Best 25+ Bulgaria Beaches
Bulgaria is one of the best budget destinations in Europe and is home to a diverse landscape including numerous mountains and rivers, best known of which is the mighty Danube. It is also home to a considerable stretch of Black Sea coastline dotted with fantastic array of sandy beaches and coves.
The country's beach resorts are especially family-friendly but there are also patches of unspoiled wilderness. Whilst some of the city backdrops still have the austere air of Eastern Bloc about them there are plenty of coastal villages with charm enough to rival their Mediterranean contemporaries.
Many of Bulgaria's most popular resort beaches are quite lively and close to nightclubs, restaurants, and bars, while others provide a more family-friendly experience.
The beaches of Bulgaria themselves are quite diverse, but generally have fairly calm waters making them ideal for families, and for activities such as kayaking, paddleboards and swimming. Many of these beaches are close to luxury hotels and amenities like restaurants and sun-loungers; they can however get overcrowded during the peak of the season.
To avoid the summer crowds, you may want to try other beaches with alternative offerings like camping. These tend to be geared more towards the Bulgarians and in particular middle-aged couples or those on holiday with family. These beaches are farther away from any loud parties or rowdy bars
More adventurous visitors and those looking for clothing-optional beaches will be rewarded by exploring Bulgaria's coastline outside of the main tourist traps. It is still possible to find an idyllic patch of sand or secret cove to yourself before the developers and Instagramers arrive.
The Best Bulgarian Beaches...
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1. Sunny Beach
© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY Great for:- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
There is little doubt which of Bulgaria's beaches is best known (and liveliest). Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag to the locals) is legendary for its golden sands and entertainment, both on and off the beach. The resort is extremely popular with Europeans and tourists from further afield looking to sun themselves in the day and dance the nights away at one of the many nightclubs nearby. It is also regarded as a… read more »
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2. Primorsko
© www.vacacionesbulgaria.com / CC BY One of Bulgaria's premiere beachside resorts, Primorsko also has an illustrious history stretching back to the Bronze Age. The town also served as a medieval fortress and valuable port between Western and Ottoman traders. That legacy of international exchange remains vivid in Primorsko's vibrant café and nightlife culture.
Regardless of the areas historic credentials, these are just a backdrop to Primorsko's natural beauty. Long stretches of verdant green frame… read more »
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3. Sinemorets
© Marcin Szala / CC BY Set close to the Turkish border Veleka Beach is one of two beaches in Sinemorets, and by far the nicest. In fact it is one of the most striking and iconic beaches in Bulgaria consisting of a narrow strip of soft white sand which juts out across the mouth of the Veleka River as it empties into the Black Sea. This creates a beautiful beach with the… read more »
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4. Pomorie Beach
Boby Dimitrov One spot on the Southern half of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast which is well worth a visit is Pomorie Beach with its 5 km of dazzling white sand. The area is well-known in the region for the mineral water produced by springs in the town. In addition, Pomorie Bay is a magnet for a wide range of yachts and sailboats.
Add to that a strong history of wine growing, fishing,… read more »
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5. Varna beach
Kritzolina Great for:- Swimming
Among Bulgaria's many fantastic beaches, Varna Beach distinguishes itself by being located in the heart of a thriving city as well as within a stone's throw of a host of other destinations. And that's not to say this isn't a great beach; in fact if you are looking to get the most out of your Bulgarian beach-going experience and want to make sure you see a lot in… read more »
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6. Rusalka Beach
© Vladislav Bezrukov / CC BY Great for:- Swimming
Ruslaka Beach is set on the Black Sea between the city of Varna and the border with Romania. A small beach in an area dominated by coastal cliffs, it has crystal clear waters known to be home to dolphins. Its name comes from the Bulgarian word for mermaid. It is predominantly made up of a light coloured sand, mixed with small pebbles.
A haven since Roman times, it is surrounded… read more »
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7. Golden Sands
© Mister No / CC BY Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Any list of Bulgaria's top beaches wouldn't be complete without Golden Sands Beach. It is easily one of the best known beaches in the country, and has long been a popular summer spot with locals and tourists alike. If you're looking for somewhere a little more family-friendly and peaceful than the more touristic Sunny Beach, Golden Sands Beach may be perfect for you.
Golden Sands is located near Varna,… read more »
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8. Primorsko South beach
AcerStan Great for:- Kitesurfing
Primorsko's other beach sits to the south of the headland which is home to this pleasant resort town. This long stretch of golden sand is partly backed by sand dunes and the Dyavolska River which helps preserve something of a wild feeling, particularly towards the southern end of the beach.
South beach is one of the liveliest beaches in the area and all… read more »
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9. Bolata Beach
© Dimitar Bachvarov / CC BY Great for:- Swimming
Located in a neat little enclave flanked by smooth brick-red ridges, Bolata Beach is one of Northern Bulgaria's best kept secrets. A near perfect semi-circle of sand, protected by breakwaters, this is a quite unique little cove, and one of very few beaches in the area.
While Bulgaria's beaches are beginning to become better-appreciated by the outside world, this cove has remained a local secret for citizens of the nearby seaside… read more »
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10. Duni Beach
© SpaceControl / CC BY Great for:- Kitesurfing
Bulgaria's beaches come in all shapes and sizes to suit all visitors. Duni Beach has the distinction of being one of the most resort-friendly beaches in Bulgaria. With a number of well catered for resorts in close proximity, this is definitely a great beach to consider visiting.
This is also one of the most recently developed beach areas in Bulgaria. While Dyuni Beach obviously predates the arrival of the resort in… read more »
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11. Atliman Beach
© Zourich / CC BY Atliman Beach is another perfect example of a sun-kissed Bulgarian beach that has become a popular holiday destination in the past few years. The resort has grown in popularity in recent years with a number of hotels springing up in the area.
The beach here is quite unique in that it has a natural feel with sand dunes to the rear and bookmarked by wooded headlands, but is also located a… read more »
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12. Kara Dere
Svilen Enev In recent decades much of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast has been transformed by mass tourism, which is what makes Kara Dere Beach so special in how wild and untamed it remains.
The beach's name derives from the Turkish word "kara" meaning "black" and "dere" meaning "gully", and its wild status continues to make it a black sheep amongst Bulgaria's more tourist-heavy, resort-laden coast. It is one of the few areas that… read more »
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13. Sveti Vlas
Pe4omux One of the Bulgaria's most upwardly mobile resorts, Sveti Vlas (St. Vlas) Beach is rapidly developing into an popular yachting port with a host of facilities. Located about 5 km north of the Sunny Beach, the area and sits at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. Sveti Vlas is actually a cluster of three smaller beaches which together total 1,500 km of fine golden sand.
One of the biggest sights in… read more »
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14. Shkorpilovtsi Beach
MrDelchev Great for:- Fishing
Sometimes one of the best things about traveling is finding hidden gems you'd never think to look for but, once you arrive, can't imagine how you lived without. Such is the case with Shkorpilovtsi. While it may not have the notoriety of some of Bulgaria's bigger beaches, it's nevertheless a great slice of authentic Bulgarian beach town life.
Located near Varna, Shkorpilovtsi Beach allows you to enjoy the area's famed… read more »
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15. Albena Beach
© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY This beautiful expanse of fine golden sand stretches for 5 Km (3 miles) and is largely backed by the woodland of the Baltata National Reserve. Despite being on the Black Sea coast the water is anything but black here. Maybe the "crystal clear azure coast" would have been a more appropriate name as this beach is the proud owner of a Blue Flag award.
The Blue Flag award is not… read more »
