Example prices:
Coffee 30p, Lunch £3.00, Sandwich 50p, Tea 20p, Bottle of beer 50p, Bottle of wine £2.50, Ice cream 40p, Soft drink 30p
Average |
May | June | July | Aug | Sept |
Daily temperatures C |
22 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 24 |
| Night temperatures C | 12 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 13 |
| Sea water temp. C | 15 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 |
| Hours of sun per day | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
| Rainy days per month | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old site of Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement (Menebria). At the beginning of the 6th century B.C., the city became a Greek colony. The city's remains, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period, include the acropolis, a temple of Apollo, an agora and a wall from the Thracian fortifications. Among other monuments, the Stara Mitropolia Basilica and the fortress date from the Middle Ages, when this was one of the most important Byzantine towns on the west coast of the Black Sea. Wooden houses built in the 19th century are typical of the Black Sea architecture of the period.
This is a beautiful town which generates a romantic historical atmosphere with a wide range of restaurants, pubs, gift shops and fashionable cafes.
Sunny Beach is the biggest and most popular summer resort, with the longest and widest beach strip. It lies some 35 km north from the city of Bourgas and benefits from fresh breeze and approx. 1,700 hours of sunshine from early May to late September. Thanks to this lovely combination the heat during the day is easy to bear and the nights are cool and pleasant.
Sunny Beach is a modern holiday destination and has numerous places to enjoy your holiday: restaurants, taverns with folklore shows, night clubs, casino, discos and cafes.
Here you can enjoy water skis and parachutes, surfing, hang-gliding and banana, as well as sailing, yachts, paddle boats, cutters, scooters, rowboats. Available are also tennis courts, beach volleyball, playing grounds, mini-golf, skittle alley, bowling, fitness halls, etc.
For the children there is a wide variety of fun and games, children pools, slides, carting, Rolba water slide, inflatable trampoline, sport schools. There are also special discounts for children, children's menus, 24-hour kindergarten, etc.
The cultural programme of the resort includes the popular Golden Orpheus International Festival for Bulgarian Pop Songs, folklore and symphony concerts, exhibitions, Miss Sunny Beach contest, etc.
Short excursions and off-road adventures are organised on a regular basis.
Ravda has fantastic recreational activities. Together with sunbathing and relaxing on the beautiful sandy beaches, there are fun activities throughout the resort for the whole family.
This is a beautiful coastal village at the foot of the Balkan Mountains with 1km of sandy beach. A new marina is being built which will ecompass a promenade boutiques and restaurants. The main square is dotted with shops, restaurants and bars. From the beach there are wonderful views across the bay of Sunny Beach and Nessebur which are only a short ride away.
Bourgas is the second largest city on the Black Sea Coast and is surrounded by 3 lakes. In the city there are plenty of museums, churches and art galleries to visit. The streets are lined with shops, small boutiques, restaurants and bars. The beautiful Sea Garden has an open air theatre and small zoo and is dotted with cafes and bars.
This is another historical seaside town. The town lies on a small rocky peninsular 31km past Bourgas. There are more than 45 architectural monuments the most famous being the ancient churches one is now the Lascaridi Art Gallery. Or simply wander around the narrow cobbled streets with lovely wooden houses and craft shops. If you fancy venturing further a field try a sightseeing tour around Sozopol on the Kleopatra Ship. Visit the island of St Ivan 2km away with the sonar lighthouse and fantastic views.
An engaging huddle of nineteenth-century houses on a rocky headland, backed up by two fine beaches, scores of bars and restaurants, and a lively promenade, Sozopol is perhaps a bit more laid back than Nessebar.
For the first ten days of September, Sozopol hosts the Apollonia Arts Festival, comprising classical music, jazz, theatre and poetry, and frequent open-air pop concerts take place throughout the summer.
A stroll along the old town's twisting, narrow cobblestone lanes reveals a host of old houses, their stone foundations and overhanging upper stories of weathered wood topped by Mediterranean-style red-tiled roofs.
The small harbour is a good place to watch fishermen off-load their catches to waiting buyers from local restaurants.
This is a small village 50km from Bourgas popular with Bulgarian families. There are plenty of outdoor cafes and restaurants to keep you amused. Visit the nearby Ropotamo River with its Natural Park housing thick forests and rocky formations.
This is the 3rd largest city in Bulgaria and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Varna has plenty to see including a Roman Spa, cathedral, churches, museums, theatres and art galleries. The Sea Garden has an observatory, amphitheatre, planetarium and Zoo. The nearby beach has quays, restaurants and cafes. The Dolphinarium is one of the most popular attractions with regular shows to see.
Golden Sands is the second largest coastal resort with a superb stretch of beach offering great water sports. Albena is a lively resort popular with the younger crowd but can be relatively expensive.
This is a traditional town 4 km from Sunny Beach and has a wonderful new area of luxury villas with sea views.
Over half of Bulgaria is made up of mountains. The Balkan Mountains separate Bulgaria in two parts. They reach the Black sea to the east and the Bulgarian-Yugoslav border to the north. The plains and the lowlands cover large areas of the both sides of the Balkan Mountains. The Danube plain is the biggest, bordering river Danube to the north and the Balkan Mountains to the south. The southern part of the country has broad and irregular Rhodope Mountains, which form the boundary with Greece. At their western end are the Rila Mountains with Musala, the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula (2925 m) and the Bulgaria second highest mountain Pirin. The Black sea is the eastern boundary of Bulgaria and its coastline is 378 km. long.
Bulgarian currency: Levs - can be purchased in the UK from outlets such as the Post Office and some travel agents. In Febuary 2007 the rate at the Post Office was approximately 2.56 Levs to £1. In Bulgaria the rate in the same month was between 2.70 and 2.75 Levs to £1. Always change your money in Bulgaria in the Banks or alternatively at the Currency Exchange at the apartment complex - check the rates. Do not change your money at the currency change booths you see in the towns -definitely do not change your money on the streets! When changing sterling or other foreign currency in Bulgaria make sure that none of the notes you are exchanging are torn or written on - most places will not accept them!
Levs: 1 Lev = 100 stotinki
ATM machines: All major towns have ATM machines. Credit and Maestro cards can normally be used. A small fee will be charged for withdrawal. Normally no more than 400 Levs (£145 - £148 approx) can be drawn out at any one time.
Credit cards: While you can withdraw money from ATM's and most banks not many shops or restaurants accept cards - so in most cases you will need to pay by cash.
Many shops and businesses could be closed
January New Year's Day
3 March National Day
April Easter is a moving feast, falling in one week after Easter in the UK
1 May International Labour Day
24 May Day of the Slavonic Script and Bulgarian Culture
6 September Unification Day
22 September Independence Day
24 December Christmas Eve ('Budni vecher', the Eve of the Future)
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Second Day of Christmas
Buses: Fares are paid to the conductor on the bus or a ticket can be purchased from a ticket office.
Rail: Rail travel can take a long time in Bulgaria - but it is a great way to see the country. There is a main line station in Bourgas and Varna, but connections between the two are not direct. Sofia to Bourgas can take between 6-8 hours and costs in the region of 20 - 25 levs for first class travel single and approx 35 levs (approx £13.00) for a return ticket. For very good online train timetables and prices (in English) go to[BDZ] and click on the En icon at the top of the website homepage to change the language to English.
Taxis: Are readily available and are only licensed to operate locally. Always check the price before starting the journey.
Time: Bulgaria is 2 hours ahead of UK Time
Capital: The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia
Religion: The main religion practised in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox
Water: Tap water is safe but bottle water from shops is recommended.
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are in use - adapters are required
Toilets: In most public toilets you will be charged a small fee so it is advisable to keep hold of small change for such purposes
Please click photos to enlarge
