Travel to Sunny Beach

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Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Sunny Beach (or Slantchev Briag) is the largest and most popular of Bulgaria's seaside resorts, along with Golden Sands. As a new town, bursting with recently built hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, it is definitely not the most authentic place in Bulgaria, but it does offer a good compromise when it comes to cheap and cheerful holidays. It is also popular among young people who come here to party and mix with the international visitors the town attracts during the summer. Heading up north from Sunny Beach, you'll come across what is undoubtedly the most beautiful town on the coast, Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nicknamed 'the Town of Forty Churches' , which sits perched on a peninsula protruding out into the sea.It is also a little taster of what you can expect of Obzor, which sits nestled between the sea and the mountains. Founded in the 4th Century B.C. and nicknamed 'Heliopolis' (the town of the sun), this seaside resort is perhaps the town on the east coast the least spoilt by hotel complexes, making for a natural setting where you can truly relax and forget about the stresses and strains of daily life.The village of Obzor, where you'll find a variety of cafes and restaurants, has managed to maintain its authentic flavour despite the construction of several hotel complexes in the bay area.
Moving further south, Sozopol is a more authentic seaside resort surrounded by rocks and wonderful beaches, whilst Primorsko, built on a steep rocky hill just 5 mi from the town of Apollon, is known for its fine natural setting, unspoilt beaches which have not yet been affected by mass tourism and a nature park which can be visited by foot or by boat. The amazing beauty and variety of Sunny Beach help explain why it is the undisputed hub of nature-based leisure activities in the area.

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Weather Sunny Beach - choosing the best time to go

Bulgaria - Sunny Beach

All overall indicators 77/100 Good
Temperature indicators 86/100 Excellent
Bad weather indicators 86/100 Excellent
Sunbathing indicators 74/100 Good
Swimming indicators 52/100 Average
Wind indicators 72/100 Good
Temperature indicatorsOptimal :
Maximim temperature between 22°C and 24°C, the perceived temperature is <30°.
Bad weather indicatorsDry / Optimal :
Little or no rain (less than 1.5mm per day).
Sunbathing indicatorsGood weather :
Mostly sunny (60% to 80% sunshine).
Swimming indicatorsRefreshing :
Sea temperature between 20 °C and 22°C. Wind speed between 4 mph and 7 mph.
Wind indicatorsLight wind :
Light winds (between 6mph and 12mph).

Weather finder : Sunny Beach / May Annual weather finder : Sunny Beach

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Visit Sunny Beach

To see

Thanks to its rich geological past and the different climatic zones it spans, Bulgaria is home to an extremely varied and beautiful flora. The Black Sea coast, whose low prices, sunshine and miles of white sandy beaches attract many visitors during the summer season, is also popular with bird watchers and nature lovers. Indeed, every year, hundreds of thousands of birds fly the Via Pontica (a migratory route which stretches along the western coast of the Black Sea and crosses the Bosporus and the Middle-East before reaching East Africa). To the north of the coast, the seaside resort of Golden Sands (also known as Zlatni Pyassatsi) is home to an exceptional nature park which boasts Europe's northernmost jungle! Among the rare plants found in the area, almost 90% of which is covered in forest, is the large-flowered primrose. 11 mi away to the south-west, Varna Archaeological Museum houses among its collections the oldest pieces of gold in the world, some 7,000 years old. Further south still lie the towns of Sozopol and Nessebar, which still display many ancient relics.

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To do

Bulgaria offers a wide variety of activities all year round, meaning that it benefits from many different forms of tourism, including rural tourism, which covers mountain-biking, hiking and nature holidays, cultural tourism, thanks to its many museums, churches, fortress remains and picturesque harbours (particularly in Sozopol and Nessebar), and sports and adventure tourism, combining climbing, mountaineering, trekking and paragliding, skiing during the winter season and seaside tourism focusing on activities such as diving, surfing and boat trips in the summer.

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To think about

The Black Sea coast is above all an area of seaside resorts, but at the foot of the mountains lie springs whose mineral water boasts healing properties. This being the case, a number of balneotherapy centres have sprung up offering various types of treatments (as part of a package or 'à la carte') designed to cure numerous ailments. Some centres even specialise in a given affliction and offer a comprehensive range of treatments as unusual as they are varied. The prices advertised are quite reasonable and you can turn up and book there and then if you are interested.

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To avoid

Even though the tap water is suitable for drinking, it is best avoided if possible, especially since bottled water is cheap enough, both in hotels and shops (Bulgaria is planning to switch to the Euro in 2012).Try to save water when washing and showering and avoid using too much of it as it is a rare commodity.

Don't forget that you are going to a country which is different from your own. Traditions are still very strong in Bulgaria, and you may find it interesting to try and understand them, or at least respect them. For example, kisses are given as a greeting only in a family context, or to people who are close to you, like your parents, so be careful not to cause offence.

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To try

Bulgarian cuisine is generally quite rich and uses a lot of meat, fish and vegetables. Popular pastries include all sorts of cakes of varying consistencies, puff pastries and doughnuts which are not too sweet. If you fancy a snack at any point during your stay, try 'banitza', a delicious cheese puff pastry, the famous 'baklava', the wonderful walnut macaroons or even 'siréné', the most common Bulgarian cheese, similar to feta but not as dry or salty. It is also a good idea to ask what the local drinks served are - 'rakia', for example, is simply a brandy and 'mastika' a sort of anisette. Watch out for any little surprises!

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To bring back

Bulgarian crafts including pottery in the form of beautiful, brightly-coloured traditional ceramics, which are also used in traditional cooking and make a nice souvenir of your stay. Wood carvings are also easy to find and very well made, as are the materials used to make rugs, table cloths, fabrics and blankets as well as embroidery, copperware and silver jewellery. Bulgaria is also a country of icons; they are everywhere, from the monasteries and Byzantine churches to the open air market stalls. The finest pieces can be found in the art galleries but they are, of course, more expensive. Another gift idea is the high quality rose oil, Bulgaria being the world's leading producer of this commodity.

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