BULGARIA
A Review by Alan Fairfax
Temperatures in the low 30’s, sun housed in an azure blue sky reflecting in the calm sea waters, no, this isn’t the Mediterranean its Bulgaria in eastern Europe, part of the Balkans. For many it’s a new destination but for others like myself it is a country discovered nearly 20 years ago. A country of forests, rivers, lakes, mountain ranges and a stunning Black Sea coastline.
Bulgaria is a country offering the tourist just about everything they are looking for, sun, sea and sand which are in abundance, but Bulgaria also has a fascinating history going back over many centuries. The region is a collection of many cultures, with influences from civilizations including the Ottoman, Thracian, Greek and Slavic empires, resulting in wonderful food, hospitality, architecture and much more.
A 235 mile coastline stretches from Romania in the north to the Turkish border in the south, a journey of small towns, picturesque villages and forests mixed with expansive sandy beaches, small rocky coves and headlands where mountains meet the sea. Bordered by Romania, Turkey, North Macedonia, Greece and Serbia, Bulgaria has until now been a well-kept secret but more and more each year are discovering its beauty.
Most holiday makers visiting the large tourist resorts will arrive at Bourgas Airport, a little over 3 hours flight time from the UK. Heading north brings you to Nesebar the start of a 13 kilometre bay of golden sand separated into 4 areas, Cacao Beach, Sunny Beach, St. Vlas and finally Elinite where the Balkan Mountains meet the sea. All are holiday resorts, but each offer a different experience. If you are looking for a fast pace of life, the likes of Benidorm, Ayia Napa etc. then Sunny Beach, the largest resort on the Black Sea coast, is for you with its bars, disco’s, night clubs and restaurants. The other resorts offer a more gentile way of life. Old Nessebar deserves a special mention as one of the oldest towns in Europe whose history can be traced back to the 6th century BC. A town standing out on a peninsular still with its walled entrance, beautifully preserved ruins, wooden houses, restaurants looking out across the sea and much more.
Winters are very cold and best avoided but between May and October there will be a month to suit everyone looking for a relaxing holiday in the sun. Whilst May has temperatures in the mid 20c's, June, July and August can see the mercury in the 30's, occasionally hitting 40c+ when it is time to chill out under a sun umbrella with a cool drink. The beaches are clean and year after year are awarded the prestigious ‘Blue Flag’, lifeguards are always on duty, and you can even get a massage on the beach to relax those aching muscles.
Eating out is not only an enjoyable experience sampling different cuisines but also a very affordable one where a 2 course meal with wine can be had for as little as £20 for 2 persons. The many restaurants cater for most tastes with a good selection of meat, fish, salads, pizza and pasta. If a meat lover try a 'Sach', grilled chicken and pork fillets served on a sizzler with vegetables, peppers and potato topped with cheese or a 'Kavarma', a meat stew served in an earthenware pot but be prepared to be surprised by the large servings. Bulgaria has a long history of wine production and the area being part of the Thracian Valley its home to some of Bulgaria’s best wines whether you want red, white, rosé or sparkling.
Many people ask about the currency which is currently the Bulgarian Lev but changing to the Euro in January 2026. These can be obtained from banks and official exchange bureaus as well as by credit/debit card at the numerous ATMs available. Never exchange money in the street if approached. Yes, some people do and are surprised when they discover they have been duped with worthless bank notes.
Heading north from the area on the main road towards Varna, Bulgaria's third largest city, takes you through small villages where life has changed little over the years, through forests of pine trees, you begin to see the true beauty of Bulgaria and are tempted to stop at one of the many picnic areas that are deserted during the early part of the season. Resting in one of these pine tree areas with sun filtering through the branches and birds twittering you feel at ease with the world and indeed could be anywhere in the world. Continuing north leads eventually to the motorway into Varna, a city of approximately 500.000. One of the first sights to greet your eyes is that of the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, its four large gold domes glinting in the sunlight. This is Bulgaria’s second largest Orthodox cathedral, the largest being St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia with a capacity of 10,000. Varna is considered to be the capital of the Black Sea with a large port area visited by many cruise ships during the summer season.
Continuing our journey north and leaving behind the big city it is once again areas of beauty with sporadic villages and large forests until entering the area of Golden Sands, a favourite holiday resort with peoples of many nations. Set in an area of pine trees, large hotels overlook clear blue waters and golden sands, from where the resort obtains it name. As a contrast authentic restaurants are scattered amongst the modern hotels where meals again can be had at very affordable prices. Visit the local market, you can buy everything from vegetables to souvenirs.
From here the coastline winds its way through small holiday resorts and villages up towards the Romanian border 30 miles away passing through deserted beaches and the larger coastal town of Balchik where a former Romanian Queen had her summer palace and is a favourite holiday resort for Romanians.
The Bulgarian coastline contains some wonderful holiday resorts backed by magnificent scenery. At the moment it is something of a well-kept secret but each year more and more tourist’s visit and the secret is fast becoming general knowledge.
Currently it is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Europe but as it becomes more popular this is bound to change so be sure to visit soon. There is something for everyone with many of the main holiday companies offering holidays there. What of the coastline south of Bourgas down to the Turkish border? It’s beautiful with lots to see but that will have to wait for another day.
Alan Fairfax
October 2025
