To Bulgaria for a holiday in 2021? All the pros and cons

Hello everyone! If you are interested in the topic of going to Bulgaria for a vacation. Then the questions arise: Which resort in Bulgaria to choose? How much does it cost? In this article you will learn about all the popular resorts in Bulgaria that deserve your attention. You will learn how to save money and avoid possible problems. 

Bulgaria has almost 400 km of stunning Black Sea coastline, which is full of beautiful beaches and resorts. Many beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of the sea. 

From this article we will find out which resort is the most expensive and which is the most affordable in Bulgaria. 

Reasons to go to Bulgaria for vacation in 2021

Let’s start our review of seaside resorts from the northern coast of Bulgaria.

At the end of this article, read: Tips for tourists that will surely help you save money and not ruin your vacation.

Albena

Albena is a seaside resort in Bulgaria, the 3rd most popular among tourists. Albena is a gated resort complex, with a barrier at the entrance. The Albena resort itself was founded back in 1966. 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 title since 1996.

There is a small water park of its own – “Aquamania”.

The resort has sports infrastructure: volleyball, tennis, badminton, etc. Among the special features is a free beach library. The resort of Albena has internal public transport – special small “trains” run on schedule along their routes inside the resort. Also, electric shuttles run from car parks, which are free. If you arrive at the resort in your own car, then 30 minutes will be free, and if more, you will have to pay from 2.5 to 5 euros per day. There is practically no budget housing in Albena, the minimum is three stars and above. Prices for housing start from 42 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season.

Albena hotels on the map:

The same situation applies to food prices. Despite this, there are few available rooms, and good hotels are booked up long before the season.

Golden Sands

The Golden Sands resort is located south of Albena and north of 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 does have golden sand; many believe that this is the best sand in Europe. The entrance to the sea is not shallow, immediately deep near the shore. Literally a few meters from the shore, the depth will be up to the chest of an adult, you need to be careful with small children. The beach is surrounded by a 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.

There is a small water park at the Golden Sands resort. There is a direct city bus route to Varna at a ticket price of 1.5 euros. Bus route numbers: №9 and №409. Nearby attractions include the Chapel of St. John the Baptist and the Aladzha rock monastery. The Golden Sands beach has received the prestigious international ecology award “Blue Flag” several times.

This year the beach also received the Blue Flag. There is a wider range of prices for accommodation here than in Albena. Prices for accommodation start from 20 euros per day for a double room when rented for a week in season.

You can also buy food in the city of Varna, which is nearby. Attention, when traveling by car, we recommend leaving the car in a paid parking lot, otherwise the car will be towed.

St. Constantine and Helena

The resort of Saints Constantine and Helena is the oldest resort in Bulgaria, as the resort began its development more than 100 years ago. But in our opinion, it is currently underestimated. 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. Here is a thermal complex and SPA Aquahouse – with 14 pools.

The resort offers a wide range of beaches to suit all tastes. Most of the beaches have a gentle entrance to the sea. One of them, “Sunny Day,” was awarded the “Blue Flag” this year. 

There is also a unique diving location here – a Tu-154 aircraft on the seabed.

Accommodation prices start from 22 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, which is nearby. Attention! When traveling by car, be sure to pay for public parking, this can be done via SMS or leave your car in a paid parking lot.

Varna

Varna is a good choice for those who like to relax in cities with all the usual infrastructure. Varna is also called the sea capital of Bulgaria. This year, various festive events are taking place in honor of the 100th anniversary of Varna receiving the status of a resort.

Some sources indicate more than 300 sunny days a year in Varna. Most of the beaches in Varna are suitable for family holidays with children. During the season there are enough vacationers on the beaches, but even in the hottest months there will always be places, which means you will not have to step over bodies in search of a place in the sun and lie side by side with neighbors. Varna’s beaches are about 8 kilometers long and stretch along the entire coastline. 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 huge choice of accommodation from cheap hostels to luxury villas. Prices for accommodation start from 13 euros per night for a double room when rented for a week in season.

In addition to booking and similar platforms, you can also search for accommodation on the Airbnb service. In Varna, food prices will be minimal. If you buy them in regular chain stores, there are also food markets. 

Sveti Vlas

This is a prestigious resort at the foot of the southern slope of the Roga Stara Planina mountain. Which is sometimes called the Bulgarian Saint-Tropez. The settlement itself was founded in the 2nd century AD. Among the beaches, “New Beach” received the prestigious international ecology award “Blue Flag” this year.

There is also a yacht port “Marina Dinevi”. Sveti Vlas has a decent choice of accommodation. Accommodation prices start from 19 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. In Sveti Vlas, you can buy food in the supermarkets Mercury and Diamant, but the prices will be higher than in Varna.

Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach is 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” received this year the prestigious international ecology award “Blue Flag”. As the authorities say, this season there will be at least 4.5 meters between the umbrellas. Nearby there are two large water parks and one mini water park, one amusement park in the very center. A full range of water attractions. Sunny Beach has a large selection of accommodation. Prices for accommodation start from 19 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. In Sunny Beach, you can buy food in small shops and in the supermarkets Janet and Lidl.

Nessebar

Nesebar is one of the most ancient cities on the Black Sea coast. It was founded more than 5 thousand years ago. The city of Nesebar consists of two parts – the Old and the New City. The history of the old city and its monuments cover the Roman and Byzantine eras, and you can still see the remains of the old city walls. I recommend visiting the resort of Nesebar primarily to lovers of history, excursions, museums and antiquity. There is a small beach in the Old City. Oddly enough, but the prices turned out to be low, both for housing and in catering establishments. This applies to the New City, the one on the mainland.

One of the beaches of Nessebar – “Nessebar South” is marked with the Blue Flag. Prices for accommodation start from 16 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. Honestly, Pomorie did not make any special impression on us. It seems like there is a sea, and the city is located on a peninsula, but it does not have its own special charm. Among the advantages of the resort is the presence of chain stores Bila and Lidl at the exit from the city. So you can buy food at regular prices without resort markups.

Accommodation prices start from 18 euros per day for a double room when rented for a week during the season. 

Burgas

Burgas is quite an attractive and inexpensive resort. There is a large seaport, an international airport, a railway station and a bus station.

Burgas has beautiful clean beaches, a large seaside park (about 7 km) with sand sculptures, an opera house and several museums. All this attracts many tourists to the city every year. 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 downside – the Lukoil oil refinery. 

Burgas has a very large selection of accommodation, almost like Varna, from cheap hostels to luxury villas. Accommodation prices start from 17 euros per day for a 2-bed room when rented for a week in season. In addition to booking and similar platforms, you can also search for accommodation on the Airbnb service. In Burgas, as in Varna, food prices will be minimal. If you buy food in regular chain stores.

Sozopol

The city 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 small boats. But there is a difference, these are large differences in altitude, because the city is located on hills. People who are in poor physical shape will have to sweat moving up and down. The beaches with very fine and pleasant to the touch sand are suitable for small children. Two beaches of Sozopol “Sozopol-Centralen”, “Sozopol-Harmanite” received the title “Blue Flag”,

Sometimes the prices in the resort town of Sozopol surprise with their cheapness. 

In Sozopol, you can choose accommodation with a wide range of prices. Prices for accommodation start from 18 euros per day for a 2-bed room when renting for a week in season. In addition to booking and similar platforms, you can also search for accommodation on the airbnb service. In Sozopol, food prices will be minimal. If you buy food in regular chain stores, such as Lidl.

Arguments against traveling to Bulgaria for a holiday in 2021

An argument against going on holiday to Bulgaria now is the required PCR test or an internationally recognized vaccination passport, which means additional expenses. A visa will also be required for residents of those countries that require a visa to Bulgaria.

Results

The most expensive resort in Bulgaria is Albena. The most affordable is Varna. In general, every resort in Bulgaria is worth visiting. Each resort has its own characteristics.

Finance

The official currency of Bulgaria is the lev. We recommend using regular bank cards in your country’s currency for payment. As a rule, if you have a normal bank, the exchange rates for converting the lev to your currency will be very good. Do not forget to enable payment in the currency of the country of stay, do not agree to transit currencies such as the dollar or euro. Even before the trip, enable payment by card abroad in your bank, in order to avoid blocking the card.

For safety and to reduce losses during conversion, we recommend carrying up to 90% of your money on a card. In Bulgaria, almost all normal stores and catering establishments accept cards. If they refuse to accept your card, then there is something wrong, and it is better not to use these services. For pocket money and taxis, we recommend taking euros with you, which can easily be exchanged for leva in Bulgaria. The euro to leva exchange rate is strictly pegged and has not changed for over 20 years. There are minimal losses during conversion. We recommend exchanging money at banks or at exchange offices in shopping centers. But never at markets, as there is a guaranteed catch!

Taxi and transport in Bulgaria

Do not use taxi services that you accidentally find on the street. Otherwise, the fare will be 2-3 times higher than it actually costs. Bulgaria has relatively low taxi prices, and many people take advantage of this lack of knowledge. The trip is counted by the taximeter, after the trip the driver is obliged to issue a receipt, by the way, this is what happens. To prevent the driver from driving you in circles, show him that you are tracking the trip by phone on the map. For example, an average trip around the city of Varna costs about 2 euros. More for long distances, but everything is within the tariffs if you are traveling in a taxi from a company. Call a taxi only by phone or order on the website. Calling by phone is easy even without knowledge of the Bulgarian language. The script for calling a taxi by phone in Bulgaria is as follows. 

First, say “Hello”, then slowly and clearly say the address where you are, for example, “Tsar Osvoboditel Street 5”, then say the address where you need to go: “Maria Luiza Street 10” and the operator answers you, like, wait 5 minutes, taxi number is such-and-such. All orders accepted. Often in resort towns you come across operators who know Russian. In Bulgaria there is Uber taxi, but we have never used it.

The price of a bus in the city is 50 euro cents. The price outside the city depends on the distance, for example, a ticket on the Varna-Golden Sands route costs 1.5 euros. We recommend paying for the fare, do not try to ride without paying, there are often checks and you will have to pay a fine. You can pay and get a ticket at the stops using a terminal using a bank card or cash. Or in terminals on buses. 

Mobile communications in Bulgaria

We recommend buying a SIM card upon arrival in Bulgaria. This can be easily done in mobile phone stores. You may be asked to show your passport. The best conditions are currently offered by the A1 operator , there is also Vivacom. We can no longer recommend Telenor, they have stopped selling prepaid starter packages, except for the Internet.

Prices for mobile communications and the Internet in 2021 are as follows:

• A1 prepaid package Comfort Max (14 days bonus validity period) the card itself is valid for 90 days.
• 200 minutes to all operators and city numbers.
• 6000 MB mobile internet

Package price 8 BGN.

When refilling a prepaid card with an amount of 6 lv. (prepaid card – bg) the validity period is extended by 396 days. So the purchased SIM card can be used next year as well.

To Bulgaria for vacation in 2021 with your own car

If you decide to go to Bulgaria by your own car, we recommend buying vignettes for driving on the roads of Romania and Bulgaria before your trip at home via the Internet. This will save you time, sometimes there are no sales points at the borders. They are also sold at gas stations. Check the completeness of your first aid kit, the expiration date of the fire extinguisher, reflective vests should be no less than the number of passengers in your car. You need to buy a so-called green card for a car with coverage of all countries on your route. We recommend not to break the rules, because the police monitor traffic, there are surveillance cameras. If you are in a hurry, as an option, although not 100% guaranteed protection from a fine, join a local car and follow it.

The cost of gasoline and diesel fuel in Bulgaria is currently around 1 euro per 1 liter. 

When parking, look carefully at where you are leaving your car. Look at the signs and markings. In blue zones, payment can be made using paid SMS, the signs indicate the number and text of the message. But we recommend using paid parking to avoid possible problems with a tow truck (fines from 25 to 75 euros) or even with car theft, this also happens. 

How to get to Bulgaria?

You can get to Bulgaria by plane, bus and train. For those traveling from Ukraine, there is good news this year – the long-awaited ferry crossing to Orlovka-Isakcha has opened, which connects Ukraine and Romania. It shortens the route by 45 km, and most importantly by two border crossings of Moldova, and you will not have to pay for travel on the bridge over the Danube. The crossing costs 15 euros per car + 1 euro for each passenger.

Bulgaria has a well-developed car rental market. It is highly competitive and the prices are quite low. Therefore, you can easily rent a car. Keep in mind that many companies charge an additional fee if the driver is under 30 or over 65. Prices for renting a car manufactured in 2020 will start from 17 euros per day for a rental period of 5 days. 

Tips. 

In Bulgaria, it is customary to leave tips in catering establishments. Whether or not to give and if so, and how much, is up to you. For example, we usually round up the amount to be paid and pay that way.

I wonder which resort you chose and why, write in the comments?

I hope this information was useful and will help you make the right decision. And I wish you all success.