The Black Sea Coast has something for everyone who holidays in Bulgaria with superb stretches of long sandy beaches.

The vibrant resort of Sunny Beach certainly lives up to its moto 'where families comes first'.
The resort is set on a beautiful semicircular bay boasting 8km of white sandy beach awarded the prestigious Blue Flag. If you just want to relax you can lay on the many sun loungers dotted along the beach or take a stroll among the sand dunes at the Southern end. The calm shallow waters are ideal for children and wide areas are covered by lifeguards. Activities along the beach include jet skiing, paragliding, windsurfing, water skiing and yachting. If you fancy a little more adventure you can visit the 2 aquaparks, Action Aquapark is situated in the centre of the resort and the other, Aqua Paradise is located in the neighbouring town of Nessebur. Other activities in the resort are horse riding, Go-Karting, volleyball, tennis, crazy golf, archery, bowling, paintballing, bungy jumping, push bikes, electric scooters and a horse and carriage ride to name but a few.

In the evening there is plenty to do with a wide array of restaurants some offering traditional dancing and cuisine, many bars if you just fancy a drink, or if you fancy partying through the night choose from a selection of nightclubs and casinos.

The neighbouring town of Nessebur on a small rocky peninsular is a Unesco World Heritage Site steeped in history with ancient fortress walls, medieval churches and wonderful cobbled streets lined with wooden houses and craft shops. Visit the many art galleries and watch the locals painting the stunning architecture. Restaurants are dotted around the coastline where you can enjoy mouth-watering fish dishes caught daily by the local fisherman and watch the sunset disappearing over the harbour.

Ravda is fast becoming another popular seaside town and is situated 3km south of Nessebur and has a more low-key feel to it than Sunny Beach. In the evenings you can wander down to the village square and sample the many restaurants and bars.

Sveti Vlas is a beautiful coastal village at the foot of the Balkan Mountains with 1km of sandy beach. The new Dinevi marina has a promenade boutiques and restaurants. The main square is dotted with shops, restaurants and bars. From the beach there are wonderful views across the bay of Sunny Beach and Nessebur which are only a short ride away by boat or bus.

Kosharitsa is a traditional town 4 km from Sunny Beach and has a wonderful new area of luxury villas with sea views as well as a traditional village square.

Bourgas is the second largest city on the Black Sea Coast and is surrounded by 3 lakes. In the city there are plenty of museums, churches and art galleries to visit. The streets are lined with shops, small boutiques, restaurants and bars. The beautiful Sea Garden has an open air theatre and small zoo and is dotted with cafes and bars. The main shopping area is pedestrianised making wandering around the shops at a leasurley pace easy.

Sozopol is another historical seaside town. The town lies on a small rocky peninsular 31km past Bourgas. There are more than 45 architectural monuments the most famous being the ancient churches one is now the Lascaridi Art Gallery. Or simply wander around the narrow cobbled streets with lovely wooden houses and craft shops. If you fancy venturing further a field try a sightseeing tour around Sozopol on the Kleopatra Ship. Visit the island of St Ivan 2km away with the sonar lighthouse and fantastic views.

Primorsko is a small village 50km from Bourgas popular with Bulgarian families. There are plenty of outdoor cafes and restaurants to keep you amused. Visit the nearby Ropotamo River with its Natural Park housing thick forests and rocky formations.

Varna is the 3rd largest city in Bulgaria and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Varna has plenty to see including a Roman Spa, cathedral, churches, museums, theatres and art galleries. The Sea Garden has an observatory, amphitheatre, planetarium and Zoo. The nearby beach has quays, restaurants and cafes. The Dolphinarium is one of the most popular attractions with regular shows to see.

Golden Sands is the second largest coastal resort with a superb stretch of beach offering great water sports. Albena is a lively resort popular with the younger crowd but can be relatively expensive.

Interested in what Bulgaria has to offer? Why not browse our selection of holiday accommodation in Bulgaria

The Northern region has plenty to offer and is relatively untouched by tourism. Often it is used only as a border crossing point to and from Romania. The River Danube the second longest in Europe separates Bulgaria and Romania but can only really be appreciated from Vidin. The region is most famed for the stunning rock formations which are over 200 million years old at Belogradchik and the spectacular Kaleto Fortress built into the rocks. Overlooking the Danube in Vidin is the Baba Vida Museum Fortress which is the best preserved medieval fortress in Bulgaria.

The often called 'Paris of the North' Ruse is a cosmopolitan town and is usually visited by people travelling to and from Romania. The town has some stunning architecture.
Dobrich has always been renowned for it arts and crafts a great place to seem them is The Stariyat Ethnological Museum Complex which has wonderful cobbled streets and interesting arts and craft shops where you can watch traditional trades still going on. The Rusenski Lom National Park is a haven for birdwatchers with over 170 species. The park also houses the Unesco World Heritage Site the Ivanovo Rock Monastery with numerous rock churches built into the caves.

The Central regions highlights are the historical town of Veliko Turnovo with the Yantra river winding itís way through the gorge.The Tsarevets Fortress set on the Tsarevets Hill at the end of the town has a spectacular sound and lights show most evenings in the summer. In spring and autumn the shows are less frequent but still take place usually at the weekends.Wander round the narrow streets of the old town of Varosha with it's medieval churches and stunning architecture, you can watch the local craftsmen making beautiful woodcarvings and artists creating exquisite paintings. Why not stay in a hotel overlooking the gorge where you can while away the evening on the terraces with a traditional Bulgarian meal and a few glasses of Rakia. Veliko Turnovo is a absolute must for any visit to Bulgaria.

The nearby village of Arbanasi is worth a visit to see the tiny houses made to look like fortresses unlike anywhere else in Bulgaria. Nearly a 100 houses and churches are protected by the Bulgarian authorities as historical monuments. The beautifully restored village of Koprivshtitsa has charming cobbled streets, restored churches and museums. The houses have been painted with vivid colours and many turned into small hotels and mehanas.Kazanlak is at the eastern end of The Valley of Roses and is famous for its production of rose oil even having a Festival of Roses in early June. The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak built in the 4th Century BC has a domed tomb with a unique mural.

The small village of Shipka set in the mountains below the Shipka Pass is famous for the battles during the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule in 1877. Above the village is the Shipka Monastery housing the Church of St Nikolai which was built as a memorial to those who died at the Shipka Pass during the Russian-Turkish war. At the top of the Shipka Pass is the Freedom Monument although you have to climb 900 steps to reach this. Sliven is linked to the haidouks the anti turkish rebels who lived in the hills nearby. Catch the chairlift up to see the Blue Rocks or wander round one of the most vibrant markets.Schumen is typically an industrial and military city which houses the Schumen Fortress one of the oldest settlements and highlights of Bulgaria dating from the early Iron Age. Its also a good base to explore Madara with The Madara Horseman a Unesco World Heritage Site where a horseman is carved into the cliff with a dying lion and dog at its feet.

Tryavna one of the prettiest villages in Bulgaria is famous for itís woodcarving with many being used in monasteries, you can enrol on a course to learn the traditional crafts.Troyan is a sleepy town housing the third most famous monastery renowned for its murals, pottery and woodcarvings.

The Southern region is the home to the Pirin, Rila and Rodopi mountain ranges famous for their fantastic skiing and hiking. In the Rila mountains Borovets is the premier ski resort and has the longest ski run in Bulgaria, the area is also good for hiking in the summer. There is also the Rila Monastery which is Bulgariaís most famous and visited monastery. The Rodopi mountains has 2 ski resorts the quiet and less well known Chepelare and the second most popular resort Pamporovo which, although relatively expensive, caters for beginners and families. In the Pirin mountains Bansko is another popular ski resort and is a quaint town and less touristy than the other resorts and a lot cheaper. The Pirin National Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site because of its natural beauty. The park contains glacial lakes, caves, waterfalls and unique flora and fauna.

Plovdiv Bulgariaís second city has charming cobbled streets and museums in the old town and trendy cafÈs and bars in the new town.

Sofia, the Capital is often not explored and is just used as a place to enter and leave Bulgaria. Itís well worth spending a few days here exploring the many museums, art galleries and the impressive Alexander Nevski National Church.Shopping in Sofia can be as expensive as other major European cities. The shopping centres house a lot of trendy designer boutiques. Smaller shops in the pedestrian malls and market stalls sell cheaper goods and bargains are much easier to find. The streets are lined with restaurants and cafÈ bars offering an array of international cuisine and when the sun goes down Sofia comes alive with the many bars and clubs. You can travel from Sofia to the Boyana Church which is one of the most important historical monuments in Bulgaria and is also a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Vitosha National Park is popular for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer especially at the weekends being a short drive from Sofia.