Travel guide – black sea coast
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Overview
The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, stretching for 236 miles (380km), is a popular destination for thousands of Bulgarians as well as foreign visitors every summer, with warm sea temperatures, a sunny climate, picture-perfect white sand beaches, modern resorts and a favourable exchange rate.
Although the coast has long been associated with large characterless complexes catering to European package tourists that are far removed from the reality of Bulgaria, there are plenty of little hotels with private beaches and holiday villages offering a villa-style Mediterranean holiday. Seaside towns invite a more independent vacation with plenty of family-run guesthouses and a wealth of bars and restaurants that add local flavour and character. The coast is also one of the best spa regions in the country and resorts offer the added attraction of mineral baths, mud treatments and thermal springs.
Clean beaches, safe swimming and wide sandy beaches characterise the northern Black Sea Coast with the lively town of Varna a good base from which to explore the surrounds. To the south lie picturesque bays and unusual rock formations, and the trawler port of Bourgas flanked by the old Greek fishing villages of Sozopol and Nessebur.
One of the biggest tourist resort complexes along the northern coastline, Golden Sands (locally known as Zlatni Piasaci) is famous for its healing, hot water mineral springs as well as for its beautiful two-mile (four km) stretch of fine sandy beach. The resort is 11 miles (18km) north of Varna, and sits at the foot of the forested hills of the Zlatni Piasaci National Park, which is one of the oldest in the country and features a variety of interesting flora and fauna. Golden Sands offers the whole family ideal holiday conditions with plenty of entertainment, sporting activities, warm and clean water, year round luxury hotels and villas, restaurants, bars and spa treatments, making it one of the more desirable vacation destinations on the Black Sea Coast.
North of Bourgas lies the ancient town of Nessebur, located on a small peninsula in the Black Sea which is connected to the mainland by a long and narrow isthmus. The picturesque town is one of the oldest in Europe, having emerged as a fortified Thracian settlement over 9,000 years ago and having changed hands many times before being captured by the Bulgarians in the 7th century. Nessebur has an old town and a new town, but it is the old quarter that gives the peninsula its character, and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A popular tourist attraction, it charms visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, period wooden houses, courtyards, taverns and romantic atmosphere. The old town is famous for its medieval churches, with beautiful facades and well-preserved interiors, which are the remnants of the Slav and Greek Orthodox communities that were part of the peninsula's history. Nessebur is an architectural and historic monument of Bulgarian culture and is one of the most favoured tourist resorts along the southern coast. It offers a good selection of private accommodation, and the new town has modern facilities as well as larger hotels.
Lying about 22 miles (35km) north of Bourgas, Sunny Beach is the largest Bulgarian sea resort situated on a wide semi-circular bay along the southern part of the Black Sea Riviera, with a five-mile (8km) strip of beach backed by natural golden sand dunes, which is regarded as the best beach along the coast. It is naturally protected by the Balkan mountain range to the north, and with its warm Mediterranean climate, clean and calm water and safe swimming, it is a perfect all-round holiday destination, living up to its motto ‘Where families come first’. Only the most world-weary of visitors could get bored here among a wide variety of activities and entertainment, including almost every kind of sport imaginable and plenty of fun and games for children. The resort comprises of more than 120 modern hotels, and offers a wide range of services as well as organised day trips to surrounding attractions, including the ancient town of Nessebur.
As the third largest city in Bulgaria and one of the country’s most attractive towns, Varna is known as Bulgaria’s Seaside Capital and the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea Coast’. The town is arranged in tiers along the curve of Varna Bay, and besides being a popular beach resort, it rivals the important cities of Sofia and Plovdiv in its wealth of museums, art galleries, historical buildings and cultural entertainment, and as such is a year-round holiday destination. The 19th-century Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin is an impressive landmark, while the extensive ruins of the Roman Spa in the centre of town constitutes the largest ancient building in Bulgaria, dating back to 1700. It is the main port for commercial and naval shipping and has a casual, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a Mediterranean charm created by the sunny climate, calm sea, beach promenades and red-tiled roofs. Varna is the gateway to the nearby beach resorts, including Albena and the mega-resort of Golden Sands, and numerous scenic spots along the coast are within easy reach, such as the nature reserve at Kamchia and the crumbling rock formations and dramatic cliffs along the Balchik coast.
Climate
The Maritime climate along the coast is characterised by warm, sunny days from May to October with mid-summer air temperatures averaging 83°F (28°C) and sea temperatures ranging from 73-77°F (23-25°C). The wettest months are June, October and December. Winter is cold, although milder than the interior of the country where the snow falls heavily, and many of the resorts shut down for the season.
Health
No vaccinations are required for entry to Bulgaria. The country poses few health risks beyond mild travellers' diarrhoea. Bird flu has been confirmed in wild birds in north west Bulgaria, but measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; visitors are not at risk although close contact with caged, wild and domestic birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked as a precaution. Mains water is chlorinated, but occasionally causes stomach upsets, so bottled water is advised. Food is safe in hotels and restaurants, but street vendors should be avoided. Medical treatment can be expensive and payment is expected immediately. Facilities in local hospitals are basic and old-fashioned and specialised treatment and equipment is not freely available. Medical insurance, with provision for emergency evacuation, is therefore vitally necessary.
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