Is it good to live in Burgas? I will try to tell you as much as possible about this city. And you will find out whether this city is suitable for living, whether Burgas is right for you. Life in Burgas reviews.
Burgas has won the nomination for the best city to live in Bulgaria three times. Burgas is the fourth city in Bulgaria by population, with a population of over 300 thousand people.
Location
Burgas is located on the southern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria on the shore of the bay of the same name. Near the city from the north and south are the resort towns of Pomorie and Sozopol . And from the embankment of Burgas you can see the island of St. Anastasia. On average, the height above sea level in the city is about 20 meters.
Climate
The climate in Burgas is characterized as humid subtropical with maritime and continental influences. The warmest month in Burgas is July, with an average air temperature of 22.7°C. The average sea water temperature in May is +15.7°C, in June it is already +21.6, and the warmest sea water is in August +24.9°C.
Transport
You can get to Burgas by any type of transport. By plane, Burgas has its own airport. Entry to the airport is from 2 euros. You can get to Burgas by train, there is a railway station. And by bus, the bus station accepts buses from many countries of the world.
Burgas has well-developed public transport, buses and trolleybuses. The price of a regular city ticket purchased directly on the bus is 75 cents. The city also has electronic tickets for 45 minutes, the price of which is 60 cents. Burgas is connected to Sofia by a high-speed highway, which takes you to Sofia in 3.5 hours. And Istanbul is 330 km away, which takes 4.5 hours. The city has relatively low taxi prices. The city is divided into parking zones: Blue and Green. The price of parking is 50 cents. Payment can be made via SMS or a parking machine. Paid parking is open from 11 am to 8 pm.
Housing.
What about housing in Burgas? What are the prices? New housing is being built in Burgas. Rental prices for a 1-room apartment start at 100 euros, and the average price is around 200 euros per month. Rental prices for a 2-room apartment also start at 100 euros, and the average price is around 200 euros per month.
I would like to point out that these are prices for long-term rent. In Bulgaria, long-term rent is rent when concluding a lease agreement for 1 year. In case of early termination before six months, the deposit remains with the owner of the apartment. In case of early termination of the contract, it is necessary to notify 1 month in advance.
Prices for apartments start from 30,000 euros. A 1-room apartment can be purchased for 60,000 euros.
We would like to add that due to the war in Ukraine, the supply on the real estate market has significantly decreased, and prices have risen, albeit slightly.
Economy (salaries and standard of living)
According to the most recent data, the average monthly salary in Burgas is 1,343 leva before taxes and fees. For comparison, in Sofia it is 2,298 leva, and in Varna 1,514 leva. The unemployment rate in Burgas is 4.8%, in Sofia 3.3%, in Varna 4.1%.
Crime
The number of crimes in 2020 per 1000 people in Burgas is 2.5. For comparison, in Sofia it is 1.7, in Varna it is 2.5.
Medicine
The number of people per doctor in medical institutions according to the latest data in Burgas is 300 people. In Sofia 180 and in Varna 196. As most city residents note, the quality of medicine is at an acceptable level.
Infrastructure
Municipal expenses per person living in Burgas amount to 1021 leva, in Sofia such expenses amount to 1020, and in Varna 1062 leva.
Culture and attractions
Burgas is not the main tourist center of the country, but its convenient location near lakes and historical cities brings tourists here.
Burgas has Ethnographic, Archaeological, Historical and Natural Science Museums, many exhibition areas and interesting natural attractions in the surrounding area.
The city’s calling card is Aleksandrovskaya Street, a pedestrian area in the city center. Walking around the city, you can get an impression of the city’s architecture, look into small souvenir shops, and sit with a cup of coffee on the terrace of a cozy restaurant.
If you can’t imagine your life without shops, then you should visit the huge Mall Galleria shopping center. We visited it. A regular shopping center with a standard set of shops and establishments.
There is another shopping complex in the city, Burgas Plaza, which offers several floors of shopping and entertainment for the whole family.
The Aviation Museum is located on the territory of Burgas Airport and was founded in 1998. It presents airplanes and helicopters of agricultural, civil and military aviation. Some exhibits have accessible cockpits where you can take the pilot’s seat. The exhibition also presents interesting items and mandatory aviation accessories, such as pilot uniforms, parachutes, photographs, a real black box of the aircraft and navigation instruments.
Burgas Mineral Baths . The resort is located in the immediate vicinity of the village of Vetren /Burgas region/ and is known as a balneological center of national importance. Mineral water with a temperature of about 41 degrees
St. Anastasia Island
The earliest recorded human presence on the island dates back to the 4th to 6th centuries. Between 1945 and 1990, the island was known as Bolshevik.
Burgas is a unique place for every bird lover. The city is located on one of the busiest bird migration routes in Europe – “Via Pontica”. It is the only region in Bulgaria where three large reservoirs have been preserved – Atanasovsko Lake, Burgas Lake (Vaya) and the Mandre complex. With their different character and supersaline, semisaline and fresh waters, together with the sea, they provide a variety of different ecological conditions and suitable habitats for a large number of birds, many of which are endangered.
Sea Garden
The Sea Garden is the largest park in Burgas. Its construction began at the beginning of the 20th century.
Pier or bridge.
The debate about what exactly the “Bridge” is and what exactly it should be called is mostly conducted by people who did not grow up in Burgas. For the people of Burgas, it is a place where you can touch and feel the sea, even on cold winter days when the waves are big and dark. Walks in the Sea Garden and on the bridge are part of the daily life of the people of Burgas. Everyone has their own way of having a good time there. The promenade along the beach is full of small restaurants, alleys and diverse vegetation offer both beautiful views of the Burgas Bay and the peace of gazebos hidden from the wind.
The Summer Theatre is the centre of cultural events in the summer. The green areas of the park are an open-air museum with sculptures, the result of artistic plein airs held in the city many years ago.
Burgas Lighthouse
The public area of the Burgas port was opened in 2014 as part of the campaign to open the city to the sea. Today, it houses administrative and public buildings, restaurants, a playground, walking and recreation areas. The lighthouse is part of this area and is freely accessible. The Burgas lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Bulgaria. It was launched by a French company.
Pros
- A great combination of a large sea garden and the sea nearby.
- The city has a flat surface, no hills, no sharp ascents or descents.
- Excellent transport links.
- A wide selection of housing in any price category at reasonable prices.
- Minimum prices for taxis and food.
- The sea and sandy beach are suitable for small children.
- There are attractions and entertainment both in the city itself and in the surrounding areas.
- There is 5G coverage in the city.
Cons
- The main disadvantage of Burgas is the Lukoil oil refinery, official sources claim that everything is within normal limits, but not everyone thinks so.
- The city’s beaches have not been awarded the Blue Flag. However, if you live in Burgas, you can visit the beaches of Pomorie or Sozopol.
- There is also a problem of parking shortage in the very center of the city.
Conclusions
The general plan of Burgas is very similar to the competing city of Varna, there is a park by the sea, a port, a seaport, a pedestrian street. But the execution itself in details in Burgas is completely different, and the atmosphere of the city is different. Also, the resort is perfect for people who love cultural events: exhibitions, galleries, festivals.
Sea water temperature in Burgas by month
