If you want to hang out on the beach and take swim in the sea, but do not want to spend too much money, then the coast in Bulgaria is the place for you. There are a lot of coastal resorts along the waterfront that offers everything for an ultimate beach hangout. If you are looking for a beach in combination with historical sites, we recommend Nessebar. It is one of Europe’s oldest cities and here you will find remains from the trekkers and from the time when the city was colonized by the Greeks. Sozopol is another seaside resort not far from Nessebar, it was founded by the Greeks and at least 50 of the houses in the city are today national museums. The city has for a long time attracted writers and artists and on the market in the city you can find crafts and antiques. Harmanite is the most popular beach in Sozopol, but there are several other beaches to choose from in case Harmanite is too crowded.
Varna, which is located a bit north from the abovementioned coast cities, is slightly larger, to be more specific it is Bulgaria’s third largest city with more than 300,000 inhabitants. Here you will find lovely beaches with nice beach bars and seafood restaurants. Do not miss a visit to the sea garden with colorful flowers and peaceful fountains that attracts beautiful birds, sometimes there are concerts and art exhibitions arranged in the park.
When you arrive in Sofia you must make a visit to the old cathedral Aleksander Neski which is a stunning building with domes painted in turquoise and gold. The cathedral is a symbol, not only for the city, but also for the whole county, it was built in the early 1900s in memo memory of the Russians who fought for Bulgaria’s independence during the Russian-Turkish war during the late 1820s. A few hundred meters from the cathedral there is sometimes held a market where you can find old Russian bells and other cool things. If you are looking for more shopping, you can visit Vitosha Boulevard which is a popular shopping street with plenty of shops and restaurants. The street of Shisman is for those of you who looks for something a bit different, here you will find trendy bars and restaurants that are focusing on healthy food and sustainability, and also cool second hand shops and art galleries.
If you want to learn more about the country, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum where you can admire folk art and crafts. If you want to dive deeper into the art world, you can also visit the Museum of Socialist Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Every year a rather special festival is being held here in Sofia, it is one of the oldest traditions still being kept alive I Bulgaria. The tradition originates from the Indo-European settlers who lived in the area around 400 BCE, who worshiped the sun god by dancing on glowing coals.
