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
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.
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.
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.
,
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.