16 Beautiful Beach Resorts in Bulgaria – A Local’s Full Guide

Wondering whether the beach resorts in Bulgaria are any good? Or if it’s even a worthwhile summer destination? The answer is a resounding YES!

The Bulgarian Black Sea coast is dotted with resorts that offer something for everyone — from lively nightlife to peaceful retreats, from family-friendly vibes to natural escapes.

I grew up on the Black Sea coast and was lucky enough to explore its many towns and beaches with my family every summer. Now, I want to share that experience with you.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best spots on the South Black Sea coast, so you can find the perfect destination for your next summer getaway.

Let’s dive in!

General remarks

Before we dive into the individual resorts, here are a few important things to keep in mind:

📍 This article includes links to Google Maps — you’ll find all the resorts, beaches, and points of interest mentioned conveniently linked for easy planning.

🌊 Each beach resort in Bulgaria on the South Black Sea coast offers something unique — whether you’re after lively nightlife, rich history, serene nature, or wellness retreats. The best choice depends entirely on your travel style and what kind of vacation you’re after.

⛱️ Important tip about timing: Both large and small resorts can get very crowded during peak season (July and August). If you’re looking for a more relaxed and peaceful experience, I highly recommend visiting in June or September instead.

Burgas

The fastest way to get to any of the resorts listed in this post, will be by flying to Burgas. Burgas is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Since it isn’t a resort, I won’t go into detail here, but if you are interested in visiting it, take a look at our comprehensive article on Burgas.

Elenite

Elenite is a purpose-built holiday village. It is located 47 km north of Burgas beneath the Balkan Mountain. It consists of villas and hotels situated among the fresh greenery of the mountain and it offers its visitors peace and luxury.

Various outdoor sports like surfing, yachting and beach volleyball are available as it is designed with families in mind, offering a safe and controlled environment. This and the all-inclusive offers make Elenite a good and convenient choice if you wouldn’t mind a less authentic experience.

Sveti Vlas

Sveti Vlas is an upscale resort, located 43 km north of Burgas. It has grown as a tourist resort in recent times, serving as a quieter alternative to nearby Sunny Beach. The gap between the two places is shrinking as more hotels and holiday apartments are built along the coast. The town is located beneath the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. Sveti Vlas offers visitors a unique combination of clean mountain air, sea climate and beautiful nature. However, due to its more exclusive nature, the resort is generally more expensive than others.

Sveti Vlas Beach is the only one in Bulgaria that faces completely south. However, it is quite narrow and tends to get overcrowded. The Dinevi Marina is the country’s largest yacht marina.

Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach is the largest and the most popular beach resort in Bulgaria. It is located 36 km north of Burgas. It boasts a stunning long sandy beach. Sadly, there are hundreds of hotels along the beach line, that make the experience less authentic. Sunny Beach is extremely busy and noisy during the peak season in July and August, so it may not be suitable for people seeking relaxation. There are numerous bars and clubs here, catering to any music style. Because of that, Sunny Beach is very popular among young people for bachelor or graduation parties.

Personally, I don’t recommend Sunny Beach, unless you are looking for a holiday of non-stop partying and drinking.

If you want to find more about Sunny Beach:
👉 Check out our post: Skip Sunny Beach For A Better Bulgaria Beach Holiday

Nesebar

Nesebar is a coastal town with rich historical significance. Located on a peninsula, 35 km north of Burgas, it impresses with its Old town, that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is full of well-preserved ancient architecture and cultural sites. You can enjoy picturesque views while strolling around the narrow streets. Nesebar beach isn’t very nice, but the long beach of Sunny Beach is very close by. This proximity to Sunny Beach is also perfect for people who want to party now and then, but want to stay in a bit more quiet place.

Ravda

Ravda is a small village and a resort, located 31 km north from Burgas. You will find mainly guest houses and small hotels here. There are several tiny beaches along the coast, that tend to quickly get very crowded. Ravda is popular among families because they can enjoy a more relaxed and affordable holiday. Because of its proximity to Nesebar, a day trip is a must to explore the historical sites.

Pomorie

Pomorie is a small town and an ancient city, located on a narrow peninsula just 20 km north of Burgas. It is well-known for its Pomorie lake, a protected area and a hypersaline lagoon. It is the habitat of 63 species of endangered birds. The mud from the bottom of the Pomorie Lake is used for healing and in various SPA treatments in the town. Because of its favourable conditions, Pomorie is also renowned for its winemaking.

As a larger resort, Pomorie boasts plenty of activities. Its Sunset Aqua park is one of the most modern and beautiful amusement parks with water attractions in Bulgaria, hosting 32 water slides.

Chernomorets

Chernomorets is a small, quiet town 24 km south of Burgas. It is a good place for people looking for a peaceful family holiday. There are mainly guest houses and small family hotels available. Its central beach is tiny.

A stunning long beach stretches almost all the way from Chernomorets to Sozopol. This is where the most popular camping in Bulgaria, Camping Gradina, is. Camping Gradina is great for surfing, beach bar parties and sunbathing. It is suitable for young people and for families with kids as well. It is very versatile – there are campers on site to rent, you can also park your own camper there, bring your own tents or even go glamping.

Sozopol

Sozopol, located 35 km south of Burgas, is one of the major seaside towns and resorts in Bulgaria. It is also one of the oldest ones. Although it has a lovely Old town with narrow cobblestone streets and traditional wooden houses, Sozopol isn’t the best place if you are looking for a calm beach vacation. Its central beach is very narrow and crowded, and its second beach, Harmanite, isn’t much better either. I highly recommend visiting Sozopol for a day, though. It is a great place to enjoy the blend of beautiful old architecture, gorgeous hidden viewpoints over the Black Sea and a bit of the modern-day art scene in Bulgaria.

Here is a link to Sozopol’s website if you want to check for more info about the museum or current events.

Not far away from Sozopol there actually is a great long beach – Kavatsite. It is a terrific place if you are into camping, as it has two camping sites – Smokinia and Kavatsite. Some hotels and guest houses can also be found in the vicinity.

Dyuni

Dyuni is a purposely built holiday complex with all-inclusive hotels, located 41 km south from Burgas. It is family-friendly with numerous activities for kids and adults. There are facilities for tennis, volleyball, and water sports. The best thing is the beautiful, long, sandy beach with shallow waters. Because of its all-inclusive nature, it is more expensive than some other resorts and at the same time, it is less authentic. I can recommend Dyuni for people looking for a more organized holiday in a well-maintained complex, who wouldn’t mind the lack of authenticity.

Arkutino

Arkutino is located 42 km south from Burgas and it is a beautiful beach. There are just a couple of hotel complexes and the area is relatively undeveloped.

The beach is sandy and charming with shimmering waters, and it is surrounded by dunes and lush greenery. Arkutino Reserve is a protected area featuring a diverse range of flora and fauna, including water lilies, rare bird species, and unique plant life.

Primorsko

Primorsko is a coastal town, located 52 km south from Burgas. It is widely popular among Bulgarians, but there are also bigger hotels, working with German or French tourist companies. Primorsko is a great option if you are looking for a peaceful holiday with your kids. The water park Aqua Planet is also a perfect place to spend a few hours or even a full day. Numerous activities are offered on the beaches, such as jet ski, banana boat and water slides. You can enjoy two long and spacious sandy beaches here.

Primorsko is also an excellent choice if you are into experiences in nature because it is very close to the Ropotamo nature reserve. You can explore the reserve and enjoy the surroundings on foot.

Another popular destination is Beglik Tash. It is an ancient Thracian sanctuary, just 5 km north of Primorsko. It consists of many huge stones forming different things, such as a throne, a labyrinth and much more. Not only that, but it is a very mysterious place, said to date back to the 7th century BC.

Kiten

Kiten is a small town, 55 km south of Burgas. It is quite well-liked among Bulgarians and Eastern-Europeans. It has many guest houses, family hotels, a few bigger hotels and two small campsites. I suggest it for families looking for a more peaceful holiday. The South beach and the North Beach both stand out with fine golden sand and clear water. The shore isn’t steep, so it is perfect for swimming, bathing or for playing with kids.

Nightlife is limited, but you will find the most extraordinary nightclub here. Zangador is an outdoor club, located in a tiny rock inlet, on a tiny beach. It truly is a beautiful place to party.

Lozenets

Lozenets is a village and seaside resort, 59 km south from Burgas. Its central beach is quite small, but to the north you will find a wide beach, called Coral. Many famous Bulgarians have their own villas in Lozenets. There are also several luxury villa complexes around here. On beach Coral there is a lovely camping, offering caravans and bungalows for rent – Camping Yug.

Tsarevo

Tsarevo is a bigger town on the sea coast. It is located 66 km south of Burgas. It is not a very popular beach resort. The two beaches are small and narrow, but there is a nice sea garden, where you can enjoy views of the Black Sea, the port and Tsarevo bay. As it is not too commercialised, you can go to Tsarevo for the perfect combination of peaceful holiday while enjoying the infrastructure of a small town. However, it is not a bad idea to choose a hotel with a pool because the beaches aren’t so great. For nature lovers, Strandzha Nature Park is just a stone’s throw away.

Nestinarka is a beach resort a few kilometers south from Tsarevo. It is quite popular, and the beach is more charming. You can stay in one of the many hotels, guest houses or at the camping.

Ahtopol

Ahtopol is a small town, located 77 km south of Burgas and close to the Turkish border. It is situated on a rocky peninsula, and it is renowned for its beautiful scenery and tranquillity. An old church, remains of a monastery and parts of the fortress wall have been preserved. Going for a walk on the rocky shores, exploring these remains and enjoying the waves crashing is my favourite thing to do in Ahtopol.

The beach in Ahtopol is very spacious and great for sunbathing. Besides guest houses in town, there is a huge campsite with plenty of bungalows next to the beach.

Sinemorets

Sinemorets is one of the southernmost beach resorts in Bulgaria, located 86 km away from Burgas. It is an excellent destination for travellers looking for natural beauty, tranquillity, and outdoor activities in a less commercialized and more authentic Bulgarian setting. Sinemorets boasts some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Bulgaria — Veleka Beach and Butamyata Beach. However, there are some bigger and luxurious hotels available.

South of Sinemorets there are a few bays with beautiful beaches with characteristic rock formations. This territory (south of Sinemorets) to the Turkish border is a protected area, called Silistar. All the beaches are remote and mostly unspoiled — perfect for more adventurous tourists.

Strandzha Nature Park is located near the village, and it provides opportunities for hiking, bird-watching, and exploring diverse flora and fauna.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has helped you find your ideal destination on Bulgaria’s South Black Sea coast. With so many unique places to choose from, there’s something for every kind of traveler.

Happy travels and enjoy your Bulgarian beach adventure!