Summer ideas: Must-visit places at the Bulgarian seaside

The exams for international students in Bulgaria will be over soon, so we are sure that most of our students have already planned a trip to the Bulgarian seaside. This is why we decided to make a list of beautiful and interesting places located at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast! Of course, there are plenty of places that you should visit (don't forget our guide on how to survive Bulgarian summer), but why not start one of your trips with one of the following destinations:

1. Nesebar

Nesebar is one of the most famous places at the Bulgarian seaside because of its old town - it is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site! There you will see typical Bulgarian houses (which are so beautiful and make this place look really romantic!) and find many cozy restaurants that offer Bulgarian cuisine and delicious seafood. 

Of course, Nesebar also has few beaches and a "new part" of the city with plenty of shops, restaurants and hotels. 

Nesebar is located close to Burgas but also next to the famous summer resort Sunny beach. We definitely recommend avoiding the second place as it is very overpriced and there are plenty of tourists.

2. Kaliakra Cape

A curious fact is that Kaliakra Cape is the only place in Bulgaria where you can see both sunrise and sunset over the Black Sea! The reason is the location and the angle of the cape which allows people to witness the beautiful views!

Kaliakra Cape is located around 50 km away from Varna (in the North), so we recommend renting a car to visit all beautiful places in the area (you will find some of them below).

3. Veleka

Veleka is the name of a Bulgarian river which forms a beautiful beach at the Bulgarian seaside. The reason is that the last part of the river flows parallel with the Black Sea. This way nature creates a narrow line between the river and the sea and forms a beautiful beach that attracts many locals and tourists who admire the sunny weather and natural wonders.

Veleka beach is close to the border of Turkey and not so far away from Sozopol (see below).

4. Sozopol

Sozopol is one of the most beloved summer resorts among Bulgarian students. It has two beaches, plenty of restaurants and bars, a beautiful old town... and it is not expensive! Sozopol is located only 30 km away from Burgas, so it is easy to reach. Most tourists fall in love with the old part of the town - the beautiful Bulgarian houses (most of them are hotels now, so you should definitely check them out!) and the old paved streets are the perfect place for a romantic getaway!

5. Varna

Varna is called the Bulgarian "sea capital" and is the third biggest city in Bulgaria. It has a big port, a park right next to seaside and a lovely pedestrian street in the city centre. Also, Varna Airport is located close to the city and there are many flights in the summer because of the tourists, so we definitely recommend you look for a direct flight to Varna!

6. Lovely beaches

If you love nature and you wish to explore beautiful beaches that are not surrounded by fancy hotels or shopping malls, we recommend you visit some lovely places like Silistar, Irakli, Arkutino, Bolata, Rezovo.

7. Balchik

Balchik is a famous summer resort for families that want to escape overpriced resorts that are full of tourists. Two of the most interesting places to visit in Balchik include the botanical garden and the palace complex (which was actually built for Queen Marie of Romania). Balchik is located around 50 km away from Varna (direction Kaliakra Cape).

8. Tyulenovo and Shabla

Close to Varna, Balchik and Kaliakra cape you should also consider visiting Tyulenovo and Shabla. There you can see the Shabla lighthouse as well as witness a beautiful cliffed coast and rock formations. 

9. Burgas

Burgas is also one of the biggest cities in Bulgaria that attracts many locals and tourists. If you live in Sofia, it will take you around three hours and a half to visit Burgas (the highway will take you directly to Burgas)! Also, the city has a small international airport so you can look for a flight from your home country. In addition, there are many famous places located to Burgas, e.g. Nesebar and Sozopol, so you can definitely spend at least a week or two in the area. Why we love Burgas? Well, it has it all - several beaches, a lovely pedestrian street, a family-friendly park next to the seaside and it is less overpriced in comparison to other Bulgarian summer resorts!

10. St. Anastasia Island

St. Anastasia Island is located next to Burgas - you can reach it by boat (there is a line Burgas - St. Anastasia island, the fee is around 10 lv, it takes max one hour). The place is quite small but you still have several places to visit - the lighthouse, the museum and a church. There is also a restaurant and a guest house at the island - find more about the island here.