Once known as the centre of the Southern Black Sea coastline and now classified as the fourth largest and fastest growing city in Bulgaria, Burgas hosts a well developed economy to industry and trade and is yet surrounded by a wealth of natural beauty, and beach resorts.
In 2006 German company Fraport Twin Star won a 35 year concession to run the International airport and will invest nearly 10 million euros to expand facilities, new departure terminal, check in desks, new luggage system, increasing capacity by 46%, servicing up to 2000 passengers per hour, with passenger figures for 2007 expected to be up at least 10% on the previous year.
Currently Burgas has a large port that can take various ships and is close to the airport. However there is currently underway a 300 million dollar expansion of Burgas Port, with funds coming from the EU, Japan and the US Trade and development agency. It will be the biggest and most important port in Bulgaria and with its geographic proximity to Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Romania, and the new road and rail links with the capital Sofia and other major points inland on the Balkans it is an ideally located.
Burgas is known as the park along the sea, surrounded by natural lakes, marshes and protected reservation parks, one can witness a variety of birds migrating from Gibraltar and surrounds. A veritable haven for the ramblers, walkers, fishermen, bird watching enthusiasts and historians amongst us, this area flourishes with picturesque, untouched scenery and forests, solitude and calm beauty from the surrounding scenic lakes.
Not forgetting the very popular tourist destinations of the local salt mines and salt mineral water baths.Burgas has an abundance of spectacular sites that will suit everyone’s passions and hobbies, it also hosts many of the countries museums depicting the historical and archeological facts of the area.
With its close proximity to its neighbours, Nessebar, Pomorie and Sozopol, one will be intoxicated with the rich history and numerous architectural monuments that these 3 towns have to offer. Less than an hour’s drive away is the Strandza Mountain National Park, with its cliffs, woodlands and eco –trails, fishing, surfing, diving and horse riding, a unique wonderful place.
Also within 30 km of Sunny Beach, the largest and most modern beach resort on the Black Sea coast.
Steeped in history, an Array of museums, churches, art galleries depicting the life and history of this majestic Bulgarian city. Modern shopping streets, cafes, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, many 4 star hotels, Burgas has everything, a wealth of charisma and year after year tourists and business people from all over the world return to unlock the heart and passion that can be found here.
20 km north of Burgas and its International Airport, Nessebar is one of the oldest towns in Europe dating back to the first century BC and is connected to the mainland and the new town by a narrow causeway. It is located 3 km to the south of Sunny Beach and just north of the family resort of Ravda.
In this small town with its narrow cobbled streets there are the remains of 40 ancient churches and traditional Bulgarian houses, Nessebar is an archeological and architectural reserve registered with UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and its blue flag beach is widely considered to be the best along the black sea coast.
The fishing port,next to the marina, provides fish caught in the morning and served up fresh in the many specialist restaurants in the old town, one boasts over 30 types of fish. In the new town with a year round population of around 10,000 people there are also numerous taverns, shops, hotels, night clubs, bowling alleys etc to make sure there is always something to do day or night.
Just 31km South of Burgas you turn off the dual carriage highway at the sign for Sozopol, immediately the roads narrow and gently meander, hugging the coastline. As you round one of the bends you get your first glimpse of the fishing port and the old town situated on a small rocky peninsula. One of the ancient Greeks oldest settlements, today the small fishing town is a cluster of turn of the century houses and cobbled streets, flanked by two fine sandy beaches; it’s as if you have stepped back in time.
Sozopol was a small fishing town when Bulgaria was liberated from the Turks, but has gradually become the biggest fishing centre on the Black Sea. It is a popular tourist resort, famous for its beautiful coastline with Tsar’s Beach to the North,Raiski Zaliv (Paradise Bay) set amongst the rocks to the South, and Kavatsite Beach and camping area even further South. The Harmanite Beach is south of the new town, and this is where an ancient necropolis was discovered in 1993 and where excavations are still going on.
South of Sozopol there are two nature reserves on the Popotamo River, where thousands of Stalks, Pelicans and over 30 types of birds of prey and many others gather on their way south in the winter.
There are boats trips from the port of Sozopol, yacht harbouring, motor boats, and for divers there are many sub aquatic sites.
Each year in September Sozopol hosts the Apolinia International Festival featuring Theatre, Jazz and Fashion shows.
Some of the many attractions to visit during your stay at Sozopol include two renaissance Churches;St Zosim and The Holy Virgin. The seventeenth century house of Dimitur Laskaridis(who used to be a fish trader, and which has now become an art galley ) are just a few of the 45 architectural monuments in the town., along with the many famous seafood Restaurants serving locally caught delicasies,taverns,shops,historic sites and Museum it is a must for anyone visiting the area.
Sunny Beach is ideally located just 30 km from the second biggest city on the Black Sea, Burgas and it’s planned Super Port, also Bulgaria’s busiest international airport is only 26 km from the resort, the airport is used by all the big operators, with many more staring to use it in 2007.
The largest resort in Eastern Europe it boasts over 8km of EU Blue Flag golden beaches set in a picturesque semi-circular bay, with the most luxurious hotels and Spa complexes on the Bulgarian Riviera, justly it is a leading destination in Bulgaria for tourists and business people alike. There is a new marina 2 km up the coast in St Vlas, with shops, restaurants, hotel, very reminiscent of those found on The Cote D Azur.Several new Costa del Sol style golf courses are in the planning. Soon to be finished right in the centre of Sunny Beach is a new 5 star hotel Royal Garden with conference facilities and a shopping mall with 140 quality outlets, the largest of its type on the coast, various restaurants and cafes, and with an estimated 1 Billion euros being invested in the resort, many more luxury hotels and resort villages have been and are currently being constructed to accommodate the ever growing number of tourists from all over the world.
Lying just to the South you will find the ancient town of Nessebar which was included in the World Register of Historic Sites in 1983, here you can stroll the narrow cobbled streets, view the old fortress walls, visit mediaeval churches, browse through gift shops, or simply have a seat at one of the many cafes and watch the world go by.
For those in search of a varied nightlife, one can find an abundance of charming, quaint restaurants, taverns and cafes which offer the local Bulgarian culinary delights or for those seeking an assortment of the more vibrant bars, night clubs and discos are aplenty.
Sunny Beach is a paradise for the sports enthusiast, not only the coming golf courses, there is already every conceivable sea or beach activity on offer here. From sailing or speed boats from the marina, surfing, water skis and parachutes, hang gliding, tennis courts, beach volleyball, mini golf, bowling, gyms and fitness halls, there are sports tournaments for amateurs and professionals alike. Also a genuine children’s haven with plenty of fun and games,childrens pools,carting,water parks,slides,trampolines,sports schools and kindergardens,all available to keep the most lively and animated child fully occupied whilst allowing their fatigued parents a chance to relax and enjoy the 900 hours of summer sunshine.
Sunny Beach also offers a diverse range of cultural programs from open air theatres and outdoor cinemas, in 2006 Sting and 50 cent where just two of the stars to perform concerts in Sunny Beach, to a variety of arts, crafts and exhibition centres,to quaint bazaars and street markets selling local produce and custom goods. Not being further than 26 km from the international airport at Burgas allows easy and direct access to this vivacious and spirited town. There are also regular boat and bus connections allowing one to investigate the local neighboring districts of Burgas (30km) and Varna (95km).
It is little wonder that the area is being called the “New Marbella” and being compared to the marinas of the “South of France” it has a certain charm for everyone, young and old alike.
In our opinion, Sunny Beach and its surrounding areas should be thoroughly investigated by any serious investor looking for a long term investment yield and profit.
With its history dating back to 580bc it sprung up as a Greek colony called Odesses meaning “town upon the water”. Over the following years Odesses was ruled by the Persians, Thracians, Romans and Slavs, being re-named Varna by the Slavs in the 7th century.
Varna is fundamentally a main naval and commercial shipping port. Close to its neighbors Golden Sands, St Constantine and Albena, a cosmopolitan ambiance can be found. With foreign tourists and the locals coexisting and mingling in the plentiful shady boulevards and enchanting taverns, this is a city of charming historical culture and living traditions. Also a young and vibrant city, Varna hosts many various educational institutions thus benefiting from enthusiasm and inspiration that a young and modern atmosphere generates.
North of Varna is a number of seaside resorts, such as Golden Sands, Albena and Drouzhba.All with fine, sandy beaches but all differ in size, style and character. Apart from being a beach resort, Varna rivals the great cities of Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas, with its plentiful offering of cultural attractions and historic buildings, museums and art galleries. It also provides access to some of the quieter scenic spots along the coast, including the nature reserve of Kamchiya, the royal palace of Balchik and the ancient hillside monastery of Aladzha.
Varna is an ‘all year’ holiday destination where one can unwind and enjoy the many sights and sounds in peace and tranquility.
