Sunny Beach

What was formerly a holiday resort for communist workers has now become a good alternative to the Mediterranean coast. On the shores of the warm Black Sea, Sunny Beach has become one of the most popular destinations in Bulgaria, especially for family holidays. The range of water activities available is very large, and there are also many attractions designed for children.
Nearby there are beautiful natural areas, ancient towns and picturesque mountain villages.
When night falls, more energetic visitors can enjoy the lively nightlife, with numerous bars, restaurants and discotheques.

Sunny Beach

This beautiful 8-km.-long beach is ideal for families. Children will enjoy its calm, transparent waters. Although it is a popular tourist destination, it is rarely crowded due to its extension. Beach volleyball games are frequently played on its pale sands, and in the water you can practise windsurfing, parasailing or water skiing, amongst other activities. The seafront promenade has bars, kiosks and restaurants. You can keep an eye on the children as they build a sandcastle or splash around in the warm waters of the Black Sea whilst you have a drink.

RIU has several hotels in the area: Clubhotel Riu Evrika and Hotel Riu Helios.

Visit the Kamchia Nature Reserve

Elms, oaks and maples line the river that lends its name to the area. At times the vegetation is so dense that the sunlight can barely shine through.
The area is also characterised by its wetlands, the habitat for many species of amphibians and birds.
In some parts of the river one can see the white flowers of water lilies, one of the most representative species of this area. Many river trips are available, running through this paradise of flora and fauna, naturalists and biologists.

Boat trips

Several yacht trips leave from Sunny Beach, enabling you to discover some of the most beautiful scenery on the Bulgarian coast. The excursions will take you to solitary bays where you can bathe and dive; and to the ancient town of Nesebar, which you can discover from the sea. Some trips offer dinners and lunches on board.

Aqualand

This is another of the many places where children can enjoy themselves. Slides and wave pools will ensure they have fun and sleep well at night. Several restaurants and bars offer food or refreshments without your having to leave the complex. If you want to escape from all the sun and water, there is also a bowling alley.

Visit the Ropotamo Nature Reserve

The Ropotamo River, yet another extremely beautiful nature spot, lies close to the lovely southern town of Sozopol. A boat trip will enable you to discover its swampy land and the dune system at the river mouth, the largest in Bulgaria.
Access is highly restricted, given the fragility of the ecosystem here, but there are several river routes and signposted paths enabling one to penetrate this nature reserve.

Specialities

Bulgarian cuisine is tasty, spicy and very similar to that of its Balkan neighbours. The Turkish influence is considerable. At times, the difference between a Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish or Serbian dish resides solely in its name or one ingredient more or less.

Meat: Highlights are kavarmá, a kind of stew containing pork, leeks, wine, chilli and fresh herbs; méshana skara or mixed grill; and sarmí, well-spiced minced meat wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves.

Yoghurt: Without doubt this is the culinary symbol of Bulgaria. In fact, the microorganism that transforms milk into yoghurt is called 'Lactobacillus bulgaricus' or 'Bulgarian milk bacillus'. Yoghurt is an indispensable component of the cold 'tarator' soup, which also contains cucumbers, garlic, oil and walnuts, and is eaten like gazpacho. Another popular dish is 'airán', diluted yoghurt with a little salt.
With regard to cheese, 'sírene', made with cow or sheep milk, is used in many dishes like the 'shopska salata', a salad made using tomato, cucumber, green pepper and onion.

Desserts: Ottoman influence can be felt in the typical sweets such as 'baklavá', a pastry gateau filled with walnuts and honey; 'tolumba', a fritter with syrup; or 'kadaif', vermicelli with walnuts, cinnamon and syrup.

Wines: Although Bulgarian wines have lost their splendour and the markets they had during the Communist era, they are still very good quality. The country has many local grape varieties such as Mavrud, Gamza, Pamid and red Misquet, among others, which produce excellent wines. The crisis in the sector saw the introduction of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Rkatsiteli, of Georgian origin.

Going out

When night falls, the activity moves from the beach to the dance floors, of which there are many and varied. There are also English-style pubs, bars, terraces and even places where one can listen to a little traditional music. Many of them are beside the sea, with the Black Sea breezes refreshing the atmosphere.

Shopping

As a top tourist destination, Sunny Beach has a good range of fashion boutiques and shops selling other articles. There are also street markets, where one frequently finds imitations.

Popular Bulgarian crafts are like the country's history, a mixture of influences. We recommend you purchase ceramic and copper objects, and the hand-embroidered items. You will also find typical Orthodox icons, very similar to those found in Greece.

Zheravna

Este pequeño pueblo en las colinas al este de Sunny Beach es uno de los más pintorescos de Bulgaria. Sus preciosas casas de madera parecen a punto de desmoronarse. Aunque se trate de un lugar muy visitado por los turistas, por sus calles, algunas sin asfaltar, aún se pasean caballos. Otras están empedradas y albergan casas-museo de gran interés. La de Yordan Yovkov, el gran escritor búlgaro, es una de las más bonitas y mejor conservadas.

Cape Emine

Cape Emine, along with Cape Kaliakra, is one of the most beautiful headlands in the Black Sea. There are wonderful views to be had from the lighthouse. A 60m high cliff that plunges down almost vertically into the sea hides a lovely, quiet beach.

Nesebar

This beautiful town is located on a peninsula connected to the coast by a narrow isthmus. As tourist-orientated as it is beautiful, in its streets old churches and wooden houses alternate with bars, restaurants and souvenir shops.

It is calculated that there were formerly over 80 churches in the old town of Nesebar. Nowadays fewer remain, but they are still very beautiful. In the centre of the town lie the ruins of the Basilica (6th century), the oldest of those still standing. One of the best-preserved temples is the 14th-century church of Christ Pantocrator, with its characteristic Byzantine style. The 10th-century church of Saint John the Baptist has one of the best-preserved murals in the country.

Since being founded by the Thracians over 3500 years ago, the town has been inhabited without interruption. Strolling through its streets steeped in history is an authentic pleasure. The sea breezes that have always blown through the town help cool you down on summer days, when the sun really does beat down.