for a walk as well as the harbour and small streets of the town. Touzlata is 4 km east of the town known for its curative mud and a balneological centre. There is a large recreational complex, lots of villas, bungalows and a camping sites along with a 30 C mineral spring.Beliyat Bryag Camping site near Balchik offers many opportunities for relaxing and water sports, clubs, bars, bungalows for non camping tourists. the area has small restaurants and snack bars with seafood and continental menus. a further 15 km away heading southwest is the village of Obrochishte with a well preserved fortress from the early Ottoman rule.
Hotels offerings in the town are Dionlsopolis Hotel, Balchik Hotel and Elite Hotel with reservation available at the palace as well. For cheaper versions there are bungalows close to the shore in the Tihiya Kut Resort (meaning The Quiet Corner) with many private lodgings in the town with a range of budgets. Not far from the town is the Bisser Camping offering bungalows and space for caravans to park and tents to put up.
Several big restaurants can be found in and around the palace, in the hotels and downtown. A good choice of smaller private restaurants and coastal stalls offering seafood, pizzas, spaghetti and other kinds of European cuisine are also about. There are regular bus routes to the nearby town of Dobrich, Varna and the Albena resort with numerous taxis and private minibuses and aqua transport to Varna and Albena respectively.
|  | BOURGAS with a population of around 200,000 people it is the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and the fourth largest in the country. It is placed in the farthest western part of the Bourgas Bay some 390km due east of Sofia. Three lagoon-lakes (the Atanassovo, Bourgas, and Mandren lakes) lie in the area surrounding the city.
Bourgas is the successor of the small Roman town of Deultum (later named Develt). The present-day city covers three other ancient settlements, Kastiacion, Skafida and Rossokastron. During the Middle Ages a fortress was erected in the place and was most probably used as a watchtower called Pirgos.
The town was named Ahelo-Bourgas in the17th Century and grew from this to the present day of the city. At the time of liberation it only had about 3,000 inhabitants but soon it became the centre of the Southern Black Sea coast with a well developed industry and trade infrustructure. A number of oil and chemical works were started along with salt and iron being mined for export. In 1903 the railway station was linked up giving an additional trade contacts and aiding the city's expansion.
The District Museum of History, founded in 1925 housing an archaeological hall with a rich collection of items dating back to the old colonies in the region. The Ethnographic Museum with its exhibitions of masks of koukeri, traditional costumes, ritual accessories, fabrics and embroidery.
The Museum of Nature and Science with more than 1,200 exhibits of insects, reptiles and more than 140 species of fish, plants growing in the district of Strandzha. The Art Gallery built in 1945 with halls exhibiting foreign and of Bulgarian artists' works and icons painted by renowned Renaissance artists.
St. St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral holds beautiful frescos and a wooden altar. The Armenian Church close to Bulgaria Hotel was built in 1855 by the local Armenian minority supported by Bulgarians. A philharmonic hall, an opera house, a drama theatre and a puppet theatre are in beautiful buildings and totally functional throughout the year. |  | The shady Sea Garden is a great place to stroll in hot summer days and situated on a hill next to the coast. Within the park there are many sculptures a casino, a small zoo and an open-air theatre which houses the annual International Folklore Festival and the Golden Orpheus Pop-Festival perform.
A forked staircase leads from the park down to the central beach of the city which is laid with dark coloured sand.
The lake of Pomorie is 20 km north of Bourgas surrounded by salt-mines and balneo-resorts. The Atanassovo Lake between the airport and the city. part being a natural reserve. There are sites for activities such as fishing, swimming or just relaxing. The Bourgas Lake is a nestling site of pelicans, ibis, and herons with the Mandren Lake 10 km south of the city an important ornithological reserve with a large bird population in the summer.
The St. Anastassia Island is 3 miles east of the city has a well-preserved old church and was used as a place for exiled left-wing revolutionaries in 1923-1925 and anti-Fascists in 1943-1944, it named Bolshevik for some years during communist times because of this.
The salt-mines of Bourgas border the Bourgas Lake and some of them even stretch to the Atanassovo Lake. You will locate mineral water baths 13km northwest of the city on the way to Aitos they are built over the remains of the old Roman town called. The baths today were built in the 16th century under Ottoman rule and are still functional along with curing mud, a balneo-spa, a polyclinic and a holiday house.
The village of Kraimorie (previous called Kafka) is to the south of Bourgas on the way to the old fortress of Pirgos. It holds a nice beach near the village along with rest homes and private lodgings for rent. The Otmanli Park is 15 km away from Bourgas near the Choukalya cape has over 6,000 decares of thick forest and a hunting area with bungalows for recreation.
You would expect Bourgas to have many hotels and it does along with private lodgings and two big camping sites. The most well known hotels are Park Hotel, situated on the banks of the Atanassovo lake, Primorets Hotel, Bulgaria Hotel and Cosmos Hotel. the prices of these hotels are high but you can get cheaper accommodation in the many smaller private hotels in the suburbs or rent a flat or room from local estate agents who provide this services.
Bourgas being a seafaring city is full of restaurants specializing in Sea food but it doesn't stop there. You will find pubs, beer-houses, taverns, stalls and grocery stores. Restaurants that are well known are National, Staryat Pristan, Starata Gemiya, Bourgaska Sreshta and many of the top hotel restaurants. Live music is common in the top restaurants with many now with show programmes. Food in the city is cheap away from the city centre.
Bourgas Airport is the busiest airport in Bulgaria which operates regular flights to Sofia and from every day. During the summer season it become a heavily used International airport and an important link to the rest of the world.The railway station of Bourgas has connections to all parts of the country as you would expect with an express train to Sofia. The central bus station is next to the railway station and is probably the most frequently used means of transport used by Bulgarians for both local and national travel and very cheap. There are private carriers that offer transport to towns and resorts to the north and south of Bourgas along the coast. Including in the transport facilities are the taxi services but be wary of being asked for over the odds and all that comes with taxi services all over the world!. There is also a regular city buses and trolley-buses. Bourgas is often overlooked by tourists but not by Bulgarians who know has a lot to offer for a city break and a seaside resort alongside. Â |  | BYALA is the bigger brother of the nearby Obzor and is 50km south from Varna and 80 kilometers northeast of Bourgas.
There was once there an ancient Greek fortress called Aspro in the location and before the reunification of the Bulgarian state in 1885 the border between the Bulgarian Principality and Eastern Rumeliya used to run through the town.
There are many small pubs and restaurants and a wonderful roadside Jackson Restaurant found to the north on the road to Staro Oryahovo. Obzor is only 5 km away and easily walked for fun, shopping or outdoor food.
Low priced private lodgings are scattered around the town which also has a camping site called Kristina nearby.
On the coast there is a protective bank dating back to the 8th-10th century. The area around St Atanas Monastery has the remains of an ancient fortress. Mention here of the wine in this part of the world is of the extremely fine quality, Dimyat vintage is also produced here and dates back to ancient times
As with most resorts on the Black Sea coast there are regular bus routes to and from from Varna with private taxi options.
This small town is a little sea paradise offers a lot of things to see and do. Â |  | CHERNOMORETS This is a small town just a couple of kilometres to the south of Bourgas and was built in an inlet between the Akra and Talasakra capes. The town's beach is quite plain with a rocky coastline providing some secluded spots for swimming, sun bathing and fishing. What is a major attraction is the shrubbery and flowers attached to most houses, restaurants and cafes, it has become a trade mark of the town. A buyer's market exists in the area with the new builds that have been made in recent years. Most are attractive and well-built consisting of mainly small and medium-sized houses and hotels. There is the Chernomoretz camping site and nearby Gradina and Zlatna Ribka on the Sozopol road which provides alternative accommodation is desired. The town has seen much expansion in recent years alongside the expansion of tourist services including restaurants. Many of of the town's pubs and small restaurants are substantially cheaper whilst retaining quality compared to their competitors in the much more popular Sozopol. The old church in the town with views of rock just outside Chernomoretz in northern area. To the south the town is bordered by a river and tall canes. Further south the picturesque and ancient town of Sozopol, where more than 45 old houses have now been declared as cultural monuments. Private route taxis and minibuses to and from Bourgas only 24 km away and links with Sozopol. This little quiet Black Sea resort situated at the Bulgarian southern seaside attractively sat in the bay of Bourgas. With everything else offers a lot of fun and entertainment. |
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