Regions: Black Sea Coast

The "Red Riviera"

The Black Sea coastal region is the perfect place to rent a holiday villa this summer. Formerly known as the “Red Riviera” in the days of communism, it is now simply referred to as the Bulgarian Riviera, and with good reason too as it enjoys balmy Mediterranean temperatures receiving over 1,770 of sunshine between May and October alone.

The coastline stretches over the eastern side of the country with over 378 km of beaches and is divided into northern and southern areas by a lofty mountain range.

Wherever you decide to stay, one thing you can be sure of is that you will always be met by glorious weather and fabulous beaches.

Cut Price Sun

The Black Sea coastline has become of one Europe's most popular destinations for tourists as it offers everything that traditional holiday resorts in countries such as Spain and Greece have, but without the expensive price tag.

With vast stretches of soft, white sand the aptly named "Golden Sands" resort is the biggest on the northern coastline and also boasts the purest, most refined quartz sand in all Bulgaria.

Situated in an idyllic location, the resort is adjacent to a National Park which has been under strict environmental protection since 1943 and is inhabited by exotic birds, animals and even tortoises.

This beach truly is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bulgaria and would be the perfect place to rent a villa for those wanting to relax whilst enjoying fantastic scenery.

Sunny Beach Area

Another popular Black Sea resort is "Sunny Beach" which is located further down the coast. It is the biggest resort overall in Bulgaria with a beach extending over more than 8 km of coastline.

The beaches here have even been awarded the Blue Flag certificate for meeting high standards in water quality and safety so you can rest assured that you’re going somewhere clean and well looked after.

During your stay there are a vast array of water sports to try – and with water temperatures of around 26ºc you really can't stay no. They offer everything you could ever imagine from jet skiing to snorkeling to wind surfing.

There are also two water parks which are a firm favourite for family holidays and for the partygoers the nightlife is excellent with a great selection of clubs and bars open all night long.

Culture & History

If you'd prefer to step away from the resorts and explore the Bulgarian countryside a little more, as soon as you leave the tourist hotspots you can visit some of the quaint olde-worlde towns which are steeped in a rich history dating back thousands of years.

Nesebar is one such town which is also known as the "pearl of the black sea". A World Heritage Site since 1983 it is home to a spectacular collection of historic buildings and ancient ruins.

Another place of interest is the ancient coastal town of Sozopol also known as the "Bulgarian St Tropez" after several celebrities have been spotted taking their holidays here.

Every year in September the world famous Appolonia International Art Festival takes place in Sozopol, a cultural event definitely worth seeing. If you take a villa here you are also just a short boat ride from many of the beautiful islands off the Baltic coast which boast incredible scenery and wildlife.

City Life

The two biggest cities in the region are Varna and Burgas both of which have airports and are in the process of improving motorway links to the coast to make it easier for tourists to get to their destinations.

In these two cities you can shop and take in the sights, just remember your phrase book however, as deciphering the Cyrillic alphabet is no mean feat. You will however, be pleased to hear that prices for most things are much cheaper than in Western Europe.

There is also a rich tradition of local cuisine well worth trying and these cities are filled with local taverns where you can sample Bulgarian wines and listen to traditional Bulgarian folk music.

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