Finally, it’s time for the sea and holidays in Bulgaria 2022. And questions arise: Which resort to choose? How much will it cost?
Bulgaria has almost 400 km of stunning Black Sea coastline, which is full of beautiful beaches and resorts. Many new beaches in Bulgaria have been awarded the Blue Flag this year for the cleanliness of the sea. According to some estimates, the number of tourists on the Bulgarian coast this year may reach 9 million people. But the media warns that this year seaside holidays in Bulgaria will generally become 30% more expensive.
Arguments for going to Bulgaria on holiday.
When traveling to Bulgaria, you will have an easy climate adaptation. Bulgaria has a relatively mild climate without sudden temperature changes, especially on the Black Sea coast. The sea water warms up to +26 °C in August. The swimming season lasts from June to mid-September. In general, the mentality of the local population is similar, most understand Russian. Bulgaria is the only country with a pleasant combination for a Russian-speaking person, you are understood, clear inscriptions on signs and shop windows, almost like at home. Access to the beaches in Bulgaria is free, but many have paid areas where you will have to rent a sun lounger and umbrella or rent a separate gazebo or tent. All resorts offer paid excursions to local attractions. Bulgaria is well suited for lovers of car tourism due to the relatively short distances and convenient location.
Bulgarian resorts on the map:
Let’s start our review of seaside resorts from north to south.
Albena
Albena resort , the 3rd most popular seaside resort in Bulgaria. It is a gated resort complex with a barrier at the entrance. The beach is over 5 km long, very wide, like on the ocean coast, about 150 meters wide with fine sand. In our opinion, the beach in Albena is, if not the best, then at least one of the best beaches in Bulgaria. The entry into the water is gentle, which is suitable for children. The sea depth does not exceed 1.6 meters at a distance of 100-150 meters from the shore. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag. There is a small water park – Aquamania.
The Albena resort has internal public transport – special small “trains” run on schedule along their routes inside the resort. There are also electric shuttles from the car parks, which are free. If you arrive at the resort in your own car, a 30-minute stay will be free, and if more, you will have to pay from 2.5 to 10 euros per day, depending on the distance from the beach. There is practically no budget accommodation in Albena, the minimum is three stars and above. Prices for accommodation start from 42 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week. The same situation is with food prices. Despite this, there are few available rooms, good hotels are sold out long before the start of the season.
For shade at the resort, Albena guests will pay 7 times more than last summer. In 20 and 21, the resort reduced prices for umbrellas and sun loungers. Thus, a set cost one and a half euros. The low price and wide landscaped strip caused an influx of tourists from nearby settlements and complaints from tourists who paid for vouchers in 4- and 5-star hotels, but could not find a place near the beach. However, this summer, vacationers not accommodated in a complex with a package including pre-paid umbrellas will have to pay 11 euros per day for a set for two, 3.50 euros for an umbrella and 7 euros for two sun loungers.
Kranevo
The small village of Kranevo is located near Albena. Between Kranevo and Albena is the Baltata Nature Reserve, where you can see some protected species of plants and animals. The population of the village is approximately 1,200 residents.
Kranevo is good because it has the same beach as Albena. Kranevo also has a Blue Flag. And it is an open resort, accessible to everyone, there is no barrier.
Among the special features, there is a skating rink. Accommodation prices start from 15 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week.
Golden Sands
The Golden Sands resort is located between Albena and Varna. In Soviet times, it was one of the most famous foreign resorts. The beach of the Golden Sands resort stretches for 4 kilometers from north to south. The resort really has golden sand. The entrance to the sea is not shallow, immediately deep near the shore. The beach is surrounded by the dense forest park Golden Sands. The healing waters from the hot mineral springs of the park are used in local resorts.
The advantages of the resort are the good condition of the infrastructure. A large selection of cafes and restaurants of various types. A large selection of hotels of various star ratings. Nearby attractions are the chapel of St. John the Baptist, the rock monastery of Aladzha. The Golden Sands beach has been awarded the international ecology award “Blue Flag”.
Accommodation prices this year start from 23 euros per day for a double room for a week in season. Products can be bought in shops at the resort at high prices or in the city of Varna in chain stores, where city buses go. Bus route numbers 9 and 409. Ticket price 1.5 euros.
At Golden Sands the prices are 6 euros for an umbrella and 6 euros for a sun lounger. If your hotel is not on the first line, then most likely you will have to go uphill on the way from the sea. When traveling by car, we recommend leaving your car in a paid parking lot or in the parking lot of your hotel.
St. Constantine and Helena
The resort of Saints Constantine and Helena is the oldest resort in Bulgaria, it began its development more than 100 years ago. The resort has 7 hot mineral springs. They are located at depths from 1800 to 2000 meters and the water temperature is from 40 to 60 degrees. There is a thermal complex with swimming pools. The resort offers a wide choice of beaches for every taste. Most of the beaches have a gentle entrance to the sea. One of them, “Sunny Day”, was awarded the title of “Blue Flag”.
Accommodation prices start from 23 euros per night for a double room for a week during the season. But the choice of budget accommodation is not large, so it is better to book in advance. You can also buy food in the city of Varna, where city buses go.
On the beaches the prices are 5 euros for an umbrella and 5 euros for a sun lounger. But the resort has recently begun to become densely built up and lose its former splendor.
Varna
Varna is a good choice for those who like to relax in cities with all the usual infrastructure. The sea capital of Bulgaria. Varna’s beaches are about 8 kilometers long and stretch along the entire coastline. Most of Varna’s beaches are suitable for family holidays with children. Varna has a larger cultural life, an abundance of attractions, many museums, theaters, cinemas, a dolphinarium and a large seaside park. There is a small water park.
Varna has a choice of accommodation from hostels to luxury villas. But prices for accommodation this year already start from 25 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. In Varna, food prices will be minimal. If you buy them in chain stores, there are also food markets. Prices on the beaches have not changed 2.5 euros for an umbrella and 2.5 euros for a sun lounger. This year there will be more vacationers in Varna than usual, so you need to book accommodation in advance.
Obzor
The town of Obzor is located on the Black Sea coast between the cities of Varna and Burgas, approximately in the middle. It is located in a bay that begins north of Cape St. Atanas and south of Mount Eminska. This year, the beach “Obzor – Central” received the “Blue Flag” award.
This year, housing prices already start at 20 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week during the season. On the central beach in Obzor, umbrellas and sun loungers cost 3.5 euros, and on Obzor-Yug 1.5 euros.
Sveti Vlas or Sveti Vlas
A prestigious resort at the foot of the southern slope of the mountain. Which is sometimes called the Bulgarian Saint-Tropez. Among the beaches, the “New Beach” has received the prestigious international environmental award “Blue Flag”. Prices for accommodation this year start from 22 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week during the season. In Sveti Vlas, you can buy food in the supermarkets Mercury and Diamant, but the prices here are higher than in Varna. Among the disadvantages, I will note the difference in altitude, so on the way from the sea you will have to go up the mountain.
Sunny Beach
The largest resort in Bulgaria. It is located on the shore of the bay, in the form of a semicircle. The beach of the Sunny Beach resort stretches for almost 8 km. It really lives up to its name: from May to October there are on average about 1700 hours of sunshine. The entry into the sea is gentle, which is suitable for children.
All three beaches “North”, “Central” and “South” have received the international ecology award “Blue Flag”. There are two large water parks and one mini water park nearby, there is a luna park in the very center. Sunny Beach has a large selection of accommodation. Prices for accommodation this year start from 25 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. On the North Beach, vacationers will pay 4.5 euros for a sun lounger and the same for an umbrella, and on the Central and South Beaches, prices for accessories are 5 euros. These prices are twice as high as last year. In Sunny Beach, food can be bought in small shops and in nearby supermarkets: Janet and Lidl.
Nessebar
Nessebar is one of the most ancient cities on the Black Sea coast. It was founded more than 5 thousand years ago. The city of Nessebar consists of two parts – the Old and the New Town. I recommend visiting the resort of Nessebar primarily to lovers of history, excursions, museums and antiquity. In the Old part of the city there is a small beach. Oddly enough, but the prices turned out to be low, both for housing and in catering establishments. This applies to the New part of the city, the one on the mainland. One of the beaches of Nessebar – “Nessebar South” is marked with the Blue Flag. On the North Beach, vacationers will pay 4 euros for a sun lounger or an umbrella. Prices for housing start from 22 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season.
Pomorie
The old part of Pomorie is located on a peninsula connected to the mainland by an isthmus, like ancient Nessebar or Sozopol. The beach “Pomorie-East” is marked with the Blue Flag. There is a salt lake and Pomorie therapeutic mud at the resort. The concentration of salt in the lake is like in the Dead Sea. There is also a small water park. Among the advantages, one can highlight the presence of chain stores Bila and Lidl in the city. So you can buy food at normal prices without resort markups. Prices for accommodation start from 29 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season.
Burgas
Burgas is quite an attractive and inexpensive resort. There is a large seaport, an international airport, railway and bus stations. Burgas has beautiful clean beaches, a large seaside park (about 7 km) with sand figures, an opera house and several museums. The sand on the beaches of Burgas has a grayish tint, the impression is like on the beach of a volcanic island. But there is one minus – the Lukoil oil refinery.
Burgas offers a choice of accommodation, almost like Varna, from hostels to luxury villas. Prices for accommodation start from 27 euros per night for a double room for a week in season. On the northern beach of Burgas, an umbrella and a sun lounger cost 0.60 euros each. Despite the introduction of a fee for beach accessories this year, prices on the beach in Burgas remain symbolic compared to other resorts.
Sozopol
This is an ancient city, which was founded in the 7th century BC by Greek seafarers. The city is similar to Nessebar, there are ancient fortress walls, cobblestones, a large marina for yachts and boats. But there is a difference, these are large differences in altitude, the city is located on hills. The beaches with very fine and pleasant to the touch sand are suitable for small children. Two beaches of Sozopol Sozopol-Centralen, Sozopol-Harmanite have been awarded the title of “Blue Flag”.
In Sozopol you can choose accommodation with a wide range of prices. Prices for accommodation start from 21 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. In Sozopol, food prices will be minimal. If you buy them in regular chain stores, such as Lidl. An umbrella or sun lounger on the central beach in Sozopol will cost 3.50 euros.
I want to warn you that all prices in the video for accommodation are given for comparison of resorts, and on condition of booking before the start of the season. If you book before the trip, the price can be 2 or even 3 times higher.
Results Holidays in Bulgaria 2022
The Albena resort retained its status as the most expensive resort. But the most affordable resort this year was Kranevo.
